Upward and Onward: Scott on Liverpool's Run of Form

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Absence is said to make the heart grow fonder and my brief absence from posting to this prestigious blog has found me smitten with how Liverpool are playing, that Blackburn black eye notwithstanding. Brendan Rodgers tinkered with formations and lineups to help the Reds emerge from their late 2014 downward spiral and now sees his charges conceding fewer goals, scoring more and, most importantly, winning. No losses so far in 2015 and, aside from the aforementioned FA Cup debacle at Anfield, they have played some of the best soccer in the EPL of late. Exhibit A was their comprehensive victory over a Manchester City side that was beginning to hit full stride with a healthy Sergio Aguero. One can only hope that Blackburn was a hiccup and this improving run of form can carry them to a Top Four finish.


Still, there are issues to resolve. For one, how does Rodgers rotate and rest players like Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, especially with the injury bug ravaging several key players like Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva? Getting bounced from the Europa League, after the sting passes, should actually be helpful to the long-term financial fitness of the club as fewer games and less travel bodes well for a strong finish and a coveted UCL place, with its monetary benefits.

In the meantime, the return of Daniel Sturridge, while undeniably giving the team a boost, has presented Rodgers with a new puzzle to solve - how to fit last year's 20 goal scorer back into the squad without upsetting the equilibrium so recently restored. Statistics have been put forth illustrating that Sturridge does best with a strike partner up top but the formation that righted the ship plays with only one. Decisions, decisions...

You Make Your Own Luck

Scott's rose-tinged spectacles are fully polished up for this entry:

With 2014 behind Liverpool, a brighter 2015 awaits. Glimpses of the quality football to come have been seen over the past 4 games against Manchester United (I'm still scratching my head over that loss), Bournemouth (a deserved Capital One Cup victory), Burnley (a scrappy win over an under-valued club) and Swansea (with more than just a bit of luck).

Yes, there is still quite a way to go and the champagne I crack tonight will be solely to ring in the new year and not to toast Liverpool's completed turnaround. But with several players beginning to click and Brendan Rodgers finally finding a formation that seems to best utilize the talent available, it may not be long before another bottle is uncorked.

As ridiculous as it seems, in addition to the 2 quality goals against Swansea, the two lucky ones also boost my hopes. We all know that the best teams get "lucky" more than others and, in my estimation, shared by many, that luck is the product of a self-belief and confidence that manifests itself in the fortuitous block of a goalie's clearance or a generous own-goal. The best teams just KNOW they are going to win and play hard expecting that result, completing that self-fulfilling prophesy when that same expectant effort shakes a goal loose from the opposition. For too long this season, Liverpool have been playing scared, waiting for the other shoe to drop in the form of another crossbar rattled on one side before a mistake on the other leads to a depressingly familiar billowing of net. But at Anfield recently the roles were reversed and may it be a sign of things to come.

Helping, the “luck” along are several players who seem to be getting traction in the side as they gel with their teammates.  Adam Lallana was a revelation against Swansea and is beginning to look like the confident, dangerous player that pillaged so many defenses for the Saints.  His vision, control, work-rate and finishing (OK, maybe not the left footer he skied over the crossbar) were excellent.  Add to that the on-again off-again Philippe Coutinho, who flipped the on switch again, and you have a dangerously offensive midfield.  The Brazilian’s mazy runs repeatedly put defenders on their heels as he breaks forward to shoot or distribute.

Mortality and Hope: Liverpool 1 - Stoke City 0

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Scott has some thoughts on this weekend's performance and more:

It was ugly. It was frustrating. It was close. And it was hard. But, in the end, thanks to Glen Johnson's brave header, Liverpool finally prevailed in the league. Many are pointing only to how hard it was. And still others, like correspondent Ed, are focusing solely on how poorly the Reds are playing of late. Ed and his ilk may, indeed, be right to do so because, let's face it, Liverpool have been simply awful over the last several games, and not much better before then.

 

But what I saw in this game, after what I hope and pray was the bottom of Liverpool football during a first half that saw nary a shot on goal, was the faintest glimmer of hope. Sure, Johnson's staple-stitch inducing header (for which, no doubt, he will receive a Purple Star) finally garnered 3 points. But more important to me was the 4 or 5 occasions in the second half when Liverpool produced legitimately dangerous passing combinations in and around the penalty area that showed they have not completely forgotten how to play attacking football in the forward third. May it be a harbinger of similar style….

