Blackpool Heap More Misery on Liverpool

The latest chapter in the ongoing terrifying saga of humiliation and mediocrity for Liverpool football club unfolded last night in front of a jubilant crowd at Bloomfield Road. The Seasiders – enjoying the first taste of top flight football in their history – completed an improbable double over their North Western counterparts to pile further misery on Kenny Dalglish and his beleaguered side, winning 2 – 1 in front of their home fans.

     The match had started well for the visitors when Fernando Torres showed Liverpool fans what they had been missing in recent weeks – clinically smashing the ball home after being put in the clear by one of Liverpool’s hopes for the future; Martin Kelly. The full back has showed promise in recent games having stepped in for England international Glenn Johnson who’s form has seemingly deserted him in recent weeks and with the opening goal coming inside 3 minutes it looked as though Liverpool had perhaps started to turn a corner under new boss Kenny Dalglish.

     However, after such a promising start, things went rapidly downhill for Liverpool. Shabby defending allowed Gary Taylor-Fletcher to level matters for the home side. Liverpool looked shell shocked and as the match wore on the confidence and self belief that had been instilled in their players from their early lead soon evaporated as they descended into the kind of abject performance they have subjected their fans to on numerous occasions away from Anfield this season.

     Liverpool’s misery was complete when more abysmal defending allowed DJ Campbell to head hoe from close range in the 69^th minute, with the result condemning the Merseysiders to a 5^th successive away defeat – unthinkable for a club of such stature in English football. Even with an Anfield legend at the helm having replaced Roy Hodgson, it seems on the evidence of recent displays against Blackpool and Manchester United there is little to suggest that Liverpool will improve significantly on their lowly 13^th position in the Premier League.

Hatters Highlight Holes in Liverpool Squad as the Future Looks Bleak at Anfield

Although following another devastating blow for the club, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was humble and decent enough to unreservedly apologise for his side’s latest shambolic cup exit to lower league opposition at the once “fortress” of Anfield, this defeat was merely the tip of a significantly greater iceberg when the true and harsh realities of Liverpool Football Club’s plight is continued to be further scrutinised under the ever present microscope of English football’s fans and media. Hodgson himself will no doubt have known that the task that lay before him once he took over the reigns from Rafa Benitez at the Merseyside club was sure to be no picnic, but after watching the latest chapter in the football horror show that has been played out over the past few seasons, even Roy himself must have been left scratching his head and delving deep for inspiration.

Liverpool die hards would argue that the 11 players Hodgson selected for their the League Cup encounter with Northampton Town (a club who at the time lay in 17th position in League 2) was one that bore no resemblance to the side that had in itself looked largely laboured during the previous match against a determined Manchester United side, there was surely little doubt that a team that included several multimillion pound signings, blended with supposedly promising prospects from the clubs academy and also numerous players who had represented their countries at full international level would be sufficiently strong to professionally dispose of what would surely have been fully expected to be a fired up, but nonetheless inferior opposition - particularly in front of their own fans.

But it wasn’t to be - and this time there could be no excuses. Taking nothing away from the Hatters, who had themselves put in fine and energetic display that defied their lowly league position, scoring twice at Anfield before battling through extra time to give themselves a fair shot at beating one of English football’s big hitters in a penalty shoot out, surely Hodgson’s men would still have found the courage and composure to bury their spot kicks in front of the world renowned cop end? However, the Merseysiders again fell short of the mark, and as a cool headed Abdul Osman fired the winner for Northampton, sending the team and their already jubilant fans into dreamland, the damp weather and gathering storm clouds circling above Anfield seemed to some up the club’s current position and mood of their suffering fans.

With well documented off the field problems in the boardroom, ongoing financial strife and a playing squad that looks alarmingly short of depth, Hodgson - as talented and experienced football manager as he is - will know he has his work cut out if he is to avoid a season of total humiliation for Liverpool. Qualification for the Champions League has become a minimum requirement for the reds in recent years - but even achieving a Europa League spot may yet be beyond a club who currently lie 16th in the Premier League with just 5 points from their first 5 matches. Managing the fans and shareholders expectations now becomes as much a priority for Hodgson as motivating his team to perform on the pitch - and the ongoing rumors surrounding the departure of star striker Fernando Torres will surely not help his side to settle. Unless Hodgson can string some wins together soon and make progress back up the Premier League table, with the new football season barely underway, it already looks like it may be all but over for Liverpool Football club.

Pearce and Hodgson Lined Up For London 2012 Team GB Roles

As the excitement continues to build across the world for the 2012 Olympics in London there is increasing speculation in the English sporting press regarding the olympic soccer tournament set to be held at Wembley stadium. My English Football Banter Blog earlier revealed how the Great British Team would be entering their first team for many years (although it is set to comprise of only English players) and there has been more recent speculation amongst the football hacks as to who will manage the British young guns at the London Games. As current England under 21 manager, Stuart Pearce has an excellent claim for the position - having led the side to the final of the under 21 European Cup recently. However, some sources suggest that Fulham boss Roy Hodgson may also be in the picture to lead team GB. The experienced gaffer has done a great job at Fulham turning them from relegation candidates to outsiders for European contention and has an excellent international pedigree. In any the case, whoever leads out the British team at the 2012 olympic soccer it is surely certain to be a great showcase of young footballing talent from around the world.