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| Support: Liverpool players warm up wearing 'Suarez 7' shirts |
A day after being charged with an 8 game ban along with a £40’000 fine, Luis Suarez was in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. But this didn’t deter Kenny Dalglish in naming him in the starting line-up. The players showed their support for the No.7 in the warm-up, all donning a “Suarez 7” t-shirt, just minutes after a statement of backing released on the website from the Liverpool squad.
The game started at a high tempo, with Liverpool retaining the bulk of the possession, as they’ve done for the majority of the games so far this season. Coming close on many occasions in the process, Charlie Adam smashed his free kick into the wall and Jordan Henderson tested the ‘keepers handling from the edge of the area. A great piece of skill from Skrtel allowed him to get a shot away, but Al Habsi was equal to the save.
As the game progressed without the score line troubled, Wigan dug in and started to keep the ball, carving out some opportunities of their own. Diame’s pile driver from long range crashed into the side netting, while Jordi Gomez forced Reina into a reflex save after a goal line scramble, but after play was already called up for a foul.
The best opportunity fell to Glen Johnson, a clever one two with Maxi put him through on goal with the on rushing Al Habsi, the fullback looked to poke it through his legs, but as always this season the goalkeeper kept it out.
It has been a familiar sight this season, Liverpool retain the majority of possession but fail to make the dominance count. Can it be pressure of not adding a first goal? Who knows? But it’s a problem that needs to be rectified. The players showed on Sunday against Aston Villa what early goals can do, Liverpool could have went on to score 4, 5 or even 6. But against the Latics they seemed to have run out of ideas.
As Liverpool started the game on the front foot, Wigan ended it in dominance. Victor Moses went on a surging run from his own half into the opposite, skipping past Glen Johnson as if he wasn’t there, as well as evading Skrtel and Agger to get a vicious attempt on target, only for Pepe Reina to beat it away with his fists.
Next, a last gasp Glen Johnson tackle on Connor Sammon ensured that the visitors never went behind going into the half time break.
The first period was precisely a half of two halves. Liverpool failed to make their early pressure and dominance count, while Wigan were strong and defiant in their reply. Both teams having cases of taking the lead.
The second half, much like the first was a half of wasted opportunities. Al Habsi tipped Luis Suarez’s free kick over the bar. Charlie Adam, uncharacteristically largely ineffective for most of the game, had a chance to open the scoring through a penalty. However, Al Habsi once again frustrated the visiting fans with a great save from the spot kick.
Dirk Kuyt then spurned another opportunity, searching for his 50th league goal for some while now has seemed hinder the Dutchman’s finish after his flying end to the campaign last season. A clever worked free kick from Charlie Adam, chipping the ball into the box, but Kuyt couldn’t direct his effort on target.
From then chances were few and far between, Liverpool were unstuck by the resolute Wigan defence, while Bellamy and Shelvey couldn’t make an impact on the game with the 20 minutes given by Dalglish.
Fulltime Wigan 0-0 Liverpool
Overall, a frustrating game for Liverpool. Especially as Arsenal picked up a win, and with Chelsea playing Tottenham it was a real chance to gain ground on that 4th spot. Missed chances were left to rue at the final whistle, leaving Liverpool 6th two points behind Chelsea and Arsenal in 4th and 5th.
Andy Carroll once again received a mere 5 minutes. And in that time looked decent, he won a free kick and was a threat in the air in his short tenure on the pitch. I for one don’t understand how Andy Carroll is to pick up form and adapt to the Liverpool system by watching from the sidelines, a situation similar to that of the former number 9 at his current club.
Jose Enrique not for the first time this season seemed reassured all game in defence and offered a threat in attack. He has reassured the left back position, which over the season has been a problematic area for the Reds and at a fee of £5m is a real coup by the Liverpool backroom.
Liverpool fans should not be deterred from the result. If, and it’s a big if, they had once again not failed to take the opportunities they should’ve won. The quality of football wasn’t at its best, but in order to keep ground on the leaders they have to be winning games against an opposition of this quality. The squad is still in a rebuilding process and I for one would rather be in the position it is today, rather than the mess the club was in this time last year under Hodgson. Lets not forget the outstanding performance against Villa, which Liverpool comprehensively ran out victors. The squad is capable of a lot more and it wont isn’t long until it fulfills its potential.
Sikander Najib @AttackoftheKop
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