Dave Usher
reports from
Anfield
When Stoke City were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of a game completely dominated by Liverpool, there was just a sad sense of inevitability about it all. Typical Liverpool, hammer a team but fail to put them away and end up paying the price. It's been a frequent occurrence over the last few years and the way the final ten minutes of this game had gone you could just see it coming.
You see it happen so often, a team completely pummels an opponent for 80 minutes but only has one goal to show for it and suddenly they get edgy and the opposition start to believe they can get something from the game. Everyone at Anfield knew how vital it was for the Reds to get off to a winning start and when the second goal didn't come, edginess understandably began to creep in and Stoke suddenly found some ambition and belief.
We'd looked vulnerable from set pieces all afternoon so when Sterling gave away a silly foul in his own half, Anfield held it's breath. Our penalty area resembled a scene from Jurassic Park as all these lumbering, pea brained Brontosaurus looking bastards descended upon Mignolet's goal. Charlie Adam whipped in the free-kick, Agger inexplicably handled, the woeful Martin Atkinson made a rare correct decision and pointed to the spot and that was that, another opening day disappointment.
But then something completely unexpected happened; our goalkeeper saved a penalty. He also saved the follow up and the roof almost came off the place. It was as though a sleeping giant had been woken, the noise levels in the closing stages of this game matched anything we've had since the last big Champions League night at Anfield, it was incredible really.
We should have won the game by three or four goals and whilst that would have been a great way to kick things off, in some ways this was better. It may not have been how we hoped it would go and it was certainly far too close for comfort in the end, but that penalty save was a truly great moment and the reaction to it from the fans was spine tingling. I honestly don't remember the last time I heard a roar like that from the crowd.
It was also exactly what Mignolet needed. By his own admission he'd had a somewhat nervy start - he said himself that it took until he made his first save for him to begin to feel comfortable - but that penalty save will do wonders for his confidence now. The spectre of Pepe Reina was ready to loom any time the new keeper made a mistake, but this will help to alleviate that. He's just deposited a whole heap of credit into the account.
The Belgian must have felt ten foot tall as he was mobbed by team-mates and hailed by the crowd, and as far as debuts go this is what goalkeepers dream of. A win, a clean sheet, a great save in front of the Kop and then saving a last minute penalty as well as the follow up. Not a bad way to start his Liverpool career.
Mignolet will deservedly get all the headlines but this was a fine performance all round. The only criticism that can be leveled at the team were that they didn't put the finishing touch to all the excellent approach play, which put them in the awkward position they found themselves in late on. You could also point to how suspect they occasionally looked defending set plays, but I'm not sure there's too much that they could do about that given the vast difference in sizes between the two teams and Stoke's well known prowess in this area. Besides, if the finishing had been of a higher standard then the occasional scare from a set-piece is really not that big a deal.
Whilst it is somewhat disconcerting that we came so close to dropping two points in a game we should have had wrapped up by half time, any criticism of that has to be tempered somewhat with the recognition that you can't win every game 4-0 even when your play warrants it. There are some days when the goals just don't come, either through poor finishing, bad luck or great goalkeeping. This game was a combination of all three, and we had a few of those last season too. At least we managed to find the net once this time, there were times last season when we were unable to do even that.
This team will score a lot of goals, of that I'm certain. They did last season and providing our main men stay fit then they will do so again, hopefully more this year as Sturridge and Coutinho will have the full season rather than just half of it, whilst presumably Iago Aspas will also make a valuable contribution based on his lively showing against Stoke. There's always the possibility we may be able to sign someone else too, although I'm not going to get my hopes up too much on that as it's the hope that kills you.
So goalscoring is not a problem per se, the only concern I have is that the goals we scored last year often came in bunches and then we'd have a game when it just wouldn't go in and we'd drop points. Hitting six at Newcastle and then drawing a blank against Everton before hitting another three at Fulham being a case in point. Those nine goals in two away games were great, but if we could have only saved one of them for the derby it would have moved us up a place in the league table.
