Liverpool 1 - Everton 1

As a hardcore Liverpool fan, i'll try to give as an unbiased report as i possibly can. Ok, here goes.

TIM CAHILL DESERVES TO DIE.

See, that wasn't so hard.

There's nothing i loathe more than the sight of the "Cahill" strutting around the field with such pompus arrogance and sneakyness. He's no Jan Koller, but he is so impossibly good in the air. The countless times he was ahead of Hyypia and Skrtel in getting to the hanging air balls was mathematically improbable. He's also a pretty dastardly figure in winning freekicks, whether legal or illegally.

The game as a whole was largely a dissapointing one, not due to any lack of quality on the pitch. The blame largely goes to both managers, who sent out their teams to try and stiffle each other. Space on the pitch was at a premium, and it was no surpise that both goals didnt result from any great passing moves.

Nevertheless, the quality of the goals one of the few moments of joy for the entire 90 minutes. Gerrard's goal was typical of the man. Striding from midfield, and before he could be hacked and closed down by 3 Everton players, he lets loose a powerful grounder that the Everton keeper could do nothing about.

Everton responded a couple of minutes later. Yossi Benayoun who was just sent on to give the attack more impetus, found himself doing more defending than attacking. By and large, he did a good job against the Everton players who were doing more running and attacking once they went a goal down. However, he failed miserable at a crucial stage. The 86th minute. Victor Anichebe had switched flanks with Steven Piennar, and was desperate to get a corner in from the left side. Benayoun was having none of it and clumsily hacked him down near the corner line.

From such a dangerous angle, you could just see a goal coming. It was inevitable. Perhaps the Anfield crowd sensed it as well. Arteta stepped up to take the freekick. Everton and Liverpool player crowd the area around the goal post, trying to get an advantage. Hyypia marks Anichebe. Skrtel behind them, marks Cahill. Cahill moves in front a little to stand next to Reina. Anichebe exchanges a few words with cahill, and right before the freekick is struck, Cahill manouevers infront of Anichebe, who now blocks both Hyypia and Skrtel!

Arteta's freekick is delivered with pinpoint precision to the head of Cahill........GOAL!

Well worked goal, and its clear that Everton had practised this before, exposing a small weakness in the zonal defense method that Liverpool loves to much.

After that, it doesnt matter who was brought on or off, the game was headed to a draw, which more of less equates to dropped points for Liverpool, and hard earned points for Everton.

Liverpool fans all over the world hang their heads in despair. More dissapointment. More dropped points. We're handing the title to Manchester United. A collective sigh all around the world is enough to tilt the planet slightly off angle.

But is it all lost for Liverpool? Quite frankly, NO. Its hard to be positive, but if you would tell me at the beginning of the season that Liverpool would level on points with Manchester United at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more, i would have told you to go stuff a turkey.

There's still plenty of games to go, and anything can happen. Its a funny game. In Rafa we trust.

A titanic battle at Anfield ends all square

Arsenal and Liverpool had one of those classic titanic battles at Anfield today. It was a pulsating, incident laden game that was great to watch from beginning to end that ended 1-1.

The footballing styles of both sides wildly contrasted, with Liverpool's very direct long ball and getting their players to harass the opponents, and Arsenal's silky free flowing passing game combining to make a very entertaining tactical battle.

Credit to Arsene's young side. They dominated the home side for long periods of time, but found it tough to break through a resilient Liverpool defence, that was well protected by the midfield pairing of Alonso and Mascherano. Mascherano in particular was a beast in the center of the field, and was instrumental in cutting out most Arsenal attacks.

However, playing in his 400th game for Liverpool, Steven Gerrard was showing glimpses of his talent and power, and it was from his harassing and closing down of Flamini that lead to the first goal.

But Arsenal didn't crack under the pressure cauldron of Anfield. They kept the ball for long periods of time and slowly built back their confidence. Liverpool's front 3 pairing were negated as an attacking force, as 90% of their work was being done in their own half, just tracking and defending against Arsenal players!

In the end, Cesc Fabregas, who is having a brilliant goalscoring season, added another one to his tally, courtesy of another brilliant move. It was the least they deserved for all their enterprising play.

For Arsenal, the result is a good one for them. At the start of the game, i'm very sure Arsene would have settled for a point. The result also returns them to the top of the league, and keeps the pressure on defending champions Manchester United, who is trying to retain the crown.

