Poor Jones handling and Borini blunder costs LFC their FA Cup place! Oldham 3 LFC 2

By Dedlfc (David Douglas)

The imminent arrival of Brazilian attacking midfielder Coutinho was expected to be celebrated with an important win vs an average Oldham side that hadn't won the six home games in a row.

Prior to Sunday's game we had played Oldham four times in the FA Cup and won on each occasion, but the gulf in class didn't show as the giant Matt Smith gave the hosts a shock lead in only the second minute, meeting Youssuf M'Changama's cross to unleash an unstoppable header which Skrtel tried in vain to clear from going over the line.

We hit back on 17 minutes with our first chance of the game as our sorcerer and captain for this game Suarez eased his way into the Oldham penalty area and slotted the ball comfortably past our former keeper Dean Bouzanis.

The simplicity with which we scored didn't bode well for the hosts and Suarez seemed to have grabbed a second after 23 minutes but his header was ruled offside.

Sterling, (now LFC's youngest ever player in the FA Cup seemed to be rattled from an earlier booking) was then denied by Bouzanis from inside the box, but there seemed to be a distinct lack of urgency about our team- and we duly paid the price just before half-time.

Robbie Simpson had been a constant thorn in our side but it was goalscorer Smith who once again made the difference. First, the towering forward had another header denied by a fingertip save from Brad Jones before he doubled his tally on the stroke of half-time, pouncing on a loose ball after Jones went from hero to villain by spilling a straightforward cross and costing us dearly.

At 2-1 down at halftime we went on the attack straight after the break and crafted an opportunity straight away, but the player that Rodgers had bought in the summer as a clinical striker Fabio Borini failed his lines with an easy chance which he sent high over the bar. The chance missed was the vital moment of the game as Oldham wasted no time in capitalising as Wabara met a looping cross from substitute Carl Winchester to grab the game's fourth goal, sending a looping header into the far corner.

Steven Gerrard and Stewart Downing were introduced by Brendan Rodgers on 55 minutes in an attempt to salvage the situation, but apart from Gerrard pulling the strings, we offered little incisiveness as the hosts defended for their lives. 

But we persisted and pulled a goal back through a deflected strike from Allen on 80 minutes.

A frantic finish ensued, with Gerrard hitting the crossbar from long-distance with a looping shot but the League One minnows held on to secure a famous cup victory and end our hopes of reclaiming the trophy for the first time since 2006.

Kop-post man of the match - Steven Gerrard - Our captain marvel came on and showed the required character for games such as this. Rodgers should have started with Gerrard secured the win and then taken him off because in the short space of time he was on the pitch, he was the outstanding talent and deserved to claim the late equaliser but as unlucky on this particular day.

Negatives - I understand why Rodgers played Coates vs the giant Matt Smith but Coates positional sense was found wanting on nearly every occasion and Coates couldn't handle him and had a torrid 
afternoon, so therefore I would have played Jamie Carragher who always seems to perform well in these sort of games where you need to battle first for the right to play your natural game.

The current spokesman for LFC in between games has been Stewart Downing and I strongly believe that unless you are the captain you should let your performances on the pitch do the talking by being seen and not heard. Stewart Downing, in my opinion, performs once every ten games and again when he came on didn't attempt once to go to the bye-line to make a difference to the side. He is too inconsistent to be a regular in the side and I hope that Coutinho when he signs will get a proper run in the side replacing Downing.

Rodgers decision to play Borini has ultimately cost us a place in the next round as he missed the vital chance to get us back into the game at 2-2 and he again looks like he is too lightweight for this level.

There are no positives to losing in the FA Cup against a side that is two divisions below us and with us only having the Euro league and league table respectability to play for, it is a very depressing day especially when you think back to 12 months ago when we were through to a Carling Cup final and the 5th round of the FA Cup.

So what about us now? With us out of the FA Cup we now focus on the league?

In 2011/12, after 23 games, we were fifth with 38 points, having won 10 games, drawn eight and lost five. Of those 10 wins, an impressive six came away from home, with only four at Anfield.

After 23 games this campaign, we are seventh, having accumulated four points less than the same stage last year, one less win with nine, one draw less with seven, and, crucially, two more losses, with seven. Though we have improved on our home record with six home wins compared to four, our away record is clearly inferior, with only three wins away from home compared to six. 

