Hodgson during his Liverpool tenure seemed so far out of his depth, he was constantly treading water, trying to keep his head afloat. The now West Brom manager is much more suited to an environment with smaller expectations/image to uphold than was blatantly evident when at Anfield. His side looked beaten before even setting foot on the pitch and at times the game likened a training match for the Anfield outfit some questioning why the baggies were allowing Liverpool to control this match at a canter.
Luis Suarez is public enemy number one with everyone who is not a Liverpool fan and criticise the Uruguayan for diving all the time. Let’s clear this one up, Luis is a South American player, I do not believe he is a diver. At times he can make more out of a situation than some players would but the bottom line is that he doesn’t motion fouls out of perfectly good tackles. He may well accentuate unfair challenges but the bottom line is as a player if you give your opponent that opportunity it is you who has made an evidently rash challenge.
As for the game, there was only one team in it. Although you will hear cries of foul play and poor refereeing for Liverpool’s penalty let’s be realistic, it was a foul, it was a penalty and Liverpool didn’t even appeal. It is worrying that a referee no further than 5 yards away couldn’t see it, yet his assistant a mere 20 yards away could. It was a correct decision so no complaints there, if anything the official needs to be commended for his decision. It was no more than the away team deserved. Liverpool continued to dominate and no one can deny they were worth their 2-0 half-time lead.
In the second half West Brom tried to make more of a game of it but struggled to open their opponents back four and when Liverpool had the ball going forward they looked constantly dangerous. The woodwork again decided to play a part in Liverpool’s game with the side hitting the frame of the goal for an astonishing eleventh time this season. Despite their threat Liverpool did not add to their tally in the rest of the game but came away from The Hawthorns with the most important feat accomplished, three points and a clean sheet.
It was a solid performance from the side, with no one person standing out but encouraging displays from the likes of Suarez, Henderson, Adam, Lucas and Carroll. The one thing which was the biggest plus for the team was the clean sheet. Something we were re-nound for when performing consistently at home and abroad was our tight defence and to bring success back to Anfield we have to achieve this again. Whilst it can be said it is encouraging the amount of chances we are creating, there has to be a point where this is no longer encouraging and actually worrying why we aren’t taking these chances. After all in any other vocation if you weren’t able to achieve the specification of your job I don’t think you would actually find yourself in employment for too long.
King Kenny commented after the game recently that the time will come where we take all of our chances presented in one game and a side will be on the end of a hiding. With Swansea visiting Anfield this weekend this would be an ideal time to do this. Although Swansea play good football and have a great team ethic and all work hard for each other, they are a newly promoted team who should not be able to cope with Liverpool in full flow. Their keeper Vorm has kept their scorelines down a lot but as was shown when they played Man City and Chelsea alike, there are only so many times he can keep the opposition out. With games away to Chelsea and home against Man City following the Swansea game we need to be on top form. I still believe despite their financial prowess and wealth of ability, Man City aren’t that different to the side that came to Anfield last season and were overpowered and convincingly beaten.