Roy Hodgson and Roberto Mancini continue to experience different fortunes, the former’s Liverpool labouring to a disappointing but nonetheless important goalless draw in Utrecht, whilst the latter’s Manchester City were equal to the stern test given them by Italian giants Juventus in the Europa League this evening. Eastlands witnessed for me a thoroughly absorbing game, certainly in comparison with the Reds’ match in Holland. The empty seats in Manchester however will not have escaped anyone’s notice and on a night like this the fact it wasn’t a sell out is somewhat surprising. City had everything Liverpool was lacking, creativity, guile and played attractive football. Something they did have in common was a lack of width. Adam Johnson naturally provided Roberto Mancini’s side with some, but this was as part of a free role. Liverpool put out a makeshift side with Martin Kelly occupying the wrong full-back birth, covering for the injured Fabio Aurelio and Paul Konchesky. Joe Cole cut inside from left often as has been his wont for many years, leaving Glen Johnson as the only player willing to get chalk on his boots.
This lack of width really worries me as does the continuing pattern of club captain Steven Gerrard being absent resulting in average or poor performances. There will come a time when he is too old to put on that red shirt and what will the Merseyside outfit do then? Over-reliance on Fernando Torres is also proving to be taking his toll. He still looks like he needs a rest to me and I am starting to wonder if constantly playing football, aside from being in a state where he has been physically unable to do so, is going to shorten the Spanish striker’s career. That said were it not for a smart save from Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm we may be talking about Liverpool scraping a 1-0 away victory. The Dutch international impressed on the European stage, thwarting Torres brilliantly at the near post in the second half, though I doubt Netherlands number one Maarten Stekelenberg has anything to worry about. One player we were all watching closely was Holland’s top domestic goalscorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel. The twenty-one year old striker was largely absent in the first half but after the break there were flashes of his talent, though he somewhat fluffed his lines with a good headed chance going begging because he wasn’t perhaps brave enough aerially.
A trio of Juventus players sparkled tonight. New hero Milos Krasic, fresh off his hat-trick against Cagliari at the weekend, showed a willingness to run at the Man City defence. The Serbian winger is a player I have been excited about for some time with genuine blistering pace, it’s just a shame he feels the need to go down so easily. The Turin outfit’s talisman and leader Alessandro del Piero will be thirty-six before 2010 is out but he continues to pose a threat, especially from dead balls. With the possible exception of Paolo Maldini Juventus’s number seven in my view is the best Italian player of my lifetime and on another day his free kick which hit the bar late on would’ve come down behind the goal line rather than just in front of it. Well done to the extra assistants for the call. Vincenzo Iaquinta must also get a mention as his deflected long range shot earned Luigi del Neri’s side a point at Eastlands. The one thing about the former Udinese frontman I never can quite understand is his willingness to run into the channels and go to the wing drifting inside. This is not a criticism of his work ethic, but at six foot three and built the way he is we all know that he could do an equally good, if not better job as a target man. His abysmal, Emile Heskey-esque international record is compelling evidence of this.
The gulf in creativity between Man City and Liverpool tonight was enormous. Joe Cole tried to provide that spark, but forcing the issue does not always work. Yaya Toure impressed with his assist coupled with Adam Johnson’s perfectly timed run in behind which saw Mancini’s men equalise inside the last ten minutes of the first half. The former Middlesbrough winger’s scoring of important goals continues; something that the watching Fabio Capello should be taking note of. In truth it is highly probable that both Johnsons who played in the Europa league tonight will be on that England teamsheet come Montenegro’s visit to Wembley on October 12th, injuries permitting of course.
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