[Archived] Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool

[CrazyIvan]

I don't think Steven Gerrard would miss a penalty just to prove a point. He won it for crying out loud! He was the only one who was any danger to us and we all know how good a player he really is. It's wrong to suggest he would miss a penalty like that.

Does anyone else think that the tactic of switching ends on us before the game backfired last night? I somehow doubt Gerrard would have missed that penalty in front of his own fans at the other end...

[Clitherover]

Two points off Bolton now, and everyone's been raving on about what a good season they've had.

[m1st]

For those of us who have both long memories and scouse mates who've joined me at Anfield many times over the years [usually to see us lose], last night must rank with the 1-0 win at their place that Sunday in September 1993. How incredibly sweet it is to be able to e-mail them with links to all the various newspaper reports on last night [just in case they've missed them, you understand!]. Late last night, I heard that at least one blue-and-white shirt was due to be worn to lectures at Liverpool University today!

I've not visited this Board for a few days because I've been so down about the way that the Ronaldinho story was being unfolded to make us look a world-wide laughing-stock. However, last night's result and, more importantly the manner in which it was obtained, have reminded me that the club is bigger than any of us.

Thanks must go to Steve Kean; it speaks volumes for his character that he's come up with a result like last night's, having been pitchforked into the Manager's job with all the media comment he's had to endure over the past few weeks.

What a Happy New Year!!!

[JAL]

I don't think Steven Gerrard would miss a penalty just to prove a point. He won it for crying out loud! He was the only one who was any danger to us and we all know how good a player he really is. It's wrong to suggest he would miss a penalty like that.

Does anyone else think that the tactic of switching ends on us before the game backfired last night? I somehow doubt Gerrard would have missed that penalty in front of his own fans at the other end...

He just put it that little bit too high for me when hes as accurate as they come.

Would love to know how many hes missed like that. Gerrard's alot more accurate, at least force the keeper into a save but somehow last night he didnt allow that pleasure.

[Look4Me]

He just put it that little bit too high for me when hes as accurate as they come.

Would love to know how many hes missed like that. Gerrard's alot more accurate, at least force the keeper into a save but somehow last night he didnt allow that pleasure.

The commentator yesterday said that Gerrard had missed 6 out of 20 penalties. That's actually pretty bad.

It did seem quite suspect, though, not allowing anyone else to take the penalty when he was fouled and his pulse looking like at least doing 180...

Then again, he might just be so dumb as to think it MUST be his responsibility..

[philipl]

He just put it that little bit too high for me when hes as accurate as they come.

Would love to know how many hes missed like that. Gerrard's alot more accurate, at least force the keeper into a save but somehow last night he didnt allow that pleasure.

The camera was on his face before he took the penalty and I've not seen him look so troubled/unfocussed before a spot kick before.

[Parsonblue]

Watching Hoilett and Olsson racing down the wings last reminded me of the days of Hird and Bailey doing the same. The two young wingers really made the difference for me against Liverpool. After the dross I watched at Sunderland on Saturday, this was such a refreshing change.

I thought it was an excellent team performance and fair play to Steve Kean for the tactics he employed. The one area where I think we need to make a couple of quality signings is in central midfield. We badly need a specialist defensive midfield player who can sit in front of the back four and stop people running at our centre backs. We also need a fitter, younger version of Dunny, someone who can act as a playmaker and get forward and score goals. I must admit that I would love to see Charlie Adam at the club - far more than Ronaldinho or Beckham.

Nelsen and Samba were outstanding in defence, Givet worked hard at left back and Salgado, once again, proved just what a class act he is both in defence and going forward. A word too, for Mark Bunn, after a somewhat indifferent performance at Sunderland, I thought he had an excellent game and looked very assured when called upon.

The only slight criticism I would make about last night was with regard to the introduction of Morris into the centre of midfield. The lad has been excellent in the Reserves at left-back and out wide on the left of midfield. He has never really had a long run in the centre of midfield and I thought he struggled to get to grips with Gerrard when he came on. I don't blame Morris, I just think he was asked to do a job that was totally new to him, but was surprised that Linganzi, who plays central midfield for the Reserves - and plays it very well - wasn't given the opportunity to come on.