Once again, the supposed improvement upon last season is hard to see - in fact, we have regressed as far as the table is concerned. Even if we consider our superior home record compared to last year's, it means little considering we have won less games in total. A home win doesn't mean more points than an away win, after all.

The big games

This time last season, we had taken maximum points from Arsenal away, winning 2-0, and Chelsea away, winning 2-1. We had also managed to draw 1-1 with Manchester United and Manchester City at Anfield. All in, that's eight vital points from the strongest teams in the league, including an away win over the eventual winners of the Champions League.

This season is much less impressive. We have managed to take a point from Manchester City at home (2-2) and Chelsea away (1-1), but were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United at Anfield and 2-0 by Arsenal at home. That's only two points in comparison to eight. 

In fact, we have yet to beat a team from above us in the league all season under Brendan Rodgers for me that is highly embarrassing for a side aspiring to end up in the top 4 of this league.

LFC team vs Oldham: Jones, Wisdom, Coates, Skrtel, Robinson, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Borini, Sturridge, Suarez

Subs:- Gulacsi, Carragher, Shelvey, Lucas, Downing, Gerrard, Suso

Att - 10,295

January Transfer Window: Liverpool At The Crossroads

Dedlfc’s excellent recent blog in which he asked whether Fenway Sports Group has the financial muscle seems to take on more strength by the day.  The club in my opinion have developed a transfer policy of one in one out and as a standard are happy to regurgitate standard lines of young players being the future.

Chelsea and the Manchester clubs are not going to stand still and it’s highly unlikely that UEFA’s fair plays rules will curtail their spending to the extent that it will bring them back for us to challenge.   So are the Liverpool board being naïve in their thinking regarding buying older players?

They say you never win anything with youngsters and one has to wonder whether the board actually understands what it takes to compete for a Champions League place let alone win a Premiership title?

Steven Gerrard’s comments about our possible interest in Wesley Sneijder says to me that he recognises what it takes and what is currently missing.

He said, “He’ll do.  He’s a top player, I think we’ve seen it at every major tournament he delivers; He went on to say, “He’s done it in the Champions League for years.  We’ll have to see on his wage demands, he gets paid well and he’ll have all kinds of options I’m sure but I’d love nothing better than to see him in a red shirt.”

Liverpool are at a crossroads.  We’ve been there before with Torres.  But with the young players in tow it more resembles the Arsenal situation and Wenger’s steadfast belief that Fabregas and moreover Van Persie would stay.  Listening to the last named in his televised interview before the Spurs game, one could actually hear him purring about playing alongside Rooney and co and we should not take it for granted that Suarez love for the club and Merseyside will automatically preclude him from joining another club. 

We all heard Torres eulogising about how the city of Liverpool very much reminded him of the part of Madrid where he came from, yet he left to join one of our mortal enemies.

Gerrard was also quoted in The Daily Mirror saying “In general, I like the direction the club is going in, but the harsh reality is that we still need two or three big players who can help.”

“We were short before the last deadline and I think we struggled to find consistency because of that.  The gap between  us and, say, Manchester United is now severe, but I believe that – on our day – we can beat any team in the league.”

“When we don’t play well, we don’t win.  We need to find a way to win games when we’re not really at out top level.”

While some may some may say this is a player thinking about the final few years of his career, anyone who has followed his career knows that he loves the club and what he says makes sense and is at odds with comments emanating from the board.

Iain Ayre said after the signing of Daniel Sturridge, “People may feel that they want to criticise the fact that we didn’t have an additional striker,

“But at what price would you sacrifice spending for something that is not in the long-term interests of the club versus what we just did which was getting a great price on a great player in Daniel Sturridge?

“If we had spent that money in the summer, then we wouldn’t have done that trade recently.  It may have left us short, but the pieces just did not come together.  We’ve come through that period now and still feel it was right decision.”

From where I’m standing leaving the squad threadbare in the striking department was a bad piece of decision making.  As I look up hearing the roar from the television, Spurs have just equalised with almost the last kick of the ball and the goal scorer is… Clint Dempsey. 

Should we fail to get 4^th place by a few points I know where I’d apportion blame if Luis Suarez leaves as a consequence.

