As Spurs could not do Liverpool a favour and get at least a point off of Man City, Liverpool knew that they had to beat Cardiff regardless, but if they did not, their league title dream, would look even further from coming to reality. Spurs had enough chances on Saturday to win, but fell short, as they were nor clinical, ultimately looking tired after the teams' had an epic battle in the Champions League, just three days earlier. So, on to Sunday afternoon we rolled, Man Utd had been pummelled away at our local rivals Everton, a game we actually wanted them to get something from, to keep them invested in the race for the top 4. Nonetheless, we all laughed didn't we, I just wish I had put money down on it happening.
Liverpool went into the game with three changes form the Champions League away win at Porto; James Milner and Fabinho came out of the midfield for Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita to return, and up top, Roberto Firmino came back in for Divock Origi. I had nor real issues with the lineup, bar the fact i maybe would have liked to have seen Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield.
The game saw Liverpool start strangely, lots of passing, but no real penetration, and you could see that Cardiff were up for it, I expected no different as they are fighting for their lives. The pitch was not in the best state for the way Liverpool like to play, and it was quite hot for UK standards, making the game even harder for both sides, like it was not huge enough. Once Liverpool started to pass the ball better, they started to get into interesting positions and should have taken the lead. After being slipped through by Sadio Mane, Firmino shot over, this was a chance that he would normally gobble up, but he seemed more worried with looking at the linesman to make sure he was onside. Mane also put a half chance over himself, and later Mo Salah, spun his marker well after a ball from Henderson, but Neil Etheridge in the Cardiff goal saved well from his poked left foot effort. The heat meant the players had to take a water break just before that Etheridge save from Salah, us fans felt we were on the pitch with them with how much we were sweating. Salah, was put through in the 35th minute and unfortunately rather than going on the outside, he ran into a cul-de-sac in the centre and the chance went. After these chances, it was actually nearly Cardiff who took the lead as Alisson had to tip over an effort from Omar Niasse. Though, Liverpool were playing to a decent standard, the usual nerves were kicking in. Being in a title race plays on the mind enough, all we wanted was a first half goal to calm the nerves and it never came.
Cardiff came out of the gates in the second half with belief, and wanted a penalty when Andy Robertson had a little tug at Sean Morrison, which meant he could not fully launch himself at a header. Whether you think it was soft or not, they sometimes have been given. In the 56th minute; Liverpool had a corner and finally took the lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner was driven in expertly by Gini Wijnaldum, this was a goal you really did not fully appreciate until you saw the replays. Wijnaldum, admitted in his interview after the game, that the goal was a training ground routine. Yes, Liverpool were finally in front, it seemed a little weird that the goal came from a set piece, with the openings created in the first half, but who cares!
Liverpool should have doubled their lead but Henderson shot over, it would have surely been easier to score. Morrison was in the thick of it again as he missed a point blank header in the 63rd minute, and something just felt like the football gods were with Liverpool. Morrison amazingly had a big part to play in the game, and his clearance was charged down and the ball fell to Mo Salah. Salah was trying to turn in the box, but he was being held by Morrison, Salah eventually went down and a penalty was given in the 80th minute. At first, I thought it was soft, but the more you see it, the more you can see it is a penalty. The usual complaints and gripes started on Twitter about Salah diving, if you do not think it is a penalty, then you have an agenda, it does look worse in slow motion, but the referee deemed the contact to be enough and he was in a good position. James Milner had only been on the pitch for fivr minutes, but he tucked away the penalty calmly. Salah wanted to take it, as he won it, but the first choice taker was on the pitch, and he rightly put the Egyptian in his place. Milner was only on the field as Fabinho was involved in a clash of heads, and was taken off a precaution, Fabinho had only been on the field for barely two minutes after replacing Keita.
So Liverpool, got the three points they so craved, and showed Man City they have to get a result in the Derby on Wednesday, or it will be advantage Liverpool. On form, it looks like United have no chance, but stranger things have happened. Last season, we all thought City would wrap up the league at home to United, and after going 2-0 up, they lost 3-2, so let us hope they turn up, all Liverpool need is a draw.
@DubulDee
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