Liverpool are not ‘great’ after 90 mins, Arsenal made Crouch look good
It is impossible to argue with the scoreline, so let’s make one thing clear from the start - Arsenal played poorly at Anfield today, and Liverpool were deserved 4-1 winners.
But to draw any conclusions from this match is futile - we learned nothing new today, it just served to drive home a few truths for Arsenal and push Liverpool up to 3rd place.
Liverpool
Pool played well today, they found Arsenal weak through the middle and especially on the flanks and they made their experience count. To say that that the Arsenal midfield put too much pressure on their own defenders is true, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Liverpool were positive, fought hard and put away their chances.
Arsenal had no Silva, three kids and a misfiring Belarusian, with Adebayor (not the world’s greatest striker, I assure you) and Baptista (who Arsenal fans must loathe) playing up front. It didn’t take much to rattle this team, and Liverpool’s syle of play was very effective against them.
However, you have to keep this win in perspective - but does this mean that Liverpool are going to be challenging for the title next season? With any luck, they should go on a winning run similar to last season that saw them finish very close to Manchester United and then, over the summer, with more money being spent and probably 2-4 more players being brought in, we’ll hear the same-old, same-old title contenders routine.
It’s too early to predict anything like that - the best time to judge this is in mid-August, when most of the transfers have been done, pre-season has been played, injuries have been sorted out and you have a clearer idea of which team has what.
Right now, Liverpool are still not title contenders. They met a poor Arsenal side, and effectively dispatched them 4-1. It could have been 2-1 if Arsenal had defended a tad bit better, and it could have been 2-3 if Baptista had put 2 of his several chances in.
Arsenal
Simply not good enough. They made Crouch look good, dammit. At his best, Crouch is more ‘effective’ than class, so for him to get 3 goals against Arsenal speaks volumes about Arsenal’s failure today.
They missed Silva, and I’m wondering why they didn’t play 4-5-1 with Baptista in midfield and Rosicky playing instead of Denilson.
A better analysis of Arsenal’s failings will probably come from arseblog, so you guys had better check on him Sunday morning.
To be honest though, Arsenal had 2 first-choice strikers (Henry, van Persie) and an impact player (Walcott) missing. They had Silva missing as well through injury. Rosicky didn’t come on till the 65th minute, although I doubt he could have done much considering the way Baptista was playing.
They still have 8 games to go this season, and as Wenger said after the game, Arsenal have to dig deep and focus on their Champions League qualification. Bolton are 5 points behind but Arsenal have a game in hand. They should qualify, but it never needed to be this close.
The author is not an Arsenal or Liverpool fan - please don’t insult him by calling him either.
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Discussion - 32 Responses
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‘if Baptista had put 2 of his several chances in.’
Haha! Several chances! Did we watch the same match man! It was same old thing against barcelona and chelsea: Barca is not as good as last year, chelsea missed terry and blah blah blah!!! Why don’t you just recognise Benitez is a master tactician who make opposition teams look poor by completely anhilating their style of play. It’s good to point out that it was not arsenal first team but was it liverpool’s first team as well(no finnan, riise, sissokho, garcia, kewell, kuyt and bellamy). Last but not least, Toure and Gallas are one of the best centre-back duos in europe and I’ve never seen them as ridiculised by a striker as they have been by ‘CLASSY CROUCH’ today.
Maybe we’ll hear, next season, the same old, same old talking up of Arsenal in Europe. You might have a chance in the Uefa Cup. You have enough away games left to make that a likely qualification.
A lot was made of when Arsenal hammered Liverpool in the cup, many gunners where saying their ‘Kids’ are awesome. Now that liverpool have returned the compliment it was because Arsenal were poor and without star players and not because Liverpool were ‘great’. Biased views seem to be the order of the day.
a) I don’t think Liverpool lost to Arsenal in the cup because the kids were awesome - they played well, yes, just as Liverpool played well today, but Pool were horrendous in that game. Arsenal didnt do themselves any favours this time around.
b) Not an Arsenal fan, get it through your head
And honestly, I said the same thing after the cup games (albeit with roles reversed, pitying Pool and cautioning Arsenal). From where I stand none of these results (cups or league) really indicate how good either side is.
Hey Shervin, you forgot that up until this game Arsenal had put over twelve past Liverpool in all competitions under Benitez including an embarasssing 6 in the Carling cup. How does the master tactician explains that one? Take it for what it is worth. You were just better than a poor Arsenal side today, no arguments there but don’t get carried away. You lot are not much better than them in points or goals. Still a massive gulf to Chelsea and ManU!!
