Analysis of the goals conceded against Liverpool (10/3)

Suarez’s goalLiverpool counter, and the untracked Suarez gets on to a Jose Enrique through-ball, and slots into the near post.

1Johnson cuts in from right back as Liverpool look to launch a counter-attack.

2

He plays a long ball out to Coutinho, with Walker chasing after him.

3

He holds the ball up well, and is supported by Jose Enrique, who he finds with a back-heel down the line.

4

Jose Enrique plays back to Coutinho again, as Suarez lingers around Livermore.

5

Coutinho’s through-ball is excellent – right between Dembele and Livermore and into Jose Enrique.

6

He mis-controls initially, but regains his balance to slip a pass in to Suarez, who has run in behind Livermore, with Jake caught ball-watching. Vertonghen also has time to see the run, but makes no move towards Suarez.

7

In true Suarez style, he takes the shot very early and catches Lloris out at the near post with a toe-poked finish.

 

Downing’s goalWalker launches a ball back towards Lloris without looking; Lloris rushes out to meet it, tries to take it past Downing, but the ball hits Downing and falls kindly for the winger to move forward and finish through Vertonghen’s legs.

1

Spurs are 2-1 up, with 66 minutes played – at this point in the game we were coasting. Michael Dawson has possession, and plays a simple pass to Walker, who has limited options – his best bet being a cross-field to Vertonghen. In truth, he is not helped by Parker, who is stood centrally, not making himself available to receive the ball.

2

Walker instead tries to play a first-time pass back to Lloris – clearly he has not seen Downing in an advanced position.

3

As Lloris comes out to meet the ball, he is in a no-win position – if he tries to make a firm contact, the ball could ricochet off Downing and fly into the net. Instead, he tries to take it past him.

4

Downing gets a slightly lucky bounce, and is able to take the ball on.

5

Although Vertonghen has backed onto the line, Downing squeezes it through his legs to draw Liverpool level. A suicidal piece of play from Walker.

 

Gerrard’s goalLloris punches Gerrard’s free kick to Defoe, who mis-kicks towards his own goal, putting Suarez in. His touch is heavy, but Assou-Ekotto collides with him to concede a penalty, which Gerrard scores.

1

Gerrard whips in a free-kick, and Lloris does well to clear with a firm punch.

2

The ball drops to Defoe, who takes a sloppy first touch, and then inexplicably sends a half-volley back towards his own goal – has he toe-ended the ball in trying an overhead kick? Why has he not just laid it back to one of the supporting players?

3

As it is in the sky, Suarez recognises an opportunity.

4

He gets to the dropping ball first, and is confronted by Assou-Ekotto, on his wrong side.

5

The contact is little more than a shoulder-barge, but Suarez’s dramatic fall makes it look a nailed-on penalty.

6

Gerrard sends Lloris the wrong way.

Join the conversation

  1. You would partly blame Defoe for the 3rd goal wouldn't you. A leopard never changes it's spots ;)
    1. what do you mean? of course it was defoes fault. not partly, compleately!!!!
      1. Paul is a friend - he was joking :)
    2. Haha! #bantz
  2. If you saw the Ekotto picture from the reverse angle you would see himput an elbow to Suarez's head for a foul.
    1. He does go across him, but the fall is ridiculous/unnecessary.
  3. 2nd and 3rd goal totally avoidable. A spaz out moment from Walker putting Lloris in all sorts of trouble. With Defoe we can't even put that down to rustiness, just piss poor control. Definitely a foul from BAE, the picture shows him two feet off the ground as he jumped into Suarez, who needs no second invitation to go down. Definite penalty which was unnecessarily conceeded
    1. Defoe's touch is shockingly inconsistent. I tend to agree, but it just irks that Suarez went down so dramatically.
  4. Defoe's touch was shockingly poor for the third goal, but if BAE stands up to Suarez this doesn't happen. I think the lack of another first team striker on the bench was a problem. Defoe looked tired in the second half and fresh legs would have helped this. Also, Livermore was very poor and I just don't see him being THFC quality.
    1. Good points - I agree with all you've said. Thought Coulthirst could have had 15 and would have done no worse than JD.
  5. Well crafted first goal, and as subbed after 70 says above, two very avoidable ones. I am left wondering how we lost. Have to say the referee was a bit short on discipline, both teams could rightly feel the other should have seen more cards, i feel he maybe let it get a little out of hand at times. Anyway, I've seen Gerrard do what Walker did three or four times over his career and it hasnt unduly affacted him long term. It's a shame because Liverpool were absolutely out of it with no chance and then whoops. (I also question Downings choice of placing the ball at Vert's feet when he had the whole of the goal to choose from, but he scored anyway so I guess he was right). Walker did pick up his game after the last dope moment (man city?) so hoepfully we'll be abel to put it down as a learning experience and not the turning point for collapse. Last time we lost in mersey side we followed it up with a 15 game unbeaten stretch i think, I've been quite impressed that i havent felt an over the top kneejerk reaction after this weekends events
    1. Was a good move for the first but poor tracking from Dembele/Livermore, and a lack of reading from Vertonghen. Gerrard should have had two yellows IMO - the cynical trip on Sigurdsson, followed seconds later by the elbow on Bale.
  6. If Bale had gone down like Suarez did he would probably been booked
  7. Without being overly critical towards Lloris, he didn't help the situation for their second goal. I know his game is all about anticipation, but I have noticed that he does sometimes rush out of his area a tad too quickly. He has been superb all season but I would wager that Downing won't be the only opposition forward this season to beat Lloris to the ball and be presented with an open goal. It might be nit picking, but he does need to curb his enthusiasm in this regard.
    1. I personally like his anticipation/fast racing out and think, in general, it will save more goals than it will cause.
  8. The trouble is that we are almost playing without a striker - Defoe is, and has always been average and Adebayor never looks a goal threat and has a really weak shot - quiet a weakness for a forward. The rest of the squad is vey good although Walker is often a weak link in defence with his poor positioning ang giving away needless fouls. If we do fail to land a champions league place then the blame must lay at the club for failing to land a top goalscorer - something we have needed since Berbatov was sold for over 30million four and a half years ago. COYS
    1. Adebayor's shooting is a strange one - he scored some long-range beauties for Arsenal and City, but never looks capable for us, even when he was in good form last season. I do think that a fully fit and confident Adebayor is a good striker, and good enough for getting us into the top 4. Less sure about Defoe, but if he can start scoring regularly he could be a stop-gap.
  9. I think the coach made a mistake. He should have bring in holtby to control the mifeild
  10. Thank for sharing. It is very useful.

Reply

Your email address will not be published.