What a fantastic result! Liverpool put West Brom to the sword this afternoon with the best team performance of the season, and after maintaining the quality over ninety minutes, there's hope that the ghost of second-half underachievement will now (finally) be laid to rest.
Reds past and present were delighted with the victory:
John Aldridge
"Good 3 points,a few hairy defensive moments 2nd half.
"Suarez sublime and a a fantastic chip from sturridge SAS the match winners".
Lucas Leiva
"Very happy to be back playing and with a great win finish a brilliant week for me"
Martin Kelly
"Buzzin with the result! SAS don't mess about, focused for next weekend already "
John Scales
"Lucas did a fantastic job in front of the back three, which allowed the rest of the team to kick on and do the business. Suarez and Sturridge could've had nine or ten goals between them, though I do worry where the goals will come from if not from those two."
Mark Wright
"Liverpool were brilliant first half - especially Suarez - world class"
Ronnie Whelan
"Everybody played really well. Suarez will get the plaudits because of the hat-trick, but there were so many other good performances. The ref tried to let West Brom back in with the penalty, but the lads went on to win it comfortably"
John W. Henry
"Luis. Magician"
After failing to beat the ten-men of Newcastle last week, the Reds needed a good performance/result, and definitely got it, but I still feel that Rodgers should revert back to 433 (or variations therefo), sooner rather than later.
West Brom failed to tightly press LFC high up the pitch (like Southampton did), and unlike last season in the same fixture, Both Gerrard and Suarez were given way too much room to roam around in space.
It should also be remembered that this same team (bar Lucas) struggled to beat ten men last week, so whilst that result doesn't define LFC's season, neither should this one.
As Aldo states above, there were a few dodgy defensive moments, and better teams will have a more effective gameplan to nullify the effectiveness of 352/532.
Additionally, goals from midfield continue to be a major issue. We're already quarter of the way through the league season, and the combined goal tally (from open play) of ALL Liverpool's midfielders is ONE.
One Premier League goal in nine games.
It doesn't matter how you slice it, the Reds are not going to finish in the top four if the midfielders don't score goals, and in my view, this situation needs to be urgently addressed.
Teams do not win leagues and/or finish in the top 3 without, at the bare minimum, one or two midfielders/other players chipping-in with 8+ goals a season.
It's fine whilst Sturridge and Suarez are banging them in, but to expect them to score 1/2 goals every single game is unrealistic, and to rely on that is foolhardy.
SAS are on fire at the moment, but if the midfielder goalscoring issue doesn't improve, it could be SOS for LFC by the season's end...
Author: Jaimie K
Reds past and present were delighted with the victory:
John Aldridge
"Good 3 points,a few hairy defensive moments 2nd half.
"Suarez sublime and a a fantastic chip from sturridge SAS the match winners".
Lucas Leiva
"Very happy to be back playing and with a great win finish a brilliant week for me"
Martin Kelly
"Buzzin with the result! SAS don't mess about, focused for next weekend already "
John Scales
"Lucas did a fantastic job in front of the back three, which allowed the rest of the team to kick on and do the business. Suarez and Sturridge could've had nine or ten goals between them, though I do worry where the goals will come from if not from those two."
Mark Wright
"Liverpool were brilliant first half - especially Suarez - world class"
Ronnie Whelan
"Everybody played really well. Suarez will get the plaudits because of the hat-trick, but there were so many other good performances. The ref tried to let West Brom back in with the penalty, but the lads went on to win it comfortably"
John W. Henry
"Luis. Magician"
After failing to beat the ten-men of Newcastle last week, the Reds needed a good performance/result, and definitely got it, but I still feel that Rodgers should revert back to 433 (or variations therefo), sooner rather than later.
West Brom failed to tightly press LFC high up the pitch (like Southampton did), and unlike last season in the same fixture, Both Gerrard and Suarez were given way too much room to roam around in space.
It should also be remembered that this same team (bar Lucas) struggled to beat ten men last week, so whilst that result doesn't define LFC's season, neither should this one.
