Replacing the middle men

Cutting out the ‘middle men’ is widely seen as a smart, cost cutting, red tape removing and efficiency improving move in the business world. Common business sense rarely translates into the sporting arena though and, unfortunately, Liverpool fans know all too painfully well how it feels for a football club to be run like a business after enduring the disastrous three and a half year reign of two charlatan sharks in the shape of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Their questionable business structure not only left the Reds’ squad severely depleted following years of asset stripping in order to afford ever-escalating interest payments, it also failed to deliver the promised profits, leaving Liverpool tinkering on the brink of financial oblivion and the footballing wilderness.

In fact, you could say that Hicks and Gillett literally cut the middle men out of Liverpool. Up until the 2009/2010 season manager at the time Rafael Benitez had gradually developed a formidable midfield triumvirate to challenge the best midfields in the League. Javier Mascherano’s energy and bite in the tackle helped to break up attacks and provide an extra layer of defence while Xabi Alonso pulled the strings going forward, pinging around passes with consummate class. Club captain Steven Gerrard provided the attacking thrust in the centre of the park, linking up excellently with an on-form Fernando Torres.

However, this impressive unit began to unravel that summer, with Benitez unable to invest the £30 million raised through the sale of Alonso to Real Madrid. The Spaniard had hoped to sign Gareth Barry as a replacement, however the funds were handed to the bank and Benitez was left relying on the overly similar Lucas and Mascherano. As the Reds fell from 2nd to 7th after a season of utter failure, the latter left the following summer in acrimonious circumstances, citing Hicks and Gillett as part of the reason for his move to Barcelona.


With Gerrard lacking fitness and form and key players like Alonso and Mascherano rapidly abandoning ship, reinforcements were desperately needed but, lamentably, they were never of the same quality as their predecessors. Poulsen, Aquilani, Spearing, Shelvey and Meireles all tried to fill their shoes with varying success but the serious overhaul required in the centre of the park did not arrive until this summer, when new owners FSG set out to display the stark difference between them and their American counterparts who drove the club into the ground.

Replacing the middle men who had been cruelly cut from our line-up, Dalglish quickly snapped up two of the Premier League’s most promising midfielders for a considerable sum of approximately £24 million in the form of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson.

Adam finally arrived from Blackpool following protracted negotiations throughout last season with the Seasiders’ stubborn boss Ian Holloway. The 25-year old Scot has heroically recovered from several setbacks during his career, including failing to break into Rangers’ first team and dropping down to the Championship with Blackpool, and instead of grumbling has displayed the sort of determination and drive to succeed that is inherent within the Liverpool Way.

Moreover, his all-round game and leadership ability were frequently commented upon last season, as club captain Charlie guided Blackpool courageously as they stuck to their brave if ultimately unsuccessful attacking philosophy, which won much acclaim from neutrals.

Above all else Adam has been lauded for his simply stunning passing range and many have understandably likened him to former fans’ favourite Xabi Alonso. Also, Lucas Leiva has been a revelation after stepping up to the plate last season, dramatically winning over the support of a sceptical Kop and quickly replacing Mascherano as the defensive linchpin of our midfield. With Adam and Lucas striking up a promising partnership in the centre so far this campaign, the Reds may have finally found a duo to live up to the high standards set by Alonso and Mascherano.

Additionally, fellow summer signing Jordan Henderson provides depth and competition in midfield and, at only 21, he certainly has the time to fulfil his much vaunted potential and mature into a quality player at Anfield. Learning under the tutorship of the likes of Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam can only enhance his development further while the expert knowledge gleaned from having Dalglish as manager should also accelerate his growth into an accomplished player.

Meanwhile, the return of Steven Gerrard, who has been frustratingly injured since March, appears imminent, and the added boost that will inevitably bring to the side is significant.


Although he may never reach the heights of his previously injury-free days, Gerrard remains one of the best midfielders in the world and, should be develop an understanding with Suarez similar to that which he nurtured with Fernando Torres, then defences will be terrified of facing the potent attacking force of our midfield and forward line working in harmony.

