Surely it would be impossible to take the armband off Hendo next term…?
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1) Jordan Henderson is truly blossoming as the future Liverpool captain…
What a performance from the stand-in skipper, who’s (as sad it maybe is to say) has made Steven Gerrard’s absence through injury rather unnoticeable. Mimicking Gerrard’s Olympiakos thunderbolt, Henderson opened the scoring with a viciously out-swerving half-volley, before providing for Daniel Sturridge’s headed goal with a pinpoint cross. He led the side, he passed exquisitely, and he spoke with poise and class after the game. Long may it continue.
2) Emre Can should be starting in defence for now, and not in midfield…
For weeks, fans were crying out that Can’s wonderful talents were wasted at the back – and that he should replace Joe Allen in central midfield instead. But if it ain’t broke – why fix it…? Not only did the German powerhouse play his part in yet another clean-sheet, but his role in linking the defence and midfield in our 3-4-3 formation is completely vital – especially when Mamadou Sakho isn’t starting on the left. (The Frenchman also likes playing zipped passed into the centre.) Maybe in the future Can will lead the side in a box-to-box role, but for now, we need him on the right of that back-three.
3) Simon Mignolet’s confidence is growing match by match…
The goalkeeper starting between the Anfield sticks right now is a totally different beast to the feeble, nervous Belgian who began the season. That Mignolet couldn’t catch crosses, he didn’t communicate, and he visibly looked like he’d rather be anywhere than a football pitch. Now, he storms out of goal to make clearances, holds onto all pinged shots from outside of the area, and chooses when to catch or punch well.
4) Liverpool love a long-range humdinger!
According to Opta, Jordan Henderson’s opener last night represented the first time we’ve scored three consecutive goals from outside of the box since 2007! Of course, Henderson notched another versus Manchester City, before Coutinho scored a long-range winner against the Sky Blues, too. Daniel Sturridge’s header ended the run.
5) Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge could fire us into the top four…
Coutinho almost assisted a Daniel Sturridge goal, but the English forward missed the one-on-one in the fist-half, following a sublime through-ball from the playmaker. Remarkably, when you consider the striker’s injury, the Coutinho/Sturridge partnership has actually created more chances for us this season than any other, bar Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling. Stick Coutinho behind a fit Sturridge until the summer, and we’ll carve out chances galore. It’s a practical certainty.