Suarez and Sturridge Show Signs of Things To Come

Following on from their promising last 30 minutes together against Man United Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge started in the Premiership together for the first time with Joe Allen and Martin Skrtel relegated to the subs bench after a dip in form for both over the last few matches which brought Jamie Carragher and Jordan Henderson in for starts.  Pepe Reina with an injured hip and broken nose could be out for a month.  His able understudy Brad Jones was once again pressed into service.

As is our wont, last week being an aberration, we started on the front foot dominating possession led by Steven Gerrard.  The game had barely started when Suarez and Johnson linked up down the left, Liverpool’s champion striker floated a cross on the head of Downing who under pressure couldn’t direct his header goal bound.  Gerrard then whipped in a glorious ball to Downing in the area which got away from the winger, Gerrard then unleashed two tackles full of venom in quick succession which had us thinking the Liverpool captain is really moving up the gears in his search for his top form.

That being said, Norwich should’ve taken the lead from Snodgrass’s free-kick.  Bennett not picked up, stole in unmarked only to header straight at Jones.

Not to be deterred, Liverpool marched inexorably forward creating chances with Sturridge turning and shooting straight at Bunn and Downing cutting in from the left to shoot just past the post.

Suarez who unlike last week was seeing plenty of the ball and one run caused mayhem outside the Norwich area twisting and turning, when the ball broke to Jordan Henderson.  The much maligned midfielder who seems to benefiting from the support of his manager (his third start in four matches), turned and unleashed a spectacular volley which exploded into the Norwich net.

Norwich with five in midfield were sitting back inviting Liverpool to come at them and with our formation 4-3-3 creating a dovetailing forward line with Suarez and Strurridge interchanging nicely, they struggled to curtail the fluidity of the attacks.

Pushing up to try and negate Liverpool’s build-up play, the Norwich defence were left floundering, when Sturridge sold an outrageous dummy from Lucas’s pass to send Suarez through on goal to chip passed Bunn for his 20th goal of the season and his 7th league goal in four games against the canaries.

Norwich still threatened and just before half-time Holt had his first attempt pushed out by Jones and his second foiled by Wisdom heading clear in front of Jones.

Suarez and Downing on the edge half-time linked up with a one-two which resulted in the Uruguayan putting through Sturridge who had his right footed angled drive well saved by Bunn.

Just before the start of the second-half Gerrard and Sturridge were in animated jocular conversation seemingly jesticulating to each other about how Gerrard should play him in and how Sturridge wanted the ball delivered, it was good to see.

Earlier in the second half, Wisdom beautifully controlled a long ranged pass out on the right wing with one depth movement, drove forward and cutting in passed the left-back before slashing his shot wide.  A little composure may have seen the young man who is growing in stature break his duck in the Premiership.

Liverpool all but wrapped up the game when Henderson growing in confidence, chipped a pass across to Downing who first-time, side foot volleyed his cross for Sturridge to tap in to equal Ray Kennedy’s club record of scoring on each of his first three appearances.

That we were in complete control was an understatement with Gerrard pulling the strings and it came as no surprise when the captain who has been threatening to find his range finder all season, let fly from 20 yards to cap an excellent performance.  Rodgers saw it as the signal to rest Henderson and Lucas for Allen and Sterling, respectively.

Within five minutes of his entrance Sterling was instrumental in Liverpool’s fifth.  Darting in on Taylor’s failure to head away Glen Johnson’s header, the winger rolled his shot past Bunn where the unfortunate Ryan Bennett ignominiously slid home.

Kop-Post Man of the Match:  Steven Gerrard – Run close by the irrepressible Suarez, Gerrard controlled the tempo of the game from the middle supported by Lucas.  Some of his tackles were just pure Steven Gerrard, feisty and expertly delivered.  You expect his long range passing to be top draw, but his short range passing controlled the game like another Liverpool maestro from the past Xabi Alonso.

Jordan Henderson’s recent improvement shows no sign of stopping.  His goal was stunning made up with the ingredients of technique, power and style.  He deserved the warm ovation upon being substituted as he’s shown self-belief in his own ability, when not unlike Joe Allen is now, many doubted not just that ability, but whether his warranted a place at the club.  While he has far from satisfied the doubters, he showing his is made of the right stuff.

