Javier is man of the Masch, but is Ryan B-able?

Thats right, Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Benfica today warrents a double pun headline. Despite taking an early lead Liverpool were second best throughout the hugely dramatic game. Javier Mascherano, whos hard work led to much post match praise, was the star of the night. Where as Ryan Babel's idiotic dismissal made him the villain, or at least the village idiot, and it may cost him dearly.

All work and no class, make Liverpool the losing team, a sentence that sums up the match. Liverpool started well and were ahead within the first ten minutes. Steven Gerrard was brought down just outside the box after driving towards the Benfica goal. Th resulting free kick was one to remember as Gerrard played a low pass to the feet of Dan Agger, who dispatched a cheeky flick towards goal. Liverpool's defence looked creaky as Benfica's Angel Di Maria and Oscar Cardozo began to find space and create chances. On the 30th minute drama struck when Fernando Torres was smashed down by Benfica captain Luisao. Luisao was not at all happy with being booked for this and made his feelings clear. Ryan Babel then reacted angrily and twice raised his hand to Luisao's face. The referee had no other choice but to send the winger off and upon seeing this Rafa Benitez looked infuriated. I imagine at Ryan Babel for leaving the team to play the remaining game with 10 men, rather than at the decision. The drama was not finished there however as just five minutes later Fernando Torres scored what seemed a perfectly acceptable goal, but it was ruled out because Dirk Kuyt was apparently offside. Benfica were incredibly lucky not to be two goals behind but at the same time were very wastful. At one stage Benfica's Ramires was outside the box with at least three options but instead chose to chip it straight to the edge of Reina's box, maybe he thought Liverpool were impervious to defending lobs. In the second half Cardozo had excellent chances to level the scored but had to wait until the 59th minute to get off the mark. Goal scorer Dan Agger brought Cardozo down on the edge of the box and the resulting free kick led to Insua conceding a penalty. Benfica's Aimar looked set to bury the rebounded free kick when Insua , who had a horrendus game, kicked through his legs. Cardozo dispatched the penalty passed the helpless Reina. Benfica started to domnate but Liverpool had an excellent chance to go ahead when Fernando Torres was one on one with the Benfica keeper but dragged his shot wide. Shorty after Benfica were awarded another penalty after an accidental handball, which Cardozo cooly converted. The game ended dissapointingly after that, but does make for an intresting second leg at Anfield, where there will be no Ryan Babel.... oh no . . .

So Benfica's Torres bashing tactic seems to have worked and Liverpool's negative one seems to have failed once again. Maybe its just me but after an impressive performance and 3 goals against Sunderland, I was hoping for more of the same. And after the dismissal of Ryan Babel, the midfield seemed to scream out for Gerrard to be moved to the middle and a winger to be put out on the left. But putting Gerrard out on the left seemed to take him out on the game and made him babysit Insua. That left Torres totally isolated and alone. Liverpool did however contiuely battle and refused to be walked all over. Actually they were the complete opposite, especially Jamie Carragher, who took the saying so literally that he attempted to walk on Oscar Cardozo at one stage (possibly mistaking him for a stairs. . . Jamie is getting older!). Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt in particular were the hardest workers amongst the group, constantly chasing and hounding the opposition. But unfortunately Liverpool still lack that cutting edge most other top sides have. Overall this result is not a bad one. It could have been better but the officials seemed to be slightly biased towards the home side. I don't blame them though. They were obviously intimidated by the rough crowd throughing missles (small balls of paper) on to the pitch! They must have been reliving their school days (which are hard for junior referees, living in the shaddows of the actual footballers), as they were almost hit with these scary paper balls! Although the 'Ming The Merciless' official (pictured right) didn't seem too scared. Liverpool need to more adventurous in the return leg and might go down slight favourites because of the away goal. But Benfica will surely make it a difficult tie and Liverpool fans can only hope there will be no repeat of 2006 when Benfica beat them 2-0 at home.

So Liverpool results are becoming as random as Sven Goran Eriksson's jobs (so from Notts County football director of football to Ivory Coast boss. . . oooooh! I see the link now). But its time to bounce back from another defeat and beat Birmingham in the next Premier League game. The fact that many managers and critics have made the run in a three horse race and that Martin O Neill has hinted he might no be at Villa net year, seems to have eliminated one oponent. So one down, two to go, which is kind of the case in the relegation battele. (Portsmouth mourning). Once again though 'What can be salvaged?' will end with a plea to Rafa to finish the season in a more attacking style. Take the game to the opposition. Finish them off. And sell Ryan Babel to anyone who will take him at the end of the season!

Thanks for reading this weeks post. Next one against Birmingham should be a hum-dinger (first time I've ever used that word) and we'll get to hear the bad commentators make that oh-so hilarious connection between Benitez the Liverpool manager and Benitez the Birminham striker. Yup, we never get sick of that one.
Yours, angry at Ryan Babel-fuly
Dec