Hearts 0-1 Liverpool: 5 Talking Points

Ray Wilson

Yesterday’s match marked the first competitive fixture between these two sides and, in the end, it proved itself a spirited affair. Whilst the scoreline reads a little dry and it was, at times, a classically drab Europa League game, Hearts’ plucky efforts and Liverpool’s squad players getting a run out made it a worthwhile endeavour.

After the disappointment of the opening day defeat to West Brom in the league (remember, though, no need to panic), I do think it was key that there were no big issues in last night’s encounter. Nothing that left us slapping ourselves in the face or cringing at the battering we knew the press would give us. Just a nice little game with a good result, allowing us to fly under the radar at the same time. Really, that’s exactly what I wanted from the West Brom game too.

All in all we got the win and that’s what counts. Would you rather play amazing but lose, or play average and win? For me, right now, it’s definitely the latter. Rodgers needs plenty of patience, so these kind of results are bang on the money. Maybe if we’d drawn or even lost we would still have gone through over the two legs, but a defeat grinds at the fans and the angst builds. This wasn’t a pretty victory, but it was a victory. No need to over-analyse anything that went wrong or question Brendan’s methods too closely.

Still, for me, there were five main points that I took from the match. Five things that I think deserve a special mention.

5. Behold, the Squad Players!

With a new formation and fresh faces coming in, many players in the squad have been cemented in as or reduced to squad status. Kelly, Carragher, Adam, Spearing, Henderson, Shelvey – they’re all squad boys. They can’t expect to start the big games (at least not right now) and have to prove themselves when they get the chance – or, in Carragher’s case, do a good job and protect the other centre backs by being there so they don’t have to. That goes for Spearing, too. Let’s not forget how long Lucas spent on the sidelines!

With so many changes to the line-up, it was never going to be a fantastically fluid performance. I wasn’t surprised by our sloppiness early on, or Hearts’ pressure in the first half especially. The important thing was that we rode this pressure without looking lost, and I believe we did that. It was great to see players like Henderson getting a run out to up their fitness and show what they can do (albeit back on the right hand side). Shelvey too, although he didn’t have the best of games.

Potentially, we have a lot of games to play this year (38 league games, 19 Europa League matches, 6 Capital One Cup encounters and 6 FA Cup clashes), approximately 69 in total. Granted it’s extremely likely that we won’t progress that far in ALL of the competitions, but the potential is there, which is why it’s great to use the squad in the early rounds. Don’t risk Lucas when Spearing can do the job. Gerrard isn’t fit enough to play all the games, arguably, so get Shelvey in.

It’s a squad game for a reason. It’s nice to see Rodgers rotating the players.

4. Raheem Sterling – Star in the Making?

The boy done good. He’s only 17 (which makes me feel terrible, but that’s a blog for another day), but conducts himself with great assurance on the pitch. Granted, and with all due respect, Hearts aren’t exactly an elite club, but he’s not afraid of making runs or trying to use his strength to battle past hardened defenders.

I particularly love how he uses his pace. Not only to confuse defenders and try and get past them, he employs his speed to worry them when they’re in possession, which saw him force a corner last night. Little things like that can often prove really important (bang the corner in, Agger nods home and we’re ahead; it’s easy done). Suarez forces mistakes like this as well, and it’s a quality trait to have. Defending from the front! I like to see it.

He faded a bit in the second half, but did have a couple of runs late on, including one which saw him get a shot away, even though it was disappointingly tame. Still, he gave a great account of himself and will hopefully get more run outs in the Europa League, cups, and hopefully even some Premier League games. He’s not the finished article, but he’s certainly good enough to get involved.

Also, he slide tackled a camera man. What’s not to like?

3. No Carroll – Big Man Left Out

This is possibly reading into it when there’s nothing to be read, but I’m not sure I buy all this “knock” business that supposedly kept him out of the game. That famous ‘knock’ that pops up now and again… usually when the player involved has his name in the papers linked with other clubs. With Spurs and Newcastle both reportedly interested in the striker, and gracing the same stages of the Europa League, it could be that they don’t want him cup-tied (till the group stages) or risking injury, and Rodgers obliged. You don’t want to lessen the value of an asset you’re looking to sell, do you?

It’s tough to say, though, as by all accounts we’re trying to shift Adam out and he played the full ninety minutes. He looked up for it, too, making some driving runs (winning free kicks, which he’s great at) and even attempting a shot with his right foot. I like Carroll but I’m not sure what’s best for the club. It depends who we’d replace him with, if indeed we did replace him. I think his absence last night probably means we’re shifting him on. I’ve seen plenty of people on Twitter suggesting that the whole thing sniffs of a deadline-day deal back to Newcastle. I wouldn’t really disagree with that.

