El Pistolero At The Ready

On a bitterly cold day, Luis Suarez warmed the Anfield masses with another virtuoso performance.  That he showed touches of brilliance is a given, but what is easy to overlook because we've come to expect so much already from the 'Little Maestro' is a prodigious work ethic not unlike Gerrard which he inspires those around him to raise their game to greater heights and like Gerrard he leaves the shouting to others, only shouting at himself in disappointment if a chance or pass goes askew.  He laid on two assists which his team mates failed to anticipate and capitalise on which could so easily have been far posts tap ins.

We've often spoken on this blog about the level of Suarez performances, but today he was everything.  Sitting on the upper tier at the Anfield Road end behind the goal was a great vantige point to watch him at work.  He ran down balls which he had no devine right to reach, either putting QPR on the back foot or pinching the ball for his team and for a man of his size he is for ever looking to claim the ball from Reina's goal-kicks down field. In fact he should've open the scoring early on when heading a measured Adam crossed straight at the keeper and he also a number of chances and half chances which weren't taken.  Maxi also missed a one on one, but once again with chances a plenty and over sixty per cent possession Liverpool failed to be clinical enough in the final third to kill the match off by half-time.

It's to their credit that Maxi's link up play with Saurez makes it look as though they've playing together for time and memorial as there is a feel of telepathy and enjoyment in their interplay, slucing through defenders at will.  With Suarez dropping deep and being involved in all facets of Liverpool's attacking play, one wonders just how much more potent Liverpool would be with a quick dynamic striker operating ahead of him on the last man.  The struggles of Andy Carroll and the profligacy in front of goal has shown the need for another striker of a different nature alongside Carroll and Saurez in the squad.  Funnily enough Liverpool's goal scoring struggles are bourne out by the fact that we have only scored 10 goals in the first half this season as opposed to 16 in the second half.

With over 67 per cent possession in the first-half as in recent home games Liverpool's total dominance dissipated and allowed QPR back into a game, in the final quarter, where they should have been dead and buried. Although not looking likely to score in open play with Barton on the tiller there was always a chance from deadball situations. 

There were plenty of positives with Suarez winning strike (his eighth this season and fifth in the Premiership) getting him back among the scoring charts with a not to dissimilar header to the one he missed in the first-half as Charlie Adam delivered a collector's item peach of cross with his right foot, his fourth assist this season, moving him one ahead of Dirk Kuyt. In recent weeks Adam has begun to live up Alex Ferguson's tag of his corners been worth £10 million alone. Today he corners may not have lived up to those lofty expectations but his crossing from open play was a delight. In addition, Henderson delivered a strong performance anchoring the midfield alongside Adam and ahead of a defensive quartet, that a part from the blip at Fulham has remained tightly focused, keeping another clean sheet and finally winning a home game against the type of team we've recently been falling down against.

Bellamy showed with a flashing run at the end in where he hit the crossbar, just what potency his undoubted class brings to the party, especially in a line-up where match winners are so difficult to find.

Man of The Match: Luis Suarez – has a built-in team ethic alongside his other obvious qualities. He was light years ahead any other player on the park.

Big thanks to Chris Smith, LFC season ticket holder, who I met on the train home to London and kindly provided me with the possession percentage from the first half.