The centre of the park seems to be as strong as it has been since the days of the Mascherano-Alonso-Gerrard-Torres axis and, although the loss of Meireles to Chelsea minutes before the January transfer window closed reduced the depth in the middle slightly, his departure allows up and coming youngsters Shelvey and Spearing more opportunities to stake a claim for increased involvement in the first team.

Not only have our problems at the heart of the team seemingly been dealt with, but also, perhaps more significantly, the Reds appear to have resolved their long-standing issues on the wing. Pacey new signing Stewart Downing has flown out of the blocks, making an excellent start to his time on Merseyside and swiftly silencing his detractors. His menacing, purposeful runs frighten defenders and his pinpoint crosses should provide ammunition for Carroll to head his way back into form. It took a hefty amount of cash (£20 million) but we finally appear to have a world-class winger approaching his peak years at Anfield.

At long last the middle men that were cut out under Hicks and Gillett have been replaced and a substantial depth of quality has built up in our midfield in a relatively short period of time.

More importantly, the club is being ran like a football club aiming to win trophies, not a failing business attempting to keep up with interest repayments.

YNWA

The £35 million question

To start or not to start?

That's the question facing Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish regarding the role of Andy Carroll in both his short and long-term plans. It may not run off the tongue as easily and eloquently as Shakespeare’s infamous ‘to be or not to be’ adage, but it is certainly far more interesting and the implications of its answer more profound, with the direction of the Reds’ attack and style of play, as well as a considerable sum of money, at stake.

Since the dramatic return of the man the Kop has christened ‘King Kenny’ to the managerial dugout in January, not only have results improved markedly but also the style of play has been transformed, from the dull defensive garbage served up by Hodgson’s side to the entertaining and expansive brand of football preferred by the legendary Scot.

Following the departure of moody Spanish striker Fernando Torres for a whopping £50 million, Dalglish purchased £57 million worth of striking talent in the shape of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, bolstering the Scot's options up front and adding impetus to the revival inspired by his return. With the former, towering above defenders at six foot three inches tall, possessing a considerable aerial threat and the latter, a relative dwarf at five foot eleven, ordinarily buzzing around intent on latching onto knockdowns, many Reds supporters hoped they could terrorise defences in a similar manner to that of John Toshack and Kevin Keegan during the glory years of the 1970s, when the Reds won four European competitions, the FA Cup and three League titles with the dynamic duo as their strike force.

Toshack and Keegan peal off in celebration of yet another goal

If they could match their predecessors combined tally of 196 goals from 568 games then the pair would earn legendary status on Merseyside and the net spend of £7 million to bring them to Anfield considered bargain business.

Unfortunately, Carroll was immediately sidelined with a thigh injury picked up while at Newcastle and therefore only made seven appearances, making minimal impact on the team and leaving the role of partnering the seemingly undroppable Luis Suarez up for grabs. With £16 million summer signing Jordan Henderson occupying the position on the right wing previously reserved for Dirk Kuyt, the industrious and versatile Dutchman switched back to his original role as a striker, starting alongside Suarez in the Reds' most recent League fixtures.

Meanwhile, Carroll has been left on the bench which, although possibly understandable at home to Bolton Wanderers, is hard to countenance when travelling to face Stoke City, a team notorious for their preference to play physical and aerial football, a style of play suited to the Geordie's qualities.

With the 22-year old only netting once so far this season (in the Carling Cup against Exeter City) and his national boss Fabio Capello unwisely expressing doubts about his fitness levels and lifestyle, Carroll is facing mounting pressure to justify his massively inflated price tag and prove himself both on and off the field. Moreover, after the return of controversial figure Craig Bellamy, Carroll faces increased competition for a starting berth.

For once Carroll isn't criticised for drinking alcohol!