As Aldo states above, there were a few dodgy defensive moments, and better teams will have a more effective gameplan to nullify the effectiveness of 352/532.
Additionally, goals from midfield continue to be a major issue. We're already quarter of the way through the league season, and the combined goal tally (from open play) of ALL Liverpool's midfielders is ONE.
One Premier League goal in nine games.
It doesn't matter how you slice it, the Reds are not going to finish in the top four if the midfielders don't score goals, and in my view, this situation needs to be urgently addressed.
Teams do not win leagues and/or finish in the top 3 without, at the bare minimum, one or two midfielders/other players chipping-in with 8+ goals a season.
It's fine whilst Sturridge and Suarez are banging them in, but to expect them to score 1/2 goals every single game is unrealistic, and to rely on that is foolhardy.
SAS are on fire at the moment, but if the midfielder goalscoring issue doesn't improve, it could be SOS for LFC by the season's end...
Author: Jaimie K
I said this last year and i'll say it again - We dont have any goal threat from midfield which is a major worry and has carried on this season.
ReplyDeleteThe only goal threat from midfield we had was Nuri Sahin and we chucked him out like rubbish.
ReplyDeleteJust a few points on today's game, excepting the obvious (SAS). Our defence is making me nervous; the penalty decision was dreadful, but both teams could easily have been given a penalty in the first half, and West Brom might have bagged a couple more goals. Cissokho is a bit predictable going forward, and I'd like to see Enrique back asap. Aside from that, it was easily our best performance of the season so far. Special mention to Henderson, who was tireless, but also to Lucas, who I thought had an utterly brilliant game.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much of a risk when you have two legit match-winners in your attack, as opposed to just one alone, as most teams do nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember for definite, but am pretty confident that Man U didn't have any prolific midfielders last year, or City the year previous though anyway.
Besides, Coutinho will be the most attacking midfielder when he returns. And I think Sturridge and Suarez can easily continue to average 1+ goal between them for the season, as long as they stay fit.
ReplyDeleteNot a major issue imo.
I presume you are talking soley about a goal threat or lack of from central midfield, not wider areas! We are playing a system presently that is about oppressing attacking football, using width, hence the 3-5-2. We are effectively playing with two deeper central midfielders who support our forward attacking game, not blast through the center to create, shoot and score goals. It's almost tedious to explain, but if you havent played the game at a reasonable level or have good tactical knowledge, you wont get it and might expect more out of a system not setup for what you want to see. With Moses, Coutinho, you have two players who can play wide or support the strikers centrally. Additionally, you have one of the 2 strikers, notably Suarez today, who drops deeper to pick up play. Along with wing-backs, attacking down the flanks and cutting inside, you have numerous options available, when you take into account the forward runs that Gerrard and Henderson made on. Yes we could see more goals from them, they may come if Henderson is more accurate. But 4 goals today, I dont think any fan should be worried or complaining. When we revert to 4-4-2, it may be more of a requirement however!
ReplyDeleteThe midfield don't need to be trying to get goals while SAS are in such fine form. I am sure they will step up when needed.
ReplyDeleteI am more worried about the 3 at the back strategy - leaving us open to wing attacks as today showed. WBA could have scored twice from open play in the second half.
ReplyDeleteWhy all the negatives(like most lfc fans don't know our problems already)when we won 4-1..jamie don't spoil the mood
ReplyDeleteWe are far from the finished article but as it stands we are moving in the right direction and we played some great football. And another positive is the Mancs are looking a mess and it amuses me.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about mate? Sahin has scored what, 20 or 30 goals his whole career? And not only was he absolute shite for us, we only had him on a season loan. It was going to take him that long to get fit so there was no point having him cluttering up the place with his bad attitude.
ReplyDeleteThere is room for big improvement, but we must admit that our boys make a really good team like WBA look really poor!!! 3 - 5 - 2 is working but we don't have to make it something like taboo... Celebrate today, prepare for the masive game with Arsenal from tomorrow! YNWA
ReplyDeleteAwesome game...that I didn't get to watch. I have searched and searched but can't seem to figure out who played AM. Can anybody help me out and how did he do?
