As expected the game started with Sunderland playing with a real intensity, combining an ability to play neat one touch passing and some purposeful long balls down the flanks. The creative duties were assigned to Andy Reid, Kieran Richardson and Jordan Henderson, the latter showing some quick feet and an eye for goal. Mostly it was left to the forwards, Daren Bent and Kenwyne Jones to fashion there own space and opportunities. For all their effort they were consistently marshaled by Richard Dunne and Carlos Cuellar with genuine commitment and discipline.
Aston Villa on the other hand are set up for the counter attack, Emile Heskey was preferred as the lone striker and was supported by Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor in wide positions. They are capable of changing there shape quickly, moving between 4-5-1, 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 with a flexibility that is becoming more impressive as the game grew and they started to assert themselves, particularly in middle of the pitch.
It was Aston Villa who opened the scoring, although the goal appeared nice on the eye it was interlaced with a number of mistakes from Sunderland. Initially giving the ball away in their own half, allowing Stiliyan Petrov to bring the ball forward, patiently laying the ball inside for James Milner who found himself in space towards the Sunderland penalty area was able to release Heskey who lashed the ball into the bottom corner. Unfortunately for Sunderland there stand in right back, Nyron Nosworthy was left ball watching at the edge of play leaving two Aston Villa players including Heskey comfortably onside.
The Villa manager Martin O'neil has shown great ability in utilizing James Milner in the center beside Petrov. He is a player previously undermined by his versatility now seems capable of thriving in a creative birth. This was evident in Aston Villas second goal which only needed Milner, this time showing strength as he first held of a challenge from Richardson and then, as the ball appeared to be bouncing away adjusted himself to hammer the ball into the top corner from around 25 yards. It's not just Milner that displayed Aston Villas flexibility because Stuart Downing now looks to be cementing himself into the line up with impressive displays playing more centrally than he is use to. Showing awareness to support the full back and attack adds balance to the side as does his set-piece ability, almost scoring if it weren't for the cross bar in the first half.
Sunderland did have opportunities though and Andy Reid in particular should have done better and scored at least one of his two opportunities. The first was a volley on the edge of the area as he met Henderson's pull back only for the Villa goal keeper to rush across and parry the ball to safety. The second came from Daren Bent who won a header that released Reid onto goal but managed to slice the ball wide at the near post. A technically more demanding chance but it fell invitingly in a central position and Aston Villa were able to see out the game in comfort.
Final Score - Sunderland 0-2 Aston Villa
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Liverpool Vs Arsneal
Rafa Benitez predicted that Liverpools season would begin with this game and the forecast for the season;
A slog.
But then we've know that since August when the season actually started. The Liverpool managers prediction was a consequence to their elimination from the Champions League and a statement of concentration towards securing their place in the top four at the end of the season.
On the basis of the first half there were signs of encouragement for the Anfield faithful as they looked to take advantage of an Arsenal side implementing a suicidally high back line. With the full backs pushing up to support a stuttering attack, they left plenty of space for Steven Gerrad and Fernando Torres to prize open the Arsenal defense. Their ability to link up together was striking to watch particularly as injury has separated them over the last 18 months, undermining any hopes of them winning the league last season. Unfortunately it wasn't this telepathic understanding that gave them the lead instead it came from a goalkeeping error towards the end of the first half. Manuel Almunia was easily distracted as a cross came into the box, losing the ball in the air and slapping it rather pathetically towards Dirk Kuyt who stabbed the ball between the defense to open the scoring. Arsene Wenger would have been relatively pleased to get his team into the dressing room only a goal down and it could have been worse had the referee awarded a penalty against William Gallas. Instead he he came to the conclusion that Gerrad was not going to get to the ball and PERHAPS he played for it;
Rather predictably Arsenal started the second half quicker but they were also given the chance to be more productive, pushing Nasri and Walcott further forward to support an isolated Andrei Arshavin. In midfield Denilson and Fabregas took control of the midfield without much resistance as the ball began to stick further into Liverpools half. The manner of their equalizer was very fortuitous but the build up was good enough to find space in the Liverpool defense. Samir Nasri moved to the right hand side and where he was released and put the ball in between the goalkeeper and defender, the latter controlling the ball past a stranded Pepe Reina and the game was level.
