Everything Coming Up Gold For Brendan Rodgers

Things looked like they may be taking a turn for the worse from a Liverpool perspective following the most recent Merseyside Derby.  The matchup with Everton over the weekend was about as flat a performance as could be found in recent weeks or months.  It was such a poor performance that it forced one to wonder if Liverpool was reverting to it's early season form.  Their manager, their captain and their supporters would not allow this.

Liverpool came out with a solid attacking lineup with the right number of changes to spark the club back into form.  Raheem Sterling was surprisingly given the night off.  Sterling definitely deserved the time off given his run of games and placing the team on his back, however it was a bit of a surprise given the importance of the match.  Liverpool had a chance to climb within three points of the fourth spot for at least the night.  They were also pitted against a team directly above them in the table.  Conversely, Tottenham had an opportunity to put themselves into the third spot in the table and go seven points clear of Liverpool.  Clearly it was a huge game for both sides, thus making it a bit surprising that Sterling was not even available as a sub.  Clearly, it worked out.

Daniel Sturridge was given his first start since returning from injury and he did what he has done ever since his return - he gave the Reds a huge spark.  Sturridge almost banged one in with an outside left boot early in the match that was slapped away by Hugo Lloris.  Sturridge was also joined by Jordan Ibe and Coutinho in the attack.  While Coutinho did not do anything overly special during this match, he still strikes enough fear into defenders to cause them worry anytime he is on the ball.  Ibe was the one who impressed the most of the wingers though.

Admittedly, I wondered if it was a mistake to recall Ibe from his loan spell so early but the young attacker has shown his value in his short stint back with the club.  Ibe, full of youthful exuberance, bolted down the wings with pace and took on defenders at will to start the match.  With the exception of a few balls that could have been placed in better spots, Ibe made good passing choices and created the potential for scoring chances, even if it did not ultimately come off.  While it is still too early to say for sure how the young player will turn out, he is definitely showing that he has the skill to remain in Liverpool's plans and form a formidable attacking partnership with Sturridge, Sterling and/or whoever else the Reds use in attack.

Another positive Ibe has shown, so far, is his ability to play multiple positions.  He has the shooting ability to perhaps be a striker, if called upon.  He has the pace to be an attacking winger in Liverpool's current three up top.  He also proved today that he can help out in defense, which opens up the possibility should he be needed as part of the midfield.  His youth and versatility are just what Liverpool need at this moment.  Should he be thrust into a long-term starting role yet?  Probably not.  He needs time to acclimate to the Premier League game, but he has shown that he definitely deserves the minutes he is bound to get going forward.

Refocusing on the match itself, it was not all smiles and sunshine the entire 90 minutes.  The commentary team made several references to the quietness of the Anfield crowd and that it was most likely due to the strength of the Tottenham attack.  Harry Kane continues to prove, if only for this season, he is one of the premier attackers in the English Premier League.  Kane spurred on his team - no pun intended - and they responded in kind following his early equalizing goal.

From an outsider's perspective, this was an intensely enjoyable game to watch.  Perhaps not as much if you support either team, but just from the pure football/soccer aspect of the game it was an entertaining game.  Both teams had great strings of possession.  Both teams created chances, both squads squandered opportunities, both keepers made great saves, both teams defended well and both teams made mistakes.  It was like watching a top notch prize fight with boxers who went on all out attack.

Daniel Sturridge helped set up the first goal by drawing the defense towards him, which allowed Lazar Markovic to slip through a gap towards the left and then slide it past Lloris.  As a member of the keeper's union, I rarely say this, but Lloris should have stopped the shot.  He failed to get both hands extended toward the ball, allowing a slight bobble to hop over his bottom hand.  Nevertheless, it was a good offensive play all-around and well finished by the Serbian international.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, their defense was not up to the task 11 minutes later when Kane equalized.  While they marked well during the flow of play, Liverpool's bane continued to cause them problems as the defense looked a bit foolish on both Spurs' tallies.  Kane looked to be offside on the second goal, but that is up to the official to call.  Liverpool were guilty on this play, as are too many professional sides, but I grow tired of players making calls for the officials.  Play until the whistle is blown and then make your case when the danger is averted.  Yes, Tottenham had players offside but Liverpool looked just as foolish as their entire backline was standing around as the Spurs pounced on the rebound.