In the short term, Carroll appears to be facing fierce competition for a place in the first team and he seems unlikely to make the sort of instant impact that Luis Suarez did upon arrival on Merseyside. However, more importantly, the question remains whether Carroll's capabilities are compatible with the style of play adopted throughout the Reds' history and reinstalled under Kenny Dalglish's second managerial reign.

The oft-cited Liverpool Way is an all-encompassing philosophy that provides the guiding principles for the conduct of everyone at the club, establishing a collective ethos of hard work and encouraging the sort of pass and move football demonstrated by the Anfield outfit towards the end of last season and during the opening weeks of the current campaign. Hard work and defensive stability provide the cornerstone to a successful, attacking side intent on keeping the ball on the ground and passing their way through usually tight-knit defences. A long ball game is discouraged and, while claiming all three points remains the focus, an emphasis is placed on entertaining the paying public.

This approach rarely lends itself to a tall target man. Yes, there is certainly a time and a place for a long ball. Of course, the issue isn't over whether it is a long or a short pass, but whether it is the right or wrong pass. However, it is simply not the Liverpool Way to continuously lump long balls forward and hope for the best, and that temptation exists when you have a player the height of Andy Carroll starting up front.

Ultimately, a compromise will have to be reached. New American owners FSG have spent far too much money on Carroll and wingers to supply him with aerial ammunition for Dalglish not to involve the Reds' new number nine as an integral part of the team. Equally, far too much has been invested in observing the traditions of our great club for Kenny to all of a sudden throw our pass and move style out of the window in an attempt to fully utilise Carroll's aerial prowess.

All of Dalglish's footballing genius and extensive knowledge of Liverpool FC will be required for him to come up with a sensible solution, where we can get the best out of Carroll without losing the distinctive brand of football associated with Anfield.

Should he succeed, Carroll and co. could add an epic of Shakespearean standards to Liverpool's long and storied history.

YNWA

Potters Stoked by performance of 12th Man

Liverpool fell to their first defeat of the season yesterday after a combination of blatant refereeing errors, poor finishing and sheer bad luck saw opponents Stoke City emerge with an undeserved 1-0 win, ultimately sealed thanks to a highly dubious spot kick from Jonathan Walters.

Manager Kenny Dalglish stuck with the bulk of the side that secured such a comprehensive victory over Bolton Wanderers last time out, with Martin Skrtel replacing his injured namesake Kelly in the only change.

Surprisingly though, in a week in which Dalglish was forced to defend his £35 million purchase following unwarranted criticism of his fitness from England manager Fabio Capello, Andy Carroll was left on the bench. The number nine’s confidence cannot have been improved by missing out once again, particularly considering his height could have proven an invaluable resource both defensively and offensively against a typically physical and combative Stoke side, who handed a debut to ex-Red Peter Crouch up front.

The Reds’ last win at the Britannia Stadium came over a decade ago when an 8-0 annihilation saw Stoke unceremoniously dumped out of the Carling Cup at the fourth round stage. Since then, Stoke have done incredibly well to narrow the vast gulf in quality between the two sides and yesterday’s one-goal triumph came as a testament to the remarkable work done by Tony Pulis to establish the Potters as a recognised Premier League outfit.

However, they undoubtedly profited from many questionable refereeing decisions that went in their favour throughout the course of the 90 minutes. This was particularly true in the opening stages, as two crucial calls incorrectly went against the visitors, setting the pattern for what would be an infuriating afternoon.

First, Mark Clattenburg failed to point to the spot after Delap had blatantly blocked Kuyt’s header with his hand inside the box. Then, only moments later, the hosts were awarded a ridiculously soft penalty after Jonathan Walters went down under minimal pressure from a bewildered Jamie Carragher. The Irish international picked himself up to lash the spot kick confidently beyond Reina and into the net.
The opener had come against the run of play because, although they failed to seriously test Begovic during the early exchanges, Liverpool had been in the ascendancy and remained dominant for the rest of the contest. Frustratingly though the Reds lacked a killer instinct in front of goal, as demonstrated 10 minutes before the break when Skrtel blazed over the bar when well placed.

