Suarez to the fore again

It was a day which started with the celebration of the life of South Africa’s former President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, whose passing on Thursday was remembered throughout the Premiership and especially at Anfield with a resounding standing ovation.  The warmth of the ovation said a thousand words.

Daniel Agger, after his mauling against Hull and less than stellar performance against West Ham, was replaced by Sakho because of illness, although one wondered whether he would have made the eleven anyway.

Suarez explosive performance against West Ham heighten expectation levels to fever pitch and with West Ham shorn of Andy Carroll and Ravel Morrison, through injury and suspension respectively and languishing near the relegation zone were not expected to impede Liverpool in our march for Champions League contention.

That said, the final shot count of 32 to 8 (8-1 on target) did not flatter Liverpool, but by no means told the whole story.  Like the Norwich game, we were unable to totally control the midfield which lead to a free-flowing game and chances for West Ham, who but for some sub-standard finishing could so easily have put more pressure on Brendan Rodgers men.

After an early impudent chip from Suarez slid past the far post, West Ham broke with speed, with the impressive Diame at the fore sliding a sumptuous cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ between the goalkeeper and the penalty spot which a sliding Miaga was only inches from converting.  The Malian striker then saw an excellent header brilliantly saved by Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool were finding it difficult to break through a defence well marshalled by James Collins as they attempted to breach the centre with over-elaborate play only for the attacks to break down time and time again.

Sterling, who was starting his second game in a row, looked dangerous and more confident having got off the mark against Norwich.  He had his most incisive half of the season, crossing twice into dangerous areas from both wings with colleagues failing to read his intentions.

The player lacked a little composure, put through by Coutinho’s through ball, he flicked the ball past the past the post, when a more measured approach of going round the keeper was probably the order of the day.  Coutinho continued to put the ball into space on occasions for Sterling to out run in behind the West Ham defence.

When the goal came it relied more on our good fortune, that any inspirational play.  Joe Allen, who had a tidy game filling in for Lucas Leiva stepped into a ball high up the pitch, the resultant play broke to Johnson who headed on to Suarez.  The inform striker shot across goal aiming inside the far post, Jussi Jaaskelainen could only parry the ball out onto his defender Demel and into the back of the net.

Sterling set up Suarez flicking over the high line of the West Ham defence and getting to the ball on the other side, showing awareness to head the ball in the direction of Suarez, but inexplicably given his form the Premiership’s leading goal scorer blazed his shot high, wide and not so hansom.

Half-time gave West Ham very little rest bite as Sakho hooked in the second from a tight angle just after the interval from a free-kick after Luis Suarez had been scythed down.  In a season which has seen the redesigned Steven Gerrard looking more towards being a creative influence rather than the dynamic player of yesteryear it was another example of his continued effect.  

His hamstring injury may just be the motivating force for Joe Allen, who had his most impressive game this season coming in for Lucas, and the likes of Luis Alberto to take on more responsibility in the team.

Injured Steven Gerrard worryingly limps away from the action

Chances came and went with Coutinho’s side-footed effort well saved by Jääskeläinen and Sterling within the space of two minutes shooting over from a superb cut back from Henderson, when it seemed more easier to score and then seeing his instinctive shot from Henderson’s pass inside, expertly saved lowdown by the excellent Finnish stopper.

The lack of care in front of goal almost proved costly as our achilles heel against set pieces and crosses into the box reared its ugly head as Matt Jarvis headed Demel’s cross back for Skrtel to inadvertently toe the ball in for second own goal in three games.

Suddenly, the whole dynamic of the game changed with West Ham on the front foot and looking capable of gaining parity.  Fortunately for Liverpool, when the chance came it landed at the feet of Maiga who stabbed the ball wide from close range.  The miss was to prove the turning point.

Coutinho found the marauding Johnson galloping down the right.  The England full-back steadied himself and delivered a telling pinpoint cross of such telling accuracy it floated tantalisingly beyond the head of Collins and into the path of Suarez lurking at the back post to head powerfully in the net.

Any remaining hopes harboured by West Ham were extinguished when Kevin Nolan, borne out of frustration, raked his studs down Jordan Henderson’s calf receiving a straight red for his troubles and condemning West Ham to fight for survival over the next three games without their captain and still in the absence of Andy Carroll, who encouragingly has returned to training.

Suarez impact on the game was not over.  Receiving the ball just outside the area, he turned Mark Noble inside out before his shot deflected of O’Brien and looped into the net.

Three of next four games are away to Spurs, Chelsea and Man City and I believe if Liverpool go to Spurs and get a result then we could be on the verge of starting a serious challenge for Champions League place in a season in where there is not a marked difference between the top sides.

Man of the Match: Luis Suarez – Liverpool did not play well, but proved the difference.  West Ham lacked quality in front of goal and in Suarez gave us the definitive cutting edge having a hand in three of the four goals and is leading from the front in terms any chance we have of a top four position.

Critical eye: Joe Allen continued on from his promising game against Norwich in the same vain making tackles, interceptions and providing some cutting edge passes in the last third.  In place of Lucas he offers more in helping to build attacks from the deep and keeping the ball moving with crisp short passing.

With Steven Gerrard now injured the time has arrived for the ex-Swansea player to repay his manager’s faith.  It’s doubtful whether Gerrard will recover in time for the Spurs game and is in pole position to be the creative force in the midfield a head Luis Alberto.

Raheem Sterling had his best game and on another day could have had two goals.  He provided crosses from both flanks and the cross with his left foot on the run was crying out to be put away.  Philippe Coutinho’s vision can bring Sterling’s pace into play as it yesterday when he ran into the channels off the wing and ran in behind the defence and his awareness to put in Suarez in having the made the break from thalf-day showed a level of maturity.  As I’ve said, he could’ve scored two, but importantly he provided a threat from wide which we’ve been looking for. He has a long way to go, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

We are making best with squad we have and the away games we have coming up over festive season could define our season.  It will be difficult because Spurs, Chelsea and Man City possess three of the strongest midfields in the Premiership and it’s in the trenches where we’ll need to be combative and competitive to maintain our challenge.

Bill Shankly once said, "For a player to be good enough to play for Liverpool, he must be prepared to run through a brick wall for me then come out fighting on the other side."  Jordan Henderson may not possess the exuberant talent of Philippe Coutinho, but he is, in this Liverpool team, the legs of the midfield.

As an aside, was good to Martin Kelly got some minutes under his belt, coming on for Flanagan and Sakho was strong and the high ball and played the ball on the ground with calm authority.

Team: 22, Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Flanagan (Kelly – 79 mins), 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 24 Allen, 14 Henderson, 8 Gerrard (Lucas – 56 mins), 7 Suarez, 10 Coutinho, 31 Sterling (Moses – 72 mins)

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Alpas, 12 Moses, 20 Cissokho, 21 Lucas, 34 Kelly

West Ham: 22 Jääskeläinen, 20 Demel, 3 McCartney, 21 Diame, 19 Collins, 5 Tomkins (O’Brien – 56 mins), 23 Downing (Cole – 45 mins), 16 Noble, 11 Maiga, 4 Nolan, 7 Jarvis (Taylor – 84 mins)

Substitutes: 10 Collison, 13 Adrian, 14 Taylor, 17 O’Brien, 18 Diarra, 24 Carlton Cole, 26 Joe Cole

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 44, 781