The post Derby decision to send both Gerrard and Agger for the medical treatment needed to ensure their availability for next season's pre-season training seemed a tacit acceptance that 7th was as high as Liverpool could hope to finish in this campaign; nothing left to play for, the only interest remaining being the decisions that Brendan Rodgers would make in order to cope without such influential figures.
I do like it when our manager decides to do something just a little bit mad; the match at Fulham didn't disappoint on this front. Three centre backs? Okay, I'll go for that. No Sktrel? 'Absent due to illness' apparently, the underused Coates and returning Wisdom accompanying Carragher, captaining the team for his final two games. Enrique dropped to the bench a justified decision after his wastefulness last weekend, although Johnson could easily have joined him on that basis. A midfield three of Lucas, Henderson and Shelvey.
Rodgers explained later that he wanted to test out a different system in the heat of the Premiership and that it clearly needed a little work. In fairness the system used for the first half was fairly ineffectual; a lot of possession but little cutting edge. The story of a great deal of the season. That Fulham took the lead against the balance of play via a Berbatov header from yet another cross from Liverpool's left flank that should have been dealt with was yet more repetition.
The first of Daniel Sturridge's goals brought rapid parity, a long ball out of defence by Andre Wisdom brilliantly pulled out of the air, a little shuffle of the feet and a right foot shot hammered into the roof of the net.
Enrique's replacement of Wisdom at half time and a return to our more usual formation brought balance and shape back to the game, ensuring thorough Liverpool domination and a second half Coutinho and Sturridge masterclass. Fulham can feel hard done by on the referee's failure to award a penalty for a blatant Lucas handball but in truth they were fortunate in the extreme to escape with only three Daniel Sturridge goals against them; Fabio Borini could have had two to his credit within the first five minutes of replacing Jonjo Shelvey.
So what did we learn on Sunday?
Liverpool possess the belief to come back from a losing position away from home. Our manager can make effective in game changes to ensure this.
Coutinho and Sturridge were money well spent in January; the little Brazilian responsible for the pass of the game to supply Sturridge with the chance to complete his hat trick with a glorious lobbed finish. Sturridge has now reached double figures in the Premiership faster than any other Liverpool player and Liverpool have netted their most away goals in one season of the Premier League era. A team that can put in the second half performance that Liverpool did today can only be strengthened by the return of Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen and that little Suarez bloke.
Fabio Borini has started to show flashes of the talent hat we were told we bought, Next season could be a time for him to make his mark. Raheem Sterling will return to the squad to provide some more creativity at the front, hopefully showing the flair that he demonstrated at the start of the season. There will be more from Suso and we have an array of promising youth, 17 year old Lloyd Jones making the bench today to follow on from Ibe and Sinclair.
The defence needs strengthening and we need to add creativity in the manner of Coutinho to provide more options to break down resolute defences. So, nothing we weren't already aware of then.
Brendan Rodgers has spoken of making a concerted push for the top 4 next season. We'll need more rebuilding in the summer but his January purchases and performances like Newcastle and today's second half definitely point in the right direction.
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