NO, I haven’t been recently converted or found God, but if there is an omnipotent being that controls the universe and makes decisions seemingly on a whim, then I would like to offer up my most sincere gratitude and thanks to Him (or Her), as they have given us the most deadly, technically impressive and potentially awesome strike-force the Premier League has seen since Bergkamp and Henry.
It’s something we’ve suspected since the first glimpses of the two together late last season, and in Suarez’s absence Sturridge has only enhanced his own, individual reputation, but together these are the two best strikers – and the best partnership – in the Premier League and they will cover up many of Liverpool’s cracks this season.
During the final few games of Suarez’s ban, Daniel Sturridge became indispensable to the club with his performances and goals. In his first 26 games (and not even a full season, yet!) Sturridge has managed to find his way to scoring 20 goals in those 26 matches, along with a further half-dozen assists and is easily the most dangerous British striker in the league.
Suarez, on the other hand, is easily the 3rd best striker in Europe and if he had moved to Real in the summer he would be showing the world that that he can rival both Messi and Ronaldo in terms of goals, but also in terms of his performances and overall contribution to the match.
Together, they provide Liverpool Football Club with the most valuable partnership we’ve had in years.
Only downside is the players around them still don’t seem to know that the season has started.
Against Newcastle at the SportsDirect.com arena, the home side bossed the first half in worrying fashion. Liverpool were second to every ball and the two up front barely go a sniff of the ball.
The first real chance Suarez got he won the penalty that should have changed the game. Gerrard put it away (and somehow won man-of-the-match) but the lack of any real support from the other 8 out-field players that caused concern.
Moses toiled without any real outcome, other than putting Suarez through for the equalizing assist. Gerrard scored the penalty to equalise initially but was utterly anonymous besides, whilst his set-pieces continue to astound in their awfulness. If Gerrard could replicate his performance for England last week most weeks for his club then we’d have three players how were the envy of the rest of the league (but then maybe he needs to have the shackles removed before that can happen?).
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Henderson is workmanlike, as always, and the full-backs got forward when they could. But ultimately, there was little to show for over 55 minutes of dominating possession. This has been the scary story of our season so far. Which makes you ask: how are we still 3rd, just 2 points behind the top team?
The answers’ in the title. It is genuinely a testament to the team that they have the backbone and spirit to have managed to pull themselves through many games this season that they didn’t perform well in but sooner, or later, they have to really start putting in a shift and not just working hard or running 14km, genuine performances have to be put in.
Between them, (bare in mind Suarez has barely been back 4 games) the pair have scored 11 of Liverpool’s 15 goals this season, not to mention the two assists Sturridge also has. After these, there are literally only three others goalscorers in the squad and one of those is from the penalty spot.
The pretty clumsy, and obvious, point I’m trying to make is that the other 15-20 player in the first team need to step up. Coutinho has been out for some time and I’d expect more of him once he’s back but there are other, more senior players, such as Gerrard, Henderson, Enrique, Johnson and yes, even Agger, Skrtel and Lucas who need to start trying to contribute in some way.
Far too often against Newcastle Sturridge and Suarez were left isolated, and when they weren’t the rest of the team seemed to be waiting for them to do something (and didn’t they just) but that just isn’t acceptable.
Against the French second-string on Saturday morning, Liverpool missed the chance to stay in the top two and there are really no excuses for why that happened. But it’s something that needs to be put to bed, and very, very soon.
The league has been poor this season and there are so many top sides there for the taking. Liverpool’s only commitment up until early-January is the Premier League and as the squad becomes more and more full, there will be very few excuses for not picking up maximum points from all but the toughest games and that means that everybody needs to turn up, every single week.
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We have had a great start to the season thanks to SAS, but our football has been slow and predictable , nowhere near to the latter stages of last season and its worrying. We have a tough bunch of away games coming up (arsenal, everton, spurs ,man city and Chelsea) , we need to improve the tempo drastically if we want to be in the top 4 by January
Suarez is simply the best player in the whole league . It’s about time he had a decent partner rather than the last 2 seasons where he was mostly lone striker
Still need 3rd and 4th striker because if there is an injury or suspension to either and we’re a little stuffed.
Not sure Aspas is the quality back up required but it’s early days.
Can’t see where the midfield goals are gonna come from, so it seems a little odd that Shelvey was allowed to leave, although he wasn’t pushed.
Would like to see Suso brought back and Ibe given more game time.
Personally I’d go back to 4 2 3 1 with Suarez Supporting from either left or right side.
We haven’t controlled a single game this year, quite unlike last season.
A productive January transfer window should help.
Sturridge and Suarez are lethal, but there is no real class or quality competition for either of their places as Aspas and Borini are comical to say the least and god help us if Sturridge or Suarez are out of side together.
Where would the goals come from? As out of 25 man squad, we are over reliant on 2 strikers to get us top 4. For us to get in top 4, we need more than two of our strikers regularly scoring. We need goals coming from all over the side and within the squad.
There are too many average players in squad: Until Rodgers ships them out and brings in better class, quality players then we won’t be in Champions league again next year.
The only places in club that there is sufficient class, quality cover for in whole squad is at Full back and at Centre BACK now
Every other position there is lack of class, quality cover if the main men are injured:If Mignolet is Injured or Suspended , We are in trouble as Jones is Dibaolical
If Lucas is Injured, the back 4 has no Protection in front of them, everytime Lucas is out of side teams go through us in the centre of park with ease
Now coutinho is out, the creative spark between midfield and attack is missing.
