We need to get back to fluid best or pay price

Oct 18 2006 Red Watch by Andy Proudfoot, Daily Post

THIS is beginning to feel like a big week for LFC.

The stutters which have marked our start to the Premiership campaign will look more like catatonic shock should we lose at Old Trafford on Sunday; and tonight our less-than-convincing Champions League form comes under scrutiny again at Bordeaux.

Normally we'd be approaching this tie with a fair degree of confidence, but recent performances in cup and league have made this attitude if not impossible, then certainly more difficult.

The defensive solidity which has characterised European away performances over the years seems well out of reach at the moment, and our goalscoring record in recent ties away from Anfield provides no great comfort either. Add into this mix the absence of Steven Gerrard and, probably, Momo Sissoko, and it looks like another evening watching the TV from behind the sofa.

At 3-0 up against Galatasaray, everything appeared to be hunky-dory. Having already bagged a point at PSV, probably the most difficult tie in the group notwithstanding the visit to the Turkish Grafton in the last match, a collective sense of well-being settled on Anfield.

The rude awakening that followed, and saw this supporter at least close his eyes every time the ball went anywhere near Pepe Reina, appears to have severely shaken the team and revived the uncertainties which accompanied every dead ball situation the season before last. Then we blamed 'zonal' marking;; now it's just plain bad marking.

Daniel Agger has shown plenty of promise so far this season, but he looked ill at ease as that aerial bombardment took place that night, and I for one will be more comfortable with Sami at the back tonight.

Fabio Aurelio needs to play in front of Riise or not at all, his lack of positional sense too easily exploited down the wings, and opposing teams are beginning to exploit Finnan's lack of inches with deep crosses to the far post.

With even the redoubtable Jamie Carragher struggling for top form, our ability to withstand any form of sustained pressure tonight must be in doubt.

So it will be even more important than normal for us to keep possession as far up the field as possible, and surely here Crouch is the key.

Given Rafa's insistence that Crouch was the main reason for our improved form away from home last season, I've been mystified by his omission from several of these games this season, most notably at Chelsea, whom he terrorised in the Community Shield, and at Bolton, where he could have helped counter their aerial threat.

Clothes-horses for courses I would have thought.

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