“ONE Brendan Rodgers, there’s only one Brendan Rodgers, one Bren-dan Rod-gers, there’s only one Bren-dan Rod-gers”.
It has taken a month or two but those words could clearly be heard ringing round Carrow Road as Liverpool romped to a resounding 2-5 victory over the Canaries, recording their first Premier League win of the new season in the process.
The match itself stood out for a number of reasons; not least Suarez’s brilliance, as he smashed in one of the finest hat-tricks your ever likely to see (all from outside the penalty area), made Nuri Sahin’s goal and tortured the home defence so relentlessly and gleefully throughout the ninety minutes, that they’ll likely be traumatised by the experience for years to come.
Suarez has now got six goals in five Premier League games this season, seven in eight in all competitions and 28 in 57 starts since joining Liverpool, however the lazy narrative about him not being a natural goalscorer persists. The statistics speak for themselves, do they not?
Anyway, enough of Luis, for as well as he played individually, that performance was about the team coming together. Gerrard had another great game; following on from his showing against United the week before, the England captain bossed the midfield, working in perfect harmony with Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin. Allen showed his class the second he arrived at Anfield and, now that his match fitness is almost back, Nuri Sahin has shown Reds fans exactly where he fits into this Liverpool side with three goals in a week.
Glen Johnson has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent performer under Brendan Rodgers and the Norwich victory proved no different. Deployed on the left again, Johnson was tireless in his raiding and more than capable when called on to defend. All in all the performance was excellent, aside from a couple of defensive errors which, although slightly worrying, appeared for the most part to be down to complacency/lack of concentration.
A first win of the season then – and a thumping one at that – cause for optimism or just a good day at the office? When considering this question it’s important to look at things in the context of the season as a whole and in particular the last five or six games (prior to Sunday’s game v Stoke). So far under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool have played thirteen competitive games, winning six, losing four and drawing three. Apart from the loss to Arsenal at Anfield and the Europa League ties with Hearts, the performances in all games have been of a high standard. There’s no doubt that the games against both Manchester clubs should have been won and, but for individual and refereeing errors which served to upset the natural balance of both games, Liverpool would be four points better off in the league.
Since the Arsenal blip, fans have begun to properly see Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy come to the fore starting at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool have dominated every game they have played, controlling possession, playing patiently and sensibly, Gerrard and Suarez have begun to adapt their games’ to the Ulsterman’s style, the ball is being given away far less, being won back far quicker and the team is showing that they have the ability to penetrate the opposition with clever movement and crisp passing.
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The result against Norwich was coming – it had been for weeks. Unfortunate not to win at Sunderland, the Europa League team went to Berne and put five past Young Boys. This was followed by the United robbery at Anfield (only Alex Ferguson and Mark Halsey know what really happened there). West Brom away followed in the League Cup and Rodgers made eleven changes from the team so cruelly beaten three days earlier. Albion named practically a full strength side but, despite going ahead early on after the referee failed to notice Olsson’s punch on Brad Jones, the Baggies couldn’t get to grips with the visitors’ slick passing, pressing game and eventually succumbed to two Nuri Sahin goals. Arriving late in the box in the 82nd minute, the young Turk’s second goal was the kind of finish so sorely missing from the Reds’ armoury in recent years and, following a similar finish against Norwich, is hopefully something we’ll be becoming accustomed to again sooner rather than later.
In the space of a month, Liverpool fans have gone from deadline day doom and gloom to optimistic hopes and dreams, why? Two words, Brendan Rodgers! Raheem Sterling was buzzing around the first team last year under Kenny Dalglish but he was fortunate to get ten minutes at the end of a game, Rodgers has had the confidence and faith to throw him in and my word hasn’t he dazzled. Suso, another youngster this time signed by Rafa , has been showing his class in youth tournaments for years but, in all honesty, can any Liverpool fan out there tell me that they expected him to be a regular member of the first team this season? Not without Rodgers! The list goes on, Wisdom, Shelvey, Robinson; all of a sudden LFC has strength in depth and one of the most exciting young teams in the Premier League.
Daniel Agger has signed a new deal as will Suso, following Skrtel and Suarez who committed themselves in the summer as did Jonjo Shelvey, who’s come on leaps and bounds over the summer and the early part of the season. Sahin is at Anfield until next summer at least and, the way these things go, could well become a permanent member of the Rodgers set-up. Johnson is in the form of his life and looks to be at the peak of his powers, Steven Gerrard is finally at full fitness and, along with Suarez, playing as part of a team for the first time in a long time.
Things are looking up at Anfield under Rodgers, the results against Udinese and Stoke not -withstanding. Udinese was another game that the home side dominated and really should have won. Individual errors proved costly again, however with a heavily weakened back four in place the implications for the league campaign should be minimal. The manner of the performance was again, for the most part, convincing, dominant and classy, with Suarez unlucky not to get his second hat-trick in five days after coming on as a substitute with around twenty minutes left.
The Rodgers evolution continues at pace, and a top four finish is by no means out of the question. Luis Suarez has been abominably treated by referees so far, so much so that defenders now know they can get away with taking him down, in or outside the box, and likely escape punishment. With the incidents now receiving mainstream media attention perhaps this week will herald a change in the uniquely gifted Uruguayan’s fortunes. One thing’s for sure, the fans will be ready: “we’re gonna have a party, we’re gonna have a party, we’re gonna have a par-ty, when Suarez gets a pen!”
