Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 - Prem (Dec 26 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL 2 Newcastle 0

Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Scorer(s) - Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch Half Time - 2-0 Venue - Anfield Date - Mon 26 Dec 2005 Star Man - Xabi Alonso

 

 

 

 

When Michael Owen sat at home last summer pondering his future, you can be sure this wasn’t the return to Anfield he had in mind. For a start, he wasn’t wearing red. Being roundly booed by large sections of the crowd probably wasn’t in the plan either. Michael Owen may be at Newcastle, but his heart isn’t. He was desperate to return to Liverpool last summer, and still is. At least he was before this game, the crowd’s reaction to him may have changed his mind.

I don’t have too much sympathy for Michael being at Newcastle. It’s his own fault for listening to his advisors rather than his mates. If anyone thinks Owen chose Newcastle over Liverpool, then they’re seriously deluded. Michael Owen did not want to join Newcastle, and he doesn’t want to be there now. Unfortunately for him, he lost his bottle when Liverpool wanted him to sit tight. If he could have it all over again, he’d surely listen to Rafa Benitez, Stevie Gerrard and Carra rather than his agents.

If he hadn’t left for Madrid, he wouldn’t be in the situation he is now. So he only has himself to blame for his current predicament. However, he did not deserve the vitriol and taunting he got from the Kop in this game. It was embarrassing, but it’s just the latest in a long line of recent examples which have tarnished our reputation as being ‘different’ to the rest.

Why was Michael booed? Because he left us to sign for Real Madrid? If so, then we’re no better than the blueshite abusing Gary Speed, or the Geordies who call Hamann ‘a greedy bastard’. Was it because he ran his contract down and we didn’t get what he was worth? If it then we’re no better than the Leeds fans who abuse Kewell, or any other set of fans who we’ve looked down our noses at when they’ve booed one of their former players. The manner of his departure may justify the lack of applause or singing of his name, but it does not justify booing an Anfield great.

If it was because he joined Newcastle instead of us this summer, then it’s even worse because not only does it make us look small time, it also makes us look fucking thick. Is there anyone out there who genuinely thinks Michael Owen would rather be at Newcastle than Liverpool? We’re the Champions of Europe and we’re the best equipped club to challenge Chelsea. Michael Owen is playing for Newcastle. He’s more to be pitied than scorned.

He didn’t snub Liverpool this summer, he just lost his nerve in a game of ‘chicken’.

I’m not one of those who was desperate to have Michael back, and I’m not pining for us to sign him now. I’d be happy to have him back, but it’s not something I’m that bothered about. If Rafa wants him, great. If he doesn’t, then that’s fine too. I’m fairly indifferent about Michael these days.

But I was squirming uncomfortably in my seat when the boos went up the first time he touched the ball. I expected some light hearted booing, more ironic than anything else. But there was a real venom behind it which shocked me. When he stood in the six yard box at the Kop end for Newcastle’s first corner, ‘Where were you in Istanbul’ was screamed at him at a volume which was louder than any chant I’ve heard in any of our home games this season (apart from Chelsea).

Where was he in Istanbul? Probably sat at home cheering us on and regretting his decision to leave. I know where he was in Cardiff 2001 and 2003 though (not to mention Dortumnd, Rome and numerous other places). It would seem that others have forgotten. To anyone who booed him, get your treble winners DVD out, watch it and then hang your head in shame, because he didn’t deserve that.

I don’t know Michael Owen, I’ve never met him, but I know people who are close to him, and I know that Michael ‘felt like crying’ after what happened on Boxing Day. He was never fully appreciated by some whilst he was at Anfield, he knew that, and I’m sure he wasn’t expecting his name to be chanted when he returned in another club’s colours. He wouldn’t have expected to be booed after all he did for the club whilst he was here.

After all, Owen will have seen people like David James get a rapturous reception whenever he’s taken his place in the Kop goal for West Ham or Man City. He’s been there when Rigobert Song and Titi Camara have come back to Anfield to have their names chanted. For fucks sake, Paul Jones got a thunderous reception and he only played two games for us. For Michael to get booed must have devastating. Regardless of how he left the club, he did not deserve that, and it portrayed us in a bad light.

