3 Interesting Observations from the Merseyside Derby

In a related point, I think that about 97% of fans, impartials and pundits have totally ignored the impact our two later substitutions made after they entered the match on Saturday. For a start, the purely psychological impact Gerrard has in these games against Everton cannot be underestimated, so bringing him on from the bench in a tight game would tipped the balance slightly more in our favour anyway. But the impact Bellamy made cannot be understated, and it cannot go unnoticed by his bosses either because he managed to change the way we attacked. From the moment he entered the fray, we looked a different side; we had much more direction and he gave us a really direct and no-nonsense approach that we’d been missing for the greater part of the game. I truly hope that Kenny took notice because Bellamy really earned himself a start in our next League match.

Finally – and in a further related point – Bellamy’s introduction seemed to buoy both Suarez and Carroll and we saw vast improvements in both player’s second half performance after he came on. I think that, for different reasons, the Welshman made a massive difference to how both players approached the game in that Suarez felt that he had a like mind on the pitch; somebody with whom he is on the same level with. Both players are something of a fearlessness in the way they approach the game and I think they respect one another for that very reason. On the other hand, I think Andy Carroll benefited purely from having another out-and-out attacking player in and around him for the final 20 minutes and it showed in how much better he was, along with Bellamy’s contribution to the build-up to his goal: long may it continue.

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