Liverpool: Top 10 Moments in a Crazy Week for the Reds

Liverpool have come through a truly remarkable last few days which have ranged from the exaltation of a last minute Premier League winning goal to the lows of—yet another—home draw, and everything in between.

With fans torn on key issues within the club at senior, management and playing staff level, it seems at times that it will be yet another summer of more questions than answers at Anfield.

But there have been enough twists this week to ensure that this season is not over and done with yet—on or off the pitch.

Here are the top 10 moments of Liverpool Football Club's week, which have had or will have a meaningful impact on the club.

10. Another Draw at Anfield: 1-1 with Aston Villa

Things didn't quite go according to plan back at the start of last weekend, with Liverpool recording their ninth home draw of the Premier League season against slightly relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Though they played well on the day, especially in the second half, the old problems of cutting edge and missed opportunities meant it was a case of same old, same old for the Reds at Anfield.

Chris Herd's early curler past debutant goalkeeper Alexander Doni was cancelled out by a close-range Luis Suarez header after Dirk Kuyt had "scored"—Shay Given saved the ball onto the post from behind the line, which wasn't seen.

Craig Bellamy had hit the woodwork and substitute Daniel Agger did the same, which eventually led to the equaliser.

The draw did at least arrest Liverpool's alarming run of losses.

9. Players Returning from Injury: Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson

Against Aston Villa Daniel Agger made a much welcome return to the match day squad, having missed out on seven consecutive matches through injury.

Nothing is more important for Liverpool's defence right now than getting the Dane back to full fitness and re-establishing his partnership in the centre with Martin Skrtel.

Agger's two sub appearances have yielded two assists so far.

Glen Johnson also made a 55-minute return, starting at left-back against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League midweek.

Both Agger and Johnson will be hoping that their time on the pitch has earned them a starting berth against Everton in the forthcoming FA Cup semifinal date at Wembley with Everton.

Fellow defender Martin Kelly looks likely to miss out as he has yet to return from his calf injury, while midfielders Charlie Adam and Lucas Leiva are unlikely to feature again this season.

8. Another Red Card, Another Goalkeeper!

You have to feel for Alexander Doni.

Nine months sitting on the bench watching Pepe Reina play week in, week out, and when he does finally get a chance, he gets sent off early in his second match—just a solitary hour of football before his place in a cup semifinal at the national stadium would have been confirmed and expected.

Sold short by a ridiculously under-hit back-pass from Jon Flanagan, Doni brought down Junior Hoilett and was dismissed, resulting in an automatic one game suspension.

His replacement, Brad Jones, was the fourth player to play in goal for Liverpool in the space of three matches. Jose Enrique also had a stint between the sticks against Newcastle following  Reina's red card.

Peter Gulacsi has now been recalled from his loan spell at Hull City and will be the likely sub 'keeper for the Reds at Wembley.

7. The Emergence and Maturity of Jonjo Shelvey

After waiting patiently, or not, for his chance in the Liverpool first team, Jonjo Shelvey has been rewarded with three consecutive starts.

At times last season, Shelvey was played out of position—right midfield, left back—but in his favoured and obviously best-suited attacking midfield role against Blackburn Rovers he showed a determination and—more importantly perhaps—genuine ability to make things happen in the final third.

Whereas he may have previously been guilty of over-complicating matters and over-stepping his boundaries as a youngster in the group, the past couple of games have showcased a maturing midfield player willing and able to embrace his responsibility to the team.

Whether he remains in the team is yet to be seen, but he has certainly done his future at the club no harm at all.

6. The Performance of Jordan Henderson vs. Blackburn Rovers

Just ahead of Jonjo Shelvey in the individual performances against Blackburn Rovers came that of Jordan Henderson.

Operating in central midfield from the start, Henderson worked well alongside Jay Spearing and linked well with Shelvey and Maxi Rodriguez.

That was far from the most important or impressive aspect of his game though.

Following the dismissal of Alexander Doni, Henderson reverted to right back for most of the game.