Critical eye:  Andre Wisdom will play in may more pressurised situations, but as in the Man United game showed power and composure in critical situations and one had to remember his tender years and the fact he is operating as a right-back having been schooled as a centre-half where many see him playing eventually.

Daniel Sturridge’s inclusion has given Liverpool a different dimension upfront and one wonders just where Liverpool would be had a proven goal scorer been upfront to ease the burden on Suarez.

The flipside is that Suarez is probably a better goal scorer this season than he was last which augurs well for the future, particularly if we can add some quality players to add depth and experience to the squad.

Manager’s comments:  "It was an outstanding team performance. The first goal was going to be important and Jordan scored a fantastic goal. We've had games where we haven't got the first goal early enough and have ended up drawing.

"It [Daniel Sturridge's goal] was the type of goal he was brought in for. He is terrific outside the box but he is a real killer in it. It's three goals in three games for him and I think there will be many to come. We have played well for most of the season but Daniel coming in adds that extra threat. He has pace and power and he has got good touch and good skills.

"We are just taking each game as it comes. It is a very pleasing day but we will not get too far ahead of ourselves."

Team: 1 James, 2 Johnson, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 47 Wisdom, 8 Gerrard, Henderson (Allen – 77 min), 19 Downing, 21 Lucas (Sterling – 68 min), 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (Bonini – 69 min)

Subs: 42 Gulacsi, 37 Skrtel, 49 Robinson, 24 Allen, 31 Sterling, 33 Shelvey, 29 Bonini

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 44, 901

Dismal first half performance by LFC prompts another defeat - Man Utd 2 Liverpool 1

The pre-match talk was of the shootout between the top two strikers in the country Van Persie and our sorcerer Suarez and also the disrespectful statement by Alex Ferguson stating "Suarez is laden with controversy"

I would have used the latter as a further incentive for the team just before kickoff. when the team was announced I was very disappointed to hear that Sturridge had been left on the subs bench and also the out of form Joe Allen had again been picked ahead of Henderson.

The opening segment of the game we showed none of our usual energy and possession football, this was not a problem as long as we kept compact and limited any balls into Van Persie's feet from their midfield.

The surprising part of the first half as it went along was how easily the Utd midfield of Carrick and Cleverley dominated our three man midfield of Lucas/Gerrard and Allen.

The action was mainly in our half with Suarez isolated up front as if the rest of the players were not on the same planet!

With no attempts made by us on goal after the first 18 mins it was inevitable that Van Persie would get a chance. His excellent movement deceived Agger which he put away giving Reina no chance.

For the rest of the first half Utd easily controlled the game and we didn't look a threat at all, just before we got to half time United nearly doubled their lead when a disastrous wayward pass from Joe Allen gave Welbeck a chance of a shot but it was blocked brilliantly by Agger.

Shortly Cleverley volleyed just wide and not long after in a massive goalmouth scramble inside our six yard box which culminated in Skrtel hacking Van Persie's flick off the line to stop us from going in at the half time break two goals down.

My pre match concerns about the weakness of Joe Allen in big games had again come to fruition in a match situation which we now hoped that Rodgers would remedy at half time. We also prayed that Sturridge would be given a deserved run out after his impressive cameo versus Mansfield in the Cup last weekend.

Rodgers elected to bring on Sturridge to replace Lucas to give us more attacking thrust but surprisingly left on the ineffectual Allen for the start of the second half.

The substitution had an early effect when we saw the normally busy but today very subdued Suarez tee up Wisdom who shot well wide.

The very poor Allen then gave away the free kick from which Utd doubled their lead when poor defending by Glen Johnson enabled Vidic to inadvertently deflect in Evra's header from Van Persie's free kick.

We then delivered the perfect response to Utd's second goal when our new striker Sturridge reacted quickest to tap into the back of the net after Gerrard powered past a tackle like Gerrard of old before drilling a superb shot which De Gea was unable to hold.

After three months out of the side there was a welcome return to first team football for Borini in place of Sterling as we desperately searched for the equaliser.

The relentless pressure almost told with Sturridge twice coming close to getting us the draw our spirited second half performance deserved.

Utd held on for the points and are now an embarrassing 24 points ahead of us!