After Henry’s and Silva’s injuries,Arsenal plans were damned to be destroyed.They can only win the very easy matches,but I don’t think they can hold their CHL position if Wenger continues to experiment.Maybe he knows something we don’t;Arsenal’s circle has closed.New players(or should I say foreign athletes?) are in the first 11 and the team gets the most fickle results since the 00s’ start.
Baptista isn’t a striker but his body-type and his powerful -over the roof- shot makes Wenger belive that he can start as a first eleven forward in a “liv-ars” derby.Damn you stupid Frenchman.
I’m a MU fan but I do like it,when Arsenal wins Liverpool.So,get Arsenal back where it deserves to be (10 points down,chasing us and just one point over Liverpool)
Crouch’s luck and Wenger’s experimenting stupidity have revived Liverpool.
Arsenal should have played 4-5-1 ? They did you fool. Baptista played in the same position as gerrard. Which for your benefit was “The furthest forward midfield player in each team” A good effort at describing the game but stop putting a downer on Crouch. How many more times does he have to score or create a goal before people believe he is a decent player. Up the Reds.
Benitez is a great tactician. Arsenal’s set piece defending is non-existant that’s why Benitez played Crouch - and it worked. If only Wenger had an ounce of Benitez’s tactical nouse. Wenger builds great steamrolling teams, but tactically he is absolutely clueless.
Still, whilst Arsenal is short of money, Wenger is the best solution to our problems. When Arsenal is cash rich, there are better managers out there who will organise the team better, buy more experienced players and be able to motivate players more effectvely.
Shervin: Say whatever you want man, I’ll respect your opinion but puhleeez puhleeezzzz avoid this oxymoron in the future - ‘CLASSY CROUCH’ haha… its disgusting! :p
Dan, I should have clarified - without Silva, my idea would have been to use Baptista in a central role, not as the 4-5-1 Liverpool were playing (which was essentially a 4-4-1-1).
its unfair to try and downplay our excellence! dont hate…appreciate.
Baptista is even worse in midfield than up front. I would be amazed if Wenger bought him, I can’t imagine a player impressing a manager less than he has.
i just liken to point out to arsenal fans that liverpool are better than arsenal. you can never have our history and that we tottaly massacred you squad today.
As a real Gunner of 58 years what I can say is that it looked more like the old ‘Pool’ today with a giant front man being the target, and the rest just playing sensible football.
Our God Arsene has made a few big mistakes this season, one was to allow Pires to leave, he was our most natural playmaker, who would have helped our kids more than anyone.
Two, AW has never had an eye for a defender with height & strength. Kolo has probably lost us more matches this year than all of the other players added together, but he is never rested.
If Aw cannot see that his own personal favourite player HLEB is not Arsenal class, and his number one target all last year Baptista is not good enough for our division one, then sadly our God needs the rest more than most.
I BET U GUYS WISH U NEVER SOLD PENNANT!
Bilal,
Maybe you might not be an Arsenal Fan but you sound totally biased with some of your comments. Its not neccessary that you have to be a fan to incline towards certains teams that you like. Unfortunately that is what have happened with this article.
One thing you forgot was that when Pool were getting thrashed earlier in the cups, they actually played quite well. It was just that arsenal took there only chances they had. The scoreline in those games didnot tell the actual story and during that time people admitted to that. But as time went, the game was forgotten and the score remembered.
Another thing to notice was, this beast you were talking about was the same one which scored 4 against Pool earlier. At that time it was not his fault, was it? Suddenly the depleted Arsenal side is just unlucky to have guys like him.
I like Arsenal as a team,but Pool deserved there win and that fact should presented as it is.
“Pool Won Today, Not Arsenal Lost!” There is a difference!
we only won it 5 times
Liverpool never get a fair press - if they ever beat any of their main rivals it is because the other team had an off day or this player or that player was out. I’m not talking about you Ahmed - but Baptista - several chances, I mean…..
Anyway, Arsenal fans must be kicking themselves with frustration as Arsenal never vary their tactics. Short pass after short pass even when clearing their defensive lines…… played right into Liverpool’s hands. Sometimes you just need to whack it clear to let your team push up.
who does this guy think he is saying liverpool were lucky and up against a 2nd side aresnal team? does it matter?! we won, we ou classed aresnal today, Benitez’s tactics were spot on and as for Crouchy, hes just come back from a broken nose! and scpres a hat trick in his first game back, hes too underrated is Crouchy
‘dear website, is it the law to have such biased article writers???????’
shoulda,woulda,coulda its amazing how deluded arsenal supporters are, just admit it, liverpool wiped the floor with you today. if you play bad, chances are you lose, its the same with every team, thats football. i can understand making these feeble excuses, softens the blow, but you really are making fools of yourselves.you played bad,we played good, we won,end of story!