Less than ten minutes later and Arsenal were in front in the most emphatic fashion. Andrei Arshavin collected a pass on the outside of the defender but turns inside with one touch and smashes the ball into the near corner courtesy of the post. For the second time the goal keeper was left a spectator as he could only watch the ball bounce into the net.
After a positive opening period Liverpool were unable to mount a serious threat and Arsenal coasted to the three points. Even when Alberto Aquilani was introduced, if only to get the crowd going he was only able to show brief touches of quality. Certainly not an indication that he will conduct the rhythm and pace of the midfield in a similar fashion to Alonso. They are obviously different players and this disruption to last years system appears one of the reasons why Liverpool have not found consistency this year. It would appear best to play him next to a receded Steven Gerrad playing in front of the holding midfielder.
Another important point to this ongoing debate is the impact Alonso had over a five year period because while he consistently showed amazingly accurate passing he was to often on the periphery of games. It wasn't until last season where he was able to play alongside Javier Mascherano consistently that he had his most productive season and was sold at the three times the amount he was bought for in 2004. Impressively last seasons form came after being courted by Juventus for what seemed months as they stalled on a price tag of 18 million Pounds, practically a bargain to the amount paid by Real Madrid.
Final Score - Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
A slog.
But then we've know that since August when the season actually started. The Liverpool managers prediction was a consequence to their elimination from the Champions League and a statement of concentration towards securing their place in the top four at the end of the season.
On the basis of the first half there were signs of encouragement for the Anfield faithful as they looked to take advantage of an Arsenal side implementing a suicidally high back line. With the full backs pushing up to support a stuttering attack, they left plenty of space for Steven Gerrad and Fernando Torres to prize open the Arsenal defense. Their ability to link up together was striking to watch particularly as injury has separated them over the last 18 months, undermining any hopes of them winning the league last season. Unfortunately it wasn't this telepathic understanding that gave them the lead instead it came from a goalkeeping error towards the end of the first half. Manuel Almunia was easily distracted as a cross came into the box, losing the ball in the air and slapping it rather pathetically towards Dirk Kuyt who stabbed the ball between the defense to open the scoring. Arsene Wenger would have been relatively pleased to get his team into the dressing room only a goal down and it could have been worse had the referee awarded a penalty against William Gallas. Instead he he came to the conclusion that Gerrad was not going to get to the ball and PERHAPS he played for it;
Rather predictably Arsenal started the second half quicker but they were also given the chance to be more productive, pushing Nasri and Walcott further forward to support an isolated Andrei Arshavin. In midfield Denilson and Fabregas took control of the midfield without much resistance as the ball began to stick further into Liverpools half. The manner of their equalizer was very fortuitous but the build up was good enough to find space in the Liverpool defense. Samir Nasri moved to the right hand side and where he was released and put the ball in between the goalkeeper and defender, the latter controlling the ball past a stranded Pepe Reina and the game was level.
Less than ten minutes later and Arsenal were in front in the most emphatic fashion. Andrei Arshavin collected a pass on the outside of the defender but turns inside with one touch and smashes the ball into the near corner courtesy of the post. For the second time the goal keeper was left a spectator as he could only watch the ball bounce into the net.
After a positive opening period Liverpool were unable to mount a serious threat and Arsenal coasted to the three points. Even when Alberto Aquilani was introduced, if only to get the crowd going he was only able to show brief touches of quality. Certainly not an indication that he will conduct the rhythm and pace of the midfield in a similar fashion to Alonso. They are obviously different players and this disruption to last years system appears one of the reasons why Liverpool have not found consistency this year. It would appear best to play him next to a receded Steven Gerrad playing in front of the holding midfielder.
Another important point to this ongoing debate is the impact Alonso had over a five year period because while he consistently showed amazingly accurate passing he was to often on the periphery of games. It wasn't until last season where he was able to play alongside Javier Mascherano consistently that he had his most productive season and was sold at the three times the amount he was bought for in 2004. Impressively last seasons form came after being courted by Juventus for what seemed months as they stalled on a price tag of 18 million Pounds, practically a bargain to the amount paid by Real Madrid.
Final Score - Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
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