Kop-Post Man of the Match - Daniel Sturridge - come on for the second half and showed again the potential and skill in his game linking up very impressively with Suarez, following up well for his goal, tracking back when he lost the ball and generally being a nuisance to the opposition. He needs to develop his composure in front of goal as he needs to realise hitting a shot across a keeper has more benefits nine times out of ten with Suarez more than capable of feeding on the tap-ins from those types of shots.

Positives - Second half display forced Utd back and had worried them enough that Ferguson made two defensive subs towards the end of the game.

Negatives - Rodgers team selection in the big games has been found wanting and has cost us dear in all our big games so far.

Sterling and Downing were both ineffective when we needed both to be on top of their games today. Sterling's dip in form is down to playing so many games at such a young age without being given a rest,  for Downing there is no such excuse and his continued poor performances emanating in him being picked every game by Rodgers baffles me.

The central midfield struggles fall totally at Brendan Rodgers' feet, his decision to play Joe Allen in place of Jordan Henderson verges on criminal considering the form the two have been in, which couldn't be more opposite. 

There will soon be cries of nepotism if this continues because barring illness or injury Allen plays ahead of Henderson. In this game Allen looked lost and frankly out of his depth and with Lucas off colour and Steven Gerrard less disciplined, our midfield was totally at sea. 

That we looked better in the second half with only Gerrard and Allen is something I believe is more attributable to United sitting deeper and us showing more attacking intent than an indication that Lucas is the weak link. 

Far from it, as moving forward from this Henderson or Shelvey should now be the first options in the team to play alongside Gerrard with Lucas being the defensive midfielder with Allen now the reluctant back up to Lucas because Allen does not having any attacking impetus to assist us in the attacking side of our game.

It will be interesting to see Rodgers next team selection for the home game vs Norwich.

LFC - Team vs Man Utd
Reina, Wisdom, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas Leiva, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez, Sterling

Subs:-Jones, Carragher, Robinson, Henderson, Shelvey, Borini, Sturridge

Attendance - 75,501

Fenway Sports Group - Do they really have the funds?

The January 2013 transfer window has only been open just over a week and has already shown us that we are struggling to bring in the required reinforcements to assist the depth of the squad to get to where we want to be.

There have been so many players linked to us already even before this transfer window was opened, with all these players as likely to come to us as seeing a Rafa Benitez statue at Stamford Bridge.

The fiasco of not bringing in the required players in the striking dept in the summer transfer window leaving us with just Suarez to provide goals from that position was thought to have been temporarily resolved by signing Daniel Sturridge for 12 million pounds in January and with the inexperienced striker Fabio Borini being close to a first team return after a long term injury it would be hoped that we have better cover for the second half of the season.

With us quibbling on whether to pay an extra 1-2 million for Tom Ince to come back home to us and now struggling to provide the funds to bring in further goalkeeping competition for Reina by signing Jack Butland from Birmingham it will be seen as a poor transfer window by only bringing in one player in this transfer window so we have to delve deeper into seeing what has now gone wrong with FSG finances.

Turning attention to matters off the pitch brings Fenway’s ownership into focus. For all the sound bites and pledges, John W. Henry and his board misled their new chosen coach in August. Failing to reinforce a painfully thin frontline was unforgivable. The error of their ways may well have now been corrected but that initial indifference effectively tied Rodgers in a straight-jacket.

FSG would be strongly advised to re-assess the current organisational structure (or rather lack of it) at LFC. Before Rodgers appointment we were told of this grand scheme that would involve a Director of Football, Chief Executive and the like. Yet faced with resistance from their manager-elect Rodgers they abandoned that thesis entirely. The Spirit of Shankly at the start of the season called for FSG to appoint a Liverpool based Chief Executive feeling that business decisions had thwarted Brendan Rodgers attempts in the transfer market.

Now, in a sorry state of affairs they have only Ian Ayre as their go-to guy. Just what the latter contributes is a matter of lengthy discussion. Undoubtedly an extremely competent Commercial Director, his reign as DM has been less impressive. When CEO of Huddersfield he hardly covered himself in glory and at Liverpool his capabilities have also been called into question.

