Sturridge and Henderson spare Rodgers blushes on a night of injury woe- Liverpool 4 Notts County 2

We started the 2nd round Capital One cup game vs Notts County with 5 of our regular first team players in the side which showed Rodgers intent on trying to win this trophy.

The game started with us very much on the front foot with us taking a deserved early lead after 4 mins with a run of individual brilliance dancing past two defenders by Sterling celebrating his call-up today for England.

A sign of the injury woes to come started with Cissokho taking a knock on his ankle and having to be stretchers off after 10 minutes forcing us to bring on Agger when we were trying to rest him before the massive game vs United on Sunday.

With an early lead unlike the previous league game vs Villa we went hunting with more hunger for goals - Agger headed against the base of the post and had another effort superbly saved by Bialkowski; Gerrard hit the woodwork, while Sturridge’s aim unusually deserted him.

That is until we got a deserved second goal with Gerrard playing a perfect ball through for the super confident striker Sturridge to finish with aplomb.

At 2-0 it seemed only a matter of time before we would add a deserved 3rd and maybe 4th before halftime. The only strike that Mignolet had to worry about was a long distance free kick frome Lambadie which Mignolet parried away poorly. Whereas County just hoped to keep the score to 2-0 until halftime so that manager Kiwomya could try and influence the score with his tactics to bring County back into the game.

This wish was granted and County knew that the next goal would either bring them back into the game or finish the game as a spectacle. They therefore started the second half more positively and Liverpool showing signs of complacency took their foot off the pedal.

The lifeline County craved was given to them after 62 minutes by their big striker Arquin who smashed the header past our helpless keeper Mignolet.

We continued to go into our shell after their first goal and brought on more pressure from County who by now were growing in more confidence every passing second.

Joe Allen then picked up a hamstring injury which enabled Henderson to come onto the pitch to strengthen the midfield with his power running.

The quiet Alberto just seemed to gauge what was going on but couldn't influence the game as he would have wished. 

We brought on Coutinho for Alberto to try and secure possession and create the decisive third goal.

Unfortunately this didn't happen and the unthinkable happened and County equalised through sub Coombes to take the game to extra time to the delight of 3,000 travelling County fans.

During extra time with all substitutes used Toure had a groin pull whilst defending and had to be stretchered off which was the biggest disaster to the massive Rodgers gamble of playing so many first team players.

With us now down to 10 men we were under serious threat to being a victim to a major upset at home with County now dictating play.

On the verge of halftime of extra-time with Sterling now playing as a makeshift right back, shoulder barged the County attacker but the ref ruled it as no penalty from the resulting counter attack Coutinho fed Sturridge on the left side of attack and Sturridge full of confidence shot across the County keeper for our third goal against the run of play.

5 minutes into the second half of extra-time Henderson burst through the centre of midfield and calmly slotted home to wrap up the win 4-2.

Positives - Continued confidence of Sturridge - long may it continue- he looks like a top striker so far this season.

The fight shown by the team despite being down to ten men.

Negatives - Toure injury - not sure how bad the groin injury is but we are now hoping that Skrtel is able to play or we will be struggling for experience against Man Utd.

The team chosen by Rodgers was very strong but it backfired because we didn't get the win secured early.

Man of the match - Striker supreme Sturridge!

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Toure, Wisdom, Cissokho (Agger 10min), Gerrard, Allen (Henderson 65), Alberto (Coutinho 72), Ibe, Sturridge, Sterling. 

Subs not used: Brad Jones, Aspas, Lucas, Borini.

Booked: Wisdom, Sterling.

Goals: Sterling 4, Sturridge 29, 105, Henderson 110.

Notts County: Bialkowski, Dumbuya, Liddle, Smith, Stevens, Bell (Coombes 82), Labadie, Fotheringham (Boucaud 72), Campbell-Ryce (Thompson 71), Arquin, McGregor.

Subs not used: Murray, Spiess, Tempest, Nangle.

Booked: Campbell-Ryce, Arquin

Goals: Arquin 62, Coombes 84.

Attendance: 42,231.

