AS Jose Enrique’s low cross from the left was smartly dummied by Philippe Coutinho, you just knew something was going to happen.
And so it was, as Daniel Sturridge collected the ball, made Brad Guzan commit and poked the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot.
At that point, Liverpool had dominated a previously promising-looking young Aston Villa side, passing them into the ground and making them look tired, jaded and slightly clueless; Sturridge’s goal was just the icing on the cake to what felt like a 21 minute period of constant passing from the Reds.
At the instant Sturridge’s goal bulged into the roof of the net I felt a serious pang of optimism that I hadn’t felt in years.
I know, I know, it’s far too soon but in that first half we didn’t just look hungry, we looked dominant. We can often be frustrating in our need to constantly pass, pass, pass under Rodgers and it feels like we aren’t getting anywhere but against a side like Villa, who rely heavily on counter-attacking, you could see the frustration clearly in Villa’s players as they chased shadows.
The commentary team referred to Liverpool’s greater experience as the key in that first half, but with youngsters such as Sturridge, Coutinho and Henderson, it was less ‘experience’ and more just a greater quality of players that made the difference.
The second half was less impressive and I think we all ended the game with our hearts trying to exit our mouths but the game was won and we’ve now taken 6 points from 2 games and you cannot argue with that.
Many Tweeters have pointed out that we have 6 points now about 5-6 weeks sooner than we did last season when it took us until 7th October to hit the same points tally. It took us even longer to reach 2 wins.
However, regardless of our league position, clean-sheets, points gained, etc. this season my optimism stems from something else entirely: team spirit.
At times last season we absolutely battered the opposition but our confidence (and, often, our lead) was seemingly always very fragile. The amount of times we collapsed after the smallest amount of pressure was alarming.
Against one of our greatest bogy teams – in Stoke – and a resurgent-seeming Villa our team-work and the camaraderie amongst the players was the most impressive attribute.
When Simon Mignolet saved Walters penalty last weekend, the reaction of the team was clear: it’s on. They knew they got out of jail and they knew that luck was on their side and they intended to make it count.
Against Villa, we learned some very harsh lessons about consistency during matches but we weathered the storm. New signings Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure came through for us and showed that, in Brendan Rodgers, we may have a manager who knows how to make a good signing without emptying the kitty.
The general reaction from fans and players was also telling in that it was only the second game of the season, yet we celebrated as if we had one hand on a trophy.
Of course, I am not suggesting for a second that we’ll win anything (let alone the league!) this season. I am simply putting my thoughts out there about the fact that our current squad looks like it has a solid, unbreakable spine. That is an attribute you can’t buy and it holds a great deal of promise for the rest of the season.
An unusually early Capital One Cup game on Tuesday will be a good time to blood Luis Alberto and give a few of the bench-players a go, even if only to see what they’re capable of. But the Sunday following we take on Darth Vader and the Dark Side as David Moyes and Manchester United visit Anfield and what better game than this to make a genuine statement for what we can do.
Should all go well this week, Liverpool fans could well come out of August feeling on top of the world. Given that one or two fairly impressive names are still a possibility too (in terms of new signings) and that Luis Suarez’s lengthy ban is likely to make him feel like a new signing (provided he stays, of course) then we’ll be in great form and spirits coming into September.
I don’t know how anybody else feels and many will still be disappointed that our form dropped in the second period against the Villains, but I couldn’t care less – we won and have maximum points after two games, and what is it they say about the teams that can win ugly..?
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No good decision if LFC still want to keep passenger players inside the team.Borini cannot score many goal.He will be failure signing soon.Much better to sell him before transfer window will be close.Big loss to pay salary for the players cannot give good contribution for the clubs.It is will wasting times and money to depend to Fabio Borini for helping LFC.Not many thing he can give….Flops and big loss only.
Borini and allen are sh it
Liv fc need two good signing,ericson and moses .liv fc would’n lost top players signing if they have champion league spot
Not going to last, the squad is paper thin and FSG are in no hurry to fix that. In the end injuries and tiredness will be our undoing. We have a good first team, but if we lose any of Agger, Toure, Sturridge or Coutinho we have nothing reliable to cover them with. Plus we still don’t even know if Suarez will ever kick a ball for us again.
I bet christmas is fun around yours!
Unfortunately u are right nate .
Spot on reply from someone who can see things for what they are.
2 games, won by last min pen save and keeper in top form.. I like the 6 points but this is not the reality. Much in the same way as Arsenal are not doom and gloom and city will win the league.
The truth is, the squad is paper thin and the 2 great results don’t represent reality!
I think that we dropped a bit of pace in the second half intentionally. It is because BR wanted players to defend so that our players had to run less to avoid any injuries and stay as fit as possible for the next match against ManU.
