It was a disappointing result at home to West Ham on Sunday – there’s no doubt about that. Although I thought the team performed adequately and the effort from the players was there for all to see, it was just one of those days where nothing seemed to go for us. Coutinho and Suárez were our main instigators; but their tricks, flicks and inventiveness never came off and West Ham defended comfortably. James Collins mustered up the game of his life and coped admirably well with Suárez for the majority of the game – bar one beautifully crafted nutmeg.
What frustrated me, more than anything, was the way West Ham approached game. They time wasted throughout the 90 minutes; kicking balls away, getting drinks, replacing the ball. I didn’t expect them to come to Anfield and take the game to us, because, if they had of done, we would have passed them off the park: but time wasting in any first half is a bit much.
That said though, I was relieved they never snatched a winner. Lucas cleared one theatrically off the line in the dying embers of the game, which would have been a major smash and grab victory for them.
If we’re honest, it was two points dropped, and a game to forget.
The big news this week is that Brazilian midfielder, Lucas Leiva, has signed a new contract at the club. I’ve never been a huge fan of Lucas, but he did improve massively a few seasons ago and was in the form of his life prior to getting his long term injury at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup last season. Its been a long road to recovery for him and he’s had one or two further niggles this season which have only disrupted his campaign struggle for full fitness: looking sluggish at times. Hopefully, with a full pre-season under his belt this coming summer, we’ll see him return to the form of 2011.
However, I do feel Brendan Rodgers does need to delve into the transfer market in the summer for another defensive midfielder, even just to add competition in that area of the side: an athlete, someone with a bit of pace to get around the pitch a bit better. I do feel sometimes we get overrun in midfield and we lack athleticism in that department and, along with the central defensive issues, I think centre midfield is another area that needs strengthening.
On to our next game and its a trip to relegation fodder, Reading. They have recently changed manager and Nigel Adkins, who had done a good job at Southampton before his dismissal, is now at the helm of good-ship Reading. In the week that has seen the death of a certain former Prime Minister and with it being the weekend before the Hillsborough anniversary, it will be interesting to see what happens in terms of a ‘minute silence’. However it is dressed up, I feel that our fans may well sing ‘Justice For The 96’ throughout it anyway, just to make our feelings known.
It’s a game that we should win comfortably. Reading are a poor side who concede plenty of goals and that, alongside the calibre of players we possess in Suarez, Coutinho and Gerrard, should be far too much for them. I fully expect The Reds to return to winning ways and bring back three points.
I am going to predict a 3-0 away victory, with goals coming via a Suarez double and Jordan Henderson.
