Part Two: What Fergie Learned From The Liverpool-Arsenal Draw
Having scouted Arsenal for next Saturday’s humdinger, Fergie would have also been pleased to run an eye over Liverpool, United’s opponents in just over six weeks.
Here again, ISpy tries to imagine Fergie’s thoughts and feelings about the old enemy.
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Are Liverpool in danger of becoming a 21st century version of United during the 1980’s? Then, Ron Atkinson’s team was deadly if Bryan Robson was in the mood and uninjured. For Robson, read Steven Gerard circa 2007. He is so much the Liverpool talisman that he dwarfs all others and perhaps like Thierry Henry at Arsenal last year, stymies inadvertently the emergence of other players who can raise their game when the need arises.
Leaders were sorely needed against Arsenal, yet too many seemed shrivelled by the steady pumelling Arsenal inflicted. Liverpool’s sheer will power, Mascherano’s doggedness and some dark stunts by Carragher saw them home but not without a fright or two. The Liverpool side which gave Mourinho-powered Chelsea more than a game two months ago, looks to have been caught up in the sombre gloom of autumn. The vim of the football on show against Derby has gone. Renewal is needed.
The side’s indifferent form of late and the European stumbles have raised the volume on whispers suggesting Rafa Benitez may have what it takes to pilot the team through a cup competition but lacks the right stuff for a 38 game Premiership grind.
That view is surely premature. It must be remembered that Liverpool have not yet lost in the Premiership. United were turned over by Arsenal too last season, both home and away. The Gunners’ double counted for nothing in the end.
But hollow comforts should not blind the faithful to the fact that something is amiss. Sammy Hypia in defence looks like yesterday’s man. Liverpool don’t look the same team when Torres is not firing on all cylinders. What has happened to Dirk Kuyt? The injury to the in and out Pennant has robbed the side of wing supply. Is Yossi Benayoun really a Liverpool player?
Benitez’s side looks nothing like the vibrant, committed unit of early season. That form could return but with injuries to Torres and Alonso already threatening even more rotation, Liverpool may well find themselves trailing further and further in the slipstream of United and Arsenal by Christmas.
Yet, the despondency that has enveloped Liverpool as points have slipped away could be erased promptly by victory. The title is not won by beating the top three teams. It is fought for and decided in scuffles against the likes of Villa, Boro, Newcastle and Everton, so Liverpool should not be too downhearted. The point against Arsenal was an excellent result. No-one will remember the performance if Liverpool are crowned champions next year.
That however, remains in the words of former Scouse favourite Alan Hansen, a big ask.The hype bubble of early August has well and truly burst.
READ: Part One - What Fergie learned from the Liverpool-Arsenal draw