Anyway, rant over. I wish I hadn’t had to write that as I’d much rather be focussing on yet another classy display from the reds. We’re looking very, very good at the moment, and the gulf between ourselves and Newcastle was so big that the 2-0 scoreline was actually embarrassing for Liverpool. It should have been five or six at least.

With Sissoko suspended and Hamann injured, Gerrard was restored to the middle of the park alongside Alonso. I’ve had doubts about the effectiveness of those two as a pairing, as the balance just never seemed right last season. They played together against Wigan a few weeks ago, and it looked very good, and against the Geordies it was close to perfection. Alonso just sat in there and dictated the play, and Gerrard was at his dynamic best.

Gerrard was brilliant in the first half, as were the team as a whole. Morientes and Crouch were bright and lively, Kewell and Garcia were providing width and inventiveness, and Gerrard and Alonso were completely dominant against the out of their depth Faye and Bowyer.

Morientes was denied by Given after ghosting through two challenges, and the Irish keeper then made an unbelievable save to keep out Kewell’s close range effort. Harry’s having the kind of spell at the moment that Crouchy was having up until a few weeks ago.

His confidence isn’t there in front of goal, but he is getting into good positions. I don’t know the exact stats, but Kewell has only one goal in what must be something approaching his last fifty games now. He could have had three against the Geordies, and once he gets one I’m sure more will follow because he’s been in pretty good form this season, despite still not being fully fit.

Liverpool were all over the Magpies, and it was no surprise when Gerrard opened the scoring with a wonderfully executed goal. Garcia played the ball into Crouch, who laid the ball perfectly into the path of his skipper who did the rest. The ease with which Gerrard sidestepped a defender before lashing the ball past Given showed that this is a man at the very top of his game right now.

Gerrard has been brilliant all season, and is not only playing out of his skin, but he’s been a great captain too. That wasn’t always the case last season, but I can’t speak highly enough of Steven this year. He plays like a captain, and now he talks like one too. If I was being really picky, the only thing I could criticise him for was not always standing up for his team-mates when incidents happen on the field, but he put that right in the second half of this game when he took on Shearer and Bowyer. All that’s left now is for him to do that to the likes of Cole, Drogba and Makalele!

Gerrard has moved up to another level this season, and Crouch has played a small part in that. It’s a major feature in our play these days that when the ball is played into Crouch, Gerrard will be making a run off him because he knows that Crouchy will find a way to get the ball into his path. There’s a great understanding there, and it’s tough to defend against because very few midfield players can keep pace with a marauding Gerrard.

The second goal was equally well worked. Morientes showed some lovely footwork to manoeuvre a pass out wide to Kewell, and when he sent the ball to the back post Crouch’s downward header was tipped onto the post by Given but the ball spun over the line.

There was some confusion around the stadium as to whether the ball had crossed the line, and therefore the celebrations were a bit muted. Crouch was sure it was in, as he wheeled away in celebration. A quick look at the linesman confirmed that it had been given, but the moment had gone and it was more applause than wild celebration then.

I was amazed when I got home and put Skysports news on to see the goal had been credited to Shay Given. Just who the fuck is it that keeps trying to take Crouch’s goals away? Liverpool should look into this because it’s a fucking disgrace.

Just as they did against Wigan, Match of the Day credited Crouch with the goal, and it seems to just be sky and the national press who have the problem giving credit where it’s due. That’s five in his last five games now, that must be pissing a lot of people in the media off. It’s runnin wild now.

Looking back at the game, it’s astonishing that Crouch’s goal was to be the last of the game. Liverpool continued to play great football and create chances, but failed to add to those two first half strikes. There was definitely an element of conserving energy, as despite controlling the second half I felt we never got out of second gear. Not that I was complaining, as with the derby coming up I was happy for the lads to not excert themselves too much.

