Scoring the first goal in games....

[alias75]

I know its an obvious point, but when was the last time we lost in the league after scoring first?

(i know it happened against Gala last week but team wise we rested players for that one)

 

this is where i think the hopefully extra money will help us. We already have a very strong squad of players however, all attacking players no matter how good they are play better when the opposition is forced to come out and play a bit more ,thats why scoring that first goal of the game is so important, it gives your attacking players more room and space to play and also someone like Alonso gets more time on the ball to do his stuff, this is especially true of the top sides as most weeks they face packed defences and crowded midfield.

 

Hopefully the extra trasnfer funds will allow Rafa to sign the type of attacking players that can make the difference in these types of games, players that can beat a man or pick a pass in tight situations this is what we badly need, once we get the first goal in games very often we go on to get more.

 

Garcia is in the team to do that but we all know how inconsistent he is, no disrespect to Luis but i think we need a simialr type of player but one that does it on a much more consistent basis, of course having 2 or 3 game breakers is even better as its much easier to stop 1 player than it is 2 or 3.

[Dule]

I really believe that we need to hit teams HARD as f*** the first 20 minutes of every game, specially at Anfield. Tackles, Passing, Shooting and general pressure up the pitch, all need to be applied in there full capacity to really rock teams.

 

If you remember Arsenal a few years ago, they would cripple teams in those first few minutes and effectively win the game in those opening minutes.

 

We always seem to play alot better when we hit the front. Its almost as if our team know they now cannot lose. What is a worrying thing is when we go behind, our team just seems to lose themselves.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

We have always 'struggled' a bit to get early goals under rafa, to the point where I think it's almost deliberate.

 

Not in the sense of 'thou shalt not score early', but I wouldn't be surprised if it were a team tactic to deliberately conserve a bit of strength early on and exploit the openings that inevitably come in the second half when teams begin to tire more.

 

We always seem to play alot better when we hit the front. Its almost as if our team know they now cannot lose. What is a worrying thing is when we go behind, our team just seems to lose themselves.

 

You're joking. I've lost count of how many times we've made a win after being behind under rafa. It was a very legitimate criticism of Houllier, but I don't think we are poor in this regard at all.

[alias75]

I really believe that we need to hit teams HARD as f*** the first 20 minutes of every game, specially at Anfield. Tackles, Passing, Shooting and general pressure up the pitch, all need to be applied in there full capacity to really rock teams.

 

If you remember Arsenal a few years ago, they would cripple teams in those first few minutes and effectively win the game in those opening minutes.

 

We always seem to play alot better when we hit the front. Its almost as if our team know they now cannot lose. What is a worrying thing is when we go behind, our team just seems to lose themselves.

 

Agree with that, most teams now in the PL are well organised though and so it isnt easy to get that breakthrough especially since most teams that play us start out happy with the point, its those special attacking players that are able to unlock tight defences or get a goal out of nothing i think thats what we're lacking.

 

I guess its tougher to break down teams at the start of games when their fitness levels are high and its likely as the game goes on and players become physically and mentally tired that gaps start to appear, but obviously you make things easier for yourself by scoring first and the earlier the better, as players (and fans) can get frustrated if the breakthrough isnt happening.

 

Im really optimistic that any new inestment will finally allow us to sign that real top quality number 10, a Ronaldinho, Kaka type of player that can produce something out of nothing and in the tight games that can make the difference. Once the gaps appear we have the players like Gerrard and Alonso and even someone like Bellamy with his pace to exploit that.

[Mike]

same as arsenal really

[alias75]

does anyone know the last time we lost in the league after scoring first?

 

I checked back to 2004/2005 season and it goes back further than that!

 

ok 23rd Septmber 2003 we lost 3-2 away to Charlton after scoring first, notsure if thats the last time.

 

and the week after we lost 2-1 to Arsenal after scoring first...

[Guest Portly]

We should have scored a couple of goals at least in the first half against Fulham. We really were firing blanks. A number of quite good shooting opportunities went well wide, from not that far out. Alonso was the worst culprit, it seems that these days he can only score from the other side of the half-way line.

[Rushian]

heard the stat yesterday - think we're won 58 and drawn 4 of the last 62 league games in which we've scored first.

[alias75]

Looks like we've never lost after scoring first under Rafa certainly must give the players confidence when we do take the lead in games.

 

I guess the more quality you have in attacking positions the more likely you are to score first, we know most teams will set themselves up not to concede against us so if we do get that first goal thats their gameplan gone, many of the games we've lost or even drawn this year we've been the better side until we've conceded.

 

I guess its stating the obvious to some degree and any top side shouldnt really be losing after scoring first but i think its quite telling that most of the games we've lost this season have been to nil.

[Guest ritchie_50]

You're joking. I've lost count of how many times we've made a win after being behind under rafa. It was a very legitimate criticism of Houllier, but I don't think we are poor in this regard at all.

 

At Anfield yes but in the 5 games we've gone behind away from home this season (i.e. the 5 games we've lost), we basically gave up as soon as we went behind.

 

It was similar in Rafa's first season when we had so many 1-0/2-0 defeats, particularly away from home. Aswell as coming out the traps quicker, we need to show more character. Alot of the time we don't start playing UNTIL we score that first goal, or until late on when its still 0-0.

 

Between us Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United have lost only once at home this season, league and cup and that was United to Arsenal. Only Chelsea have lost after going behind.

Edited December 10, 2006 by ritchie_50

[Gomez]

does anyone know the last time we lost in the league after scoring first?

 

I checked back to 2004/2005 season and it goes back further than that!

 

ok 23rd Septmber 2003 we lost 3-2 away to Charlton after scoring first, notsure if thats the last time.

 

and the week after we lost 2-1 to Arsenal after scoring first...

 

Didn't we score first against arsenal when they beat us 4-2?

April 2004?

[alias75]

Didn't we score first against arsenal when they beat us 4-2?

April 2004?

 

Correct i think that was the last time, and that was under GH

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I seem to recall a similar statistic while Houllier was here as well.