It had been 18 days since Liverpool FC had last played in the Premier League thanks to the 'big freeze' - one which threw the entire sporting calendar into disarray. Looking back now, I wish the subsequent thaw around Anfield never happened, because what it left was painful viewing - an inept Liverpool side.
Expectations were high going into the game. Yes, the season had not been playing out as expected and the manager has been under pressure from early on in the season. But, surely a win was on the cards - we were playing a side bottom of the league, one which had the worst away record in the country having lost 7 out of 8 games, we were at home and we had our talismanic captain return. However, even Steven Gerrard couldn't rescue us tonight.
Wolves deserve credit for their win, their first in 27 years against us, as Mick McCarthy clearly had a game plan and his players executed it well. However, our players and our manager did not help by making it so much easier for them to do so.
As team news came out before kick off, some thought the strange starting XI may mean a change in formation. "Could Roy be trying a new 4-3-3 formation with more attacking intent?", were the thoughts No. Playing players out of their best positions was what the starting XI dictated. In past games, in Gerrard's absence, Miereles and Lucas have played relatively well in midfield, possibly bringing the best out of each others games - so the logical thing would be to continue this and have Gerrard supporting Torres, which he has done extremely well in the past. But no, the plan was to put Miereles out on the right, which he clearly isn't comfortable with, and Dirk Kuyt on the left. That's right - Kuyt on the left. A centre forward, who had been converted to a right sided 'winger' now playing on the left. It all made perfect sense to Hodgson, apparently.
From the kick-off Wolves looked sharp and lively, contrasting our lazy and lethargic approach. Having had such an extended break there was no excuse for this. Wolves closed players down with a hunger and motivation that we simply couldn't match. Raul Meireles wasted our best chance early on in the first half when he shot straight at Wayne Hennessey, but clear cut chances were few and far between.
Second half came and immediately Liverpool were under pressure with Wolves winning a corner within 45 seconds of the kick off - a sign of things to come. For in the 56th minute the visitors took the lead after a mix-up between Skrtel and Kyrgiakos allowed Ebanks-Blake's through-ball to squeeze between them. Ward showed good pace to beat the advancing Reina and calmly passed the ball between the keepers legs to silence Anfield.
Liverpool tried their best to get back into the game but the damage had already been done and to be honest Wolves still looked comfortable after they had taken the lead. In an attempt to change the outcome of the game, Hodgson took off N'Gog, to quite vociferous booing having had a poor game and sent Babel on. And Aurelio coming on to replace Konchesky were met by ironic cheers for the departing player, who again had a nothing game. Cole replaced Miereles, but in all honesty, none of the substitutions made any real difference to the outcome of the game.
Now, I have been patient with Roy Hodgson and believed that he should be given time, but tonight's performance just confirmed for me that he doesn't seem to have a plan B and with the players at his disposal he doesn't know his best starting XI or the best formation to play them in. For example, Miereles and Kuyt, two world class players, were essentially spectators in the game because of the positions they started in and his persistence with Konchesky is plain baffling. Neither Aurelio or Konchesky are amazing left backs, but I'd choose Fabio over Konchesky everyday.
After the take-over NESV said they were 'here to listen'. Well, the Anfield faithful certainly made their feelings about Roy Hodgson known tonight, with calls for Dalglish ringing around the ground and reactions to substitutions and those at full time more than obvious. The question is, did John Henry and the board hear them?
He's gotta go. total rubbish tonight and even worse than the blackpool game. GET KENNY IN!!!
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