ReplyDeleteI also note that Kelly got into the match. How did he do?
ReplyDeletethe argument about goals from midfield - though accurate - shouldnt deflect that our midfield doesnt have chances. the bulk of them have been falling to henderson - whose final touch tends to let him down. Were we to target the league then these sort of finer points need to be addressed - but do we have 40 million to find a new gerrard ? I think FSG are looking for proof of progress for them to sanction big deals - or more so for them to go all out and get these players - probably once were in the champions league they may trust BR more to give him that sort of money.
ReplyDeleteBut certainly today we played more like last season - it could quite easily have been 8/9. The penalty is probably the softest we have given in a long time.
Why the negatives? yes we need goals from midfield but they will come :) we are not the finished article.
ReplyDelete"But certainly today we played more like last season"
ReplyDeleteHuh? Last year WBA beat us like a drum...twice. Total score 5-0. How could we have played today more like last season?
Who played AM for us today?
ReplyDeleteWow, the Sturridge goal was a thing of beauty.
ReplyDeleteMy only worry is - where do we get goals when Suarez and Sturridge dont score?
ReplyDeleteThat's called the January transfer window ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, we need another quality striker to rotate and account for form and injuries, maybe suspensions, but we can probably adapt and cope with Moses and Coutinho playing behind a main striker in those situations. Maybe in January, we'll see another quality addition or two. John W will have faith in what we can acheive now, so investment is wise.
6 months wasnt it?
ReplyDeleteFantastic indeed Aldo et al. Great performance & great result. Just what we needed after the disappointment & disquiet at not seeing off 10 man Newcastle last week. & great to beat the Baggies after they did the double over us last season. The lads (& us fans) can go into the Arsenal game next week with confidence. I agree with other posters that the defense looked shaky at times & needs to keep focus, but equally we could have scored more & hit the bar twice. We definitely need a quality midfielder in Jan, the finished article, not just a kid with potential, & if we stay highly placed we should be able to attract someone with proper class.
ReplyDeleteOn your main point, goals will come from Coutinho and most likely, Gerrard, Henderson and Moses will chip in with a few, as the season progresses. I think we could do with a few more from our defenders as well.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the upcoming game with Arsenal, much as I would like to see Agger, Enrique and particularly, Coutinho in the starting line up, I think you've got to reward all the players today for the excellent team performance and go with the same line up. Will have a strong bench then, as well.
I also feel that today's game shows how much we miss Lucas when he doesn't play. Likewise for Johnson.
Let's be happy with a very good win. WBA have been a bogey for us for a while, but no longer.
Like Javier Pastore? Would love it if rumours of our interest in him turned into a transfer in January.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that proper cover and competition for Lucas could be more important though. It would be interesting to see if Henderson could develop Lucas like tackling, awareness, etc., to go with his athleticism. It took Lucas a while to develop from an attacking midfielder into a defensive one and eventually become almost undroppable.
If Henderson could develop along these lines he could almost guarantee himself a regular first team slot as Mr Flexible.
I think the international break was a big reason for liverpool performance last week.Today's game showed to me that the team is one more transfer window away from becoming a least a 70pt per season side. The goals will come from the midfield department when coutinho comes back into the team and I think the next signing will be a goalscoring midfielder maybe clint dempesy on loan ?
ReplyDeleteYes, Pastore could be really good for us. He can pass, dribble, has vision & plays in the hole. He's faded at PSG after showing sparks of genius at Palermo but he's been used out of position. Interesting thoughts on Hendo.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a good win against WBA, the team that beat us twice last season. I'm not sure if we are good at playing this formation of 532/352. Are we suppose to have more supplies coming in from the wide, wingbacks/wingers? It seems like we are lacking that so far, am I right?
ReplyDeleteNext comes the big test for LFC, an away game to Arsenal, the leader and form team at the moment. It's a good time to check if LFC has the resoluteness and ability to become a top 4 team, again. We had an easier first quarter in the league compared to last season though we had already magnified our tactical ineptness against another form team in Southampton.
