SUNDERLAND 1, LIVERPOOL 0
Deflated Benitez Kops a freaking nightmare
IS that it, Rafa? Is it all over now? Will you stay on your stool? Forlornly whisper 'no mas' to anyone still listening?
Do you want further punishment? Is your ego not battered enough?
Undone, finally and perhaps fatally, by a freak collision with a beach ball?
A beach ball with the Liverpool badge emblazoned on it, thrown by a young Liverpool fan before the game had started. From the Liverpool end.
When a semblance of hope still existed, when those supporters were prepared to forgive and forget three league defeats by mid-October. Because they still believed in Liverpool FC.
The same fans who were heading for the exit long before seven minutes of injury-time offered nothing more than false hope. When the tantrums and touchline tiffs were finished.
When Steve Bruce had shouted you down, protecting the reputation of his players as they were forced to leave the field on stretchers.
When the sight of Sammy Lee pushing past ball-boys to try to restart a game that was already lost had finally faded.
Is it your fault, Rafa?
The mess, the unravelling of a famous football club, in public, dirty linen strewn everywhere.
Are there are no more excuses left?
That it actually wasn't George Gillett's or Tom Hicks' fault.
Or Sir Alex Ferguson's.
Or the referee's.
Or the fixture list's.
Perhaps it really was because in five years you have built a two-man team.
Two men but one-dimensional - hideously so in their absence.
That without those two players, one of them inherited, there is nothing to suggest you are on the right lines.
Last season, and that brave run when you blew away Manchester United at Old Trafford, seems so long ago.
Where has that gusto gone? Why do the players look like they don't believe any more?
Defeat yesterday was Liverpool's fifth this season, four of which have come in a domestic campaign that HAD to produce the league title.
You will not find a single person now who believes that is possible.
The fight now is to finish in the top four because Aston Villa, Manchester City, Tottenham and even Sunderland are beginning to believe, to smell the blood of a big club in big trouble. Without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, there was nothing.
No guile, no spark, no suggestion that the north-east tornado Steve Bruce has whipped up was about to be extinguished.
Three players up front in Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and the forgettable Ryan Babel could not get past the red- and-white wall in front of them.
A midfield that has lost Xavi Alonso, and mentally, Javier Mascherano, kept on the bench until the game was gone. Shorn of ideas, lacking conviction, unsure about the new three-man defence behind them that no-one from Merseyside seemed to believe in.
Only Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson emerged with a modicum of credit yesterday.
Jamie Carragher's effort at the heart of three central defenders could not be faulted, but Liverpool's fragility was reflected in of Sunderland's superiority.
The league table really does tell a story. That Steve Bruce's ascendancy mirrors Benitez's slide.
Lost among the beach balls and the barneys was a display from Bruce's Sunderland that dripped with the same sweat and guts that flattened their manager's face in his playing days.
Bruce could not find the words to describe the effort and endeavour that limited Liverpool to one meaningful opportunity.
In Lorik Cana, Bruce was afforded a mountainous display, a rock in midfield, and then at the back, unpassable.
When Lee Cattermole was carried off, Sunderland regrouped. And Liverpool moaned.
When Kenwyne Jones was carried off, Liverpool moaned, and the Sunderland bench raged.
Two managers, their careers going in opposite directions, clashed, and Benitez retreated, later claiming his discussion was with the fourth official.
It was a day of many victories for Bruce. He has reinvented Andy Reid, whose promptings and intelligence kept the home midfield one step ahead. And he has bought well. Michael Turner stood tall and Cattermole, before his departure, fizzed.
And he is getting the best out of those he inherited. Phil Bardsley was industry personified and Anton Ferdinand did little wrong.
And then there is Darren Bent, who has produced the most potent goalscoring start to a Sunderland career since 1932.
Will he make England's World Cup squad? No one on Wearside cares. He can't stop scoring, and quite rightly admitted he never considered not claiming the one that went in via a beach ball.
It will be lost that it was a flowing move that produced the goal, that the magnificent Reid teased Fabio Aurelio before chipping to the far post, his cross assisted by Steed Malbranque's clip.
