Away Daze - Liverpool Express

Author: Athers / Date: Friday 29 January 2010

As the 'two man team' that is Liverpool is down to one man this weekend, does Owen's new model army have a chance at an unhappy hunting ground?

 

For Bolton’s fifth game in two weeks the Owen Coyle express travels to Anfield, where we’ll find a side still in the midst of a fact-based ‘Rafalution’… except now their goal is to finish fourth.

Liverpool’s collapse since their manager’s ill-advised outburst is well documented and debated; the usual laziness about zonal marking appeared whenever they conceded from set pieces (who doesn’t?), but for the most part it’s become difficult for their fans to argue anything else when faced with what I can only imagine is the default TalkSPORT view of them being a ‘two-man team’. It’s certainly true that these two men in question were the difference in the result earlier in the season at the Reebok. Torres equalised before Gerrard, having lost the shackles of Muamba due to Sean Davis’ harsh sending off, volleyed home a late winner. It was painful for us to lose in that fashion after the sending off, though ultimately the game was a sign of things to come in terms of Liverpool’s fragility for a side of their ambition, and to a lesser extent of Bolton’s fragility when holding a lead.

Torres will not play on Saturday at Anfield, leaving just one of their infamous two top players available, but Gerrard has had success against us in the past, as has Dirk Kuyt, who is likely to start. Maxi Rodriguez may get a chance to prove he’s not over the hill with a start, while it’s unlikely Benitez will shift from his trusty central midfield holders of Lucas and Mascherano.

The inclusion of these two players is often targeted as a symbol of negativity. While Mascherano’s previous partner, Alonso, was not usually a hugely attack-minded passer, he could switch play and dictate tempo more effectively than Lucas, who is more comfortable in keeping the ball moving horizontally most of the time. Lucas has fulfilled the Alonso role of inviting tackles which result in red cards, however. £20m signing Alberto Aquilani may feature, the Italian is so far leading the race for worst signing of the season - predictably not yet settling into English football, playing in a struggling side with the Muambas of this world not giving him a second on the ball. Speaking of Muamba, it is unlikely that Owen Coyle will adopt the Gary Megson approach of man-marking the main threat of Gerrard, though it has to be said that this tactic worked very well indeed at the Reebok.

At the back for Liverpool the interesting starters are probably at full back - Jamie Carragher has only been getting worse the last year or so and is out of position on the right, while on the other side Emeliano Insua is typically erratic given his age, nationality and experience. Given the likely blockade through the middle by Lucas and the ‘tenacious’ (read dirty) Mascherano, it is these two players that will likely be targeted by Owen Coyle as opportunities for Bolton. The form of Chung-Yong Lee and perhaps the pace and trickery of loan signing Vladimir Weiss may cause them problems and keep them pinned back, so as to limit Liverpool’s attacking play.

For Wanderers, even given the recent flurry of games it is expected that Coyle will go with at least eight or nine from the starting line-up against Burnley. Ivan Klasnic went off early on Tuesday night with a potential injury and was replaced by the hungry-looking Elmander, while the left back spot remains seemingly up for grabs. The left midfield spot is also a potential change, with Matt Taylor not impressing in recent games, with the rest/niggly injury which gave him the game off against Sheffield United not resulting in much improvement. It would be a shame if the fans were to target Taylor for stick at this time of renewed optimism, and looking at his personality it’s unlikely Taylor would take it well were it to become too regular. Whether a side could incorporate Lee and Weiss and two strikers is a difficult one to answer, as little is known of Weiss’s workrate or defensive nous up and down the wing, while Lee is improving his all-round game but still best suited to being an outlet.

Our recent trips to Anfield have produced little joy, usually a defeat to nil with little to cheer and the only emotions being disappointment and anger at Steven ‘I’d have a word if I saw a teammate dive’ Gerrard. With Reading’s win at Anfield there is additional hope of coming away with something, but Liverpool’s home record is still good for a team chasing fourth - seven wins and two draws from 11 games. Liverpool’s last matchwas a dull 0-0 away at Wolves, perhaps suggesting they weren’t motivated as much as they were when they won their crucial match against Spurs. Bolton at home isn’t a glamour weekend for them so it’s possible they may take us lightly, and not believe in themselves due to their recent failures, or indeed just stop concentrating on 89 minutes as has happened a few times at Anfield this season. We arrive on the back of two clean sheets with a new manager and new hope without the psychological pressure of being in the bottom three; come on you whites!

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