Point in question was the Clint Dempsey transfer debacle. FSG refused to sanction his transfer despite the relatively cheap transfer fee of £6 million because they felt that at 29 it was too much despite the fact that he had scored 23 goals the previous season.
Strangely, Tom Werner - chairman, had said previously that "any team would be lucky to have Clint Dempsey in their squad". If the chairman is unable to push through a vital transfer in conjunction with the Commercial Director it makes one wonder what actual influence they do have in terms of major decisions concerning Liverpool football club.

The poor decision to let Carroll leave the club on loan to West Ham when a striking replacement had not been secured has to be apportioned to Ayre's naivety in the transfer negotiating business. Of course nobody knows the exact workings of the boardroom but would the Raheem Sterling stand-off have dragged on under say Brian Barwick or David Dein? Failing to tie the teenager down to a long-term contract as soon as he turned 18 smacked of incompetence rather than naivety.

Moving Bellamy, Kuyt and Rodriguez et al trimmed £23 million off the wage bill, but without Luis Suarez there is a gaping hole in the Liverpool attack, let alone probably the weakest squad of all the teams competing for third and fourth Champions League qualification.

Messers Henry and Werner know precious little about our game and need men on the ground to run operations for them. The present power vacuum is debilitating and also detrimental to the man that opposed it in the first place. Both Rodgers and the club as a whole would benefit from a newly formed hierarchy. Reorganisation should be high on a list of New Year resolutions.

The information on players we are trying to bring in as transfers given out to the media should also be looked at as Spurs within the last year have beaten us to three players with Sigurdsson, Dempsey and now Lewis Holtby who is due to join Spurs in the summer. Everything should be kept in private until the targeted player has been signed, sealed and delivered and is being shown around the club by our chief executive or manager.

With a new structure in place and more privacy and common sense used in transfer negotiations instead of the current chaos, we can then move forward to trying and securing the required investment to revamp our stadium to assist us getting back to the top of the game in this country.

On the flipside FSG's lack of money or reluctance in the transfer market is understandable. Under their stewardship they have sanctioned transfers of Andy Carroll (£35 million); Jordan Henderson (£16 million); Stewart Downing (£20 million); Joe Allen (£15 million) and Fabio Borini (£11 million) none of whom could yet be considered a success. But for Brendan Rodgers to get the club back to where it belongs he has to be allowed to put the foundations in place to get the club back on an even keel.

The patience of our fans has to be commended as they again prove they are the best and most knowledgeable but if FSG do not fulfil the promise of rebuilding the stadium and back the manager's plan long term - the patience will begin to wear thin and we will end up resenting them like the previous owners.

Stags give Sturridge and co a fright - Mansfield 1 Liverpool 2

Before the game started the outstanding gesture to provide names of the 96 fans who died at Hillsborough was welcomed by all.

This was a game that encapsulated everything great about the 3rd round of the FA Cup with a former league side now playing in non-league football being drawn to play one of Europe's biggest names.

The atmosphere at the formerly named Field Mill was electric with the media cameras all turning up hoping for a massive cup upset.

Liverpool settled very quickly and dominated possession early on culminating with wonderful through ball played byShelvey through to our new 12m pound signing Daniel Sturridge who with great assurance calmly placed the ball past Mansfield keeper Alan Marriott for a fantastic debut goal.

Within a couple of minutes it should have been 2-0 with theSturridge/Shelvey partnership combining again with Shelvey again playing Sturridge through on goal but this timeSturridge dithered on the chance too long enabling Marriott to block the shot at close range.

Throughout the rest of the first half Shelvey and Sturridge combined so well that eventually it could have been a comfortable 4 or 5 goal lead with Sturridge missing further chances to grab himself a hat-trick.

At half-time with a 1-0 lead it was expected that Mansfield would try and push us further and they lived up to those expectations with the opening minutes of the second half seeing the Liverpool half besieged by constant threat mainly by aerial bombardment.

The constant pressure from Mansfield was now becoming an increasing concern until the 53rd minute when we broke clear with Downing providing the service this time for Sturridge to this time drag his shot wide.

With that miss we decided to give our talisman Suarez a run out in place, so Sturridge was subbed for Suarez and given that he had only played a limited time in the past month had given a very good account of himself on his debut.