From there Bent drilled his shot straight at Reina, and as Johnson moved to block, the ball ricocheted hugely off the beach ball that had come from the away end. The diversion did for Reina, the white ball going into his goal, the red one slipping past the post before being angrily booted back to the fans from where it came.
Liverpool never recovered.
Only in the closing moments did Craig Gordon have to make a fine double save to deny subs Andriy Voronin and David Ngog.
Before then, Sunderland should have been out of sight.
Bent had struck the woodwork, lost a one-on-one with Reina and raged when Malbranque chose not to square.
Genuine, carved-out opportunities that were beyond Liverpool.
At some point must come a question about where the money has gone. In public.
There is no depth to Benitez's squad. There is little to suggest they can arrest a slide that has seen them lose twice as many Premier League games already as in their entire previous campaign.
Their manager and his players seem incapable of finding answers.
The sharks are circling - and with good reason.
This article has 14 comments
Wow......how quickly one turns from a hero to a reject. Rafa was feted back in March when the Reds blasted Manc and looked close to overtaking them. Now,as seen from the comments above, he's a clown, a waiter and whatever else people's imagination can think of. Granted, Liverpool have really played poorly especially the last 3 games but Rafa hasn't offered any excuses about it. Xabi Alonso said Benitez told him " you are not a genius when you win or a fool when you lose. The line between being perseved a genius and a fool is very fine indeed, especially in football.
By Tony(Kenya). Posted October 18 2009 at 4:02 PM.
Judging from what i saw it live internet streaming Liverpool are still living their past glories of 70s-80s.They all forgot this is already 21st century not 20th ok.9 games play already lose 4 to Totenham,Aston Villa,Chelsea & Sunderland.Imagine how they going to act against MU,Arsenal & others in next 29 games.I dare to bet Liverpool will lose 5 epl game this season & they can kiss EPL title goodbye for sure.Losing 5 game drawing 5-7 game thats for sure thats my total prediction.Arsenal may challenge but their stamina wont last long enough if their main player crack here & there injured.Chelsea will lose players in January for Africa Nations Cup for 1 month thats gonna leaves them exposed again.Liverpool camp,fans,sorry to say u are not good enough ok.Say goodbye to your EPL title dreams.20 years past believe me it will still go on.As long as SAF in charge of Red Devils he will make sure Liverpool draught of epl go on.
p/s Liverpool Simply Not Good Enough.Sack Rafa,Sell Torres,Retire Gerrard & Dump Carragher.Liverpool is Circus in CRISIS.Rafa is king of CLOWN,Gerrard a JOKER while the rest including supporters are spectators,hahaha.
By wayne zooney. Posted October 18 2009 at 3:03 PM.
Liverpool had been drunk since carlsberg start sponsor your team in 1992.20 years they overdrunk cant even play football to win any EPL title,hahaha.from 2010/2011 standard chartered bank willbe their main sponsor dont get too excited.it may break the long draught EL NINO EPL to end but it may also bring kops into more trouble.gillect are in war with tom hick while hick are blaming rafa for poor team performance.new stadium cant even start build yet,haha.kops are blaming each other tearing them apart.either they sack rafa or he walk away anytime sooner rather then later.either way we all laughing,hahahaha.Liverpool simply not good enough ok.Sack Rafa,Sell Torres,Retire Gerrard,Dump Carragher,GAME OVER.
By wayne zooney. Posted October 18 2009 at 3:01 PM.
Back from the beach.Lets not forget though,that it was comedy of the highest quality.
By Nev. Posted October 18 2009 at 3:00 PM.
its easy to make comments when we are watching from the stands.....a real fan will believe in the team and support them even when they are down and out. So please be encouraging to them in their lowest moment and not to stab on their backs...Remember "you'll never walk alone!"
