Right, to begin with I'll point out that I've got alot to put in here today so apologies if this post is a little disjointed, I expect I'll be back and forward between different stories and sub-stories so my writing may lack a little cohesion.
Our first visit to the Sports Direct Arena saw us lose again, two goals from Newcastle's big money January signing being the difference between the teams. It was a fairly decent game, both sides passed the ball well at times and both made chances and it was certainly a watchable Premier League match. I'm going to try to take the disappointment of defeat out of my mind for now (I'll get to it later though, I'm sure) and look at a few of the key incidents in the game, in the order they happened.
The first act of note in the game saw Andy Carroll use his strength, determination and ability to pass two Newcastle defenders and then the keeper but for some reason chose to fall to the ground rather than stay on his feet and more than likely score. He was rightly booked and it was the kind of offence that in my opinion should be punishable by a suspension, a yellow card isn't really a deterrent for players these days but I'm sure if being caught diving meant an automatic three game ban players would think twice before trying to cheat. I think trying to win a penalty shows how low Carroll's confidence in front of goal actually is at the moment, a striker in form would be focused on scoring in that position and gaining a penalty wouldn't enter his head when the chance to stick the ball in the net falls his way. Carroll actually played pretty well in the first half and if he'd had a little more support up with him I think his presence would have led to a goal for him or a team mate.
The next key incident in the game came from a Liverpool corner when the ball bounced off a combination of Carroll and I think Gutierrez and was well on it's way into the net when it struck the outstretched arm of Danny Simpson on the goal line. It hit him somewhere between the elbow and the shoulder so it was clearly a handball offence that should have resulted in a penalty and a red card. Liverpool's record with penalties this season certainly suggests that it would not be a formality we would have taken a 1-0 lead but it would have been a great chance and Newcastle being reduced to ten men so early on would have made a difference to the outcome of the game. The linesman looking across was shielding his eyes from the sun so possibly didn't see it but this doesn't change the fact an offence was committed.
Only a couple of minutes after that Newcastle went ahead, Skrtel caught slightly underneath the ball leaving Papiss Cisse to finish with a very well placed header in off the post. Ben Arfa was given far too much time to cross and the ball was in the air for a long time, from a defensive point of view it was preventable and, taking nothing away from Newcastle, going a goal behind wasn't what we deserved at that point.
Part way through the second half we went 2-0 behind, a counter attack and some intelligent running saw Cisse get his second. The Senegalese was a good five or six yards offside when the ball was played towards him, it took a very very slight deflection on it's way to him but as I understand it this does not constitute a 'second phase of play' and the flag should have gone up. It wasn't even a close call, it was as clear as they come. Cisse was able to put the ball into the net unmarked and unchallenged but why should a defender have to mark an offside attacker? As long as the player is offside the defenders are well within their rights to leave him alone and expect the officials to do their job. The same linesman with the same sun in his eyes missed this one aswell.
The final act of any note was Pepe Reina's red card in the last few minutes of the game, seconds after we'd used our final substitutions. Reina was kicked by Perch (for which the Newcastle player was correctly booked) but he reacted and as the two squared up Pepe moved his head in Perch's direction and Perch fell to the floor. Replays don't really show any contact, or if there is it is less than minimal and Perch's reaction didn't help the situation but the rules are pretty clear and Reina can have no complaints at his dismissal, the ref had very little choice but to send him off. Ironically enough that red card could be the thing that COSTS Newcastle a place in Europe next season, if they finish sixth they will need Liverpool to reach the FA Cup final for the next UEFA cup spot to be given to the sixth place team, and Reina will now be suspended for the semi final with Everton, making Liverpool's task more difficult. This incident was spotted in the same goalmouth by the same officials with the same sun shining as the ones that were missed earlier on in the match. And somewhere, in a bar in France, Zinedine Zidane leans towards his mate and says 'you seriously call that a headbutt?'.
Newcastle played well and look good value for a top six finish under the management of a man the supporters desperately didn't want in charge and the sensible ownership of a man they despise at a stadium their own fans spray with graffiti. This isn't really a dig at Newcastle fans, I think fans of most teams would have similar feelings in similar situations, it just goes to show how fickle (and occasionally wrong) football supporters can be.
Anyway, about our own performance. We weren't too bad for the majority of the match, the first goal came minutes after we should have had a penalty and the second goal was offside so it's possible to put forward a decent argument that we deserved a draw, it's just alot harder to make a case for the win. Some of our approach play in the first half was neat, Bellamy looking good and Carroll looking determined, again the opposition woodwork was struck and Carroll also came close with a header. The problem lies with a lack of belief, as soon as we concede the players just don't seem to believe we can still get something from the game. Our goal return this season is very poor and it seems to affect everybody, it just doesn't seem we have somebody who we can trust to put the ball in the net so the overwhelming attitude seems to be 'it ain't gonna work so why bother' and this has led to our recent glut of defeats. Injuries to key players haven't helped, Agger, Johnson, Lucas and Adam would all be in our starting eleven and Martin Kelly would be first choice back up so missing all of these makes a difference. Losing Reina aswell means we're missing half a team.
The frustration created by us not looking like winning games has boiled over a few times lately and it's no surprise one of our senior players was sent off for something like Pepe did today. I think our keeper has been frustrated for a couple of years now and it has led to his own usually perfect form dipping and him losing his normally cool head like he did today. It could just as easily have been Gerrard or Suarez of Kuyt to be honest, there's more than one player who seems fed up and close to the edge at the moment. The pursuit of Doni in the summer as an experienced back up keeper for a reasonable price could prove a masterstroke over the next few matches. He has one game at Anfield in front of a supportive home crowd and a difficult away trip to Blackburn to prepare himself for the FA cup semi final against our neighbours at Wembley. Reina hasn't been on top form this season so as long as Doni doesn't make any real howlers I don't think having our reserve keeper between the sticks should harm us. In fact removing one of our frustrated senior players from the team and replacing him with somebody who will be happy just to be playing could be a positive thing for a few games.
Kenny really has to earn his money over the next few days and how we react against a struggling Aston Villa side on Saturday could well determine his future. I think he is unlikely to be in charge next season after presiding over a run of results like we've had lately but if he is it probably means the our season has ended very well with a series of league wins and an FA cup triumph. It would be strange to see Liverpool let a manager go after winning a trophy (possibly two), it's the kind of thing Real Madrid do, but football has changed and league position and Champions League qualification has overtaken the traditional aims of a team at the beginning of a season - winning trophies. Newcastle are in dreamland at the moment at are deservedly receiving huge media praise but they are in absolutely no danger of winning a trophy this season, in fact they haven't even come close. But this is modern football and even clubs with fantastic traditions must move on in order to thrive in the current football climate.
I'll write more about the good and bad points of Kenny's management this season later in the week, I don't think immediately after a defeat is the best time to analyse things properly. I'm sure the media will have enough to say about our season in the papers tomorrow, they'll probably make a big deal over our £113 million spend (and ignore the £81 million recouped and the £30 million drop in our annual wage bill, the reduction of out squad average age etc, basically all the positive aspects). It will be a difficult couple of months now for all connected with Liverpool but as a club and as a fan base we stick together and support who we have. Changes may need to be made but right now is not the time, we make the most of what we have got for the moment and do what we can to get the best out of the team. That's the Liverpool way and long may it continue.
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