Liverpool Overcome

36 points and safety in sight. Alas this is the 2011 Premier League relegation battle and any team that rests on its laurels is likely to get sucked back into the mire. So that's enough of the reality check, let's reflect on our marvellous win last weekend over Liverpool.


The first observation to make is that the Mighty Reds are not so mighty these days especially in a season where the gap between the top and bottom has been considerably narrowed. In years gone by we have struggled to live with the better teams and the best we've usually hoped for is a plucky defeat. However last Saturday after a fairly even 70 minutes there was only one team prepared to take up the challenge to win the game and our desire was duly rewarded with the 88th minute penalty winner. True, Liverpool rattled us on several occasions in added-on time but this was to save a game not win it. The final 2-1 victory scoreline was well deserved over the duration of the game.


Special praise this week to Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwinge. The former has had a tough time since Christmas but he finally recaptured his early season form to produce an effective display to couple with his two coolly taken penalties. Captaincy has appeared to be a burden for Brunt but there was no evidence of that during this performance. Odemwinge is another player whilst overall having a good season, has flittered in an out recently. However this week he terrorised the Liverpool defence and was unlucky to lose the supporter's man of the match award to Brunt as well as not getting on the scoresheet, twice thwarted by impeding Reds when in on goal.


So our relegation saga takes a trip north next, to the Stadium of Light and a visit to Sunderland, a perceivably safe team, now only two points ahead of us. The general talk this year is of exceeding the mythical 40 point mark for safety but despite the continual points haul of the bottom teams, there is still a very good chance that three teams will finish on 39 0r under. But then again who would have predicted Albion getting eight points from the original big four with Chelsea still to play.