Thursday, December 27, 2007

Captain Stevie To The Rescue

Derby 1 Liverpool 2
McEveley 67 - Torres 12, Gerrard 90



Derby vs Liverpool at Pride Park. Many would have thought it would be an easy ride for the away side, who's working its way up to the table while the latter is struggling at the bottom of the table. I myself also felt that Derby would be no fight to Liverpool's standards. Somehow, I was proved wrong.

Liverpool as expected, started brightly in the game, controlling the pace and the possession of the game. Derby was running men behind ball most of the time and within 12 minutes, Liverpool got the lead.



26 million pounds striker, Fernando Torres showed to the world again that he's one of the top players around. Got the ball just at the edge of the penalty box, dribbled past two defenders and beat the goalkeeper brilliantly. World Class Finish Fernando!

Torres' Goal


After we gotten the lead, we had so much possession and chances to kill off the game. However, we didn't take our chances. We were wasting in front of goal and I knew it would punish us, which eventually did.

In the second half, Liverpool went to sleep and was in dreamland. Derby came on top of the game, credit to them, they didn't give up. They fought hard and Liverpool didn't play football at all. It's just matter of time the home side would scored. They got their rewards at the 67th minute. A free-kick from the right was totally missed by Fabio Aurelio, which rebounded onto the James McEveley, who didn't make any mistakes in front of goal despite being a defender.

Frustration and anger was definitely in the Liverpool camp. I was the commander and I was swearing at the way the Reds were playing. We woke up after conceding the equaliser. The players showed a little more urgency then. We had several great chances at the end. Xabi Alonso's shot was well saved by young goalkeeper Lewis Price. Gerrard's thunderbolt was denied by the bar.

At that very moment, I really thought we were going to lose the 2 points and a draw against Derby. Until this man, Steven Gerrard, who else, came to Liverpool's rescue. Took the ball from our own half and ran all the way to the other box. Nobody could stop his run.



Yossi Benayoun got the ball and cross to Torres whose shot was well saved by goalkeeper Price. Defender McEveley cleared the ball due to defender's instinct which rebounded off Gerrard's foot into the goal. I flew off my seat! There isn't time later than that. 90th minute!



2-1 was the final score and Gerrard gave Liverpool the 3 points. Derby would at least deserved the draw, I have to agree on that. From a Liverpool's point of view, it's an important win. Even the team didn't play well, we just needed the points. Though we got the win, we must reflect on our own performance and realised how poor we were.

Next stop, Manchester City.


You'll Never Walk Alone..

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