FAN SCENE: Calming week shows Liverpool FC's progresss

Nov 2 2007

WE have all been waiting for a week of relative calm at Anfield for a while, and this week has been good in terms of both performances and the reactions from fans.

The Arsenal game was a good one as usual, and Arsene Wenger’s side played some great football but I was just as impressed with the way the Liverpool side performed, particularly after all the vitriol aimed at the manager and his players over the preceding days.

We still may not be firing on all cylinders, but we looked the equal of the high-flying Gunners throughout.

The skipper’s performance in particular showed that he’s getting back to his best, and I was impressed with the way we altered our style after losing three key players to injury.

From the very start you could tell the lads were hungry for the points, and the opening salvos from Liverpool unnerved Arsenal.

A draw was probably a fair result, and one that we can build on for this weekend’s clash against Blackburn.

We’re still in contention, remain unbeaten, and they are the important things.

Even more impressive were the performances of the squad players against Cardiff.

You might think that the stage was set for an upset following another emotional return for Robbie Fowler, but the performances of Jack Hobbs, Lucas and Nabil El Zhar were promising, and they did all that was required of them to beat a pumped-up Cardiff City side.

Hobbs looked assured at the back, and hopefully we’ll see him break through to the first team soon.

We haven’t had too many make the move from the Academy to the senior side over the last few years, but Hobbs seems to be one that the boss thinks can make it.

El Zhar stood out, of course, because of his wonderful strike to give Liverpool the lead.

The confidence he showed to take a pop from 30-odd yards was great to see, and he has done his claims for a regular Carling Cup position no harm at all.

There was still a bit of tactical naivety there, but the more he plays the better he’ll understand his role.

There was a murmur around me in the Lower Centenary when the skipper’s name was confirmed as a starter, but I couldn’t understand the fuss.

I stupidly listened to 606 again, and the comments made by one particular caller struck me as ignorant beyond belief when he criticised Rafa for playing Gerrard.

When three of your central midfield players are out (Xabi and Javier are injured, and Momo had a virus) who else are you going to play?

Even if they were fit and available I still would have picked Stevie – he’s working his way back into form, and needs games to do it.

He’s that kind of player is Gerrard. He plays himself back in, and that’s just what he’s doing.

So all in all a positive week at last.

We’re in the quarter- finals of the League Cup, are still in contention for the League and we should go into the return game with Besiktas with a bit more confidence.

There will still be a few dark days ahead, but if we can start building up a head of steam we are definitely going in the right direction.