Daniel Sturridge touch of genius keeps Liverpool on unbeaten Premiership run

Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged team on the back the opening day’s victory over Stoke,  with Daniel Sturridge and Iago Aspas again leading the line and Kolo Toure and Daniel Agger, his preferred centre-half pairing with injuries to Skrtel and Coates.  Liverpool were looking to win their opening two games for the first time in five years and with 9 wins and 1 defeat in 15 years on visits to Villa park confidence was definitely high.

The movement of Liverpool’s front three Coutinho, Aspas and Sturridge caused the Villa defence no-end of consternation with their fluidity and interchange, it almost appeared that they were chasing shadows.  Gerrard sitting in the pocket quarter-back style¸ literally controlling the tempo with little or no pressing, had time to pick of runners spinning of midfielders and defenders alike and with Lucas patrolling in front of the centre-halfs Villa were being outclassed.

It came as no surprise when Liverpool broke the deadlock.  But, when it came it was fantastic in its simplicity, but majestic in its finish.  Jose Enrique as he seems to do often, knocked the ball into Coutinho, who imperiously let the ball run on to Sturridge, who in the twinkling of an eye, brought the ball under control with the finesse and delicacy of a diamond cutter before leaving Antonia Lunda for dead by taking the silkily outside the defender, before rounding the keeper Brad Guzan and expertly dismissing the ball high into the roof of the net.  It was the finish of a master craftsman.

Daniel Sturridge majestically opens the scoring

 Liverpool’s dominance was so complete that for almost the next twenty minutes they moved the ball round at will.  For all the dominance of the away side the lack of penetration was worrying and by half-time almost proved costly.  Benteke, who until that point had been well marshalled by Toure, finally broke free of his restraints and on the turn curled a shot that his countrymen Mignolet pushed round the post.  From the resultant corner, Liverpool once again struggling with their achilles heel against set pieces and crosses failed to clear the ball and were fortunate to see Weimann’s shot deflect off Agger and up over the bar.  It was a sign of things to come.

The second-half was long an arduous for Liverpool supporters who watched helpless as Brendan Rodgers side were in defensive mode almost throughout, defending deeper as the half went on with Steven Gerrard leading by example, intercepting and tackling as if showing the younger members of the team how to do it. 

Benteke with a prodigious leap from a corner almost brought parity to Villa when heading just wide from a corner.  Villa were now adding a constant threat to their possession and under Benteke’s increasing potency Toure could only head down to Agbonlahor, fortunately for him the Villa striker pulled his volley wide of the goal from short range.

Liverpool’s inability to clear their lines almost cost them five minutes from time, when Agger’s indecisive header was played back in for Helenius to head through to Benteke to volley only for  Mignolet to pull off a stunning save and for the second week in succession give Liverpool a win when a draw steered us in the face.

We are now unbeaten in 10 Premier League games since our last win at Villa Park and it shows a teak resilience that Rodgers has built into his side of technically gifted footballers.  Yes, we can talk about the lack of cutting edge given the amount of possession in the first half, but this is a Villa side that had beaten Arsenal and competed very well against Chelsea.

Man of the Match:  Daniel Sturridge – his finish was that of a truly gifted football and all about instinct.  His relationship with Coutinho was starting to flourish at the end of last season and with no pre-season to work from their understanding is all the more remarkable.  He had very little to work with in the second-half, but never stopped running, even tracking back to help out in defence in the second-half.

Critical-eye:  With pressure mounting in the second-half the lack of decision making in the second-half seemed more than a tad strange from the manager.  Deciding to play deeper to counter Villa’s counter-attacking style Liverpool gave up territory, but invited pressure on themselves being unable to hold on to the ball and match Villa’s intensity and Wisdom in midfield may have been a better option than Allen who couldn’t seem to get a grip in the engine room.

Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 4 Toure, 5 Agger, 8 Gerrard, 9 Aspas (Sterling, 72 mins), 10 Coutinho, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 15 Sturridge

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 20 Cissokho, 47 Wisdom, 6 Alberto, 31 Sterling, 24 Allen, 29 Borini

Referee: Mark Clattenbourg

Attendance: 42,098

Mignolet saves penalty as Liverpool up and running

A year ago four of us trudged away from The Hawthorns already fully aware that we in for a long season.  It was almost the end of what had been a traumatic day after nearly being fried in the back of dedlfc’s car on one of the hottest days of the year, when hit by road works, dedlfc summarily announced on the motorway that the car’s air conditioning was on the blink!

Today with the start of the new season finally upon us one sensed the excitement was there as usual, but expectations was under-control given the relative purchases compared to those of the likes of Man City and especially Spurs and with Luis Suarez watching on with family in toe.

At the end of the game relief was the order of the day.  Our possession and chances may not have related to the goals we deserved and that Simon Mignolet fantastically saved us with a last minute penalty save, but there is no point being churlish, we our off the mark and sometimes reality is the best medicine.  Yes, the same problems remain, that of the defensive frailties against set pieces, a lack of a real combative edge in midfield, but on the flipside we created a plethora of chances and Daniel Sturride got off the mark by scoring the winning goal.

As is our way under Brendan Rodgers we set the tone of the match by controlling possession, but there was nothing of note until Stoke broke away and from a resultant Whelan corner Mignolet flapped and we were fortunate to see Huth’s volley crash against the bar.

Liverpool were stung into action with first, Sturridge having a headed goal chalked for straying just offside and then from a Gerrard corner a towering Toure header smashed against the bar with Daniel Sturridge blazing over from close range.

The magical Countinho always prompting and probing, found the marauding Enrique at the top of his run, the left-back played a superb one-two with Aspas, unluckily seeing his shot superbly smothered by Begovic. Another sumptuous move orchestrated by the young Brazilian, after Toure had ran the ball out of defence, saw Henderson on a typical run hit his shot straight at the imperious Stoke City goalkeeper.

It would take a stunning strike to beat the brilliant Bosnian and Daniel Sturridge provided it.  His 20 yard drive from a standing position with very little back lift ripped between Robert Huth’s legs leaving Begovic with no chance as it nestled in the corner of the net.

Sturridge provided another devasting strike

It was no more than Liverpool’s creativity and possession deserved, but Stoke were still dangerous and Mignolet pulled off a fine sprawling save from Walters snap shot.

The start of the second half was no different from the first as we were in full control, with Coutinho controlling the tempo of Liverpool’s attacks as if he and he alone was playing to the Bosa Nova sounds of Gilberto Gil.  He ghosted after the ball from just inside the Stoke half and searing into the area guided his shot just past the post.

He again sauntered in the area, cutting the ball back to Sturridge, whose miskick only managed to divert the ball into the path of the onrushing Henderson who saw his shot tipped around the post.  Enjoying a ten minute purple patch Coutinho found Sturridge with a slide-rule pass to him scoot away and see his shot pushed against the outside of the post by Begovic.  Gerrard’s resultant corner found the unmarked Aspas whose flicked header flashed past the upright.

The effervescent Aspas who showed up well for the ball all afternoon, linked up well with Henderson and found the ex-Sunderland midfielder bursting in the area only to see his goal bound shot pushed against the post by Stoke’s keeper.  Steven Gerrard’s powerful 35-yard free-kick was tipped over by Begovic and charistically he was again in the right place to block Glen Johnson as the right-black looked to score from close range.

Ex-Liverpool old boy Charlie Adam almost brought Stoke back on level-terms when he produced a stunning bit of skill to almost chip Mignolet from half-way, only for the new Liverpool keeper to scuttle back and flip the ball over the bar.

With Liverpool’s dominance not been converted into goals the possibility of a late smash ‘n’ grab was always possible and it came as no surprise when a minute from time Stoke were awarded a penalty as we again succumbed to a set piece.  Mignolet, has Pepe Reina, had done so often in his Liverpool career guessed the right way and brilliantly saved Jones follow-up shot to send the home fans home happy.