In Centre midfield: Gerrard is 33 and is on his last legs , he is no longer mobile and should be used wisely and rested alot more. Gerrard only looks like scoring in games if we get a penalty.
Allen and Henderson, both two descent footballers who can and will keep improving but both play to safe, both lack creative edge, both do not score enough goals.
Wingers: In Ibe, Moses and Sterling, none of the wingers are world beaters, none of the wingers score enough or create enough. So thats a huge problem
On saturday, we struggled to beat `Newcastle with ten for over 50mins left of football, yet we soon have Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham.
I Love our club and our team but the lack of class, quality within the squad is scary and that is why FSG need to give Rodgers 55-65m in January to bring in 6 class quality players to fill these positions: GK, DM, CM, CM, RW/ RWF and LW/LWF
Mignolet needs class and quality competition for his place: Jones is poor to say the least, So A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading needs to brought to club for 4-8m
Lucas needs some class, quality competion and cover for his position: As no one else at club plays Lucas’s Role and whenever he is not there , there is NO Protection for the back 4. So M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan needs to brought to club for 10-14m
S Gerrrard(33) has been amazing great loyal servant, but he needs to be used wisely and rested for him to prolong his career. He is no longer mobile enough in centre of park and in last three games has given the ball away far to cheaply under pressure and now makes alot of reckless, clumsy challenges as his not 23, he’s 33.
Allen and Henderson are both good neat footballers, but they are both safe players, both lack creativity, cutting edge and both of them do not score enough.
So Koke(21) Of A Madrid and B Etxrebarria(26) Of A Bilbao, should both be brought to club in January for combined total of 33M to compete and Cover Allen and Henderson for next 2-5 years
Lastly the wingers we have at club are simply do not create enough or score enough goals, we need two class quality pacey quick goalscoring wingers on each wing: Rodgers has been linked with A Turan(26) Of A Madrid today, he is class and quality but would cost the club 17-20M minimum
Rodgers should bring in a relatively unknown young winger with the potential to be world class winger in future: M Salah(21) Of Basel should be brought to club for 12-16M to play on right hand side as Right winger or Right Wing forward
Rodgers needs to bring in winger who is class, quality who knows the premiership and will not need time Adjusting to physicality and speed of the league: B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle should be brought to club for 12-15M
These 6 players would make us a top 1-3 side, these 6 players would cost the equivalent less than what Chelsea and Man City spent on 3 class players:
Chelsea: Hazard, Mata and Oscar Man City: Nasri, Silva and Fernandinho
But the 6 players i have mentioned would bring the class, depth, quality for our club to successfully get a top 4 position
Some pple wl think im mad bt BR shud b sacked,we r not playin in much competitions compared to other teams who are competing for top 4 wt us,we only have league and fa cup to play while odas play atlst 4cups n stl win in league yet we cant.no excuses to miss top 4.BR is clueless u al wl knw by end of may.benitez frm nig 07064817226
No .you are not mad . There are plenty of supporters who think Rogers should b sacked , including me
Yeah let’s keep sacking managers, that will help us sign class players and show we are a stable club.
Won’t sign class players or get in top 4 with a 2nd rate manager like Rodgers . We will only gain stability when we have a decent manager.
And me . We have some good players but Rodgers is clueless.
If we don’t get top 4 Bodgers must be sacked.
Mac,
B Rodgers is a good manager but also a very young manager. And he is now managing the best club in the world, but he has the task of trying to get the club that has been out of champions league for last five years and become a top 7-10 side in last five seasons.
He has only been at club for year and 6 months, he has made more poor signings than good:
His defensive signings this season have been good: Mignolet, Cissokho, Llori, Sakho and Toure.
But Rodgers offensive players have been poor to say the least:
Alberto, Assaidi, Aspas, Borini ARE SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH and look way out of their depth, Sahin was a waste of loan signing, J Allen is a good midfielder but he was not worth 15M and was way oevr priced.
Coutinho and Sturridge have been very good signings.
But most of the offensive, creative attacking players Rodgers have brought to club over the last 18mths have not been good enough.
Rodgers needs to start bringing creative attacking players of the same class and calibre of Coutinho, Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez. For the club to move forward
Rodger should b sack if he loses d next game he has implement a 3 4 1 2 formation which makes d defenders to over labour them selfs
Simple fsg sack this clueless so called manager Bread and butters who continue to deceive us when he can’t solve simple basics like setpiece.I bet we lose against Albion cos of set piece.Our first premier league goal under Rodgers was from setpiece,so clearly Brendan is deceiving us.
He is well respected in the game by some excellent managers. Yet you fans with your superior knowledge and experience within top flight football say otherwise.
Let’s see, whose opinion counts more?
Current managers at top flight clubs
Or
Armchair fans….
Tough call, but I think I’ll side with managers who know Mr Rodgers and how he works.
Until I’m proven wrong, possibly by results but certainly not by people who already hate the guy, even tho we are third on goal difference.
Rodgers is not and NEVER will be good enough for LFC. We can do soooooooooo much better . The sooner he is gone the better
FFS he wasn’t even good enough for reading .