Rightly went to Suarez but he was closely followed by Lucas. Lucas was immense today. Calm collected breaking things up, slowing attacks down, ready to recieve passes and move the ball on quickly and accurately. Have any of you noticed that Carra now only talks to his back 4? Lucas is controlling that midfield defensively. The cover that he provides gives time and space to the back 4 so that they are rarely stressed. Now I don't know how exactly he does it. He certainly doesn't play like either Masch or Essien but he's even more effective. Long may he continue to be an enigma. He'll captain Brazil one day!
Suarez deserved the man of the match award, but as far as I'm concerned Lucas and Charlie Adam deserve special mentions both were superb. Jose Enrique continues to surprise me. He was fantastic. I'm also delighted for Jordan Henderson, he may have shut the doubters up, more of the same please. Stewart Downing was a constant menace down the left, yet another good performance.
Lucas was my motm today. We pretty much dominated the midfield on his own. Always receiving the ball in space, keeping thigns simple and making brilliant tackles. Suarez would have got it but missed a couple of chances although was admittedly brilliant. No one let the team down today (apart from Carragher's mistake for the goal) and even Skrtel looked like he'd played RB his whole career!
I agree Lucas was absolute class today and Suarez was also top notch. Ive got a feeling Suarez will end up MOTM more often than not. A really special player we have on our hands here. His game as a whole is top quality - to be honest i don't see any better at present in the league.
I will say this though, I saw the team sheets and thought immediately " we are going to run them ragged in midfield." Glad they proved me right and absolutely bossed it. Loved Adam and Hendo's expressions on the goals too btw.
You could tell Adam loved scoring his in front of the Kop. I enjoyed his celebration, you can see his passion clearly
Skylarker. How many players in the premier league is there that can combine his tenacity and overall ''in your face atitude'' with blinding skill? Some players have one or the other, but he's got both. Sometimes it looks like he pulls defenders two different directions at the same time. He's going to be a revelation. If he keeps this up, he's going to be one of the favourites for both the player of the year awards.
His left foot is outstanding by the way, really good tekkers on that lad. It was a really good game, just a shame about the goal at the end ( carra, um, what are you doing?) and not putting 5 at least passed them.
Also loved the shot of Suarez on the bench literally hanging off the rail to get back in the game..... love that attitude.
That was the first goal Adam had ever scored in the premier league with his right foot. Took is so naturally as well. He is looking a steal at the price we paid, as is Enrique.
I think mad that he didn't get a goal more than being subbed off. That was the look I got, how have I not scored against these, these are ****e.
Two shrewd pieces of business. I reckon those two along with West Brom signing Shane Long are the signings of the summer, and I'm not exaggerating.
Steals both of them, Hendo looked good today and I have been very hard on him ( not so much on here but in general with coaches in the area here). Now Carroll, he better start picking his head up and playing like we know he can, or else that bench will start to look very cozy. Enrique and the like were putting glorious balls in there for him to head in/tap in and he looked like he didn't want it. Better start bucking his ideas up.
Nobody has mentioned Skrtel, whom I think did particularly well down that right side considering that he's never played there before. He even got in the box a couple of times! Deserved his goal too. I like the way Lucas doesn't always look for the tackle, like Mascherano might. There was one instance where he beat Kev Davies by getting his body in front of him and stepping over the ball and letting it do the work for him rather than sticking a foot in and risk losing it. He's getting a bit like Claude Makelele, who wasn't one for chasing the ball, but rather anticipating where it was likely to be played and intercepting. Looks simple in practice, but is a very hard skill to master.
From what I can remember the last time Martin Skrtel played right back, we lost 2-0 away to Middlesbrough in 2009. That however was an awful team performance, and we won 10 of the next 11 league games.
Skrtel did well, but he still has someting about his game which scares me. Not sure if it is the rough tackler aspect of him or the raw footballing ability ( ie hoofing it) that I don't like. He played well today and deserved his goal.
Suarez was involved in that too, he peeled off and pulled the defenders out of position and although Charlie Adams corner was on the money as they say, it gave Skrtel the room to attack it.
Skrtel played well, but wasn't really tested defensively with a winger running at him. It'll be interesting to see who plays RB against Stoke if Kelly / Johnson aren't fit. Not sure how long Johnson is out for - anyone know? I don't think Flannagan is ready to step in just yet, especially against a team like Stoke who are big and physical.
I don't think Kellys problem is serious. He has the international break to make a recovery. I've a feeling that both GJ and Stevie will be making their long awaited squad appearances by then too.