Man of The Match:  Philippe Coutinho – sent the tempo and has become the Liverpool conductor elect, taking over from Steven Gerrard.  The best moments stemmed from his mercurial feet, whether he was driving from deep or drifting in from the left he committed defenders or got them off balance before releasing devastating passes often licking up as in the end of last season with Sturridge and Enrique.

Aspas was impressive with a debut full of running and offered support to colleagues, with unselfish running in the channels and holding up the ball.  An excellent piece of link up play with Henderson also brought a goal and he himself almost got on the score sheet with an excellent flicked header across the goal. 

Critcal Eye:  Pure and simple we have to finish sides off (26 shots, 1 goal) or else we leave ourselves open, as we almost found to our cost today, to late flourishes from the opposition.

But three points is three points.

Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 4 Toure, 5 Agger, 8 Gerrard, 9 Aspas (Sterling, 72 mins), 10 Coutinho, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 15 Sturridge

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 47 Wisdom, 6 Alberto, 31 Sterling, 33 Ibe, 29 Borini

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 44,822

Legacy guaranteed Professionalism maintained - Stevie G Testimonial - Liverpool 2 Olympiakos 0

With the start of the new season two weeks away and the on/off saga of whether Suarez will stay or not still making the headlines it was refreshing to have our legendary captain Steven Gerrard's testimonial to get our fans showing their appreciation and gratitude for all that Gerrard has done for us over the 15 years as a player and 10 years as a captain.

Whilst there were to be no heroic moments from Stevie G this time around compared to that famous December night in 2004 against the same opposition it was a fitting tribute from our club for arguably our greatest ever player.

The game also marked the quick return of Jamie Carragher to the first team after retirement last season and the very welcome return of LFC legend and fans favourite Robbie Fowler who came on to a rapturous applause for a cameo 10 minutes just before the end of the testimonial.

The game itself was another pre season warm up for our new season preparations with Rodgers putting out a strong team which showed his professionalism with us creating and spurning several chances namely for Aspas and Joe Allen respectively.

Joe Allen in particular today was given the free role in a midfield three (Lucas, himself and Gerrard) so was expected to get forward more. He missed a great chance after approximately 5 minutes after an excellent flick through by Coutinho.

Within a minute Allen had made up for the glaring miss by scoring our first goal after some good work from striker Aspas, left Allen with a tap-in for a 1-0 lead.

Further opportunities missed in a one-sided first half with Gerrard again producing trademark long range diagonal passes throughout the game and our little magician Coutinho having a quiet first half for a change.

The second half starts with us again dominating possession but not looking like adding to our second until an excellent through ball gives winger Sterling an opportunity to lob the Olympiakos keeper but it goes agonisingly wide.

Halfway through the second half Rodgers then makes the first couple of substitutions, the first one significantly was a smiling Suarez coming on to a great welcome from the Anfield faithful for Aspas.
The other subs were the returning Jamie Carragher and Jordan Henderson also come on - for Joe Allen and Kolo Toure respectively.

There was an instant response by Henderson who when played through by Sterling slotted the ball home with great aplomb to make it 2-0 and celebrated like he had just scored the winner in the Champions League final.

The crowd again rose to their feet for the return of LFC legend Fowler who nearly produced a trademark left footed goal from a Gerrard pass but the ball was deflected wide which produced a wonderful smile from Gerrard.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for the moment when Gerrard was finally substituted and after the service he has given to our club he deserved every second of the standing ovation from his loving Anfield faithful.

The last couple of minutes petered out with reserve keeper Brad Jones also getting a few minutes on the pitch.

Another clean sheet performance for Mignolet as replacement for Reina, hope that continues for as long as possible.

Impressive win but all the plaudits for the day goes to our legend Stevie G.

Thank you Stevie G for providing so many happy memories over the years. 

YNWA.

Mignolet, Johnson, Enrique, Toure, Agger, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Aspas.

Subs: Jones, Kelly, Alberto, Skrtel, Downing, Henderson, Ibe, Wisdom, Coates, Borini, Suarez, Spearing, Carragher, Fowler

Man of the match - Who else but our captain fantastic Stevie G!