Should we credit LFC plan for making these teams look poor?
WATCHING Liverpool FC this season has been very frustrating at times. The club is, as we all know by now, in the midst of a transition – implementing a new philosophy off the pitch, whilst evolving and tweaking the philosophy on the pitch.
It’s little wonder then that each step forward, has thus far been followed up by an equally sized pace backwards, and all the frustration that that brings with it.
On Saturday evening, however, all those frustrations melted away for 90 minutes as I witnessed the once mighty Reds look mighty again, sweeping aside Wigan with consummate ease and looking very much like a team on the up.
As I sat enjoying every minute of what was a fantastic performance, I wondered to myself, if this wasn’t the beginning of Rodgers’s plan coming together. Yes, the caveat remains, as it has so often when talking about Liverpool this season, that the opposition were poor. However, how much of that was down to the way that Liverpool approached the game as opposed to Wigan’s innate weakness?
Liverpool have racked up big scores against Sunderland, Fulham, Swansea, Wigan and Norwich at Anfield so far this season and, now, have spanked QPR, Norwich and Wigan away from home as well. The Anfield games have seen the Reds hit twenty goals without reply, whilst the away fixtures have seen twelve scored with just two conceded, however on each and every occasion, that caveat of poor opposition has applied. Or has it?
It’s the same Norwich team that beat Manchester United 1-0, the same Sunderland team that beat City 1-0 and practically the same Swansea team that’s beaten Arsenal and lifted the Capital One cup this season, so perhaps, just perhaps, Liverpool should be getting some more credit for making these teams look so poor.
The Wigan encounter on Saturday evening was even more satisfying to behold than some of the other routs the Reds have instigated this season, for several reasons. Firstly, Roberto Martinez and his louder than life chairman Dave Whelan both had plenty to say regarding LFC last summer.
If the former is to be believed, he turned down a concrete offer to take up the manager’s post at Anfield before the job was offered to Brendan Rodgers. Whilst the latter was busy telling all and sundry his views on the situation and why “his manager” had refused the job. Add to that the fact that the Reds had failed to win at the DW since 2007, making the victory a little sweeter.
Much more importantly however, the performance and the result were additionally pleasing because the team functioned brilliantly, to a man. Pepe Reina, who’s come in for plenty of stick this this season (vastly disproportionate considering his overall form, which a glance at the numbers proves), played fantastically well. Calm, confident, commanding when necessary, Reina made two vitally important and eye-catching saves. The first from Boyce, just moments after Luis Suarez had handed the Reds a two goal cushion; the second, from di Santo, just minutes after Suarez had made it three. Despite all the gossip surrounding Reina’s future, selling him would be a massive mistake for Liverpool – he’s truly world class and likely has his best years ahead of him.
Joe Allen also had his best game in a Red shirt for quite some time. Confident in his role at the apex of the midfield three, his passing was crisp, quick and incisive. His link-up play was excellent too and his support play, getting into the box was the best I’ve seen him produce in a Liverpool shirt. Lucas, Allen and Gerrard complimented each other well in the midfield and, for once, didn’t look stretched or troubled at any stage in the game.
Luis Suarez was in absolutely scintillating form again as he bagged his second Premier League hat-trick of the season. Some of the inter-play between him and young Coutinho was brilliant at times. Coutinho seems to have settled in to life on Merseyside very quickly and in his two starts so far, has already shown us just what he adds to the team: quick feet, great passing, pace, energy, work-rate and an eye for goal. With two assists and a goal in two starts, if he is (as many have said) a “typical Brendan Rodgers player”, then more of a similar ilk would be very welcome thanks.
Luis Enrique and Stewart Downing continued on the road to redemption with solid, unerring performances, whilst Glen Johnson again displayed the type of form which has solidified his position as England’s best right-back. Carragher and Agger, though not tested too often, played solidly and, barring the di Santo header, never looked in any trouble.
All in all, a very good team performance from the Reds with flashes of individual brilliance, without the injured Daniel Sturridge, in front of a raucous travelling Kop, offering phenomenal support.
On the strength of this performance and others like it, it’s beginning to look as if Brendan Rodgers’s plan for Liverpool just might be coming together and, while it’s no time to start puffing on the cigar, a strong finish could be on the cards.
You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 and on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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March 9th, 2013
Good decent article you have written there mate. Good effort. But a few pointers. Firstly it is Jose Enrique not Luis Enrique. Secondly, it was not against the usual strong Swansea side that we trashed 5-0. It was a much changed and much weakened Swansea City side. Also, Liverpool have yet to beat a side in the top half of the table this season. Swansea was the first, but like I said, it was a weakened Swansea team. Would we have beaten them if they have fielded their stronger side? We look capable but its a doubt. So, we do have some questions when it comes to winning the bigger games. Against the weaker teams, we have been able to bully them. But against the stronger sides, we have struggled. We have played well in some of those games, but its a big problem we cant close those games out. Perhaps some mentality problems in this sorts of games for us? Nonetheless, yeah its clear to see that Liverpool are much improved and look to have come to grasp with Rodgers’ tactics. We just have to find consistency, hold on to our best players, be stronger in the big games and continue to strengthen the team. In BR we trust. Ynwa
March 9th, 2013
It’s Jose you dope !
March 10th, 2013
Freudian slip with Suarez & Enrique, apologies.
March 9th, 2013
Agreed that it was against a weakened Swansea side. The rest of the wins I believe we made the opposition look worse than what they were.
There are no easy games in the BPL. Just have to look back at all the results to see bigger teams slipping up against weaker opposition.
But as the above comment stated, we need to start winning against the bigger teams. We have been in positions against all the bigger teams we have played maybe bar 2 where we should have closed it out and won. But just could not get over the line. I think its a mental block at the moment. Winning tomorrow will go a long way in getting the belief that we can win those type of games and hopefully start a springboard effect that will start a reverse of results against bigger teams.
I think BR is the right person to take us forward. A few more shrewd defensive signings in the summer and I think we can have some hope to a Top 4 and up finish for next season. YNWA
March 9th, 2013
No point in getting carried away (as usual) . All we have done is beaten average or poor teams . And Joe Allen was still poor on Saturday , get the blinkers off !
March 9th, 2013
Well said mon. In BR we trust! LIVERPOOL til I XXX!!!
March 9th, 2013
Good article again Neil, I really enjoy the we are playing but we have still yet to beat a top side this season and I’m worried about clash with Spurs but I do have confidence we will play well.
Come on you Reds. YNWA
March 9th, 2013
Yes ve noticed the partnership of Suarez nd sturidge s.times looks poor in terms of hardwork in the front when suarez has to play deep.eg against oldham and arsenal.its like suarez fails to tackle when the ball is behind the center line. Also i think suarez is good to stand infront of the defenders as compared to sturidge, so why cant BR make sturidge play behind him since he can ran and shoot from long distances to give the attacking more options on goal. BR thinj fast nd rescue the team from dis disastrous position. YWNWA…
March 9th, 2013
Yes, great win against poor team. No top 4, no trophy under BR. FSG should find a better manager.
March 9th, 2013
FFS . We haven’t beaten anyone decent yet !!! No credit due until we have beaten a few of top teams
March 10th, 2013
Credit now then?
March 11th, 2013
Are u for real ????
A welcome 3 points. But spurs were easily the better team .even QPR have unbeaten the top sides once
March 11th, 2013
Beaten not unbeaten
March 11th, 2013
Does Rodgers deserve credit for getting a first win against a top 7 side in march ?
March !!! Kop on will you