MINI-HIT: BECKS, RODGERS & JANUZAJ ON VAN GAAL WAGON

MINI-HIT: BECKS, RODGERS & JANUZAJ ON VAN GAAL WAGON

D. Ray Morton, 21st May 2014.

Van Gaal seems to be universally backed at the moment

Aside from Jose Mourinho's prior, almost predictable, slap on the back towards new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (Barca buddies!), it's interesting to see other soccer personalities' views. David Beckham is full of praise, encouraged by LvG's promotion of youth products. Brendan Rodgers is looking forward to challenging one of the great senior European managers and had glowing respect towards new assistant manager, Ryan Giggs. Adnan Januzaj hopes to excel under the new boss although it will be interesting to see how he fits into his 4-3-3 system.

"CRYSTAL" PULIS MASTERMINDS LIVERPOOL COLLAPSE

D. Ray Morton, 6th May 2014.

 Dwight Gayle reels away in celebration after scoring Crystal Palace's late equaliser

The travelling Liverpool fans belted out "we're going to win the league" around Selhurst Park last night after their side had taken a commanding three goal lead against Crystal Palace. This happened before Tony Pulis' team completed the shock comeback of the season in order to crush any last hope of the Premier League title going to Merseyside. Perhaps the opportunity had already been blown but this 3-3 draw was one of the final nails in the coffin. They can still, mathematically, win the league but Manchester City would have to fail spectacularly with only Aston Villa and West Ham to play, both at the Etihad.

A true fall apart, some have described last night's action as "Istanbul in reverse". Cruising to the point where the foot was mildly off the pedal in terms of finishing, the visiting fans yelled "attack, attack, attack!" in anticipation of another high-scoring, dominant victory. Tony Pulis had other ideas, however. A good manager will still have a game plan when his side are trailing by two goals going into the last twenty minutes but rarely can a boss change things when three behind. Pulis saw a weakness in Liverpool's defence and his impact sub, Dwight Gayle, was deployed to devastating effect. The ex-Arsenal youth player, who had to drop down to non-league football at one stage, ripped The Reds' defence apart with his pace and bagged a superb brace to crush Liverpool's spirit.

Pulis deserves massive credit and should probably be awarded the Manager of the Year prize which had been booked for Brendan Rodgers had he been able to secure a long-awaited but unlikely league title win. With nothing to work with resources-wise, Pulis has turned this Palace side into one of the most stubborn in the Premier League, a complete transformation from the Ian Holloway-led relegation candidates that started out the season.

Long-ball Stoke jokes are out of fashion as Pulis demonstrates his managerial chops at Palace

Luis Suarez had to cover his face after the final whistle as captain Steven Gerrard put his arm around him and shoved cameramen away as he attempted to console the Uruguayan. Only weeks earlier, Gerrard had been kissing cameras, so optimistic was the mood around the club. We can't tell whether Suarez was even crying beneath the veil of his jersey. He could have just as easily been laughing hysterically in irony, incredulous that Liverpool could concede so many after he and strike partner Daniel Sturridge ripped apart opposition defences with their combined 52 league goals this term.

This entire whirlwind of events has left audiences puzzled, neutrals unsure how to take it all in. A month or two ago, Liverpool had become many fans' (Manchester United and Everton followers excluded) second team with their dazzling displays of attacking football. Now their defending has become so farcical that it's hard to respect their almost suicidal insistence on only attempting to outscore their opponents. The positivity has soured and hope went from cockiness to what is currently despair. On the whole, however, Liverpool should still consider this season a success looking at their improvement in league position. They would have happily taken second place when asked at the start of the campaign.

What happens next season is intriguing. Having missed out on the title, Suarez will be more tempted than ever should Real Madrid come knocking. It's a once in a lifetime chance to play at the world's most successful club and it will be very hard to keep him. The received fee could be astronomical and that would allow Brendan Rodgers to invest in some real defenders and a Suarez replacement. Someone like Juventus' Carlos Tevez would be ideal should he become available. The restructuring need not be dramatic but it will need to take place with the possibility of a resurgent Man United competing with and against City, Chelsea and Arsenal next season.

LIVERPOOL TITLE PUSH BUILDS NEXT SEASON

LIVERPOOL TITLE PUSH BUILDS NEXT SEASON

D. Ray Morton, 2nd March 2014.

It was billed as the kind of game that would stop Liverpool's title momentum but yesterday at St. Mary's, The Reds brushed aside Southampton in a thoroughly professional performance which keeps them very much in the title chase with ten games left to play. Though Chelsea go four points clear thanks to their win against Fulham and Manchester City can draw level on points granted they win their two games in hand, should Liverpool keep picking up wins, this could be their year. Regardless of whether Chelsea and City slip, or if Arsenal manage to rediscover their form, when Liverpool's season finishes, they have an awesome platform for next year. It is highly unlikely that they would now finish outside a Champions League qualification spot.

The opening quarter of an hour was actually rather sloppy, with both teams giving away possession in an attempt to figure each other out. Luis Suarez gave Liverpool the lead thanks to some dogged harrying of Southampton's defence which lead to a mistake by Jose Fonte to which the Uruguayan punished with an accurate first-time finish. A good way to start his 100th Premier League appearance.

 

Southampton did not roll over however and they managed to get hold of the ball and create chances. Adam Lallana especially impressed as he managed to trouble Liverpool's back four by turning up in different positions and testing them with his mazy dribbling skills. Had Rickie Lambert's finishing on the day been better, The Saints could have drawn level before the interval.

Lallana should be going to Brazil with the England squad come the summer. Lambert looked far off that standard. Indeed, Lallana hit the woodwork on 32 minutes where Southampton began to dominate possession as Brendan Rodgers' side sat off the home team. Jay Rodriguez came close just before half-time but was denied by a good save from Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool switched things up in the second half and brought on Raheem Sterling for Philippe Coutinho early after the restart. Within eighty seconds, the diminutive winger had found himself on the scoresheet. Suarez worked the ball down the right a provided a cross as Sterling got into the perfect position to slot home unmarked inside the Southampton penalty area.

From there, the away side managed to kill the game off by defending well and pressing Southampton who had 60% of the ball but were not able to do much with it. It was a demonstration of devastating counter attacking play, very different from Rodgers' Swansea who insisted on possession over incisiveness. The away fans were the only ones singing and Suarez helped complete the victory by winning a penalty in injury time. Steven Gerrard duly dispatched it to give the visitors a 3-0 win.

So a solid win for a team in form. With ten games remaining, it's not unthinkable for Liverpool to pinch the title but realistically, the optimism should be geared towards next season. Champions League football and the likelihood that Luis Suarez will stay should attract better players to the club and Rodgers will be able to invest in badly-needed defenders and a few more specialists to fill up his squad.

Southampton 0-3 Liverpool (Suarez 16, Sterling 58, Gerrard 90+ pen)

Player ratings:

Southampton: Boruc (6); Chambers (6), Lovren (5), Fonte (4.5), Shaw (6); Schneiderlin (6), Cork (6); Davis (5.5), Lallana (7), Rodriguez (6.5); Lambert (5). Subs: Gaston (5), Wanyama (5.5), Gallagher (5).

Liverpool: Mignolet (6.5); Flanagan (6.5), Skrtel (6.5), Agger (6.5), Johnson (6.5); Gerrard (7), Henderson (6.5), Allen (6.5); Coutinho (6.5); Sturridge (6.5), Suarez* (9) Subs: Sterling (7.5), Aspas (-).

* = man of the match