With the Uruguyan's introduction we saw immediate rewards for us but with the usual controversy with Downing the provider with Suarez's initial effort being blocked by Marriott, he then appeared to use his hand to bundle the ball home for our 2nd goal.

The game seemed to be petering towards the expected result when Mansfield finally got their deserved consolation goal forall their endeavour with 11 minutes to go when their pacystriker Matt Green lashed home a right footed shot from about 15 yards that bounced off the turf and beyond our impressive reserve keeper Jones.

The Mansfield goal heralded a frenetic last ten minutes with Mansfield almost getting a late equaliser through Matt Green which produced a very good save from Brad Jones in injury time.

Man of the Match - Brad Jones - He had an outstanding game for us in goal producing several vital saves in the second half and showed why he is a very able deputy to Reina when needed.

Positives - Daniel Sturridge - Produced a very impressive 60 min debut. Providing pace and strength and technical ability on various occasions - really looking forward to seeing him link up with Suarez.

The first half we were very much in control of the game withShelvey and Sturridge linking up very well on numerous occasions.

Jamie Carragher as captain yesterday showed the particular fighting qualities that are required in these sort of games and justified Rodgers attempts to try and keep him playing for us beyond this season.

Negatives - Luis Suarez - I felt he shouldn't have celebrated the goal because he knew it had hit his hand - it left a bad taste to a very good game and adds further controversy to the player's image.

LFC Team vs Mansfield
Jones, Coates, Carragher, Wisdom, Robinson, Suso, Allen, Shelvey, Downing, Leiva, Sturridge

Attendance - 7,574
Ref: Andre Marriner

Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0

Watched by the freshly signed Daniel Sturridge Liverpool put Sunderland to the sword with Luis Suarez scoring twice ably assisted by his young lieutenant Raheem Sterling.

Brendan Rodgers returned to the dugout to oversee two changes from the side who summarily dismissed QPR with Wisdom coming in for the injured Enrique and Lucas in a straight swap for Joe Allen.

Steven Gerrard imperious throughout was at the heart of everything starting with a disguised pass to Wisdom. The youngster seeing the possibility to get on the score sheet blazed over. Downing followed-up unleashing a 20 yard curling free-kick which Mignolet saved comfortably.

Liverpool led by our industrious captain pressed high up the pitch leaving very little space for Sunderland to operate in. Gerrard headed powerfully forward to Suarez, he collected the ball on his chest swivelled in one movement played a hooked volleyed pass to send Sterling through. The young winger composed himself before lobbing calmly over Mignolet to send the crowd into raptures. Sunderland should’ve been back on terms almost immediately with Sessegnon and Fletcher combining brilliantly to put McClean through only for the Irishman to pull his shot wide. The miss would cost Sunderland dearly.

The second goal showed the difference in mentality between the sides. Gerrard won a ball which should’ve been no more than fifty-fifty laying the ball off to Suarez on the right, Carlos Cuellar looking like the favourite to clear ball and man, went in half-hearted with a body check fouling Suarez, who showed enough fortitude to stay on his feet and rode the challenge, powering into the area, before sliding his shot under Mignolet with Jordan Henderson baying for a tap in.

Downing almost made it three sliding in after Henderson's cross caused consternation in the area to poke the ball just wide.

Sunderland were still carrying a threat on the break and Kilgallon, ghosting in on the end of Adam Johnson’s cross almost sliding his shot past Reina who did well to block before shovelling out the rebound.

The triumvirate combined early in the second-half with Suarez flicking on Gerrard’s reverse ball to send Sterling through, but the youngster fluffed his lines showing his inexperience in getting caught between a shot and pass.

The Kop wouldn’t have long to wait. Gerrard as he had all evening produced a stunning 60 yard ball which reached Suarez at the end of his run as if guided by the Next-Generation Radar system which only left the master craftsman to decisively end the match as a contest. From that moment we were in cruise control.

There were enough chances to double the score. A Gerrard volley was headed towards goal by Johnson which Mignolet athletically touched over. Suarez with a hat-trick at his mercy, put through by a stunning Joe Allen reverse pass, shot against Mignolet. Liverpool also had two goals for Johnson and Allen, respectively chalked off for off-side.