Suarez then turned Upson and tested the keeper with a low shot before Shawcross headed Etherington's cross over the bar, but the scoreline remained unchanged heading into the interval. Dalglish must have been disappointed to be trailing after controlling the first period and consequently sent his troops out with the express aim of equalising early on then capitalising on the momentum built up and putting Stoke to the sword.

Unfortunately though the start to the second half was scrappy and the Reds only began to build up a head of steam after a golden opportunity had been squandered on the hour mark. Enrique displayed vision and intelligence to split Stoke's defence with an incisive cross-field pass that sent Henderson bearing down on Begovic. A remarkable sequence of play followed, as Henderson was twice foiled by the keeper and once by a defender, before Adam's two attempts were also blocked as the hosts defended both heroically and desperately.

The introduction of new signing Craig Bellamy alongside Andy Carroll twenty minutes from time sparked a late onslaught from the visitors, who piled on the pressure in search of a crucial equaliser. The Welsh striker immediately showed his Jekyll and Hyde tendencies, encouragingly delivering a couple of enticing balls into the danger area but also arguing and squaring up to opponents unnecessarily.

With three minutes remaining the considerably shorter Bellamy almost benefited from being in the vicinity of his tall colleague Carroll, as Stoke defenders focused on the latter while Downing's deep cross travelled to the former at the back post. Disappointingly our new number 39 headed wide in time and space.

There was still time for another debatable refereeing decision and missed opportunity, with the ever-zealous Suarez inevitably involved in both incidents. First, Suarez was booked for screaming at the officials in protest after they had failed to spot Upson inadvertently handle Downing's cutback. However, to be fair to Clattenburg it was a 50-50 call as there is a credible argument that it was more a case of ball-to-hand then handball.

Then, deep into injury time miscommunication between Crouch and Begovic caused the ball to fall favourably for Suarez, who had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net from eight yards out. Agonisingly, the Uruguayan’s shot slid inches wide of the post as the Merseysiders' unbeaten record slipped from their grasp.

An unexpected away victory against similarly red and white clad opposition earlier in the season compensates for this loss, however frustration abounds as we dominated throughout yet failed to take our chances, which ultimately proved costly. Although Liverpool had eleven attempts on target to Stoke's one, the Potters were more clinical in front of goal and emerged with the three points, moving into fourth place, one above the Reds.

Nevertheless, should we replicate this performance in future weeks and receive more favourable treatment from officials then this defeat will be quickly forgotten.

YNWA

(Thanks to Katherine Morris from Red and Proud's Facebook page for providing the title to this piece.)

The Reds and the revolving door: Transfer window review

The transfer window slammed shut last night and, while the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal proceeded to panic buy as a result of their woefully poor starts to the season, Liverpool quietly tied up the loose ends of their transfer activity after wisely completing the bulk of their business prior to the kick-off of the new Premier League campaign.

While the customary fanfare and hysteria inevitably surrounded what was another dramatic deadline day, the Reds were uncharacteristically content following a busy summer of big spending. After years of asset stripping and squad depletion under the ownership of despised American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett, our new owners FSG demonstrated why they are so different to their American compatriots. Not only did they keep their promise to support Dalglish in the transfer market, they invested heavily on adding both quality and quantity to the Reds' previously paper-thin squad, seemingly without a moment's hesitation.

Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli clearly drew up plans to fill problem positions preferably with young, British talent with the ability to fit into the first eleven immediately and the time to develop further and add lasting value and quality to the Reds' squad. They carried out this plan efficiently and with expertise and class.

Although already possessing a reasonably strong spine, Dalglish added depth, competition and quality to the centre of midfield by bringing in Jordan Henderson for £16 million from Steve Bruce's Sunderland and Charlie Adam for £8 million from recently relegated Blackpool. 21-year old Henderson provides versatility as he can play in the middle and on the right wing and also adds a dynamic spark at the heart of the team. Meanwhile, Charlie Adam has settled in swiftly, instantly looking at home alongside Lucas Leiva in midfield.

