To me the game was so much more than a 3-1 win. I said before the game that if Liverpool were to really challenge United they’d have to start with a tempo that United wouldn’t expect. In previous games that Liverpool have played against the top sides they’ve come out of the traps fast and got in the faces of their opponents, that is exactly what happened today.
A Liverpool midfield of Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles and Maxi totally over ran a stagnant Manchester United midfield, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were spectators for much of the first half and didn’t ever really show a desire to get forward. I truly believe that was because of the threat Liverpool had going forward, Meireles was keen to help Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt at every opportunity which as good as forced Scholes or Carrick and at times both to sit and wait for it to happen. The pace of Suarez and the stamina of Kuyt was too much for United to handle, if it wasn’t one threat it was another. Suarez was a constant threat all game and United looked scared of him, the feet of the lad and the speed at which he’s adapted to the English game is phenomenal. Dirk Kuyt, if anyone deserved a hat-trick for the work he’s put in during the last few season’s it was our Dutchman, it seems such a shame that we shipped him out on the right wing. He’s instinctive, passionate and has the movement of someone that want’s his marker to have nightmares for a week after.
It’s shown just how far our team have come, with the exception of Suarez that’s the team that under performed every game for the first half of the season, props can obviously go to our coaching staff who have turned the attitudes and mentalities of the team around and let them believe in themselves. Lucas today showed to me why he starts Liverpool games, he broke down every single attack that came his way and did so cleanly and calmly providing Gerrard with the opportunity to showcase his passing game for the first time in a long time. I’m not the biggest fan of Maxi Rodriguez for me he doesn’t provide enough to the team over 90 minutes but today he did everything that was asked, he helped with the dealing of the Nani and Ryan Giggs threats when asked and I’m sure his pass completion rate was heaps above his average.
Looking at our back line Skrtel was fantastic, apart from when Berbatov hit the post early in the game he didn’t have a sniff for the rest of the match. Soto Kyrgiakos came on and did a similar job and was typically brilliant in the air. We know in our heart of hearts that Carragher was lucky to stay on the pitch, without the reaction of Nani taken into account it was an ugly challenge.
Finally to see Andy Carroll come on was a joy but as I said at the top of this article for me it was the way in which we went about the game, we thought we could win it, and we did win it. A brilliant team performance which continues to rebuild the faith and the season that could have been so different.
YNWA
Ben Carr
WE WERE ON FUCKING FIRE.
DAMN DIRK CAN’T EVER SLEEP TONIGHT COZ OF THE ADRENALINE!!!
It’s so hard to believe, and even harder to take, that this was the same team that played last sunday at Upton Park! I slammed them last week, but today they made me proud to be a Red, and when the Kop sang happy birthday to Kenny it was evidence that Anfield knows how to show love and gratitude.
Nice article. Don’t agree with opinion of Maxi though. He’ been poor.
Well done to the lads on the whole though!
Amazing Win!!!! Suarez will be a Defense’s Nightmare for many years to come. Will only get better!!!! Taking on 3 players in the box was brilliant!!!
the ****heads went home crying and bawling knowing what they had hope wouldn’t happen did. They were useless. No complains about losing. Yup! Carra was stupid to go in like that when we were on top but the reaction of Nani playing barbie doll weepstakes was totally unbelievable, embarrassing and unbecoming of a professional footballer. Just imagined Soto crying after the gash on his head, the cut in his mouth and the bleeding nose. I had expected Nani’s grandma to come in and hit Carra. But ref even it all out with Raphael’s two footer. Manure did nothing to even deserve that consolation goal. And the team’s dismay at letting it in just show’s positive signs of how the team’s mentality has been shored up by Kenny. It’s Arse’s to screw up. We did what everyone that wasn’t a ****head wanted us to do and we did it with aplomb. And Suarez… what an unbelievable player. To think that we were moaning about losing… I forget his name…. He did more in the games he’s played than that what’s his name has done all season. He’s the exact team player that Liverpool craves for. Leading the front. Playing others in unselfishly. Running back and helping the team out. He just adds so many dimensions to the team that I haven’t seen any present Liverpool player do. And Kuyt’s industry and smarts got him to be where he was each time to score the goals. You can say they were easy goals but I don’t see many players being there at the right time to take advantage of it. Suarez, kuyt and Carroll up front will be unstoppable. With Raul, Gerrard and Lucas willingly working hard to help out, we could go on an unbeaten run if we stay injury free. I got to give a thumbs up for Johnson’s continual good showing in the left back slot. If Agger can stay injury free… I’m just too excited to think what we could achieve with King Kenny at the helm. Thanks to the team for giving me a brilliant night to remember. I won’t be seeing any of those stupid manure kits being worn on Singapore and basically every street in the world for at least 2-3 weeks. Brilliant first class display. And is it me or do the rest feel that we have a bigger MESSi in our hands with Suarez. The man of the match by a mile.
Well put. It really was the team mentality that set us apart today. We had the belief and desire to give MU hell today and we did.
Suarez had a great game. His crafty footwork that led to the opening goal had me grinning from ear to ear. Very happy for Kuyt as well. Still not convinced he can consistently get goals up top but he was always in the right place today and had a very good performance overall.
I know Lucas gets caught in possession sometimes but I’m really fond of the lad. He is great at breaking up play by cutting off the angles and he gets stuck in as well. More and more offensively though he really impresses me. His passing is very precise and crisp and if you ask me he plays the ball on the ground similar to Stevie. He’s even played some wonderful long balls this season. Plus he is consistent and never injured.
I understand Carroll is just regaining fitness but it was sure night and day seeing Andy on the ball compared to Suarez. He looked so slow and sluggish. Fantastic opening header though! Good knock down to Kuyt as well. I know he has great potential and it would be ridiculous to pass any judgment on him with only 20 minutes and 6 weeks out injured but I do hope he can cope with the higher tempo that Liverpool strives to play at.
Glen had a surprisingly solid game defensively. Was upset to see Aurelio limp off because of the shuffling we’d have to do but we remained solid at the back. Great team effort. Great win.
Thank you Wolves! :-) Makes todays stunning victory even sweeter.
I know he’s gone and he’s a mercenary etc, but a small part of me today just wished Torres had given it until the summer. I think he and Suarez would have been amazing. Ah well, his loss.
And does Reina really want to join MU? No money, fading fast…
Suarez was unplayable today. Was on the republic of mancunia site earlier to gauge their reaction. Without any bitterness I pointed out Suarez performance and although carra was reckless on nani, he stil was able to run to the ref before dropping in tears. This was our best footballing performance since Madrid in CL and Kenny and Steve Clarke should be very proud of what they’ve achieved today
With a wee bit of player loyalty we can be title winners, JOHN HENRY seize the opportunity this summer. With anfield 2 be a fortress this summer, SUAREZ $ CARROL killing away games with GERRARD, MEIRELES AND KUYT Chipping in. Let us bolster the supply line and defence and we will win it under KING KENNY. I believe because I am red through and through
The future is bright!, Kenny must get the job permament, and of course will, we just need to get some serious consistency! and get rid of some of the dead wood, Kenny’s the man to do it.
We should have had half a dozen goals today, and the Hoof were lucky to get one, all you need to do to beat the long ball merchants from Salford, presuming the referee is straight, is tackle hard and attack them and they FALL TO PIECES! they cant handle it! they seriously are the most overrated yet lucky team in the history of Football, it was a victory for Football today and not just Liverpool, and the 3-1 scoreline was very very flattering to Man Hoof!.
What a great performance !!! Suarez was on fire… and sincerely I’m beginning to forget the guy with the armband… Fernando… I forget his name…
Nothing summed it up better that Nani’s crying face (literally).
Ron- Agree with everything you say, I am buzzin somuch I don’t need any Red Bull @ No MORE RED DEVILS BULLSHITS EITHER.
Steve- Don’t look back, pity but what the Fk, he jumped ship when he did not know or care what was to be come of us, as you say his loss, have you noticed Chelsea players don’t even pass the ball to him very often !! If Carlsburg would do man whores.
I hope the rest of the teams saw how with a bit of grit you can dismantle them , (remember Crawley Town looking like Real M recently)!!
Watched Wolves show the same grit, lets go on a run and try and win every single game. Scouts , please note Jarvis from Wolves would be an ideal replacement for Maxi (who we love but is getting on).
A wonderful thank you to all the players except Reina for today’s fantastic birthday present to King Kenny, what was Reina’s role in twice playing the peace maker with his future employers?
Still, walk on you REDS
YNWA
Carroll was slow,but still not fit!
For those who don’t know ‘defenSe’ is American spelling – ‘defenCe’is PROPER English !!!
To me, Maxi have not excelled for Liverpool even with the MU game.
Nani’s reaction to Carra’s tackle is a joke worthy of a Comedy Central award. To think that these highly paid footballers behave in this manner is real disgusting. Poor role models to the younger generation. FIFA should ask refs to dish out yellow and red cards for such behaviours instead of booking players who remove jerseys for celebrating goals! Players like Nani insults our intelligence.
After looking at Suarez performance week in week out, I would say that Torres was good riddance. This lad played his hearts out everytime and contributes more to the game than Torres did. A true Liverpudian player!
For Kuyt, he truly deserves his hattrick. I can feel his passion when he plays. His work rate is tremendous and consistent. Bravo Kuyt! Like Carra and Stevie, a true Liverpudian at heart. I was really happy to see Kuyt’s achievement in the MU game.
Bravo!!! This is an outstanding performance. It was our Independence day in Ghana and you guys have made it a lovely one. Suarez you’re my man and will forever remember u for what u did against us in the World cup (no qualms any more). Forever…. YNWA.