Till date, we have positioned ourselves really nicely for the fight for top 4 but so have Southampton and Everton, the 3 unexpected teams this season I would say. Though the table can change dramatically anytime after Monday and that's how severe the competition is this season. I think if we are to reinforce our present position in the league table, we must be more ruthless in taking 3 points against lesser teams and I thought we are still not doing so to our maximum capacity.
So much said, now, bring it on, Arsenal! YNWA!!!
I am more worry about the consistency of the game especially the second half where the defence seem to be more weaker than the first. This is worrisome when we face the big team because their counter-attack is good. Let's see whether this will change when against Arsenal. Really dangerous and too many holes in defending
ReplyDeletePfff. At this rate Suarez will have 49 goals, and Sturridge about 34 by the end of the season - if only. hehe.
ReplyDeleteNever know though, between the two, I imagine they can better .75 goals each /game.
i.e 5-0 against swansea, 6-0 against newcastle etc.
ReplyDeleteThere isno team against whiich those 2 upfront can not score 2 goals andMoseswhenhe returnes to wing and Coutinho will chip in. with others netting a couple it should be enough if Mignolet gets the help needed.
ReplyDeleteWe will finish above manu by the way...
ReplyDeleteI agree with the overall premise, but perhaps this isn't the game to highlight it. When your strikers are on fire, it's not so bad - and with most of the chances today coming from SAS, wasn't much room for others - but it would be nice to see them hit the target.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure these will come, and from the defense too. There has been some bad luck, perhaps sloppiness - Skrtel should have scored today (awsomely executed set piece), Sakho last week, moses the week before, henderson, Toure - all have had sitters and missed. I'm sure they'll connect a few times - but if the top 2 strikers are on form and doing the business - it won't cost a top 4 place if the goals aren't pouring in from the midfield - though it would be nice.
BTW anyone catch this - after Suarez's third goal - he says to Sturridge, ok Daniel, your turn. I wasn't too bothered by one of his attempts where he should have passed to Suarez on the break - they had an agreement.
Good stuff, keep it coming.
You state that west brom did not press us high up the pitch and I agree, but i think this was due to how much we pressed them! We were really impressive without the ball and I think it was clear to see BR has taken notice to how effective Southampton's style of play has been and tried to implement it in to our players in training. Was really impressed with all the players today, especially cissokho, Lucas, Henderson and Suarez, and was even more impressed with the manager! Bring on Arsenal!
ReplyDeleteIt ended up being six months, but we signed him on a 12 month loan.
ReplyDeleteHenderson, Coutinho and Moses are supposed to score those goals. Gerrard to a lesser extent and Allen, maybe, once he starts getting on the pitch a bit more. Of the first three ... they've had their chances. Moses and Coutinho have created more than scored which is fine. Henderson is still finding his touch and has had real scoring chances. I'm waiting for him to find that next level and given time he will, his improvement under Rodgers has been outstanding and he's not far off being the total package.
ReplyDeleteIdeally those players start scoring but I don't think it's an issue. You can always say "what if Suarez and Sturridge fail" but why hypotethise that the league scoring leaders, the best striker force we've had in many years, would suddenly go dry? It's not terribly likely and we should be able to count on them scoring a bucket load between them. That's not fanciful or foolish, it's just what's likely to happen. They're in the form of their life and frankly the midfield should just get out of their way and let them do their job. I really don't think the worst case scenario of those two both being injured is a "huge worry".
People get on Lucas, that he can be ineffective, but I argue that he's just the guy that seems to be at the centre of all our problems when we play like crap. Similarly when we play well he's the guy who's a huge part of making us look good. That's just his role, he's the anchor of the team so he looks only as good or bad the rest of the team. Reminds me of Kuyt, he was the guy who put himself at the heart of everything the team did so if the team was rubbish then all people saw was Kuyt defending too much and making back passes from midfield. It's not their fault, it's just that they are unselfish role players, not out for their own personal glory.