You can almost guarantee that we'll play well in most games now, the players are well organised/coached in what they are doing and the football is generally pleasing on the eye. We create as many chances as any team in the league, and when it clicks and they go in we can put teams to the sword. There will be days when for whatever reason it just won't go in, and for me that will only really change with the addition of another top class attacker. Suarez eventually coming back will help obviously, but to crack that top four I think we need one more.
That's a discussion for another day though, in terms of this game I thought we got as much out of every player as we could expect. I thought everyone performed well and there were no passengers. If Stoke had somebody else in goal we'd have almost certainly won comfortably, but Begovic was inspired. I lost count of the amount of saves me made, but one in particular stood out when he got the faintest of touches to deflect Henderson's shot onto the post. That was an incredible stop.
On another day Henderson could actually have had a hat-trick, he was denied three times by the keeper, although the first one was more down to poor finishing on his part. I was a little surprised he was in the side if I'm honest. Not unpleasantly surprised, I had no issue with his selection, I just didn't expect it that's all. I assumed Rodgers would go with Joe Allen as that's how it's been shaping up throughout pre-season, but perhaps Allen's quiet game against Celtic played him out of contention, or maybe it was simply Henderson's size and athleticism that got him the nod against such physical opposition?
It may even have been his tactical and positional flexibility that got him in, as it was interesting to see how he was utilised. I could be wrong, but it seemed to me like Rodgers started off playing 4-3-3 with Sturridge and Coutinho playing either side of Aspas, but then quickly changed it to more of a 4-4-2 with Henderson pushed out on the right and Sturridge going central with Aspas. That wouldn't have been an option with Allen.
The Reds started well and had a good tempo to their play, Sturridge had a goal ruled out for offside but the first really clear opportunity of the game fell to Stoke when we failed to clear a set-piece and when the ball was crossed back in, Mignolet flapped at it and Huth ended up crashing a shot against the bar.
Next up it was another centre back being denied by the crossbar. This time it was Toure, who came flying in and rose above Shawcross to meet Gerrard's corner with a thumping header. The rebound fell to Sturridge but he fired over the bar from close range. We've seen in pre-season that Kolo will be a threat from set-pieces, he's like a ball magnet, he seems to be underneath every corner that comes in. He'll hopefully chip in with three or four goals this season.
Coutinho was instrumental in everything Liverpool were doing now. Drifting in from the left at every opportunity he was constantly looking to get on the ball and make things happen. There was a wonderful move involving Coutinho, Aspas and Enrique that ended with the full back being played in on goal, but Begovic made a terrific save to deny him.
Coutinho then played a lovely disguised pass to Henderson to put him in, but the midfielder appeared hesitant and took too long to get his shot away allowing Begovic to save again.
It was beginning to have a whiff of 'one of those days' about it, but then out of nowhere Sturridge drilled a low shot through Huth's legs and into the bottom corner to break the deadlock. I expected that to open the floodgates but Stoke actually responded well and it needed a great flying save from Mignolet to keep out a Walters snapshot at the Kop end. That alehouse blueshite bastard scoring in front of the Kop doesn't even bear thinking about, so top marks for Simon there, it was a superb stop.
Of course whenever he makes a save like that it's inevitable that there'll be people saying "You see, Pepe would never have saved that" and they may well be right. There's absolutely no way of knowing though so it's really pointless, just as it is to analyse any mistake he makes and say "Pepe wouldn't have done that". Pepe's gone, Simon's here, that's all that matters now.
Stoke went close again when Lucas needed to clear a Shawcross effort off the line. That came from a corner that never was that came from a free-kick that should never have been awarded. Martin Atkinson and his assistants were terrible all day I thought.
Stoke had been completely outplayed but they certainly had their chances to score in the first half. They were not as threatening in the second half and spent most of their time on the back foot. Liverpool created chance after chance but couldn't get that second goal as an inspired Begovic kept them at bay.
