He cost 0.00p, but is he the Reds’ most potent player?

At a grand total of £0.00p, £35m less than 4-goal Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy is already level with his team mate when it comes to the goals tally, but in 11 fewer games and furthermore, Carroll’s goal to minutes ratio, during this PL campaign, of 1:435 is dwarfed by Bellamy’s contribution of 1:127 – a goals to minutes ratio that isn’t bettered by any other Liverpool player, making Craig Bellamy, arguably, Liverpool ’s most potent player this season.

With Suarez present, goals are almost guaranteed: having featured in every Premier League fixture for Liverpool so far this season, the Uruguayan had found the back of the net 5 times, made 3 direct assists and his tireless displays as part of the front line were pivotal in instigating attacks in the final third. However, Bellamy has the ability to provide the same in the absence of the suspended Luis Suarez and did so on Friday evening, with Carroll failing to, scoring a brace over his former employees. With one goal and one assist fewer than Luis Suarez, the Welshman’s directly measurable contribution in terms of goals and key passes is almost like for like. Their direct involvement in goals, during the same time period involving all games prior to the Suarez ban (through the scoring or final pass leading to the goal) are once every 182 minutes for Luis Suarez, therefore averaging direct involvement in a goal once every two games, and once every 127 minutes for Craig Bellamy – that was until Friday night.

Friday night saw Liverpool field 3 ex-Toon players and in their fairly fluid and flexible 4-4-2 formation, it was a pairing of two former Newcastle strikers that were burdened with the task of firing Liverpool to glory and up to 5th place. One lasted 90 minutes, but was criticised with the endorsement that he, “simply does not have it in him to deliver” and “lacks top class skills” from a comment on “If this man doesn’t deliver are Liverpool in trouble?” whilst the BBC’s football pundit, Dan Walker tweeted, “Andy Carroll will score 5 in a game soon.” Their were contrasting differences on Carroll, but Bellamy’s performance was unanimously described, “It’s not the first time we’ve praised him and it certainly won’t be the last,” said Dalglish, ”we are delighted for him.”

Craig Bellamy didn’t cost Liverpool a penny outside of his signing on fee and weekly wages, whilst Carroll’s signing overshadows Bellamy in all three figures, but not on the pitch and in the 8 remaining games without Luis Suarez, it won’t be Carroll to step up to the plate, it won’t be Dirk Kuyt and it won’t be a January signing: Craig Bellamy will be the pacey versatile forward that will successfully prove to be the stopgap replacement for the Uruguayan. His pace, his work rate and his goals are a sure measure of his talent, but Liverpool fans will be hoping that Bellamy isn’t following Suarez up the stairs and into the box to watch on from the stands with Suarez through injury or suspension.

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