In fact, while the Brazilian has won over supporters and filled the gap left by Javier Mascherano, Adam appears to have the passing ability to replace the much-missed Xabi Alonso. With Steven Gerrard set to return to action soon, an exciting midfield triumvirate resembling the Mascherano-Alonso-Gerard axis is encouragingly beginning to develop.

Moreover, at centre back highly rated Uruguayan Sebastian Coates was signed on the final day of the transfer window for £7 million from Nacional. Following the sale of Kyrgiakos and Ayala and with Carragher ageing, Agger injury prone and Skrtel under-performing, 20-year old Coates, who was crowned young player of the tournament at the Copa America, will provide stern competition for his teammates in that position and could prove to be the long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher if he fulfils his considerable potential.

The left hand side has always been a problem area for the Reds and millions of pounds have been wasted attempting to rectify that problem, with the likes of Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and Harry Kewell failing to provide genuine width and crossing ability on the wing. Based on their first few appearances alone, Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing appear to have finally solved our long-standing lack of quality down the left wing after striking up a compelling relationship in the opening stages of the season.

Downing's pace and ability to ping in a cross with pinpoint accuracy is complemented by the defensive solidity of Enrique. The 25-year old Spaniard isn't shy of getting forward himself though, and looks to have the right blend of bold attacking play and sensible defensive work. This partnership should prove helpful in bringing out the best in Andy Carroll as well, as the tall Geordie forward will thrive on the service provided to him from the wings.

Alongside Carroll up front this season will be the considerably shorter Craig Bellamy, who completed a move back to Anfield on a free transfer late last night after he had originally left the club in 2007 following an ill-fated round of golf with John Arne Riise. With David Ngog completing a £4 million move to Bolton Wanderers, Dalglish needed another forward to provide cover for Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt and went for the Welsh striker on a free transfer from Manchester City, where he fell out with Italian boss Roberto Mancini.

Bellamy undoubtedly has ability and can produce some powerful, fiery and memorable performances. However, his infamous bad temper and tendency to fall out with managers and cause division in the dressing room is worrying. Paired unfavourably with the fact that he is 32 and past his peak, the wisdom of signing Bellamy can be reasonably questioned. Perhaps signing another younger striker to act as an understudy to Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt would have been more shrewd but also, of course, more expensive.

In total Liverpool spent around £57 million on Henderson, Adam, Enrique, Downing, Coates, Bellamy and Doni, who arrived from AS Roma to provide back up to Pepe Reina. Although this equals the amount spent on just two players (Carroll and Suarez) in the January transfer window, the need to sell and release players to recoup cash and lower the wage bill was obvious.

Thankfully, after initially spending big to ensure our main transfer targets joined early and enjoyed a full pre-season at their new club, the Reds set out to remove some of the excessive deadwood that had developed under Hicks and Gillett and has held us back ever since.

The much-maligned Paul Konchesky, who arrived for a ridiculous £5 million from Fulham just last summer, was sold to Sven Goran-Erikkson's Leicester City for a fraction of the price paid for him, while Milan Jovanovic, reportedly on an eye-watering £100,000 a week at Anfield, returned to Belgium to join Anderlecht and Christian Poulsen, another Hodgson flop, left to sign for little known Ligue 1 side Evian. Meanwhile, Gerardo Bruna, Chris Mavinga, Thomas Ince and Nabil El Zhar were allowed to leave for free and Philipp Degen's contract was terminated by mutual consent on the final day of the transfer window.

While these departures would have pleased Kopites, other transfers resulted in mixed feelings. The main culprits in this category were the loans of Aquilani to AC Milan, Cole to Lille and Pacheco to Athletico Madrid. Although all three have failed to live up their potential at Anfield for various reasons, many believed they deserved a second chance.