For Liverpool, the result will be accepted, but Rafa really would have preferred a win, and all 3 points. Their home record has been dreadful this season, which is a reverse of their form last season. Last season, Liverpool were virtually unbeatable at home, but dreadful away.

There will be fresh injury worries for Rafa, with Alonso coming off in the second half, Mascherano limping his way to the end of the game and Torres clearly still not fit yet and was taken off at half time. I have to say though, Liverpool played much better when Crouch came on, and he had 3 shots on target and kept the ball for Liverpool very well. Just why he has been so underused this season is quite a mystery.

Rafa blames England for Gerrard slump

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Steven Gerrard is paying the price for his recent outings with England.

Gerrard played in both Euro 2008 qualifying wins over Israel and Russia, despite being a doubt with a broken toe.

And Benitez told the Liverpool Echo: "It could be that playing twice for England has had an impact.

"They (England) knew (what I felt about him playing in both games) - but everyone was talking about how important this situation was for England."

Liverpool need their captain fit and fresh to maintain title challenge

Gerrard came off with cramp after 71 minutes in the win over Israel before playing the full game when Russia lost at Wembley four days later.

Since his return from international duty, the 27-year-old midfielder has seemed to be struggling for top form, while Liverpool have failed to impress in goalless draws against Portsmouth and Birmingham.

Gerrard came on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw at Fratton Park but started last week's 1-1 draw with Porto in the Champions League as well as Saturday's Anfield clash against Birmingham.

Benitez added: "His national team is England but it is clear that these players cannot play every game for 90 minutes.

"Gerrard was not 100 per-cent physically fresh, I don't mean fit but fresh.

"In these kind of games you need to keep the tempo really high and if you play too many games in a row for 90 minutes, especially if you are not fit then normally you have problems."

(Courtesy: www.football365.com)

Which idiot voted for Phil Neville?

The recently concluded online polls was quite surprising. Generally, the public was generally split and undecided on who occupy the other center midfield berth and partner Stevie G. 44% voted for Hargreaves while another 44% voted for Barry. When you think about it though, Hargreaves had proved himself during the World Cup, and Barry's recent endeavours in the 2 Euro 2008 qualifiers, perhaps it is not quite so surprising.

Personally, i believe Hargreaves should get the nod, because he has had more experience in top flight football ; German league, Champions League at his time with Bayern Munich. Also, he is more suited to playing the tough tackling anchor role, whereas Barry is more of a defensive playmaker type. When playing against top top teams, a defensive playmaker is a luxury England cannot afford.

However, the bigger question is, WHICH IDIOT VOTED FOR PHIL NEVILLE?

Maybe Phil voted for himself

Lucky Lucky Liverpool

If Liverpool are to win the league this season, they are going to have play much better against the likes of Portsmouth. The Pompey team gave them a right go, and if not for better finishing, would have comfortably won the game 3-0. Liverpool were also grateful for the 'penalty-saving-specialist', Jose Reina who expertly saved Kanu's penalty. The decision to give the penalty was a good one. Arbeloa was clearing tugging the jersey of the Nigerian in the penalty box.

Ref Mike Rileypoints to the spot (Courtesy: ESPN Soccernet)

Portsmouth have proved capable of nicking points of the BIG 4 time and time again. Though the commentators were ranting (as usual) that Benitez rang the changes yet again, i don't see what the big deal is. Benitez ALWAYS rotates his squad. Is it really such a big surprise that he does rotate them? Perhaps the bigger surprise is that Benitez made such a big surpise against a strong Pompey team. No doubt the Liverpool starting lineup would comfortably win against weaker opponents, but Pompey are not to be taken lightly, and perhaps Benitez should have played his big name players; Torres and Gerrard.

On paper, the Liverpool starting lineup was a pretty formidable one, and though they started well, Liverpool's play fizzled out after the 30th min mark. From then on Portsmouth gained ascendancy and were the much better team. Much of this was due to Papa Bouba Diop's excellent midfield play, that totally nullified any threat coming from Alonso and Sissoko.

Should the Liverpool Manage have started with Gerrard and Torres?

It was only when Torres, Gerrard and Babel were introduced, that Liverpool started to swing the game back in their favour. Arsenal has now leapfrogged them into top spot, and with Man Utd and Chelsea beginning to pick up the pace, Liverpool can ill afford to give away points like this.