We will learn a lot more come next Sunday, Mancs will be a massive game, and one that will show exactly where we are at right now. I doubt this squad can maintain this type of form long term, we need additions, and FSG look very unlikely to part with the money at this late stage. Imagine adding 2/3 players who are upgrades on what we have already, then we would be a real force to be reckoned with long term.
FSG aren’t willing to spend, so far this window we’ve made 5m profit!!! Teams like Swansea and Southampton have spent 30-50m. We won’t compete for top 4. A couple of injuries and we’re in serious trouble.
If LFC doesn’t bring anyone else in during this transfer window, my feeling is there will be 35-40M to spend in the January window. September 2nd will be a big day.
Swansea and Southampton are also a couple of injuries away from being in trouble as well, but they are done come January. Southampton may spend. It depends on their widow owner wanting to spend on her dead husband’s project.
F**k me . Things are bad when our own fans are worried what Swansea and Southampton are doing.
It just shows how low Rodgers and fsg have sunk us
Jez Anto, your intelligence is astonishing in that you can see through the fact that FSG saved us from bankrupsy and BR has given us our best start in years.
Ha ha ha ha
Saved us from bankruptcy ? Wake up you fool
We would have better if fsg never came in for us
And , best start in years ? Ha ha ha . We have had the easiest start in years , and it’s only 2 games
Really prole , you make yourself look foolish with silly comments like that
Why not add two or three signing b4 the close if transf window.The likes of Dede Ayew.Christian Erickson. Morata. Mata.liverpool needs to add more b4 injury start to knock on our doors.
i visited our official site earlier today and i cldnt help wondering if rodgers will ever grow up and stop being silly after reading this: “if you look at our last fifteen matches, you wld find out that we ve won 10, drew 4, lost 1” minus our last two wins, the rest werent worth it nd shouldnt count, but if it does then he should ve added all the games.
The guy is a total bell end . He might turn out to be a decent coach but he is a rubbish manager
My favourite quote! “When our players have the ball, everyone is a footballer!”
BR
It means everyone on the field has abillity on the ball. It’s not something you would get cause its a term used by people in and around the game. Which is why the likes of you, tommy and realist should not post when you know noting on how to run a club or set up a team. It’s more the pick 11 players and a formation.
FIFA kids.
Lol . Braindead no sheep at it again
He is obviously a small kid and very confused
Read this link to see how idiotic no sheep is
For those ofyou who dontknow how childish and stupid no sheep is …READ HISCOMMENT HERE
http://live4liverpool.com/2013/07/view-from-the-kop/lfc-can-no-longer-afford-to-lose-the-transfer-poker-game/comment-page-2#comments
After a load ofidiotic hypothetical nonsense he goes on to say, and I quote
“we will genuinely bestronger without Suarez”
I think Liverpool still four outstanding players that can cover for us, if our promising players have injury or fatigue set in .Up LIVERPOOL
I think Liverpool still need four outstanding players that can cover for us, if our promising players have injury or fatigue set in .Up LIVERPOOL
I’ll get a little optimistic if we beat manure … Til then all we have done is beat 2 teams who we should always beat anyway.
…..but a win next weekend ? …then maybe there is hope
Man U is still quite strong even without Sir Alex. Would be nice if we can beat them too. But a draw would be good enough for enough .
Optimism ? I am sure many of us do have at the moment. You can’ blame us for that. we have enjoyed the best start we have so far. So hopefully Liverpool will keep the momentum going. Consistent is the key . So many times last season we were let down by poor defending. We won 2 or 3 matches in a row and we lost the next game. I really hope that Liverpool will pick up maximum points. Matches that we have lost we last season we should get some points this time around. If we can do that we sure can qualify for the elusive 4th spot .
Some of u really know how to wine u look like a couple of school girls.if u dnt like br and fsg u can go and support the sugar dady team wth his chel*.clueless *
Optimistic ? Not really
The reality is we are not going to be near top 4 unless some top top players are brought in . …and we know fsg are not going to do it
Thank you. Don’t know what some people have been drinking . One game we dominated but failed to score and the keeper saved us. Against villa, we escaped with 3 points.
30 million pounds to spend (see Willain bid) but our BR can’t find /attract players.
Early days to be optimistic, saying that , 6 points is good. Lets not see another amateouresque repeat of the Dempsey bid of last season…… 7 days to go
No doubt we need some additions. Having said that, between Johnson, Sturridge, Coutinho, Gerard, Suarez, Agger and possibly Lucas, we have 6 or seven world class players. If we could add 3 big guns to that list to be supported by Toure, Skrtl, Henderson, Allen, Borini, Kelly, Wisdom etc, Our team doesn’t look a whole lot worse than the better teams going around.
Take 3 points of United this week and it’s happy days.