Ultimately though I can understand the logic behind each of the temporary departures. Aquilani was unlikely to feature due to the increased competition from expensive new signings in the middle while both Cole and Pacheco do not fit into our system of play. Although they may return to prove me wrong, it seems improbable that Dalglish will welcome them back next summer.

Moreover, Emiliano Insua's transfer to Sporting Lisbon left me disappointed as he originally showed such promise and potential, before suffering a horrendous loss of form during the second half of Benitez's final year in charge and never recovering. The arrival of Enrique signalled the end of the road for Insua and, although his failure to realise his potential at Liverpool is disappointing, it was time for both club and player to separate.

Frustratingly, for the second successive transfer window Chelsea signed one of our better players minutes before the deadline but, fortunately, once again Liverpool appear to have benefited most from the transfer. After failing to entice Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to sell the much-coveted Luka Modric, new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas turned to Raul Meireles, who played under him at Porto before moving to Merseyside.

The Blues' original offer of £7 million plus ex Red Yossi Benayoun was rebuffed; with rumours suggesting Dalglish wanted Daniel Sturridge instead in a part-exchange deal. However, when Meireles handed in a transfer request half an hour before the deadline, a £12 million transfer fee was hastily agreed with Chelsea and the Portugese was on his way to Stamford Bridge.

Meireles was certainly impressive last year and demonstrated his talent with numerous goals from midfield, however he failed to start in any of our first three Premier League games and consequently worried that he would rarely play this campaign. Although his departure reduces the depth of quality in the centre of midfield, with Gerrard, Lucas, Adam, Henderson, Shelvey and Spearing all available the Reds have more than enough cover in that position and £12 million is a decent fee for a 28-year old with little sell-on value.

Overall though, it has been an encouraging summer of steady yet substantial progress. The squad has been strengthened massively, with an infusion of young, hungry players helping to substantiate the belief that Dalglish's red revolution can be successful in the long-term. Crucially, the majority of the deadwood has also, at long last, been removed.

And all with a net spend of just under £40 million!

YNWA

(Thanks to Mick Mackay from Red and Proud's Facebook page for providing the title to this piece)

Reds rout Bolton to go top

Liverpool went to the top of the Premier League table on goal difference last night after goals from Jordan Henderson, Martin Skrtel and Charlie Adam handed the Merseysiders an emphatic and richly deserved 3-1 victory over Owen Coyle’s Bolton Wanderers at an elated Anfield.

Henderson’s delightful curler, Skrtel’s thumping header and Adam’s deadly accurate daisy-cutter were the cherry on the top of the cake that was this simply brilliant performance from Kenny Dalglish’s side, who are oozing with confidence and gathering considerable momentum for the upcoming campaign following their best start to a League season in 17 years.

History was certainly stacked in the Reds’ favour, as they went into the clash having emerged victorious from the last nine meetings between the two teams, conceding only twice. However, after comprehensively defeating Premier League new boys QPR on the opening day of the season and running title challengers Manchester City close last weekend, Liverpool knew their opponents would be no pushovers.

As a result, the Reds raced out of the blocks, dominating the early exchanges and regularly carving open the visitors’ defence while playing an expansive brand of football that proved pleasing on the eye. After eight minutes Liverpool broke swiftly from a Bolton corner, referee Lee Probert intelligently allowing play to proceed despite a blatant foul on Suarez. Henderson’s defence splitting pass sent Downing bearing down on goal and only a superb last ditch challenge denied the former Villa winger what surely would have been the opener.

Fortunately, the Kop faithful didn’t have to wait much longer for the deadlock to be broken though, as the aforementioned trio combined excitingly once again to give the Reds a fully deserved lead. Suarez used the outside of his foot to curl a breathtaking ball into the penalty area, where Downing forced Bolton stopper Juusi Jaaskelainen into a smart save from close range. Kuyt pounced onto the loose ball and fed Henderson, who displayed notable composure to curl the ball left footed into the top corner.


