A Penalty?

As perhaps not the world’s biggest Liverpool fan, I have to try to be a little bit objective about yesterday’s Liverpool-Arsenal encounter.

On Ryan Babel’s “soft”(soccernet’s word, not mine) penalty: yes, okay, it probably should have been a foul, Toure’s legs got a little tangled from behind and Babel took a tumble. It was one of those unfortunate moments where you cannot really blame Toure, as it merely looked like he was trying to get out of the way.

The thing about the game that has to drive Arsenal fans nuts though is Kuyt’s challenge on Hleb in the opening leg. This was a much more clear cut penalty, and of a similar nature: defender comes from behind, tangles with the attacker. Except that in the case of Kuyt/Hleb, Kuyt actually reached around with his arm on Hleb. Arsenal certainly should have had a penalty, even Liverpool fans have to admit they were damned lucky.

And the rest of the game? Until Hyypia’s equalizer, Arsenal looked incredible. They were playing amazing one touch soccer and making great runs; basically tearing Liverpool to shreds. By the half hour mark the Gunners certainly could have bagged more than the one they did.

Hyypia’s goal that followed was a commanding header, but what appalling defending! Senderos was flat beaten by the quickness of the aging Finn, surely a disgraceful moment for the big Swiss defender. And what on earth was Fabregas doing? Perhaps he could not have blocked the shot, but as a goalkeeper this sort of thing gets your ire up; stay on the post (not three feet off it) until you are told to get out. Liverpool’s second goal was much better worked, with a blistering finish from Torres (whose quickness also let him in, but is a little more renowned than Hyypia’s). Again it was the erratic Senderos doing the defending. Arsenal will need to trade up for more stable central defender if they are hoping to win any silverware next year.

The result was probably a fair result. For as good as Arsenal looked in the first 30 minutes, they simply fell apart after giving up the equalizing goal. While Liverpool did not look like anything particularly special for large periods of the game, their defending was solid and in the end they had what Arsenal did not: the finishing touch, and a little luck.

As for Chelsea-Fenerbahce, is anyone surprised at that result? This was a match up where Chelsea could have and should have absolutely destroyed the Turks. Instead, they let their foot off the accelerator and allowed Fenerbahce a few half chances, making things nervier than they ever should have been. But that was pretty much the theme of the tie; for me the result was never in question. The Blues got the job done; on to Liverpool.

And what an interesting match up this will be. Chelsea will be without Essien for the first leg and possibly down to third choice goalkeeper Hilario (who can hold his own, but must be rusty from inaction). If Chelsea can somehow pull this one out, it will certainly silence all the Avram Grant critics. Without a doubt Chelsea’s squad is stronger than Liverpool’s, but as we have seen time and time again in soccer; sometimes that just does not matter. And that is why you play the game.