ReplyDeleteJohnson is a huge part of what we do when we do it well. I'm going to instate a new rule that people not refer to him as a "defender" any more. Defenders don't spend that much time in the opposition penalty box in open play. He's one of our most important players and we saw the problems the team had when he was out. Put him back in the side with a similarly attacking player on the other wing and suddenly our midfield looks much better. It's not a coincidence.
I think Hendo is undroppable at the moment but what we need are players who can show him what it means to play at the absolute top level of football. A new attacking midfield or front line player will challenge everyone for time on the pitch. We're playing well at the moment but we still have another level to achieve and if the players we have don't quite have that level themselves you need to bring it in to show them. Look at how Ozil lifted Arsenal, not just through his own play. He's showing all the other guys what it means to be a world class footballer and they're following his lead. A player like that at Liverpool will lift Henderson, Coutinho to Moses and Aspas to that level, or at least show them what it's like. It's absolutely essential we get that player, not just for they themselves would do on the pitch, but for the effect they have on everyone else.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a world class striker when he plays like that. Could have had one in off the bar too ... that would have been incredible.
ReplyDeleteHe did OK, but came on at a time where we were doing a bit more defending. You could tell he's been on the sidelines for a while. He's a long way from really pushing Johnson for a spot in the team, particularly in the attacking department.
ReplyDeleteCurrently the system we play seems to cater exclusively to the SAS partnership, they are there to do what they are supposed to, score goals, and everyone else is seemingly involved in a supportive, collective team effort in order to make that possible. While that does not mean that there is no goal threat from these other areas, it is, I admit, a little worrying not to see at least a few popping up with goals here and there to supplement the strikers. Sturridge and Suarez aside, I struggle to see what our striking options are, and while we may be playing well and flying high in the league, it is still very early in the league campaign and some quality in depth is needed just in case things go pear shaped. The true test of how far the team has come will be against Arsenal, the best midfield (for some) in the league up against the deadliest strike force, if there was a time for someone to make a name for themselves in midfield this would be the game.
ReplyDeleteyou're clutching at straws if you believe that is a problem. want to know which manchester united players scored 10+ in the league last season? van persie, rooney, javier hernandez. what position do they all play? and where did united finish?
ReplyDeleteI want enrique back too, but Cissokho is more of a traditional defender than enrique so I think BR should let Enrique FULLY recover from this knee thing that has been going on for the whole season
ReplyDeletePlayed more like last season as in style of play. Only difference is that we're more clinical this year
ReplyDeleteWe are second in the league and pending the Chelsea result, we could go back to 3rd and people are questioning the way Rodgers is setting up his team. LOL
ReplyDeleteSuarez and Sturridge are thriving in this system. The teams we play against do not seem to have a clue of how to deal with our two frontmen. Each player on the pitch yesterday worked their socks off and as long as SAS score goals then nothing else matters really.
Why on Earth should Rodgers change the setup of the team when it is producing results? Why fix what isn't broken?
My comment went for moderation? Lets try posting it again.
ReplyDeleteWe are second in the league and pending the Chelsea result, we could go back to 3rd and people are questioning the way Rodgers is setting up his team?
Suarez and Sturridge are thriving in this system. The teams we play against do not seem to have a clue of how to deal with our two frontmen. Each player on the pitch yesterday worked their socks off and as long as SAS score goals then nothing else matters really.
Why on Earth should Rodgers change the setup of the team when it is producing results? Why fix what isn't broken?
Sturridge and Suarez are a class act. I don't see the problem with these two getting the goals. These two can grab a win over any team on any given day!. We just need to tighten up on the back. Set piece defending needs to improve.
ReplyDeleteHow many goals did United's midfielders score last season in the league though? I can't remember a single player of theirs that wasn't a forward hit double figures. RVP fired them to the league title last season and SAS are just as capable of landing us a top 4 finish so I dont agree that if we dont score goals from midfield we wont make it. I do however think it will be much more difficult to achieve unless we bring in a genuine goal threat.
ReplyDeleteLooking for legitimate improvement is not 'negative'. That is exactly what Rodgers will be doing, and it's what all great managers do. They don't just bask in the glory of winning and think 'job done'.