Great play by Enrique released Coutinho down the left who then picked out Sturridge 12 yards out. He completely missed his kick but the ball fell kindly for Hendo whose shot was brilliantly saved by the Stoke keeper. Next up, Coutinho released Sturridge in the inside left channel, he drove into the box and his shot from a tight angle was tipped onto post by Begovoc.
The link up between Sturridge and Coutinho was something we saw a lot of in the closing stages of last season, and it was evident again in this game. The pair are completely on the same wavelength and that combination is arguably just as central to our hopes as anything Suarez does. Perhaps even more so. Last year the team was built around Suarez through necessity. Now we have the link up between Coutinho and Sturridge, I'd say Suarez needs to fit in around that rather than have others make way for him.
Ideally we'll see Sturridge central and Coutinho playing in behind, which means Suarez may have to play from the side. Shouldn't be a problem, he's done it Ajax and for Uruguay. I'm sure he was happiest when everything was set up around him last season and he certainly responded by scoring 30 goals, but his conduct this summer means that, to quote Marcellus Wallace, he's 'lost his L.A. privileges'. Moving others around to suit Suarez shouldn't be a consideration now in my opinion, he needs to fit in with what Sturridge and Coutinho are doing.
The Brazilian was wonderful to watch again in this game. He tormented Stoke to distraction, and not even the heavy handed treatment from the sly N'Zonzi and overbearing Huth could slow him down. N'Zonzi certainly has the second most dangerous elbows in the Premier League, he's the only genuine threat to Fellaini's crown. Any time someone is in a tussle with him, he somehow finds a way to get his elbow in their face and make it look accidental. Can't stand him.
Coutinho never let the physical approach intimidate him, and one of the things I love about him is his work rate and desire to get back and nick the ball away from people. The main thing I love about him though is obviously just how fucking awesome he is with the ball. He's as good on the ball as anyone in the league, his balance, his touch, his vision… just a wonderful talent. Nailed on for Young Player of the Year in my opinion, unless Bale stays at Spurs in which case he's got the award sewn up again. He'll still be winning it when he's 30. I don't get how that keeps happening, maybe he's only 19 in chimp years or something?
Anyway, the one thing I'd have to add about Coutinho is that he needs to be a bit more clinical with his finishing. He should have scored when he latched onto a clever dummy by Sturridge and raced clear into the box before shooting inches wide. It would have been a great goal that, it was lovely to see that kind of link up between the pair.
Gerrard had a great free kick spectacularly tipped over by Begovic, and Henderson saw a shot tipped onto the post by the keeper following some great play by Aspas. Johnson somehow managed to fire over the bar from a yard out and Aspas put a free header wide from a corner. I'm sure there were other chances too, but we didn't convert any of them and as the clock ticked past 80 minutes suddenly we ended up in something of a defensive shell as Stoke realised they had a chance to get something from the game.
Substitute Adam had a fantastic shot from halfway that Mignolet only just managed to tip over from underneath his crossbar, and the visitors began to force some set pieces that made us look uncomfortable.
Rodgers had sent on Sterling for Aspas but the change didn't help us at all. Aspas had been bright and busy without doing anything spectacular, but he was showing for the ball and linking play well. When he went off, we lost something and the ball wasn't sticking up front as well as it had, perhaps due to Sturridge beginning to feel the pace a little after his injury.
I have to admit I was annoyed about the free-kick we conceded that led to the penalty. Yes, Sterling's foot was raised, but all game we'd seen Crouch bringing down passes and juggling the ball with his foot raised at his own head height. That's 6ft 7 inches off the floor, and no free-kicks were ever awarded for those. Little Raheem raises his boot, a Stoke player lowers his head and suddenly it's a free-kick. Irritating that.