However, that small point aside, I felt it was a terrific performance last night. I must admit that I had, and still do have doubts about the manager, but on the evidence of last night I suspect that he might well prove me, and a good many others, wrong.

[JAL]

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

[cruz]

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

Grumble Grumble

[RoversSG]

Good game, this must be the best i seen us played this season after the chelsea game and unlike that game we got all 3 points this time. Still, must say my heart was in my mouth when the penalty was awarded. Thank god Gerard missed

[BuckyRover]

Grumble Grumble

He never shuts up.

We were always going to be under pressure at the end. We have a threadbare squad and tiredness was always going to an issue.

[RevidgeBlue]

He just put it that little bit too high for me when hes as accurate as they come.

Would love to know how many hes missed like that. Gerrard's alot more accurate, at least force the keeper into a save but somehow last night he didnt allow that pleasure.

It did look a bit like that but it's extremely unlikely.

Why go to the bother of scoring a stunning first goal only then to deliberately miss a penalty?

Still anything to deflect credit away from Steve Kean I suppose.

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

All managers do it, I think we looked so comfortable at 3-0 he was trying to rest players and allow the ones taken off an ovation.

Unless he was injured the replacement of the outstanding Olsson was a particularly strange one.

[CrazyIvan]

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

Actually, I thought he did ok. Not outstanding but good experience for a youngster and got into some good positions.

[RevidgeBlue]

Tired of saying this, but we had some great performances under Sam as well.

We really haven't.

We had some decent results under Sam but certainly never any performances that had you on the edge of the seat like last night.

[LeChuck]

Couldnt help but feel that he missed that penalty deliberately possibly to make a statement against the current management team.

Just a thought but it was so so high the penalty shot that the miss came across as a deliberate miss.

You post some mental stuff but that's right up there with the best.

I don't have much to add to what's been said. That's the first game I've been to this season, I must admit it was refreshing to see a game that open.

I thought Hoilett was a slightly odd choice of MoM, for me Samba, Pedersen, Salgado, Benjani and M. Diouf all had better games. I don't want to take anything away from Hoilett though, he was still very good.

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

Actually I totally agree with this post. Morris lost the ball a few times when he should have been trying to keep possession. It was this that led to Liverpool's goal.

[Steve Moss]

My teeth aren't grit and I have never been pro-Sam. I have no reason to be. I couldn't care less about him until he joined us here. I call it as I see it, if that doesn't fit your sacred view of the world then that's your problem.

Amen. It's never been about Sam or JW or any one other person. It's always been about the club. Some of Venkys' decisions seem bizzare and completely lacking in common sense. That includes the sacking of Sam and the [alleged] sidelining of JW. As a Rovers supporter, it is fair to comment and express reservations. It is not a contradiction to be pleased with a proper footballing 3-1 Rovers victory over Liverpool. Likewise to keep fingers crossed in the hopes that this is not an aberation.

Well done Venkys Blackburn Rovers...

Take deep breaths. Sit down and relax. Saturday will be here soon enough.

I thought Hoilett was a slightly odd choice of MoM, for me Samba, Pedersen, Salgado, Benjani and M. Diouf all had better games. I don't want to take anything away from Hoilett though, he was still very good.

Isn't it a refreshing change to have a half dozen contenders for MoM? It's like we have a real hard charging, never say die team again.

[PAFELL]

Couldnt help but feel that he missed that penalty deliberately possibly to make a statement against the current management team.

Just a thought but it was so so high the penalty shot that the miss came across as a deliberate miss.

I had the same impression.

[BigUts]

Living in Southport, and with it being full of Kopites, it's been great to be in work this morning!!!!

Benjani's goal was wonderful, but the other two were as well but for differing reasons. I think we saw the best of Benji last night, and I hope it continues.

The team is full of pace and fight at the moment, and I think thats why we look so menacing when going forward. Mame, Olsson and Junior have it to burn, and it worried Liverpool all night.

Class performance and looks good for the future!

[mhead]

The manner of last night's performance reminded me of what might have turned out at Villa in the Cup last year.

