That Crucial Derby Win

So, Liverpool won the Merseyside Derby. Not by sneaking a goal, but by having he extra touch of class the neighbours could not match. In what was being bigged up as the most important derby in years, LFC were the ones who had the extra class and character.

To me it showed two things. First of all it suggested that even though you have a second string defence and a shattered midfield – as long as the quality up front is there and the will to win is strong enough you can always back yourself for victory. The injury stricken Liverpool team still had their four aces on the pitch, with the fifth sitting deeper, and in the end that quality proved to be too much for an Everton team also missing a few of their key figures.

This again is probably why Brendan Rodgers seems to prioritise signing a wide forward on deadline day instead of trying to fix other areas the majority of the fans see as more important. Instead of shoring up the midfield and the defence he wants to make sure he has enough class up front to cope with injuries and suspensions.

In some ways it’s more or less the Alex Ferguson method: make sure you are reasonably solid in defence and midfield, and invest in quality up front to make sure you always have options. That’s the area where you need the extra five or ten per cent; those are the players who will win you games, and as a result, trophies and titles.

Second of all it showed that Roberto Martinez may not be the perfect manager many thought he was after the performance against Arsenal at the Emirates. I’m not saying he’s a bad manager; quite the contrary, I would happily have taken him as Liverpool boss if Brendan Rodgers wasn’t available.

However, you would think he knew better than playing a high defensive line against Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling. And if you insist on it, make sure your midfielders and forwards are up for the pressing job. Because if they’re not, you will suffer. Tottenham Hotspur already know all there is to know about that. Then again, it may not have been his plan that was a bad one. Just the execution.

This obviously was a vital win for Liverpool Football Club. Losing this one just wasn’t an option. It’s the sort of result that will give the whole club that extra spring in their step heading towards the next game at West Bromwich Albion. It’s a cliché, but it’s also a reason why it’s a cliché.

Instead of following up the Aston Villa performance with another disappointment, the men representing Liverpool FC raised their game back to the level we have come to expect the last twelve months. Brendan Rodgers corrected his mistakes, the players corrected their mistakes – and instead of sitting behind Everton with Tottenham and Manchester United breathing down their necks, LFC now have the small buffer that could prove to be vital. It’s not much – one or two slip ups and it’s gone – but it makes everything a little bit easier, for now.