The Soccer Blog: Matchday: Liverpool v. Utrecht

Friday, 1 October 2010

Matchday: Liverpool v. Utrecht

By: Ed | September 30th, 2010

Kickoff from the Stadion Galgenwaard at 18:00 GMT, 1:00 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Match televised live on ITV4 in the UK and GolTV in the US.

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Kelly
Poulsen Lucas
Kuyt Meireles Cole
Torres

Bench: Jones, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, Babel, Ngog

Utrecht:

Vorm
Cornelisse Wuytens Schut Nesu
Silberbauer Lensky Martens
Duplan van Wolfswinkel Mulenga

Bench: Sinouh, Demouge, van der Maarel, Vostermans, Nijholt, Keller, Maguire

In the run-up:

I had more stuff here earlier that was wiped out by the site crashing, so this is what you get. Deal with it.

Plenty of early rumors about the team sheet for today, but nothing confirmed as of writing—looking like Poulsen, Lucas, and Meireles, with Joe Cole on the left flank and Dirk Kuyt on the right. Torres rumored to start with Meireles just behind him. We’ll see.

Other than that, surprisingly, no real news in the hours leading up to kickoff. So…this is awkward. Go Liverpool.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Matchday: Liverpool v. SteauaMatch Preview: Liverpool v. FC Utrecht, 09.30.10Matchday: Liverpool v. Manchester UnitedMatchday: Liverpool v. West BromSquad Announced; Fernando Torres Has Been Paying Attention

Category: Europa League, Matchday Posts, Miscellaneous

Tags: Christian Poulsen, Dani Pacheco, Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Europa League, Fabio Aurelio, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Jay Spearing, Lucas, Martin Kelly, Martin Škrtel, Matchday Posts, Milan Jovanovic, Miscellaneous, Paul Konchesky, Pepe Reina, Raúl Meireles, Ryan Babel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Steven Gerrard
« Match Preview: Liverpool v. FC Utrecht, 09.30.10 | Home | UPDATED Liverpool 0, Utrecht 0: The Point is There is No Point »Subscribe

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ChrisSub, anyone?NoelThat's just crazy talk.ChrisOh yeah, I forgot. Europe doesn't mean anything. Let's just run several of our starting XI the full 90 three days before a league match.NoelHugely disappointed with Cole, Johnson, and Poulsen. Also with sticking Meireles on the right when we know Kuyt pairs well with Johnson. And that Kelly-Poulsen-Cole grouping out on the left is just a royal fustercluck.INCABRUCEWe seem to be moving the ball around decently. I would almost say well, but it is as if we have a lack of intent with each buildup that leads to an anticlimactic final pass/attempt on goal. It is interesting to observe.

Stay hungry Torres- you'll get one...Ed0-0 at halftime. Unconvincing. Strange tactics. Torres isolated. Pepe Reina saving bacon. Carragher unstable. Left side is woefully overmatched.NoelMeireles has now made two fantastic runs, and Cole and now Johnson somehow didn't see the simplest bloody pass out there, the most recent of which would have had him clear on goal. Really annoying.EdI fear he's wasted on the right.NoelWith Johnson clearly providing the width over there today (with moderate success), at least he's able to push well inside, even if I'd prefer him dictating play and making runs from deep based on what I've seen so far. Biggest problem for Meireles today, though, is that a couple of his teammates seem to have blinders on once they hit the final third on the break.EdWhich then goes back to your earlier concern about the ability of Lucas/Poulsen to cover for the fullbacks--atrocious on the left and now Lucas has a yellow.

I AM HAVING FUN.NoelI like the part where Cole refused to pass to an unmarked Meireles with acres in front of him again, instead trying to dribble through three and losing it. He's been like watching Babel so far today.

Also, despite doing a good job getting forward, Johnson isn't exactly doing well when he is forward. And I still don't know what the hell's supposed to be going on out on the left.GalahadThreepwoodCan't see the match because I'm at work, but am following it online...surprised Roy started Torres for this one. And the commentary makes it sound like Liverpool are actually trying to get forward and create chances when they have the ball. Not sure whether this is an aberration or a sign of renewed attacking intent from the squad. Only time will tell.EdA few decent movements forward, no real threats, though. Meireles wide right and Kuyt in behind Torres, Cole on the left.GalahadThreepwoodThanks, Ed. 0-0 wasn't the result I was hoping for, but it sounds like we had some hard luck today (from what I read, Torres had a couple of scoring opportunities in the second half, but one was saved by the keeper and the other one fizzled when he ran out of room to shoot). Hoping for better things on Sunday--but then, when am I not hoping for better things from this team?EdReactions seem to be markedly worse than what you read--I missed the second half, but "pathetic" is the adjective of the day.NoelSecond half looked worse than the first. No real adjustments or improved energy, just a more lethargic version of the first half, and Utrecht had the only real chances of any note.

I'd certainly go with unpalatable over unlucky.ChrisToo true. I was hoping to see the better 2nd half team as we've been used to. Definitely not the case. The mids seemed to have no idea what they were supposed to be doing. And every other corner the opponents take seem to result in a good chance, whereas ours result in easy clears every time. I'm afraid we need a better performance to draw with Blackpool at home on Sunday.....sad.EdDoes anyone know if Meireles has a secret history as a winger?INCABRUCELet's see Torres go out there guns blazing and bring that momentum into the league matches!!!!Red2deathHooray for Lucas and Poulsen.
Our inspirational engine room.

When I look at the line-up, I just see a gap where our midfield is supposed to be. Hoping against hope it won't be like that on the pitch.NoelIt can work. It should be able to work. It just needs a high back line and the fullbacks given license to get forward at every opportunity while Poulsen and Lucas actively look to cover for them. The three attacking mids provide direct box support; the fullbacks are able to properly provide decent width by the overall shift in defensive tactics.

I don't expect we'll see that, though. A deep back line and two DMs will likely mean a choice between width and immediate striker support with a complete inability to do both even semi-competently. So, yeah.Noel...and, surprisingly, a moderately encouraging Lucas-Johnson "parntership" on the right so far, which Johnson looking to take up very advanced positions and provide the width. Not sure what's going on with Kelly-Poulsen yet, though it appears Poulsen's the more "attacking" DM. Or it's just his complete lack of positional sense and he's already wandering aimlessly and creating holes. Still wish it was Meireles there instead of himNoelmeh, though the backline's still to frickin' deep, which is giving way too much time even with the midfielders looking moderately interested in pressuring in defense.Red2deathI must today it's better than expected, but this setup would still be very far down my list of choice midfields. Also, with our DMs playing as close to our defence as they are, it's just a mix-up waiting to happen that let's the opponent in on goal.

Imagine, we went from having arguable the best midfield in the world, Gerrard-Alonso-Masch, to the current pairing of Lucas Leiva and Christian Poulsen. Ah, well, so much for nostalgia... won't live in the past...EdI'm sharing the enthusiasm--so far the performances by the two of them as a partnership (and Poulsen individually) have been poor at best.blog comments powered by Disqus

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Friday, 1 October 2010

Matchday: Liverpool v. Utrecht

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