 

o I think Gerrard's time as a starter is rapidly coming to an end. Quite frankly, his mobility is starting to remind me of what I see playing on Monday nights with Ed and the others of our generation. There comes a point when leadership can no longer overcome an aging body. Giving Emre Can an extended run of games seems to make sense. Stevie, you will always be our favorite talisman but the time is drawing near for us all to accept your mortality.

 

o Kolo Toure is proving himself once again. If he just keeps it simple and avoids the occasional aneurism, he can help our defensive efforts.

 

5 Thoughts on Liverpool

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Scott has been studying up on the Reds:

o Back near the top of the table in second place after 6 games or, as I like to call it, 16% of the season, Liverpool fans everywhere are cautiously, one-by-one, allowing themselves to believe.  Chelsea, Tottenham and City, I believe, have stronger talent and Arsenal have won 5 on the trot.  But after a trio of 1-0 wins to begin the season, with a healthy Daniel Sturridge and a temporarily-sane Luis Suarez, Reds fans everywhere are praying for goals to continue raining for Liverpool. 

o My omission of United from the above was not accidental.  If memory serves, I was the only one among my illustrious colleagues who predicted that the Red Devils of Manchester would finish outside of the top 4.  84% of the season has yet to be played but, in case things change, I need to point out my prescience now.  Of course, I also picked Arsenal to finish 6^th….

o Ahh, the Sturridge/Suarez combination - two of the best strikers in the league, at their prime, both in form and, thus far, unselfish in their mutual play.  Let’s hope my smile doesn’t turn to grimace upon a future Suarez meltdown.  Perhaps child number two, to whom he dedicated his goals on Sunday via a non-regulation undershirt, has pushed the Uruguayan finally over the edge to maturity.  In any case, he better maintain the current chumminess with his striker partner who plattered up both of his goals.

Trailing Thoughts

An Appropriately Named Trail for Correspondent Scott to Blaze
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Scott's post should be entitled "Deluded Thoughts":

o When I look at the talent on Manchester City and Chelsea compared to Manchester United, I can’t help but conclude that Sir Alex’s departure will also mean the end of United’s dominance in the BPL.  No offence to David Moyes, but Darth Ferguson’s success is nearly inconceivable; how he managed to just keep winning with different players is inarguably impressive.  Finally admitting his penchant for bullying referees aside,  his ability to instill belief in his players was second to none.  Maybe Moyes has the same mojo and only needs a bigger budget to weave his magic at the top of the table.  Maybe.  But I think United will bounce around the top half of the table a little more from now on instead of perennially winning or showing.

o Liverpool finished 7^th.  That’s a spot above last year, a spot below 2011 and the same spot as 2010.  No real movement in 4 years.  Of course, Brendan Rodgers will take heart in the slight improvement over last year.  And he should.  When you look at the team and assess their potential for success next year, you can’t help but be optimistic.  While the earliest Rodgers additions of Joe Allen and Fabio Borini have not yet been successful, his more recent acquisitions of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have been brilliant.  The two January signings have not only lifted the team up a few pegs in terms of quality, they also more than adequately filled the very large, teething shoes of one Luis Suarez.  With Steven Gerrard continuing his renaissance, Raheem Sterling continuing his development, Lucas Leiva continuing his journey back to form and both Luis Enrique and Glen Johnson continuing to raid down the flanks, Liverpool has the makings of a quality starting XI.  Still, a little defensive shoring up is in order as well as a patient search for depth across the field.  We’re behind you Brendan.

Vindicated: Liverpool 3 - Tottenham Hotspur 2

We Have No Good reason To Put This Picture Here
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It's surprising, but this is the first Spurs' game in quite awhile that Columnist James has elected not to cover.  Fortunately, for some reason, Columnist Scott picked up the slack:

Well, Liverpool finally did it.  They beat a real team above them in the table.  Yes, they previously beat Swansea but, come on, no offense to our Welsh friends, that’s not really the same thing as defeating an in-form Tottenham.  With three league wins on the trot now, whispers of Champions League can be heard through the cacophony of cries for Europa at least.  We’ll see.  For now, perhaps owing to my previous, self-inflicted anguish, I am choosing to remain even-keeled and see how it plays out.

