Source: Liverpool_Echo
Wolves 0 Liverpool FC 0 - Dominic King on a night of frustration for the Reds
LONELY PLANET, the travellers' bible, recently published a list of the cities they deem to be the worst in the world.[LNB]Along with places such as Los Angeles, Seoul and Accra, Wolverhampton was plonked in at number five; in other words, it's a place they say you should avoid at all costs.[LNB]Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool players will know exactly why today.[LNB]Befitting the miserable metropolis they ventured to last night, the Reds rustled up a charmless performance, much to the consternation of those who witnessed it; just when you think a corner has been turned, another dead end appears.[LNB]There can be no complaints that Liverpool left with just a point to show for their 'efforts' nor can there be any feelings they were hard done by; for all the talent they had on the pitch, rarely did they threaten to impose their quality on the game.[LNB]Yes, they battled and scrapped to avoid a defeat and matched the relentless commitment of Mick McCarthy's men but when inspiration was needed, it was sorely lacking; as a result, the season remains on a knife edge.[LNB]Liverpool might have crept up a place in the standings but not even their biggest supporter could say they enhanced their Champions League credentials in the process.[LNB]Such is the scrutiny Liverpool find themselves under these days, even something as trivial as names on the teamsheet see people searching to find conspiracy theories and hidden agendas when well known names are absent.[LNB]The man to find himself the subject of pre-match chatter here was, inevitably, Alberto Aquilani with sceptics suggesting there must be a sinister reason why Benitez picked the Italian as a substitute after an impressive showing against Tottenham.[LNB]No matter that Benitez opted to begin with an attacking line-up - Albert Riera retained his place, there was a first start for Maxi Rodriguez with the fit-again Steven Gerrard in between - all that was of interest was Aquilani's omission.[LNB]Crazy. There are far bigger things going on at Liverpool than worrying about how and when Benitez chooses to use his players but at least it is safe to say that he doesn't get sidetracked by those kind of issues in the run-up to a game.[LNB]His sole focus last night was overseeing another Liverpool win to keep the momentum behind the sequence of results they have steadily built up since getting the better of Wolves on Boxing Day.[LNB]It was evident from the off that McCarthy's idea was to frustrate Liverpool, to squeeze the life out in the hope of pilfering something on the break or from a set play, but it was a dangerous game to play.[LNB]Or so you would have thought. While Riera went close with a free header from Gerrard's corner in the first minute, for the rest of the contest they were pedestrian in their play, a pale shadow of the side that had thrillingly dismantled Spurs last Wednesday.[LNB]So frustrating. Wolves' commitment could not be faulted but they were making mistakes which should have been seized upon, playing short balls across the defence to leave sections of the home crowd gasping anxiously.