Man of the Match: Luis Suarez - Scored two and one assist. The mercurial forward was once again the cutting edge that Liverpool crave, linking up with Gerrard and Sterling to create a formidable trio. Some of the link-up play was telepathic in its preciseness and was a delight to behold. If they can keep this going we can look forward to more ups than downs for the remainder of the season.

Joyous moment:  When I saw Raheem Sterling wheeling away after scoring his goal I was minded of Eric B & Rakim's lyric from the Musical Massacre "How could I keep my composure / When all sorts of thoughts fought for exposure?"

Comment: Steven Gerrard bestrode the midfield like a colossus. It’s easy to say that Sunderland were not at the races, but Liverpool never allowed into the game, cramping them for room all over the pitch. Glen Johnson was huge. Adam Johnson swapped sides to attack Wisdom because Johnson had him safely tucked away in his back pocket. Sterling showed composure which belied his years in taking his goal, but less we forget he has a long way to go. He fluffed his lines when a second goal beckoned, but his neat intricate play with Suarez shows his cleverness. Joe Allen's cameo showed a refreshing appetite to get forward and he was almost rewarded with a goal which arguably should have stood.

Manager’s comment: "The star was our team tonight. Luis Suarez got two goals and Raheem Sterling got one but that is their job and the team was brilliant.

"It was the fourth game in a short period of time and their work rate and intensity was incredible. I am very very happy, it is another win for us and we can look forward to the next game.

"Luis has been absolutely fantastic. He moves well, he is a real threat and he is a real pleasure to work with. He is that Lionel Messi type of player in that he gets kicked all over the place but he gets up and he produces."

Team: 23 Reina, 2 Johnson, 47 Wisdom, Agger, 37 Skrtel (Carragher - 73 min), 8 Gerrard, 19 Downing, 14 Henderson (Suso - 67 min), 21 Lucas, 7 Suarez, 31 Sterling (Allen - 57 min),

Subs: 1 Jones , 23 Carragher, 49 Robinson, 24 Allen, 33 Shelvey, 4 Sahin, 30 Suso

Ref: Phil Dowd

Attendance: 44,228

Conistency The Aim In 2013

Patience is the key for Liverpool fans this season. We understand the style Brendan Rodgers is trying to impart, but we also understand that he doesn't quite have the personnel on hand to give us the consistency we crave.

We all know since moving on Andy Carroll, a striker has been top of our wish list and Daniel Sturridge has now gone someway to bridging that gap. I still believe even with Borini in tow the club needs another striker, preferably offering something different to lend flexibility to the attack.

In midfield not for the first time time against Stoke we were found physically wanting and a player like West Ham's Diame would fit the bill nicely, increasing the height in the side, but more importantly adding power and drive into the engine room.

Enrique's injury and Rodgers propensity to play Downing at left-back with Robinson not yet given his head, shows the need for a top class defender in that area, with Enrique’s future seemingly designated on the left side of midfield.

Sebastian Coates doesn't appear to have a future with Rodgers still a huge fan of Jamie Carragher. Andre Wisdom is the future, but for now defensive cover is imperative with Coates by all accounts becoming restless especially when vital minutes are being handed to Carragher move up the LFC appearance table.

We are now in a position to push on especially with Sturridge now on board and Borini not far from returning. Luis Suarez is the club's shining light and with Steven Gerrard, Agger, Skrtel and Reina the spine of the team is among the strongest in the league. But, the lack of quality in the surrounding areas is not quite there yet and the dearth of quality on the bench is why the next two transfer windows are vitally important.

There have been enough positives to know the future is full of promise. The breakthrough of Raheem Sterling, who is already an important member of the 1st team and to a lesser degree Suso and Wisdom. It shows and ensures that the Liverpool youth set up is on the right track, but the fact that we are relying on youngsters means we must buy in talent to support Suarez or else go through another summer feeling threatened over another potential departure.

It's not all doom and gloom. As I said, we are in a position to push on, but I am slightly sceptical in terms of the manager appearing not to have a plan b. It's well documented at our need to increase our proficiency in front of goal, which is the goal for any team. But, just as important is the need to compete within the intrinsic style of Rodgers possession football.

Right now we are in a position to launch in the 2nd half of the season, but a lot depends on Sturridge's  ability to hit the ground running and provide support to Suarez and the extra goals which have been missing from the front line since the loss of Fernanado Torres.