Liverpool 2 – 2 Villa; What a cracking point!

Well that was a turn up for the books wasn’t it?
After me being convinced that we were going to be thrashed today (I predicted 1-5), I came out the ground about as ecstatic as I could be, bearing in mind I’d been seated with the locals.
The Liverpool fans seem a reasonable lot, but I thought it best to keep a very low profile and keep my trap shut whilst within earshot.

So why was I ecstatic, when we’d taken a two goal lead and seemingly gave it away?
Because we actually played very well, especially in the first half.
I commented in another thread that I wouldn’t mind losing, it was the performance that was more important for me.
And we certainly did perform in that first half.
The whole team harried and hassled with even the midfield doing a good job.
And trust me, we had Liverpool, who have a very good home record, totally on the back foot. So much so that we totally shut their fans up, which is generally a good indicator of things.

We totally stopped Liverpool playing.
So much so that we were winning nearly every second ball and pretty much all the ref’s calls were going our way.
Imagine my delight when I looked at the stats on the concourse and saw we had 48% possession.
Now that’s more like it!
In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if we’d actually edged that stat, but whatever, I was also very happy that we’d also created more chances.

The biggest single thing I noticed though, was how much more self assured we looked with Bertrand playing at Left Back. It was almost like we’d had a massive chain removed from around our necks.
I reckon that kid will prove to be a decent signing, even if we don’t get to keep him.
Mind you, we’ve all slated Lambert for not sorting the position out.

Anyway, make no mistakes, we didn’t park the bus. We actually went for it.
No counter attacking rubbish; we took it to them.
And I loved it.

But I always had a niggling feeling at half time, that things would change.
And so it proved.
Conceding the goal just before half time was a turning point for me.
Pool came out a different side and where they were previously sloppy and slow, now they had a lot more about them. The crowd were instantly buoyed.

Suarez, as much as I don’t like him looked utter class and a constant threat. Which leads me to that penalty.
All I’ll say is it looked like a penalty to me at the time and having literally just seen the highlights of it, I still think it was. Guzan touched him and that’s enough. You could say Suarez looked for it, but don’t they all? No complaints really from me.

And then we were pushed back more and the whole game totally changed, with me thinking that the home team would get the inevitable third goal to take all the points.
But it wasn’t to be and on the balance of play, I think it was a fair result.
Certainly I didn’t hear any of the locals complaining they were robbed, on the way out.
Although I did hear a few comments about us being a dirty, time-wasting side, which while they disappointed me, had me thinking “needs must”. Sadly, the thought also crossed my mind that the comments were pretty much correct.

Gabby having to come off was also a turning point, as he’d been causing Liverpool nightmares with his pace. He looked sharp to me and I hope he isn’t badly injured, as he’ll be needed.

Given that nearly all of us expected to get beaten today, you can’t be anything but happy.
I know some might say we should have held on for the win, but they have different class players up front, they really do and they’ll be thereabouts come the end of the season.

West Brom up next, isn’t it?
If we can play like we did in the first half, it’ll be easy, that one.
But we’re at home aren’t we?????
Hmm.