It is such a change of style that there is a 'shock value' to it....and it shows the talent we have and that coming thru.

Now we need to add to the young talent.And get the three extra wins to make us safe for next Season's push.

Hope the Rao's got as much pleasure as the average fan....and so good to not have BFS crowing about what HE has achieved.

Agree with Rev's post and surprised that it was Le Chuck's first match!

Will be there with my Season Ticket at the West Brom match...my 4th match this season via Bulgaria and points East. Lets hope that is one of the 3 wins we need. Funny I miss the defeats more than the victories cos I am so happy to know we have won.

[thenodrog]

Josh Morris looked so out of his depth totally lost, could and should have cost Rovers last night luckily we got away with it.

Excellent win last night but lets not forget that Liverpool until they very flukily beat Bolton on Sat and we lost to Sunderland were below us in the Prem. Liverpool by their previous standards are a dysfunctional misfiring outfit with no outstanding players.

Torres Liverpool career must surely be coming to an end soon. He reminds me of Benny Mac season 1 and Benny Mac season 3. If Torres had scored the fantastic goal that Benjani slammed past Reyna we'd be watching and hearing about it for the rest of the season.

Gerrard proved that he is simply the decent club player that I have always said he was, his reputation is built as a result of nothing but one match in Istanbul a happy knack of scoring memorable goals and frenzied media hype. He does not ever control a game and he is not and never will be the Midfield General that we are continually spoon fed by Hanson, Lawrenson etc. If he was he'd have cemented his own position in both Liverpool and England instead of continually making way for other players and filling in the midfield.

That said well done to manager and players again. 4-4-2 but the first goal ironically straight off last managers top shelf. Hoillets MoM could easily have been given to Salgado / Samba / Nelsen imo. Pederson was quiet going forward, understandably so, but very effective in the less eye catching, needs must role of nullifying Gerrard and Cole in midfield. Dunny played well too putting in many tackles on the same two above which the manager must have insisted on until he inevitably tired and just about managed to walk off unaided. For the first 60 minutes Olsson and the two strikers were on fire. On the down side Givet was last nights biggest disappointment by allowing Johnson and Cole too many opportunities to get the ball across hence my respect for the two centre halves.

A superb performance and with the biggest difference last night being the subs. Injuries and finances have left us scraping the bottom of the barrel and our subs were much 'weaker' than Liverpools and it showed massively as each one came on. (wtf was going on with Goulon? We needed him to play deep not centre forward). I was mighty nervous when that penalty was given and mighty relieved when it was blazed over.

Forget Ronaldinho, Beckham and BIG name signings. Lets just find a Scott Parker, a Wilson Palasios a new Robbie Savage or Flitty or even a Vince Grella with a different body and mind set. Last night we were crying out for one such player.

[Herbie6590]

Last night felt like a proper football match - it was absolutely marvellous to bloody the nose of one of the Sky 4 without the need for sly, underhand "professionalism" - just skill, pace & power.

Loved Benji's first - never thought he had it in him. More please !

[cruz]

-4-2 but the first goal ironically straight off last managers top shelf.

It wasn't a free kick, throw in or corner. It was a longish PASS to Diouf who then precisely fed the midfield runner.

A runner that would not have been there under the last manager.

[CrazyIvan]

It wasn't a free kick, throw in or corner. It was a longish PASS to Diouf who then precisely fed the midfield runner.

A runner that would not have been there under the last manager.

Completely agree with this. The channel pass from MB Diouf was superbly timed and placed. Something we NEVER did under Big Sam.

[Rovers_Dan]

brilliant result.

did anyone hear lawro last night on 5live after the game?

he said all rovers are good at 'is heading the ball away'.

ave that you donkey!!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Fans are losing sight of exactly what Sam did for this club.

He kept us in the division

Gave us a top 10 finish

He is the reason that Ollsson, Givet, Diouf (x2), Hoilett, Benjani were all on the pitch.

Gerrard - decent club player..?? dont get carried away. He almost single handedly brought Liverpool back into the match yesterday. He's not world class but he's certainly one of the top midfielders in Europe.