Suárez adds another page to his spectacular goals catalogue

The usual expectation levels at Anfield were heightened following Luis Suarez signing his new long-term contract on Friday.  Suárez portraying a relaxed figure appeared at ease with himself as he again took on the mantle of team captain with Steven Gerrard still unavailable through injury.

Liverpool started with an unchanged line-up from the victory over Spurs both in the starting line-up and on the bench.  Brendan Rodgers side had the added incentive should they win of topping the Premiership for the first time since 2008-09 season (although we led the League after 3 games in the 2011-12).

Cardiff with the embattled Malky Mackay still in the dugout started well, supressed Liverpool by means of a high-pressing game which we in turn had so successfully employed against Spurs and had a glorious chance early on when the lively Mutch fed Noone whose shot was pushed over by Mignolet.

Liverpool were in no mood to feel sorry for Mackay with the festive season almost upon us and they began to turn the screw with Suárez shot deflected for a corner and the excellent Sterling well supported by Johnson beginning to subject Taylor to what was to become a torrid half of football.

The increase pressure was soon to be pay dividends as Suárez inserted yet another page into his personal Liverpool scrapbook.  Joe Allen expertly found Henderson on the left corner of the area and the midfielder floated a delicate chip over the surrounding defenders and into Suárez who without breaking stride met the ball on the volley which screamed into the net for his 18^th Premiership goal of the season.

 

Suarez lets fly to put Liverpool ahead

Liverpool were now rampant and only the woodwork stood between us and closing out the game.  Countinho, looking more impressive playing on top of a very fluid midfield, picked up a short corner from Suárez and darted into the area before seeing his shot smack back off the far post.  Almost immediately, Glen Johnson broke down the right to cross for Flanagan whose shot hit the post and miraculously rolled across the line before Marshall managed to clear.

It was inevitable that when the second came Suárez would play a key role. From a Cardiff breakdown, Liverpool broke with impressive pace from a glorious pass from the outside of Henderson right boot which set Suárez through on goal with very little defensive pressure. The standing skipper unselfishly rolled the ball across to Sterling with another goal there for the taking for the winger to score from close range.

On the throes of half-time Liverpool all but closed the game out with a wonderful third goal.  Flanagan, having another impressive game at left-back, brought the ball back from the by-line to Suárez who in turn strode towards the area playing the ball into Henderson.  The midfielder now unquestionably the leading Liverpool midfielder in Gerrard’s absence, played an exquisite back heel flick back to Suarez who in his own inimitable fashion made the sublime look ridiculously easy curling the ball into the corner of the net past the flailing Marshall.

The expectations levels were now all about another Suárez hat-trick.  That it did not materialise was partially down to the fight shown by Malky Mackay’s side who started the second-half as they had the first pressing high up the pitch, leaving Liverpool very little time to settle on the ball and a fall-off in our intensity levels.

The relaxation in approach was to prove costly as Cardiff breached the Liverpool lines of defence from Whittingham’s free-kick with Sakho left to his own devices to defend against two attackers as Mutch came in unchallenged to launch his header into the far corner. 

Minutes before Cardiff’s goal Liverpool Flanagan was substituted for Martin Kelly with Rodgers looking to increase playing time for the returning right-back.  As an attacking force the side seemed to lose impetuous as Glen Johnson and Raheem Sterling in the first dominated the right flank and Flanagan who is gaining confidence on the left, providing attacking options.

Cardiff looked progressively dangerous from a stream of high balls in the area from set pieces and balls in from the flanks and Rodgers brought on Agger late on for Coutinho to combat the aerial threat.  

Skrtel who is showing and increasing propensity for grabbing on to attackers in the penalty area was lucky to get away with foul on Caulker – this will be highlighted and hopefully the centre-half, who is in excellent form, refrains from doing so or it may cost us particularly away from home.

Sterling fluffed his lines over hitting the ball when clean through and Suárez picking up the breaking ball hit the outside of the post.  Brendan Rodgers side sit on top of the league for at least 48 hours with another comprehensive performance.

Man of the Match:  Luis Suárez – Was everything and more.  Led the side by example, making tackles and tracking back.  His goals were what we’ve come to expect from a supremely talented artist and the signing off his long-term contract gives Liverpool fans, at least for this season anyway, a chance to bypass one transfer window without the worry of him being poached by a rival.  He showed the maturity which his managed says he has acquired when he played in Sterling for his 3^rd League goal of the season, in that moment showing that the team ethic is an important part of the Suarez ethos.

Suárez  has now scored 10 goals in December, the most in a calendar month from any player in Premiership history, overtaking Mark Viduka.

Jordan Henderson is flourishing into much more than just a useful player that many (including me), saw him as.  He game is blossoming with the responsibility of stepping up to the plate and leading the midfield in the absence of Steven Gerrard and he is revealing that he has a creative element to his game rather than just being a perceived box to box runner.  He had a critical role in all three goals with all showing displaying different facets to his game, parading his vision and an ability to get himself into critical positions to influence the play and his partnerships with Lucas and Allen is a development in progress as is his play in tandem with Coutinho and Sterling at the business end of the pitch.  Hopefully, Liverpool will look to use the window to get support in this area during the window as we are woefully short in the central areas should one of these be injured against Man City or Chelsea.

Critical eye:  Liverpool’s intensity levels dropped alarmingly in the second-half.  Whether it was relaxation because of the score line or anxiety we have to be of mind to destroy teams and not let them back in the game.  Once again not having a top class midfielder to bring on was apparent, but one felt that Agger could have slotted into the midfield given his footballing skills and how comfortable he is on the ball with the instructions to come back into the danger zone to help snuff out any threats.

After another win, I believe, we can confidently go into the festive period against Man City and Chelsea looking to hold our own.  There is always the hindrance that our lack of depth as I’ve said may cause problems, but on the flip side if we avoid injuries, despite the lack of experience we possess a young side whose legs could be capable of carrying us forward until we can get in fresh legs to help the cause.

 

Steven Gerrard feels he maybe fit for the Man City game which is a conundrum for the Man City game.  Does he bring Gerrard and possibly break-up the momentum of a midfield which is growing in stature and getting to know each other or does he gamble that the quality that Gerrard possesses which drive Liverpool to great heights.

 

My view is that hopefully we have learnt from his injury and play him in more of a strategic fashion.  If he starts, then he plays for an hour or he can come on to change games.  If he doesn't start against Man City then Brendan Rodgers is telling every player, that by definition and barring Luis Suarez, nobody is immune from being dropped.

Teams:

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, 2 Glen Johnson, 38 Jon Flanagan (Kelly – 55 mins), 21 Lucas Leiva, 37 Martin Skrtel, 17 Mamadou Sakho, 24 Joe Allen, 14 Jordan Henderson, 7 Luis Suárez, 31 Raheem Sterling 10 Philippe Coutinho (Agger – 83 mins)

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Toure, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Victor Moses, 34 Martin Kelly

Cardiff: Marshall, 28 Théophile-Catherine, 3 Taylor, 8 Medel (Campbell – 55 min), 4 Caulker, 6 Turner, 16 Noone, 18 Mutch, 11 Odemwingie (Kim – 55 min), 17 Gunnarsson (Cornelius – 80 min), 7 Whittingham

Substitutes: 5 Hudson, 9 Cornelius, 10 Campbell, 13 Kim, 19 Cowie, 32 Lewis, 42 John

 Referee: Lee Probert

 Attendance: 44, 621