Liverpool-Arsenal Preview: Underachievement an Understatement!

A battling teen-spirited performance, though a disappointing and ultimately expected defeat in Greece and onto all matters domestic for nigh-on three months now.

Up next, Anfield! The famous old fortress where many battles have been fought and many trophies captured, admittedly usually in the favour of the home side.

The club whose name was then somehow synonymously linked to the colour red (don’t quite know why what with a plethora of teams adorned in red, but I digress)!

Now to tell you the truth, I am unsure over this one- is it really a good time to be going to Anfield? Will it be a case of third time lucky against one of the “Big Four” this season? Or are we in for another pasting? At the feet of fit-again Fernando Torres perhaps, with Wenger then astonishingly declaring that Torres had not done much, apart from get a couple?!

The answers to both these questions will simply be decided come Sunday evening; however, there are many possible ways to look at it. Which I will, if you don’t mind!

Looking back to pre-season, this would not have been billed as a match of any real proportions, at least not from our part. After all, we were predicted fifth place by many, and, amazingly sixth and seventh by a significant few (significant in number as opposed to stature based on such predictions).

And, while Liverpool had only lost two matches on the way to finishing as runners-up last season, many thought that this would be their year, with Manchester United supposedly flagging without Ronaldo and Chelsea apparently aging. Both of which we have seen no sign of you will agree.

And, here we are a third of the way in, and the match simply looks like a sign of reinstating an old order. An order that has become rather tedious and predictable, and one that I’m sure doesn’t exactly thrill the pants off you either!

For whilst Chelsea and Manchester Unite both look like filling the top two; probably in that order, I have seen enough to suggest that Liverpool and Arsenal will retain their places in the top four, the former probably having to fight for it from the likes of Spurs, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. Which brings an added significance to Sunday’s clash.

I was intrigued to read Jurgen Klinsmann’s rant at Liverpool’s “lack of pace, quality, creativity and consistency.” Now, don’t get me wrong, as great as Klinsmann had been as a player, this was a rant that stank of “I want your place Rafa”, and despite the fact that many Liverpool supporters would sign up for that, Klinsmann really does not know what he is quite talking about there, scoring one out of four in his “analysis”.

Going into the match with such an opinion, one which I am sure will not be shared by Wenger and his men would be a recipe for disaster. Lacking in consistency is one thing, the lack of quality is another. And, with Liverpool’s possession of Gerrard and Torres, extraordinarily lucky to have had such a product with the former, and incredibly opportunistic at grabbing the latter without a contest, those two are enough at winning games single-handedly.

Yes, that might have been said many a time, and yes, Liverpool rely heavily on them, but assuming that they are a two-man team would be just about as stupid as the one-man brigade overtures we had with Henry amongst the ranks.

Liverpool have several players we will have to worry about, Yossi Benayoun a prime example. With his form and versatility early in the season ensuring Liverpool were just about breathing in the battle for the top four, he is certainly an unsung hero in many respects. And, with the improving David N’gog providing depth up front, and Mascherano commanding in midfield, Liverpool are more than capable of rising to the occasion.

Blowing it soon afterwards is completely another matter, a problem for them to worry about, as was the case following their victory over Manchester United earlier in the campaign.

For the inconsistency ailment has had us underachievement-stricken for a number of years ourselves. I don’t know about you, but what is it about conceding goals in batches of five minutes, losing matches in consecutive runs of twos an threes?

All rather peeving, and with our recent run, one must worry from that respect. And, despite not expecting a clean sheet on Sunday (I never do with us, mind), it is also fair to suggest that Liverpool’s defence is their weakest point, with Carragher not the kind of player he once used to be, and with defensive errors costing otherwise talented individuals in Insua and Johnson.

The likes of Fabregas, Walcott, and last season’s four-goal hero, Arshavin, leading the line impressively against Stoke last weekend, will have to exploit Liverpool’s weakness and hit first if we are to get anything out of this match.

As the build-up continues, funny isn’t it that the likes of the aforementioned Walcott are certain that a victory can reignited our title chances, whilst El-Nino Torres (just why did we not bother to go for him?) was slightly more realistic about his side’s chances, claiming that finishing in the top four was Liverpool’s best bet.

Whether we can admire Walcott’s fighting talk or salute Torres’ courage is a point up for question, bearing in mind that Liverpool would be a mere point behind should they manage to inflict a fifth, fifth, league defeat on us this season!

So, a battle of styles and views, as we head into a crucially vital part of any football season. Excuses will not be had, and the weak will fall by the wayside. And to claim that both these great clubs have been recent non-achievers would not be too unreasonable...