Stats & Analysis: Sweet revenge against West Brom

LIVERPOOL got back to winning ways on Saturday and they did so in style by beating West Brom 4-1 at Anfield.

Luis Suarez scored an amazing hat-trick and, not to be outdone by his strike partner, Daniel Sturridge sealed the win with a sublime chip over Boaz Myhill.

Manager Brendan Rodgers made one change from the side that drew 2-2 with Newcastle United last weekend, as Lucas Leiva came into the team, with Victor Moses dropping to the bench. The Brazilian missed last Saturday’s encounter due to the birth of his daughter. Steven Gerrard started his 450^th league game for the Reds.

Steve Clarke brought Nicolas Anelka back into the side for the clash at Anfield following his absence from last weekend’s goalless draw against Stoke City.

Saido Berahino was the player to miss out and took his place on the bench.

Suarez magic opens the scoring

A piece of brilliance from who else but Luis Suarez. As he’s done so many times in the past for the Reds, the Uruguayan made a surging run towards the box, and glided past three West Brom players and launched a thumping shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, leaving Myhill with no chance.

The best headed goal?

Sturridge played the ball out wide to Cissokho,who stormed down the line and crossed it into the box to Suarez who headed the ball from just outside the 18-yard box into the top of the net.

Luis Suarez’s second goal on Saturday will be talked about for years. One of the best I have seen, in fact I have to say maybe the best headed goal in the Premier League era?

Suarez: Hat-trick hero

After bagging a brace it was only a matter of time before Luis was going to get his hat-trick and he did so on 54 minutes. Gerrard took the free kick wide on the on the left following Yacob’s foul on Daniel Sturridge and he crossed the ball into the box and Suarez leapt to nod into the far corner.

Sturridge : 8 goals in 9 games

Of course Luis made the headlines due to his 4^th Liverpool hat-trick but Daniel Sturridge wrote some of his own when he scored Liverpool’s 4^th goal to wrap up the three points. Sturridge drove forward towards the corner of the area and with an audacious chip the ball went over the head of Myhill.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool deserved all three points on Saturday the game was the team’s best performance so far this season.  Our passing was crisp and movement was fluid and a joy to watch. We certainly could of scored a few more if Sturridge’s shot which hit the bar and Suarez’s overhead kick which Myhill pushed on to the bar had gone in to the net.

The team was unlucky to concede a penalty in the second half which James Morrison sent Mignolet the wrong way to score. Harsh as many of those are normally waved away by the referee.  One criticism which I have mentioned numerous articles this season is Mignolet’s lack of communication to his defence an example of this when he came out of his area when Anelka was coming through on goal, only for Skrtel to come to the rescue and clear the ball for a corner. Simon also still needs to improve on coming for crosses.

I have to praise both Lucas and Henderson for their work ethic and overall performance they both covered most of the pitch on Saturday and had a passing accuracy of 93%  (64 out of 69) and 83% (20 out of 27) respectively. Lucas who was missed last week against Newcastle recovered the ball 8 times during the match. The diagram below highlights his contribution and because of this helped the team to achieve the win.

Stat Attack ( stats courtesy of @ged0407)

– Prior to Saturday the last player to score a league hat-trick at home for LFC against West Brom was Roger Hunt in January 1968.

– Only 11 players have achieved the feat of scoring more than 4 hat-tricks in all competitions.

– Liverpool’s win was their biggest at home against the Baggies since a 4-1 win in November 1985.

– Suarez and Sturridge average a goal every 60 minutes when they’ve both been on the pitch at the same time for LFC. That’s 21 goals in 16 games.

– Sturridge – only 2nd ever LFC player to score in 7 of a season’s first 8 league games. The other, John Aldridge, did it in 1987 (first 9 games).

– Saturday saw the first league goals scored at the Kop End by any team since the Chelsea game in April. Goals in both from Sturridge and Suarez.

The Reds now must focus on the next game which will be a tricky test against Arsenal at the Emirates  a good result can be achieved if they play with the same determination, quality and if our very own SAS duo can continue their great form.

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook