Dan Rimmer's Reds Blog

Post #15 - Barclays Premier League Review - Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

Barely got through that one in the end, didn't we? Another cracker at Anfield tonight, and I think we could all have been forgiven by saying Liverpool had won the title by the support from the fans outside the ground way before kick off.

Before hand I was a little surprised by Rodgers' decision to keep Philippe Coutinho in the starting eleven, meaning that there was an unchanged side from the win at Cardiff on Saturday. But I was definitely wrong about these feelings as the Brazilian had an excellent game, and will be explained in a little more detail as we go on.

Right from the off I think it was rather clear that Sunderland were there to try and wear Liverpool down and make them string more and more passes together, rather than just being cut open like Arsenal or Everton, for which we should give the opposition and Gus Poyet great credit. The North East side had clearly gone for the same defensive tactics as Cardiff, of which saw the Welsh side take the lead twice, and played five at the back. Efforts from Sturridge and Coutinho edged wide of the target in the early moments of the game, giving the visitors a few little scares here and there, but for me they weren't all that troubled. I think a lot of teams are becoming aware of just what Luis Suarez is capable of from free kicks, but he didn't cause Vito Mannone too much of a threat when he saw his free kick in this one over the bar. Pressure though was gradually beginning to rise as Sturridge fired off target twice while Joe Allen failed to find the net, with a lot of the plaudits going to Coutinho for his attacking flair in the build up, all coming before the game finally turned the home side's way. A potential talking point was brought up after the Black Cats defender Santiago Vergini, on just his second Premier League appearance, brought down Suarez outside the box. The Uruguayan international looked as if he was clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat, though many will argue that Wes Brown started to make a run just as the foul was committed. Kevin Friend, who many Reds fans believe that he is no 'friend' of Liverpool's over the years, decided to give Vergini a yellow card, but to make up for that, Steven Gerrard fired the ball into the top corner just beyond Mannone.

1-0 to Liverpool in the 39th minute, as the skipper ran away in delight before clearly saying to Suarez during the celebrations "No more free kicks!" Hearts were in mouths though as the Reds, who were after a seventh consecutive League win, had some defending to do just before the break after a Connor Wickham shot deflected off Skrtel which forced Simon Mignolet to push the ball wide.

In all honesty, I am getting quite annoyed with our full back Glen Johnson. I and other fans will have put the England international's poor and lethargic start to the season down to a supposed injury that he picked up. But I was quite optimistic when he came back into the side, and to be fair he has done well since his return, but I just feel that he isn't consistent enough. He played a blinder in the game against Cardiff on Saturday, and we saw more of the old Johnson, the one who is always bursting forward, cutting inside and trying to score, whilst still having good control of the ball and good positioning. All of these qualities seemed to be absent tonight, and looked rather tired and lethargic especially in the last quarter of the match, where Liverpool were under the most pressure in the game.

Brendan Rodgers must work wonders with his half time team talks, because since the turn of 2014, Liverpool have looked stronger in the second half and this was noticeable in the Cardiff game when Skrtel came up with an instant impact after the break. It was also noticeable in this game, as after a Suarez effort curled just outside of the goal, Daniel Sturridge took a shot that curled into the corner via a Wes Brown deflection - and ultimately 2-0 to Liverpool in the 48th minute.

Sturridge's goal also meant that he alongside Suarez became one of just six Reds pairings to get at least 20 goals each in one season, with the last one being Ian St John and Roger Hunt in the 1963/64 season. The Merseysiders were far from done in this encounter, as shortly after as Sturridge thought his attempt at goal was drilled into the bottom corner, but he was denied by Suarez who got in the way and pretty much summed up his night in front of goal.

 After a brilliant spell in the first half, Ki was brought on for Sunderland and he changed the rest of the game. Liverpool looked rather flat after Coutinho again tried to find the net, but they didn't help themselves by passing the ball along the back line rather than advancing the ball into midfield more often. Even Gerrard said to Sky Sports after the game that "We [Liverpool] should have passed the ball better". The Reds were rattled in the last fifteen minutes of this one, and the nail-biting began when Lee Cattermole was given far too much space to get a shot away but only onto the crossbar. The home side have been poor in their defending of corners all season, and this got worse as Agger failed to block a delivery into the area from a corner that was eventually met by the head of the substitute Ki, who was arguably Sunderland's Man of the Match. 2-1 in the 76th minute. Liverpool looking rather nervy.

A Bardsley cross deflected across the box before hearts were in mouths just before the end when Adam Johnson's free kick was met by the head of O'Shea who glanced it wide of the mark.

My words have nothing on the visual reality of it all in the final minutes of the game. Sometimes you have to win ugly, and this was one of those times. Potentially, the holding on of the lead here could be a sign of champions, but the skipper repeats that "nothing is won yet". But that's now seven league wins on the bounce, and only Man City have achieved a higher winning streak this season with eight consecutive wins. We have to believe! Until next time folks when I will be previewing Liverpool v Spurs.