With results like this, there is no point or need to dissect or analyse; everything just went right. What makes me happiest, as a Red, is that under Kenny, I’ve been able to say that more often than not. Not a single player shirked his duty, hid from the spotlight or let up for a second. Those were the things we’d been used to for a good few years and it feels as if those times are slowly returning.
However, a special mention should go to two players: Maxi Rodriguez (obvious, yes) and Jay Spearing. Firstly, Maxi stepped in and bagged a hat-trick. With this little Argie it’s either one or the other. There’s not grey area; he’s either anonymous or one of the best players on pitch and on Saturday he put in a superbly intelligent performance. Some may say he was just ‘in the right place at the right time’ but that requires a sharp, incisive footballing brain. There are strikers who would love to have that ability and Maxi showed on Saturday that he is more than capable of being much more than just a squad player. Keep it up Mr. Rodriguez.
As for Spearing, I would be the first to admit that I’ve never rated him very highly but he has had a fantastic couple of games. He’s stepped in to a pretty massive void and we haven’t missed the man that would normally fill it. That’s not to suggest that Spearing is going to replace the Captain; that’s absurd but as a stand in, he’s been doing a great job and I’d be more than happy for him to continue in this vain and continue to prove me wrong.
It’s Newcastle up next and we take a run of great performances and results, with a cumulative 11-1 goal difference from our past three home games, Newcastle have got a lot to do if they want to match us. And the two aforementioned stars from the weekend are more or less guaranteed to start; it’d be criminal to replace them after their showing on Saturday.
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I would agree that Jay is not as good a player as Steve but what is important is the sum of all parts. What is important is not individuals put the midfield partnership and to that end Jay and Lucas at present are top notch.
Kenny wont risk Carroll against Newcastle he said today.so i’d think the squad would be like this:
Reina
Flanagan Carragher Skrtel Robinson
Kuyt Spearing Lucas Maxi
Meireles
Suarez
Bench:Gulacsi Wilson Coady Shelvey Sterling J.Cole N’Gog
Not the “AVERAGE” Kyrgiakos and the worst ever player to wear the Liverpool shirt(Poulsen) again please King Kenny!!better use some youngsters who fight for the shirt..
YNWA
Get rid of Joe Cole…
Suarez, Kuyt and Lucas also deserve a mention.
talk about an overreaction about Maxi Rodriguez, he had one good game against a poor team, next you’ll be saying liverpool dont need any wingers because of this one performance
Glad to see somebody else that doesn’t instantly forget all that has been going on throughout the entire season to instead judge the players over a couple of games at the end of the season…
maxi like all south americans like the sun on their backs, its no suprise.
“That’s not to suggest that Spearing is going to replace the Captain; that’s absurd”
I disagree with this as Gerrard will be 31 in a couple of weeks and has become more injury prone. While I know Gerrard will be with us for a few seasons yet, I also think his place will no longer be a certainty in every game. I think we need to get rid of the idea that he is irreplaceable. Someone will have to fill in those boots, with a bit more experience, why not Spearing. Good post otherwise!
The man to replace Stevie G is already a LFC player…technically brilliant ….currently on loan to Juve….the man is Aquilani..
Just because Jay Spearing is a scouser people suggest that he’s the one to replace Steven Gerrard. That is absolutely ridiculous. Spearing has done well over the last few weeks but he is a squad player at best and he will never be as good as Gerrard. Liverpool need to take a look at Marek Hamsik and James McCarthy.
Could not agree more Eric, in the next 12 to 18 months I think James McCarthy will be one of the best mid-fielders in the country and if we don’t sign then one of the other top teams will.
Maxi has played at highest level and showed fluid quality he has with a great performance against a so called weak Birmingham?
I’m sure we lost to the likes of blackPool, Blackburn, west brom and west ham??
We could have done with a hatrick from any of our outfield players then!
So respect is due to him a hopefully he will stay and continue in the same fashion albeit as a squad player!
As for spearing il be the first to admit it used to make me cringe the sight of him wearing the red shirt. I thought he was totally useless, but he has certainly proved me wrong!
Again another player we should MAYBE keep to fill in when need be….
Just goes to show players do need a run of games in the team to show there ability or lack of it….
Which is why I think we should keep Jova and give him the same run of games to show us what hes done in belgium and is doing excellently at international level with Serbia….
Suarez deserves the credit for these performances – he may not be getting amongst the goals, but it is mainly his pace, movement and skill that is leading to the creation of chances for others. It’s just a pity that the midfield can’t do their job, return the favour and create some quality chances for him too…