If he does go, most will remember his time as a failure; massive price tag, injuries, poor performances and a lack of goals. But there have been a few bright spots. A late winner against Everton in the semi-final of the FA Cup shouldn’t be forgotten but, for me, the best Carroll moment was his winner against Blackburn last year when it finished 3-2. Early goals looked to be giving the fans something they’d waited all year for (a game where we spanked the opposition), before it all went pear shaped. I was mightily pissed off, and went nuts when Carroll headed home late on. Absolutely mental with delight.

So yes, Carroll didn’t feature. Is he on his way out? Only time will tell.

2. The Jose Enrique Problem

I recently wrote about the Enrique problem, wherein Enrique’s absence means we switch Johnson to left back and suddenly the left side of the pitch has no left footers and the right side misses his attacking expertise. I hoped that the Hearts game would see Rodgers exploring alternatives, and he sure did. Robinson started and did well, looking assured and mostly comfortable. He’s clearly not as strong as Enrique, but his passing is tidy and he doesn’t make me worried. I’m not hoping the opposition avoid that side of the pitch because we’ve got a youngster there.

After 61 minutes, Robinson bowed out (no injury, all part of the plan) and Downing came on as a direct replacement. That’s right, Downing at left back. And it worked reasonably well. The thing with Downing is, he has pace and decent technique, but just seems to lack real belief in himself which has led to less than distinguished performances. At left back (with Sterling wide forward ahead of him) he had less pressure to deliver on the attack, which seemed to help him settle in. He got forward and stuck some crosses in – nothing spectacular, but good enough. It’s tough to say how he’d do against a top class winger (Antonio Valencia, say), but right now I’d be tempted to stick him in at left back if Enrique is injured, as that allows us to keep Johnson (and his wing back qualities) on the right where he’s best suited.

I’m delighted that Rodgers used the game to try out alternative solutions. It’s the best time to be doing it. Early on, not a lot of pressure, games we should be winning anyway. It makes perfect sense.

1. Job done!

It was never going to be a pretty game. I often watch Europa League matches and, in the early stages, there’s usually a feeling of “why did I bother?” when the final whistle goes. It’s rarely enthralling at this stage. Iffy pitches, squad players and obscure TV Channels, it’s not the Champions League. It’s the ugly kid brother of the Champions League.

Still, our goal was to rotate the squad, check out some alternative solutions to defensive problems, shop window a few players (Spearing, Adam?) and make sure we didn’t lose. We won, of course. Henderson played the ball out wide to Kelly, who then stuck a dangerous ball in the area. It went in off Heart’s defender Andy Webster, but Borini still deserves credit for being there and getting in the way. If he hadn’t have been there, no doubt the defender would have felt less pressure or at least the goalkeeper could have claimed it. Well played, Fabio. He wasn’t the only player to do well. Let’s have a quick run down of the squad:

Match Ratings

Reina – 8/10 – Made some good saves; was out quick early on after Carragher under hit a back pass; looked good.

Kelly – 7/10 – Solid from Kelly; seemed to enjoy getting forward and bagged himself an assist. Get in!
Carra – 6/10 – Looked a little leggy and hit that dodgy back pass, but was otherwise steady.
Agger – 6/10 – A quiet game by all accounts, but looked solid enough in possession. Nothing to worry about.
Robinson – 7/10 – Good game from Robinson, didn’t look out of place despite his young years.

Spearing – 6/10 – Gave the ball away a good few times; it didn’t feel like he was bossing the game. But saying that, he did make a number of interceptions and didn’t make any big mistakes. He’s no Lucas, sadly. Bolton beckons…
Adam – 7/10 – Really looked desperate to make something happen (which was, in fairness, nice to see). Made some runs, pumped up some Hollywood balls (at a reasonable success rate) and won some free kicks. Busy, but not brilliant.
Shelvey – 5/10 – It was an off night for Shelvey, I’m afraid. Some misplaced passes and just generally looked a bit out of sync.

Henderson – 6/10 – Took the graveyard shift wide right and, as such, was mostly anonymous, though tidy at the same time. Played a cracking ball over to Borini in the box in the first half which the Italian missed. Later assisted the assist when he played the ball out wide for Kelly to whip in.
Borini – 7/10 – Worked hard for the team, making numerous runs (some arguably unjustly called offside) and went close at the end of the first half. Probably should have buried it, but instead he hit the post. Kept going, though, and his presence caused the own goal.
Sterling – 8/10 – Had a really good game. Apart from a bit of a dip in the second half he always looked a threat and the main attacking outlet for the team. He showed exactly why people rate him so highly. Would have bagged an assist if Borini didn’t hit the post.

Subs: Allen (6/10) came on and kept possession well, Downing (6/10) did a good job at left back and Morgan (10/10) was immense. He didn’t make a single mistake.

Overall, job done. I look forward to the return leg in a weeks time.

I wonder how the squad will have changed by that point…