Devastating Suarez keeps Liverpool on track

Following last week’s disappointing draw against the ten men of Newcastle, Liverpool were expecting a taxing examination from Steve Clarke’s West Brom.  Beaten in 4 out of 5 of our last league games against the Baggies (with no goals in the last 3), the last 2 loses coming in Brendan Rodgers first season as manager of the Reds.

Any trepidation was wiped away with some stupendous finishing by the exciting and wonderful talent that is Luis Suarez with Liverpool 2 up in the first 20 minutes and the completing his hat-trick ten minutes into the second half.  His goals spoke for themselves.  All different in their execution, but finished by a master craftsman and his able side-kick Sturridge, joined in with a goal of sublime brilliance.

Rodgers would have been happy to see West Brom start with such an attacking line-up with Anichebe, Anelka, Sessegnon and Amalfitano allowing his midfield dictate proceedings.

After an opening which saw a penalty shout from Suárez it was the same player who 2 minutes later produced a devastating piece of play to put the home team in front.  Picking the ball up 25 yards out in the side right channel, Suárez left Claudio Yacob in his wake, nutmegging Jonas Olsson before shooting past Boaz Myhill with an angled drive.

Six minutes later came the second.  Different in its make-up , but no less brilliant.  Excellent interplay between Gerrard and Sturridge saw the ball find its way through to Suárez, the Uruguayan laid the ball out wide to the overlapping Cissokho, the French International’s block tackle come cross flew towards Suárez who miraculously headed powerfully into the top corner from fully 18 yards.  The striker missed his hat-trick soon after when his free-kick narrowly drifted by the post.

The recent trend for our performance levels and intensity to drop off during the second-half was the only worry at the interval, especially with a long ball down the middle almost seeing Anelka pegging one back, but for Skrtel’s saving stop on the line as half-time approached.

Suárez would have to wait only 10 minutes into the second-half to complete his first Anfield hat-trick, his fourth for the Reds.  His deft glancing header from Gerrard’s whipped in free-kick left Myhill with no chance.  He now has 36 goals in his last 46 games and 57 in 101 career games for Liverpool.

The 3 almost became 4 when Sturridge looking to get himself on the score sheet jinked in from the left to smote a shot against the bar.

With West Brom looking more balanced with Morrison having replacing Amalfitano, the game took on a different feel with the away team looking dangerous on the counter-attack. In turn, the old defensive frailties against dead-ball situations returned and with their direct running the West Brom frontline created indecision in the Liverpool defence with Cissokho shirking out of tackles.

The decision to award West Brom a penalty was tenuous to say the least with Jones and Lucas coming together, but the resultant goal from Morrison was nothing more than they deserved having looked likely to score from open play.

The consternation was being felt by Anfield faithful and I’m sure those listening with the Liverpool midfield struggling to get a grip.  Against the run of play Daniel Sturridge produced a piece of opportunism with a stunning chip to restore beating hearts to normal speed.

Normal service was resumed with Suárez bicycle kick from yet another stunning Gerrard delivery, crashing against the bar and fastening onto a quick ball from Henderson, the gifted South American shot low into the corner only for Myhill to save low down.

Man of the Match:  Luis Suarez – Sublime finishing from the Premiership’s best and most effective player.  His first goal were mercurial as it was sensational, but his second was innate brilliance and one that only the very few could have pulled off.

He seemed just as please in celebrating Sturridge’s glorious chip as his own, which was pleasing to see.

Ex-Liverpool no.2 Clarke said, "The first goal came from nothing, defensively it was disappointing, but the second is an unbelievable finish from the edge of the box and the fourth goal was also sublime - that finish put the icing on the cake.

"Some days you have to take your hat off to the opposition and say they were better and their front two caused us problems."

Critical Eye:  Winning 4-1 one can hardly be overly critical as Liverpool arguably have the best strike-force in the Premiership.  Just as Arsenal strength is their midfield ours is S.A.S.  The weaknesses are in defence where we seem to have an inability to defend dead ball situations and lack a commanding and authoritative figure.  Sakho may well grow into that figure, but until then Daniel Agger seems the designated ‘talker’.

It’s far too early to summarily dismiss Cissokho defensive capabilities, but he was beaten on the outside far too easily and backed out of a couple of 50-50 tackles.  Lucas return allowed Gerrard the freedom to roam with ever dependable Jordan Henderson providing the legs for the midfield.

It is still worrying that we lose intensity and control for long periods during the second-half and one would like to see Rodgers look to a different type of midfielder in the next transfer window to look drive the team forward from midfield.

It’s important that Liverpool strive to remain in the top four in January, because performances like today’s keep Luis Suárez in the shop window and with Real Madrid now languishing 6 points behind Barcelona, we need to be in a position to offer prospective signings the possibility of Champions League just as Suárez needs to feel we are in with a genuine feeling in January of challenging for the top four.

Manager’s comments: "It was a difficult summer for him but it was for everyone and we managed as a club and he has managed himself well and he has come out the other side performing as he always done," said the manager.

"I knew once I had got the commitment from him in the summer he has been great.

"He is a tireless worker and I knew if he stayed it was going to be the case of working in training as he's always done.

"I thought the front two were brilliant. Suárez's first goal was exceptional, we really exploited the space in front of their centre-halves and he showed wonderful invention and creativity to nutmeg Olsson before taking his shot early.

"The second was a good team goal, I thought we moved it well, the cross came in early and he's guided the header in fantastically well.

"His third goal is from a great ball from Steven (Gerrard) and he could've had more after hitting the crossbar.

"It was his first hat-trick here at Anfield, I think you have seen his commitment to the team and what we are trying to do.

It was a wonderful performance. Magic."

On his other sitrike-twin Rodgers said, "You used to see goals like Daniel Sturridge's here years ago, top players like Kenny (Dalglish) but that type of goal was incredible," he added.

Responding again to Alex Fergusson’s recent comments following the launch of his book about Henderson and his captain Gerrard, the Liverpool manager kidded, "Steven is a top, top, top, top, top player."

"Jordan was outstanding, athletically he was very good and he is getting better all the time tactically."

Line-up: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson (Kelly – 62 mins), 20 Cissokho, 17 Sakho, 37 Skrtel, 4 Kolo Touré, 8 Gerrard (Allen – 86 mins), 14 Henderson, 7 Suárez (Luis Alberto – 89 mins), 15 Sturridge, 21 Lucas

Substitute:  1 Jones, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 12 Moses, 24 Allen, 31 Sterling, 34 Kelly

Ref: Jonathan Moss

Attendance: 44,747