You cannot take credit away from the Spurs though.  Liverpool may have had their own faults on each goal, but credit goes to the Spurs for answering almost every jab, cross and hook.  Spurs are a much better team than Liverpool saw at the beginning of the season and deserving of their place in the table, but Liverpool are a better team as well.  Their players are playing better and their manager is managing better.

Brendan Rodgers has looked like a man lost at times during this year.  There have been times when even the most loyal supporter of the man and team have been forced to question his team selection, his tactics and in the larger sense, whether he is the man to lead this club going forward.  Rodgers took this all in stride, ever confident that his way would prove itself.  Though the season is far from over and things can still turn back the other way, Rodgers' way has proven itself.  It has taken the return of players from injury and a few odd tweaks that we may not all agree with, but you cannot argue with the results.

Liverpool's last defeat was a cup match against table leading Chelsea, on the road by a tight score of 1-0.  The last match Liverpool lost in the league was way back on December 14 to Manchester United.  Though the scoreline was embarrassing, that match may have actually been the turning point in terms of style of play.  Since that match, LFC have rattled off six clean sheets.  Finishing may still be a bit of a sticking point, but everything seems to be coming up gold for Rodgers the way it did last season.

This is further exemplified by the match winning goal.  Rodgers made some interesting substitution choices prior to the goal.  Instead of bringing on Adam Lallana early, he took off captain Steven Gerrard for the rarely seen of late, Dejan Lovren.  This pushed Emre Can out of his back three duties and put him in a more comfortable midfield spot.  Then, instead of taking off Ibe or Coutinho and gone with Lallana in a more possession minded attack, Rodgers put Lallana in Markovic' spot and left the speedy Coutinho and Ibe to strike up the wings.  Finally, instead of trying out a strike partnership of Mario Balotelli and Sturridge, which had created chances earlier in the year, Rodgers went with a bit of caution, not wanting to overuse his star forward.

All of these decisions paid dividends.  Lovren, while by no means challenged to a full extent, made no critical errors and presented Liverpool with the height and aerial ability the team needed at such a critical time in the match.  Lallana gave Liverpool fresh legs and enough pace and skill from the wing to cause problems while leaving no defensive liabilities.  Finally, and from a personal perspective most importantly, Mario Balotelli scored.  Not only did the Italian enigma score, but he scored the match winner.  He did what a striker is supposed to do - get into those critical areas behind the defense and finish it off when presented the chance.  Balotelli capped this off by being smart, yet irritating to the opponent and throwing a few players off their game.  He also managed a critical clearance in the final minutes as well.

Rodgers' celebration and jubilant reaction to Balotelli's goal further exemplified how much even the manager wanted that for the player.  Call it luck, call it a belief, call it having a good eye for certain decisions or call it what you will, the bottom line is that the vast majority of choices made by the Red's boss are coming off and that spells good things.  While success always boils down to the form of the players, Rodgers' success in his decision making had a big role in Liverpool almost winning a championship last season.  Perhaps now, if things hold form, his successes will lead to more on-field success for the club and more Champions League football.  For now, fans should just be happy with this massive result against Spurs and look forward to more exciting football to come.

Random Thoughts:

- Mario Balotelli really can do no right.  The man scored his first Premier League goal for the club, his first in almost three years and a match winner.  Yet, the color commentator on the NBCSports broadcast felt the need to point out that not celebrating and smiling will just further cement Balotelli as a villain among the fans.

- On a personal level, it was a huge joy to see Super Mario get the kind of goal he did.  Yes, I would've liked to see a smash from outside the box rip into the upper 90.  However, to come back into the team, after not even being a selection and then get into a good position and score the game winner is huge.  No, it does not excuse him from his past mistakes and no I'm not crazy enough to think this will be the start of a huge run of goals but he had to get at least one.  Maybe Balo will still be gone come the summer, but as a supporter of the player, it was a joy to see him finally score a league goal for Liverpool

- Phil Neville, the color commentator for NBCSports seemed to come off as pro-Tottenham at times.  His explanation of Martin Skrtel's yellow card was farcical.  Even during the replays he kept saying you could see the clip of the Spurs' calf, which you could not.

- I did not think the official had a bad game - though many on Twitter did - however the penalty not given to Daniel Sturridge looked like more of a penalty than the one actually called.  The announcers said it was a good challenge, but even if you get the ball you cannot scissor the attacker on the follow through.

- It was great to see Gerrard pop one in on the PK, but the camera angle made it look a lot closer than it was.  The fact that Lloris got a touch did not help matters.  Ah well, it went in.

Walk On.