It was an excellent finish from the versatile 21-year old, who proved to be hugely influential throughout the first 45 minutes. In fact, six of Liverpool’s shots in the first period were either set up or fired in by the talented Sunderland-born star.

Bolton reacted in the right manner though, Petrov’s fizzing volley bringing out the best in Reina on 18 minutes. However, the Reds remained in the ascendancy and always looked the more likely to score next. Henderson remained at the centre of every attacking move, Kuyt coming within a whisker of converting his cross and Suarez dinking the ball onto the roof of the net after being played through one-on-one with the keeper by the impressive number 14.

While Henderson was the dynamic driving force behind our attack, his midfield partner and fellow new signing Charlie Adam displayed his stunning passing range, picking out passes that few others spot and consistently pinging the ball around the park in a manner worthy of someone dubbed as the "new Xabi Alonso."

One example of this arrived two minutes before the interval, when Adam's raking 30-yard pass released Downing down the wing. He cut in behind Bolton's backline but was stopped in his tracks by a blatant handball from Steinsson. Despite audible protestations from the home side, Probert refused to point to the spot, instead awarding a free kick just outside the box. It was a tough call for him to make because, although the defender was clearly inside the box, replays later suggested that Steinsson actually handled the ball outside of the area.

Nevertheless, the Reds went into the break full of confidence following a hugely encouraging first half display, which was only marred by the withdrawal of young right back Martin Kelly on the half hour mark due to a slight hamstring problem. Kelly only returned last weekend from a lengthy spell on the sidelines but unfortunately he seems to be frustratingly injury prone, which could hinder his attempts to make the right back slot his own. However, after missing two years due to injury during his teenage years and recovering to break through to the first team, Kelly appears to have the mental toughness to persevere.

Following such a domineering performance, many commentators remembered that similar verve and style was displayed on the opening day of the season yet the Reds failed to capitalise and eventually disappointingly dropped two points at home to Sunderland. Determined to prevent a repeat of this, Dalglish sent his troops out fired up and hungry to add to their lead to put the outcome of the contest beyond doubt.

Thankfully, they followed the legendary Scot's instructions to the letter, netting twice inside the first seven minutes of the second half to secure the three points. First, Skrtel rose highest to meet Charlie Adam's right wing corner and send an unstoppable bullet header beyond Jaaskelainen.


The former Blackpool playmaker then went from provider to goalscorer immediately after, firing a low shot through Knight's legs and into the corner of the net with his weaker right foot from 25-yards out. With the three points in the bag, the rest of the half became an exhibition for the hosts, Suarez almost capping yet another magnificent performance when he fired into the side netting from a tight angle after rounding the keeper.

Not even a late consolation from Bolton forward Ivan Klasnic after a mistake from Jamie Carragher could take the shine off this display. The seemingly seamless transition into the starting line-up made by the Reds' summer signings is hugely encouraging and shows the wisdom of completing transfers during pre-season as opposed to minutes before the deadline.

Charlie Adam looked immediately at home at the heart of our midfield alongside the reliable Lucas Leiva, while Henderson's pervasive influence was note-worthy and Downing has clearly added dynamism to our wing play. Meanwhile, Jose Enrique has settled into the left back slot perfectly, looking as if he has played in our defence for years rather than weeks. With Suarez, Kuyt and Carroll also firing on all cylinders, it is regretful that the international break has arrived now, potentially disrupting the momentum built up by such a formidable start.

Challenging fixtures at the Britannia Stadium and White Hart Lane await the Reds when domestic football resumes, providing a useful litmus test for determining the ability this squad possesses. Four points out of six should be the target and, if achieved, would really see the Reds off to a scintillating start.

YNWA

What did I miss?

While I was away for a long and enjoyable weekend at a Christian youth event named Momentum, Liverpool achieved two encouraging results that will only increase the optimism surrounding the Anfield club currently, as the Reds' season begins to pick up momentum and impetus itself.