ReplyDeleteIMO, 'undroppable' players = management failure. It means the manager has relied too much on one individual and has no adequate cover.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that putting aside the result yesterday we are very vulnerable in defense. Many of the attacks show inherent weakness in our defense with heart-stopping moments. There is still much work needed to improve and so far I cannot see a great deal of effective improvement from those we brought in. I know that it is still early days but I can not help but worry that this part of our game is sadly lacking compared to the attack.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree.
ReplyDeletegerrard. he was solid; he gave a briliant free kick delivery for suarez' third.
ReplyDeletesturridge is joint top on golden boot with rossi,messi, and ronaldo
ReplyDeleteYou love saying that, don't you hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteI think Cissokho and Sakho looks like a promising partnership. We looked more balanced yesterday than for some time. Enrique is so unpredictable it makes teamwork hard I think. Cissokho is interesting, a bit enigmatic at the moment, like even he's not really sure how good he is, or what kind of player he is. More to come from Aly, I'm sure, as he gains fitness and confidence: I think he might surprise us.
ReplyDeleteAm not having that Paul f , midfielders defenders need to be chipping in with a goal or 2 now and again ! I get we're your coming from but in the 70s 80s and 2001 onwards we had players like hypia beniyoun , murphy, gerrard, alonso, etc who scored regularly and that's how we won trophys if Suarez or sturridge get injured or dip in form were f##kd but hopefully when coutino is back we might get more from them positions
ReplyDeletethx
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember when the last time one of our shots went in off the bar/post was
ReplyDeleteWe won 4-1 great display .west brom played utd off the pitch and we did the same to them.Stop focusing on any negative you can find .Last week it was we dont score in 2nd half this week suarez scores a hatrick and you moan ye but what if he doesn't score.Stop being so miseable in 2013 we are the first team to score 60 goals YNWA
ReplyDeleteI think we can realistically expect 50 goals between them, which is a pretty amazing thing to say. So Jamie's point is a good one, we do need to find 20 or so goals from the rest of the team.
ReplyDeleteWe could especially do with the defenders chipping in from set pieces -- Toure and Skrtel have both missed memorable sitters already. After that a midfielder who can score from open play to nab us 10 would be a bonus; anything on top of that would be a luxury!
We have such a good chance this season, but football is football -- you have to expect the unexpected! Maybe Sturridge will come out as gay and refuse to play until the team builds a life-size statue of Oscar Wilde in the kop. Maybe Raheem Sterling will get kneecapped by Ravel Morrison in a gangland hit. Maybe Brendan Rodgers will lose so much weight that he becomes crazed and eats Luis Suarez in a cannibalistic ritual. Predicting anything in football, beyond Germany beating England on penalties is a pretty inexact science :)
Just saw sky news ferguson was thrown out of a hotel for smearing excrement all over the bathroom.People who are close to him are worried .So no one then .
ReplyDeletealonso scored 4 goals for liverpool in the league I think.
ReplyDeleteTo me it just means a player has performed so excellently that he's automatic choice next game.
ReplyDelete3rd after 9 games on g/d is pretty nice. They always say judge after 10 games. Well its pretty much 10 games, and we are looking good I think. We have had some scrappy games, but still managed to pick up points, this is something we didn't do last season, and something that 'top teams' need to do, to get in the CL. If we can beat Arsenal this weekend, which I think is possible. Then we can be top of the league.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Coutinho coming back will help with the goals from midfield. But I agree we do need to find a goal scoring midfielder.
Javier Pastore and El Shawaary are being linked. Both of them will be AWESOME
ReplyDeleteWe have Aspas who I think will prove to be a good player. Maybe score a few goals when he is back.
ReplyDeleteYou want more goals from midfield?
ReplyDeleteI give you Coutinho!
Since August... And it makes me feel so great..
ReplyDeleteMe too mate me too !!
ReplyDeleteYou are Liverpool fan, it is a given... At least it should be..
ReplyDelete