By palan. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:42 PM.
hello everybody have you forgotton that there were two teams playing in that game.
sunderland ran the reds of the pitch,chased down every ball,ran from end to end and played with pride.
liverpool fans get over yourselves,yes two players were missing from your squad but you still had plenty left to choose from.its easy to blame rafa but what about the men on the pitch who are being payed tens of thousands a week not to pull their weight.
steve bruce has put together a team of proud players playing for a team they believe in and want to do well.liverpool players just turn up do what they think they can get away with and pick up thier money.
well done steve bruce and shame on you liverpool for letting your fans and great history down.
By Barry Jones. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:29 PM.
Cant believe this.......2 weeks ago, we were a "goal machine" .... "the entertaining reds"..... at the end of the day, weve lost to sunderland, WITHOUT Gerrard, Torres, and a team of half fit, knackered Internationals. Sunderland on the other hand had a squad of fully fit players. Man Utd only got 1 more point against them AT HOME.
This season, as it has been proved already, will see a lot of lesser teams taking points off the big 4, and will be a much tighter league.
Were only 7pts behind United......Last season, when we went to play them away, it was 10....with only 8 or so games left....and we were "well in the title race!!".......Listen, if we beat United, it`ll be 4POINTS.....With 28 games to go.
Granted, Benitez`s buys have been awful......Deggen, Aurelio, Dossena, Riera, Lucas, Voronin, Babel.........but we had the same team last season. The loss of Alonso is HUGE, but we will have Aquilani in a couple of weeks.
A win over Lyon, then the Mancs will start the ball rolling........Keep the faith - This is our bad patch
By barnsey. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:37 AM.
To all Liverpool fans their end of season party takes place at Anfield this afternoon
By Don the Gooner. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:36 AM.
Please don,t get rid of the waiter,he,s like,well,a rudderless ship,a headless chicken amongts the rest of the managers.He,s tried his tactics,he,s got his own players in (Lucas,Degen,Ngog,Dossena,Voronin),he,s even sold some good ones (Alonso).Nothing seems to work,no matter what excuse he rolls out. Any atempt to replace him might end up with Liverpool standing a chance to win something.Please,once again,keep the waiter.I,m off down the beach now to play with ball.
By Nev. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:22 AM.
This season has trully exposed the mediocre and below par players on the bench. It also exposes the over reliance on Torres and Gerrard combination. We lack depth in the substitute strike force. Even in the last season, the problem with weak players on the bench was already there. I have been supporting Liverpool since the 70s' and it is so sad and frustrated to see the team losing and being humiliated week in week out. It is time to change the owners and the manager before the club becomes the next Newcastle !!!
By Thomas. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:14 AM.
There can be no more excuses either for Rafa or the owners. Lyon next and another defeat beckons. They are heads and shoulders above Liverpool who’ve only managed to beat average or below average teams this season. We’ve not managed to beat any team that has ambitions and Sunderland have more ambitions than this pathetic Liverpool team. I’ve been supporting Liverpool since ‘68 and most players in this team are a disgrace to the might redmen of the past. Rafa can't hide behind Rick Parry no more. This is his team and his players.
By Philip (Malta). Posted October 18 2009 at 5:57 AM.
Rafa has had 5 years and his squad includes players only fit for the championship like Degen, Lucas, Dossena, Voronin, Ngog etc.. He has bought so many failures it is impossible to win the title with such a flimsy squad.
The only reason he is safe from the sack is the Liverpool fans are too embarrassed to admit their hero worshipping of Benitez has proven to be a sad joke. He will remain at the club, blaming everyone but himself, until proper owners take over and SACK him like he deserves.
The owners of the club are two clowns, but so are many of the fans who make endless excuses for Benitez when he is clearly part of the problem.
By Owen. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:45 AM.
We where rubbish! FACT ... get the waiter out now, it's already to wait, lets not make ourselfs look like complete idiots! ... get a manager in that will simply kick lucas out of the team!
benitez should have resigned the day he sold alonso!!!!!!
By Luke. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:12 AM.
The owners,Rafas tactics and rubbish buys and some players are to blame,some of the players dont deserve to even play for liverpool the midfield is poor aswell is the defence
By mike. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:21 AM.