You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 and on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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another stupid pointless article . we have owners that wont spend money , a manager that doesnt know how to win and the worst liverpool squad since shanklys early days .
you must be daydreaming pal . most or nearly all fans on merseyside realise what trouble we are in . there is no optimism you fool . wake up
Bob Go away, u disguise man u supporter
well said bob , the only way forward is to rid ourselves of the americans
It’s interesting to note that Arsenal only jumped into the top 6 in the 1st week of December last season ( 14 games into the season ) and ultimately ended the season in 3rd place. Nothing is impossible, I remember thinking at the beginning of last season that Arsenal are really going to battle this campaign….and they did but there was reward at the end. Yes, our finishing, not the greatest, but boy I like the way we are playing. Being in control of a game on a consistent basis is not always where we have found ourselves in the past, now we are, and getting used to it, anything can happen from there. I for one, have faith. YNWA.
Rafa signed the youth,Pep&co groomed them,but BR came in,got rid of Pep&co. Maybe BR wil prove it was a good decision to get rid of ’em. But the first yanks were vindictive in pushing Rafa out,cos he’d have been the best guy to extract the potential in the boys(sterlin,shelvey,wisdom,suso,pacheco,etc)that he identified at almost no cost. The second yanks didnt look at Rafa,that was sad,we hope that doesnt backfire. Given time any manager can do the right job,but Rafa would have been a ‘dead cert’. Just bring Rafa back and cut the crap!!!!
yes bring back rafa . but it wont happen , his wages too much for FSG , everything is too expensive for FSG
Great article Neil, completely agree things are started to click under Rodgers, it’s going to be a process until were where we need to be but the ‘real’ fans will stick it out and support our management and club!
YNWA
bet your not even from liverpool ? the ‘ real ‘ fans from merseyside are mostly sick of american owners but will give rodgers a chance .
and yeah its ‘ starting to click ‘, sure have you watched the games ? and have you seen the league table recently ?
Simon – I am not from Liverpool, but have supported Liverpool for the last 30 years. I watch every game live, even when I am at work ( Rank has it’s privileges ). I may never in my lifetime be able to afford to fly to England and watch a Liverpool game, but I do consider myself a “Real Fan”, one of the world wide ones. Remember I may not live in Merseyside, but your enemy is my enemy on the football field even though we may be worlds apart. I am a very educated Fan, I watch every game and read every article and I know exactly where we are on the table. YNWA.
fair play to you chris . there is nothing wrong with supporting liverpool from afar . i was criticising andrew’s uneducated comments and his assumption that ‘real’ fans would not criticise a failing regime . of course there are good real fans all over but there are many many real educated fans from liverpool who dont swallow the rubbish this article has spewed out .
Simple simon. Seen every minute of every game from the first kick vs Toronto. Seen the team gradually coming together piece by piece. Finished article? No. Far better than we’d hoped so far? Yes. Dominating games? Yes. Short on goals? Debatable. Kicked off the park on Sunday? Yes. Referees sympathetic to us? No. Ever look like conceding vs Stoke? No.Enough chances to win game? Absolutely. League table important after 6/7 games? No. If you can’t see progress that’s your problem but most can. You may be a “real” fan but you are a pessimist, so have fun wallowing.
there is a big difference between pessimism and reality . if you dont think being 13 points behind after 7 games is important ,your mad ! far better than we hoped for ? dont know what your hoping for ? mid table perhaps ?
as for the rest , im sick of hearing excuses from staff and fans alike , you make your own luck , so all fans should stop with the hard luck stories .
its about putting the ball in the net and we weren’t able to do it on sunday , stoke were hard but fair like they always are .at least rodgers didnt moan about them , you probably thought suarez s dive was a penalty too ! right ?
dress it up anyway you like but so far so bad this season . BR has a lot to prove ( and improve ) .
and that really is a bit silly saying the table is not important
ha , that andrew comment is you neil , writing to yourself . very sad
“SUAREZ have been abominable treated by referees” it’s like a camouflage and is becoming more difficult for Liverpool.((the innocent is condemned several times from several judges for the same crime whereas the real criminels are receiving medals over medals from the same judges )) Ex: 2 penalties not given to Suarez against Mu and Norwitch for Manchester 4 diving 3 penalties given 1st Young dive got a penalty 2nd he again dive but got a yellow card after reclaiming for the 1st and absent for next match 3rdWelbeck dive and got a penalty absent for next match 4th Valencia escaped from 2 Liverpool defenders jumped running with the ball from center of the pitch to the box dive got a penalty and absent for next match try to understand the question remain is there any person to supervise referee during the 90 mins in any game?are they doing their job good or wrong ?
no more excuses guys , its about winning not pretty football , so look at the league table because ONLY THAT is reality
Even Sheik Sugar Daddy had to wait almost 4 years to win their first title under his ownership. Purchased Sept ’08, won on the last minutes of the last day of the 11-12 season. Worst team since Shanks eh? How did that story turn out?
all you show with your comments are jealously , you just cry foul and make excuses
americans really dont understand soccer
very smooth neil patterson , very smooth . writing a comment to yourself under the guise of andrew . just to make it look like someone agrees with your silly article .
you must be proud
hooray ! we are the best team in the world , jordan henderson IS the best player in the world , we dont have greedy owners, we have wonderful ones . the sun shines out of rodgers backside , and WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE !
dumb article , so far from the truth . are the writers getting paid by the owners to say nice things or are they just stupid ???
suarez is not a 9 the stats are there for all to see he is persistently the worst forward in terms of shots per goal . the goals he does score he would score from playing wide which would allow us to have a 9 playing centrally then we would have suarez goals plus the goals of a yesil or morgan. we would be in a much healthier position now.
this site needs new writers . rubbish article !!!