October 30 2016

James McArthur tussles for the ball. His brace wasn't enough in the 2-4 defeat

A murky Halloween weekend saw Liverpool visit Selhurst. Jamesey watched a match that was never less than entertaining.

We have seen some great games against Liverpool in the past couple of seasons.

A late afternoon televised game (Oct 29) was eagerly anticipated and the usual full house were hoping for a great game. It was certainly enthralling but the 2-4 result was disappointing for the home supporters.

Some fans of former clubs managed by Alan Pardew have criticised his tenure as featuring fine runs of good results or horrible runs of losses.

The start of this year heralded one of he most disastrous run of results ever beheld in SE25 after a superb pre-Christmas display.

We all know you can't win 'em all. And hopefully you cant lose 'em all either unless your team is managed by David Moyes - hard luck Mackems!

Nevertheless a great away win at Middlesbrough in September commenced a league run of three victories and a draw.

After that the train hit the buffers with a thump with defeats by West Ham and Leicester.

So the Eagles faced the prospect of a third consecutive loss against the Scousers who, unfortunately, are getting their mojo back big time under the astute Teutonic direction of Jurgen Klopp.

Anyhow, as for the game itself, the Reds ran out in an away kit which to my eyes looked like the type of luminous yellow that road and rail workers wear to avoid "friendly fire".

But in my photographs it looks like what one newspaper reporter described as "virulent lime green". Who's right or was it my unreliable eyes?

Our tower of strength, captain Scott Dann, was fit again to the relief of all, although the deflection through his legs from a shot by Emre Can fooled Steve Mandanda on the 16th minute.

To be fair the Liverpool goal had a certain inevitability as the Reds bamboozled the Eagles defence with ease.

The lead was short-lived after James McArthur, capitalising on a defensive error, headed the ball over keeper, Loris Karius.

As if to apologise for his boob for the McArthur goal, Dejan Lovren's header in the 21st minute made it 1-2.

Who should rise like a graceful salmon to equalise again? Jimmy Mac of course. The popular midfielder again grinned in jubilation and tapped the top of his head. Equal again.

In the dying embers of the first period the Reds' Joel Matip provided another deadly header to make it 2-3.

Five goals at half-time, we all needed a rest.

There was another goal to come in the second half and that was provided by Roberto Firmino who lobbed the Eagles advancing keeper in the 71st minute - 2-4. And that's how it stayed. Three losses on the trot, Mr Pardew?

Wilfried Zaha was denied a possible penalty when he was upended at the edge of the box although maybe referees are growing tired of his histrionics whenever there is a sniff of a possible free kick or penalty.

Wilf is an absolute star as far as this columnist is concerned. But he is starting to remind one of Andy Johnson whose favourite gambit was to run at top speed (which was very fast indeed) towards the goal and go flying when a defender couldn't avoid him quickly enough.

I have to say that I was not too dismayed by this result. Realistically we will struggle against the biggest and richest sides in the Pilesocash League, of which Liverpool is undoubtedly one again after some uncertain seasons.

The Leicester defeat, too, was no catastrophe. The Foxes, current champions, have looked far from the force they were last season. The game was closer than the scoreline suggests.

It was the home defeat against West Ham that really enraged me. Being outplayed and tactically out thought by a struggling relegation zone team is no way to stay in the top tier of English football.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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