By Lee Jaundrell
13/2/2013
Liverpool will kick
off in Russia Thursday teatime, with a clear intention of taking the remainder
of their Europa League campaign seriously. This season as seen a familiar path
throughout, encouraging displays giving momentum to a growing side, being
curtailed by a shocking result. See Aston Villa, Oldham and on Monday evening
West Brom. Liverpool had come from a good display away to Arsenal and excellent
display away to the Champions Man City, only to stutter once more at home to
the baggies.
Liverpool weren’t
terrible at home to West Brom; they just couldn’t turn possession and territory
into goals. If a penalty had not been missed, the game could easily of faded
into a 1-0 home win, a forgettable match but 3 points, onwards and upwards to
the next league game at home to Swansea, and maybe a late season surge towards
Champions League football. But Foster saved Gerrard’s spot kick and half of
Liverpool’s fans are up in arms.
The Europa League
game against Zenit St Petersburg now takes on greater significance. A cup win
couldn’t save Dalglish his job, but even though Rodgers shouldn’t fear for his
job, the Europa League could give him a chance to prove that his Liverpool have
that winning mentality.
Rodgers hasn’t had
the same backing as Dalglish with regards transfers, but there has been ample money
spent. The outlay on Borini, Allen, Sturridge and Coutinho is the best part of
£50million, yet only Sturridge is a guaranteed regular starter. Sturridge and Coutinho
will not be available for Liverpool on Thursday, but Allen and Borini should
start.
The tie against
Zenit will be a tough prospect, Russian football has come a long way in the
past 10 years, floods of money invested by giant corporations, including
Gazprom who own Zenit, has made the Russian sides strong. Zenit themselves won the second string European
trophy in 2008, which followed on from CSKA Moscow who won it in 2005.
Liverpool will need to be on their game, and will most likely need to be
ruthless in front of goal and solid at the back. Liverpool have conceded at
least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 games.
What was seen as
an inconvenient burden a few days ago is now the most important game of
Liverpool’s season. Win the Europa League and optimism will be strong in
Liverpool and in Rodgers. Lose to Zenit and it’s a disastrous season, one that
could be difficult for an inexperienced manager to turn around next season.
No comments:
Post a Comment