FC Utrecht 0 - Liverpool 0

Googooboyy SG

What's up guys? I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on the game earlier.

Like you, I was left frustrated by Red's inability to take the game to their opponents, and for much parts of the game, they appeared lightweight and detached from the game's objective.

Ugh, I know.

If there’s one sure thing to Liverpool’s game these days it’s how consistent they’ve become, and how lucky they are to get even a point.

Let’s not talk about how consistent the boardroom/ownership drama is getting shall we?

As always they start brightly, concede domination after 20minutes to the opposing team, allow a few scary moments in our own penalty box, and be really poor with our final ball to the strikers to make them look like they’re struggling to come back to match fitness and end the half abjectly.

So many times did Meireles, as did Joe Cole after receiving the ball in a good area, hopelessly flick it off or lay it to Torres neither with conviction nor direction, and both performed direly.

So many times did Liverpool’s midfielders dribble, dribble, and dribble for far too long when a simple lay off to a teammate, followed by a lung busting off-the-ball run in the hope of getting a return through-ball, was really all that was required.

On paper, and in the first 15minutes, Liverpool were a force to be reckoned, and I say this not just historically or via paper rounds, as FC Utrecht trotted onfield likened to a bunch of groupies in their idol’s presence.

But the magical dust from Liverpool’s players soon wore off, FC Utrecht played as brilliantly as they could, and Liverpool were subjects of a disallowed goal, a veritable (Carragher-induced) penalty claim and a showcase of football that plays to the tune of “The team’s only as strong as it’s weakest link”.

ASKL! SG

i agree with them passing without any conviction and direction. hardly can we see a pass connect.

the best way we can score from; set pieces.

you can hardly see us passing to score.

ASKL! SG

An lackluster Liverpool side were held to a goalless draw at Utrecht despite manager Roy Hodgson fielding an attacking side.

The second half began in a fast paced manor, similar to that of the first half and it was the visitors that started the brightest during the opening minutes but they lacked invention and were unable to test Vorm.

However, they were soon pegged back as Utrecht started to dominate possession. The hosts began to pass the ball around smartly, looking relaxed on the ball and bombarded the Liverpool penalty area with testing crosses.

After a smart attack from the Dutch side, Liverpool broke away with Johnson down the right hand side who crossed for Cole. The England international was unable to control and the ball fell to Torres who steadied himself but fired a long way over.

Minutes later, Utrecht were rewarded a free kick on the edge of the box after Johnson committed a foul. From the resulting free kick, the home side gained a corner and should have scored from the set-piece.

Mertens crossed the ball deep into the box which Reina completely missed and it fell to Cornelisse who could only knee it up into the air. The ball was cleared off the line and the English side went on the counter attack.

Former Utrecht player Kuyt ventured down the right before teeing up Torres who shot from six yards out only to see his effort miraculously turned wide from Vorm.

Both sides then exchanged possession and chances without really testing either goalkeeper but on the stoke of the hour, Liverpool defender Skrtel almost put his side in front.

Portuguese star Mereiles sent in a dangerous ball which found the head of his team mate Skrtel who headed the ball at goal but could only find the cross bar.

Three minutes later, World Cup winner Torres was gifted a glorious chance as Mihai Nesu’s backpass fell short which Torres latched on to. But the advancing Vorm forced him wide and the striker could only run the ball out for a goal kick.

Michael Silberbauer then unleashed a rocket of a shot towards Reina’s goal after Carragher had missed a clearance but it flew just wide.

On the 83rd minute, some awful Liverpool defending allowed Mulenga to sneak between Carragher and Kelly but his shot flew narrowly wide.

With time running out, substitute Maxi Rodriguez nearly broke the deadlock with a fine overhead kick but the effort flew over the bar.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock and Liverpool may feel lucky to leave Holland with a point.