God know what Agger was thinking by raising his arm like that, but as he said afterwards he knows he owes Mignolet a pint. I think it was Carragher who said recently that Mignolet looks like a monster in the goal, and as he prepared to face down Walters you could certainly see that, as he bounced up and down on his line shaking the crossbar with his fists.
He'd done his homework on where Walters likes to put his penalties (his second most popular spot is the top tier of the stand behind the goal), guessed the right way and made the save. Not only that, he leapt to his feet and spread himself big to block the follow up from Jones too. Inspiring stuff, and he was mobbed by team-mates until Toure realised Stoke were taking the corner quickly and frantically tried to get everyone organised and marking up. Exactly what Carra would have been doing, I thought to myself.
The double save got everyone fired up and the noise levels in those closing minutes were something else. Stoppage time was negotiated without any further scares and the final whistle was greeted with mass jubilation. Yes, it was 'only' a 1-0 win over Stoke, but that doesn't tell the full story at all.
Too many times in recent years we've suffered disappointment, and it looked like it was happening again. It was imperative that we got off to a winning start and when it looked like we would fail to do so, a wave of mass despondency was about to envelope Anfield. That save from Mignolet blew that away and the celebrations were relief more than anything else.
It should have been a more comfortable win than it turned out, but when it's all said and done three points are three points. I think back to the early home games of last year, games where we should have won but ended up either drawing or losing, and it's nice that something has gone in our favour for a change. Perhaps our luck is finally turning?
Star man is Mignolet, but there are others worthy of mention. I thought both full backs did well, Johnson in attack and Enrique in defence. Every time Walters tried his 'meathead act' and tried to get physical, he bounced off Enrique. He got no change at all out of Jose in one on ones, and at one point Enrique quite literally put one of the Stoke players into the crowd. Going forward he was a bit of a bull in a china shop - I don't ever want to him shooting with his right foot from 20 yards again - but overall he did well.
Lucas had a good game too, he got stuck right in and I loved seeing him doing his big brother act when his boy Coutinho got into it with N'Zonzi late on. If he's completely 100% after his injuries then he'll be a key player for us this season, and this was a good start although it's still early days. Gerrard was quietly good, and I think we'll see that a lot from him this season. We don't need him to be all things to all men anymore now that we have the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge, so he can just be 'Steven Gerrard the midfielder'. He's still pretty damn good at that.
Henderson is never at his best for me when playing out wide but he did as well as could be expected and was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet, whilst Sturridge looked sharp for someone that has barely played in months.
And then there's Kolo Toure. What can I say, I swore after Suarez I'd never get emotionally involved again, but Kolo has made me love again! He's just what we needed and seems like a top fella. Every time he speaks, every game he plays, he just grows on me more and more. Rodgers calls him his 'Invincible' in reference to the part he played in Arsenal's undefeated title winning season, but despite everything he's achieved in the game he's as enthusiastic and energetic as anyone on the pitch, in fact he's like an excited teenager playing his first season.
Within a minute he had the fans well and truly in his pocket by soaring like a glorious, ebony salmon to win a header over the top of Peter Crouch. The crowd went mad for that, and that's exactly what I was hoping we were getting when we brought him in. Strangely though, his stats for aerial duels won weren't great and I was a little shocked to discover that he's 'only' 6ft tall. For some reason I had it in my head he was around 6ft 3, but that's probably because he plays like he is.
He's just ace though, you can tell that rather than seeing his glittering career as winding down, he's desperate to add another glorious chapter to it. Having someone like that around the squad can only be good for everybody else.
There was a moment in the second half that brought back fond memories of Rigobert Song, big Kolo charged forward to support the attack and when he didn't get the ball, he turned around and sprinted full pelt to get back into his defensive position. The crowd love seeing that kind of thing, and the enthusiasm of Toure is just infectious. What a great character to have around the place, Jamie Carragher's retirement left some mighty big shoes to fill, but thankfully Toure has big feet.
Team: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Sturridge, Aspas (Sterling), Coutinho:
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.