The third goal would have allowed Rafa to make changes and give people a rest, but it didn’t come so the boss had to wait until Bowyer’s dismissal before he could introduce the likes of Pongolle, Cisse and especially Josemi.

I thought the sending off was a bit harsh, even if it was Bowyer. It was a bad tackle, but generally he could expect a yellow for that. What probably made the referee produce a red was the reaction of Crouch, Finnan and Gerrard, who were the nearest players to the incident. They were all livid, and the ref possibly thought to himself that if the players were so angry it must have been a really bad one.

Crouch was given a yellow card for shoving Bowyer in the chest, and Gerrard went for Shearer after the Newcastle captain shoved Crouch. Shearer then tried to convince the ref to send off Crouch, but he wasn’t aware Carragher was stood behind him listening to every word. Carra gave him the thumb and told him to fuck off, much to the amusement of the Anfield crowd.

It all settled down after that, Newcastle understandably posed even less attacking threat than they had before, and Liverpool saw the game out without breaking sweat. The subs were lively, and Cisse was unlucky not to score when Given denied him. Newcastle’s backline is atrocious, with Boumsong being only marginally better than poor old Titus.

Bramble is so bad I’d feel sorry for him if he didn’t come across as someone who actually believes he can play. There’s an arrogance about his play which belies the fact that he is actually very, very shit. He already has two Liverpool goals to his name, and with a bit more luck he could have had a few more down the years.

He’s an own goal waiting to happen when he plays against us, and when young defender Steven Taylor was forced off with injury, the sight of Bramble removing his tracksuit and preparing to enter the fray was met with a huge cheer from all corners of the ground (except the one which housed the Geordies).

DJ George announced his arrival, and there was another huge cheer. It was really funny, if a little cruel. The chant of ‘Bramble for England’ may have been intended to be ironic, but as someone who wants England to lose every game I’d love him to get a call up.

The Geordies responded by taunting Crouch with.. erm.. ‘You’ll never play for England’. Are you gonna tell them or shall I? Not too bright those lads are they?

The most appropriate chant of the day was directed towards Owen. “What a waste of talent” indeed. Michael Owen’s advisors have a lot to answer for, as they’ve let him down badly. Still, they’ve lined their pockets very nicely in the last two summers, and you can be sure they’ll be looking to make more next summer by activating the £12m escape clause in his contract.

Liverpool may still want Michael Owen back, but will they be happy to hand over a million quid to the agents who engineered his departure in the first place? Look at the contrasting fortunes of Liverpool and Michael Owen since he chose to leave the club. If Michael had listened to his heart (and his mates) rather than his agent, then he wouldn’t be in the mess he is now.

Whether or not the booing will have any bearing on what happens next summer remains to be seen, but I’d hope not. Most of those booing would be the first ones to cheer him if he came back. Football fans are a very fickle bunch, and it seems Liverpool fans are no different.

For the star man I went with Alonso, although it could just as easily have gone to Gerrard. The back four were very good once more, with Hyypia particularly strong against Shearer. The Newcastle number nine is notorious for backing into defenders and using his elbows in aerial challenges. He didn’t get the chance to do that though because Sami was so clever. Time after time Shearer tried to back in, only for the Big Finn to just sidestep out of the way, and then move in front of Shearer to head the ball away. Shearer never got near him all day, and Hyypia is in the form of his life right now.

Crouch was good, Morientes was too, whilst Kewell and Garcia did their bit too. The players all seem to know what their role in the side is, and as a team we’re playing very, very well. Our indifferent start to the season looks to have given us a little too much to do to catch Chelsea, but as Rafa always says, we should think only about the next game.

That next game of course is the small matter of the derby. I’m not going because I’m a jinx. The last time I saw us win at the Pit was in 1987. The games I missed, we generally won. The ones I went to, we lost or drew. I went last year and we know what happened then, so I’ll be watching at home this time.


Team: Reina; Finnan (Josemi), Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell (Sinama-Pongolle), Morientes, Crouch (Cisse):