Of course, I was anything but even-keeled as I soaked up the game against Spurs last Sunday when the Reds hosted the Londoners at Anfield.  With Daniel Sturridge back in the lineup along with that breath of fresh Brazilian air known as Philippe Coutinho, not to mention Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, an increasingly healthy Lucas Leiva and the resurgent Stuart Downing, it was not surprising that Liverpool dominated play for the first 10 minutes.  Their aesthetically pleasing, high-tempo ball movement was visual candy that culminated with a tootsie roll finish of Coutinho to Jose Enrique to Suarez for the flick past Hugo Lloris at the near post.  The finish was brilliant but the vision, of first the Brazilian, then the Spaniard, was sweeter still.

Coutinho has been an excellent addition and, just like Sturridge, has immediately blended into and elevated the team.  Jose Enrique, especially, seems to be benefitting from the new number 10, linking up with him repeatedly on the way to a final pass into Suarez or Sturridge.  Gerrard also continues his climb to his former glory – his 27^th minute, perfectly-weighted, one-touch through ball for Suarez was amazing and more evidence that the captain has more years of quality in the tank.

Around about the 36^th minute, the commentators said something that agrees with what I have been saying for some time – that Suarez seems to have halted, or at least lessened, his diving tendencies.  I was thrilled that it was noticed and I sincerely hope it will continue.  He will probably always complain about calls, which I can accept if he at least doesn’t try to manufacture them.  After all, he has already been denied penalties in other games and it will continue, such as when Benoît Assou-Ekotto yanked him down in the 39^th minute.

All this stands in stark contrast to the biggest diver/actor in the league – Gareth Bale.  He is truly an amazing player and will no doubt become legendary but, quite simply, he is a habitual diver.  When he was writhing on the ground in the 44^th minute, I found myself comparing him to a certain feature of the female anatomy.  All the more so when he was perfectly fine less than a minute later and able to deliver a picture-perfect cross for Jan Vertonhen to head home.  His theatrics were on display again in the 52^nd minute when he fooled the ref to get a BS free kick, then Jamie Carragher was pulled down (no call) and Vertonghen scored again to put the visitors ahead 2-1.

Caipirinha, Anyone?: Liverpool 5 - Swansea City 0

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Finally, a game in which Columnist Scott can revel:

o A 5-0 home win against a depleted Swansea City side last Sunday?  Ho hum.  No point in getting too excited, because the pendulum will surely swing the other way within a game or two.  Liverpool this year are nothing if not consistently inconsistent.  That they thrashed a Michael Laudrup side conserving it's energy for this weekend's League Cup Final was notable in certain respects but nothing to write home about (maybe blog about, though).

o The first 15 minutes saw neither side with too many chances as the players got their legs under themselves and we all breathed a sigh of relief that Gus Johnson was not the game's commentator.  Despite some confusion at the back for Liverpool, after 30 minutes they began to assume control of the game and, by the 40th minute, it could only be described as utter domination by the Reds.  Of course the penalty on Luis Suarez in the 34th minute (converted unflappably by Steven Gerrard) really tipped the scales and from there it was a rout in every respect, with the 5-0 final score probably being kind to the Swansea players and staff.  Wouldn't it be great to score that many against Zenit St. Petersburg at Anfield?  We'll know if that happened before this is posted.

o Jamie Carragher gives me hope that, at almost 44, I can continue my Monday night soccer "playing" for years to come.  At 35 years of age, the geriatric defender was tracking back like a pro throughout the game and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.  I agree with Kenny Dalglish's assessment that Carragher has a few more playing years in him if he wants.

o To say that I'm disappointed that Daniel Sturridge is cup-tied for the return leg against Zenit would be quite an understatement.  Although the in-form striker put over (from 6 yards) Stuart Downing's hard cross in the 23rd minute, and was unable to chip Michel Vorm in the 40th, he was dangerous throughout and was equally unflappable when Gerrard gifted the penalty to him later (what on earth was Wayne Routledge thinking when he raised his arm like that?).  He also showed skill in the 64th minute when he took down a long through-ball in the air on his chest and volleyed on target (although Vorm, once again, made the stop).