It was alien and unnatural role for him but one which he performed in to the greatest level that could be expected of him, and with far more heart and sacrifice than plenty of observers might have expected.

Late on when the Reds switched to a back three, he was clearly out of his depth positionally with a right wing-back role.

However, he stuck doggedly to his task and deserves massive support and credit for his part in the victory.

5. Liverpool Part Ways with Dr. Peter Brukner

One which might almost have slipped under the radar unnoticed on a day which saw the departure of a more publicly seen senior Anfield official, it was also revealed that Dr. Peter Brukner would be no longer calling Liverpool his home after this season.

Brukner's arrival heralded the complete overhaul of the medical science scene at Melwood, bringing with him a vast array of experience and cutting edge techniques in injury prevention and fitness monitoring.

Under the reign of Roy Hodgson there were murmurings that Brukner might be exerting too much control over the team selection, especially when Fernando Torres was left out of a Europa League game on his advice, but the long-term implications of this move will be difficult to see.

Whether or not the staff who Brukner brought in with him from Australia will be leaving too has also not been announced yet, but "overhaul" is not necessarily too strong a word for what owners Tom Werner and John Henry seem to be doing to the senior structure of Liverpool FC.

4. Andy Carroll Nets Last Minute Winner at Blackburn Rovers

It was almost QPR all over again.

Liverpool led 2-0, saved a penalty, conceded another one, gave away another soft goal, but instead of a killer third consigning Liverpool to yet another defeat, the ball bulged the net at the other end.

And what's more, it was Andy Carroll who scored it.

Only his fourth league goal of the season, but in the final minute of play before an FA Cup semifinal, it could well be the goal that sparks the Reds on to further cup glory this season.

Liverpool returned to a point behind Everton in the league, still in eighth position, but the win coming after just one in the previous nine league games was more important than just three points on their own.

3. Damien Comolli Bids 'Au Revoir' to Anfield...

Responsible for transfers? Seemingly not.

Responsible for targets? Financing deals? Wage structure?

We might never know.

What we do know is that Damien Comolli has been rather unceremoniously ousted from his position of director of football at Liverpool FC, and according to some, he was somewhat surprised by the decision.

Whether certain players were signed on his recommendation, or whether he was the one to decide to pay over the odds for them is still all up for debate.

The only thing which is clear is that, despite statements of "mutual consent," Comolli has paid for a season of under-performance in the Premier League with his job.

2. ...As Tom Werner Shows the Demands of FSG and Backs Kenny Dalglish

"

I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.

"

Forgive me, but to this supporter that sounds pretty much like Damien Comolli was walking whether he wanted to or not.

Tom Werner, John Henry and the entire FSG team have been pretty quiet all year on all things stadium, transfers, bans and cup finals—but they have shown that they are very much on the pulse of things and will not settle for second best.

Kenny Dalglish has been given a seemingly unequivocal backing:

"

[There is] Absolutely not [any impact upon Dalglish's role]. We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.

"

Nonetheless, if Dalglish wasn't already aware of the demands and expectations that the owners are placing on key management personnel, he must be now.

1. The FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley vs. Everton

And finally, onto the future.

Not too far into the future, as it happens. Liverpool and Everton kick off their FA Cup semifinal on Saturday at Wembley, the first time the two Merseyside clubs have clashed in the capital since the memorable FA Cup final of 1989.

This could be the single defining moment of Liverpool's season. If they lose, the campaign is over and dusted and will be termed a failure, despite the return of silverware to the Anfield cabinets.

A win will see a third Wembley appearance in a season and a chance for Steven Gerrard to lift another FA Cup for Liverpool, ending the season on a high.

It will also give the players something to keep fit and in form for, something they clearly need going into the final games of the Premier League.

It promises to be the biggest and most testing 90 minutes of all over what has already been a crazy and improbable week for Liverpool.

Let's hope at the end of it, the Red half of Merseyside is singing and smiling.