Liverpool deserved their win. I don’t think Arsenal defensively were that poor. Crouchy was just on fire.
Come on guys not lets get carried away, no doubt Liverpool deserved their win and Arsenal were poor. No different to when we visited the Emirates stadium. However there is a similarity between the two, the poor away form of both sides. Lets hope that both teams are closer to the Mancs and Russian Mafia next season.
Liv v Ars in the cups 12 shots to Ars 9 goals and a missed pen.
In the league game yesterday 11 shots 1 goal.
The difference was Reina in goal instead of Dudek harsh but true.
The teams are fairly even but poor individual players performances make the difference in these games, all this about kids being great compared to Pool’s was load of rubbish.
I agree with Macca… Reina, even if makes a few blunders, more than makes it up for some fantastic saves and how he marshals the defence. Dudek though great at reflex saves just cant be as commanding as Reina and which such high line, it is neccessary that the goal keeper is a commanding one!
If form is temporary and class is permanent, then what is “effective”? How well (effective) does Crouch have to play before he is determined as a good striker?
Granted Arsenal weren’t fantastic (Crouch’s last goal was by the way, though certainly not C.Ronaldo-esque). Firstly, they lacked the discipline more established players would have brought them. But on a more fundamental level they lacked anyone capable of being effective. A classy lot of players but not one of them could beat a player (easier said than done against Liverpool’s outstanding defence) or make something happen like players like Riise, Gerrard and Crouch always do when in form and like many other players for Liverpool have stepped up and done in the latter half of this season.
Adebayor was the closest they came to this and, quite frankly, everytime he came close I felt that Reina looked to have the shot under control. Baptista was horrible. I want very much to like this player but he was much to slow and closed down every time he got the ball.
I’m no Liverpool fan but surely it’s time to be impressed with their performance in the second-half of the season.
Hilariously enough, I praise Liverpool in the article and yet everyone takes offense at the ‘not great’ comment
RTFA?
I’m not gonna gloat about a 4-1 scoreline which was very much needed and wanted by the Liverpool fans against arsenal, not when we’ve lost 3 games to them this season. It was good - if not great - to see us play so confidently with PSV coming up tomorrow.
What I most definately feel I need to point out is that Crouch does not get the credit he deserves. No, perhaps he’s not a ‘great’ striker, but I think he has proved his critics wrong time and time again, and yet STILL people seem to think he’s not up to much! All three of his goals were taken confidently, he was hungry for goals which was great to see, and his touch on the ball WAS class for the duration of his time on the pitch. He gets alot of slack (and I guess rightly so) for his lack of ability to head the ball properly - but he damn well connected properly for his second goal. His touch for the third goal was second to none, and the rest of the game he’d come back into the 3rd quarter of the field and hold up the ball with two arsenal players around him chipping away at his ankles. Now maybe his form might suddenly go again, but he’s also scored a bucket full for England - which is a damn sight more than a certain Mr £30 million Rooney.
Just give him some credit when he deserves it, cos he sure gets the slack when he deserves it.
The author is not an Arsenal or Liverpool fan - please don’t insult him by calling him either.
Yes, the author sounds very unbiased. Liverpool are complete crap and Arsenal are gods who had an off day. I wouldn’t say the author is biased at all. (rolls eyes)
I’m an Everton fan and whilst not a fan of either club, I guess you could say I favoured Arsenal during the game
While I agree with some of your points, they do sound biased towards Arsenal. Blaming youth for poor defending is very crass - like Arsene says, if they are good enough they are old enough - if they are not good enough, then get someone who is!
Finally Crouch - what can I say - I really dislike the guy, especially when he’s in an England shirt, but against Arsenal he was amazing - each of the three goals were a joy to watch. Think he would have scored against anyone that day, never mind Arsenal. To say that Arsenal made him look good is a disservice to the lad - I was almost looking forward to seeing him in an England shirt again - I say almost becuase as you say, his worst fault is his inconsistency, so lets see how he does against PSV - although his confidence should be sky high!
May be you are an Man Utd Fan.