A classy 2-0 victory against Arsenal was secured thanks to an own goal from the hosts' Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey and a late tap in from Luis Suarez and issued a clear statement of intent to those competing with the Merseysiders for Champions League qualification this campaign.

Meanwhile, comfortable progression to the third round of the Carling Cup via a routine 3-1 triumph over Exeter in Devon last night avoided unnecessary early-season embarrassment and banished memories of last season's humiliating exit at the hands of minnows Northampton Town.

The Reds' travelled to the Emirates stadium hopeful of finally claiming their first win at their bogey ground and also inflicting defeat on their opponent's home turf for the first time in eleven years.

With talismanic former skipper Cesc Fabregas returning to Barcelona, influential French midfielder Samir Nasri days away from finalising a move to Manchester City and injuries ruling out Alex Song, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky, the pressure mounting on Arsene Wenger was reaching new heights and the Gunners were a team there for the taking.

Conversely, despite a deflating opening day draw; the visitors were full of confidence after a much-improved end to last season and a summer of consistent development in the transfer window. This contrast was reflected in the opening stages, as the Reds began in the ascendancy, passing the ball about with the same assurance ordinarily associated with Arsenal.

Carroll proved a constant menace up front and almost broke the deadlock on 19 minutes, with Szczesny's fantastic diving stop required to prevent the tall forward's header from Downing's deep cross finding the net. Moreover, summer signing Charlie Adam pulled the strings in midfield and oozed confidence throughout, even attempting two audacious Alonso-esque efforts mid-way through the first half and immediately after the restart. The first caught Szczesny unaware and sailed inches over the bar while the second was comfortably caught by the keeper.

Ten minutes before the break Samir Nasri demonstrated why his departure will almost certainly severely weaken the Londoner's squad, as he carried the ball from his own half to the edge of the Reds' area, slaloming effortlessly past several Liverpool defenders in the process before striking a low shot inches wide of the upright.

That proved to be one of few chances created by the unusually out of form Gunners though, while the Reds remained on top. Martin Kelly, featuring for the first time since our February defeat to West Ham United, showed what we have been missing on 54 minutes when he began a move that incorporated Kuyt, Henderson, Adam and Carroll and concluded with the young right back's shot ricocheting behind off the post.

Meanwhile, on the other flank Jose Enrique impressed with another solid display that earned him the man of the match award in the eyes of many spectators while Downing regularly threatened the home side's back line with his incisive dribbling ability and unrivalled crossing prowess.

The turning point arrived twenty minutes from time when a clumsy, high and late challenge on Lucas Leiva earned Arsenal debutant Emmanuel Frimpong a second yellow card. As the Ghanaian walked down the tunnel to take an early bath, Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles entered the action and proceeded to clinch the three points for the away side.

The dynamic duo combined on 77 minutes to cause confusion in the Gunners box, ending comically as Ignasi Miquel's attempted clearance inadvertently hit the chest of Aaron Ramsey and looped over the keeper and into the net.


The Reds' had a large slice of good fortune to thank for their first goal, however their second on the stroke of full time was reminiscent of Arsenal at their best as Lucas, Meireles and Suarez exchanged neat passes in a triangle to set up the Uruguayan, who completed the simple task of tapping into an empty net from close range.

Although such an emphatic triumph away to one of our main rivals for a top four finish was extremely pleasing, the fact that Liverpool's next fixture was a second round Carling Cup tie away to League One outfit Exeter City while Arsenal flew to Italy to face Udinese in a qualifier for the group stages of the Champions League gave some much-needed perspective to the victory.

The Reds were competing in the second round stage of the Carling Cup for the first time in 12 years, but Kenny Dalglish took no chances as he selected a strong starting line-up in a bid to secure his 200th victory as Liverpool boss. Captain for the night Pepe Reina started alongside new signings Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson as well as super subs at the Emirates Raul Meireles and Luis Suarez.


This strategy was bold and risky and went against the tradition of giving youngsters and squad players a run out in the earlier stages of England's secondary domestic cup competition. Although it eventually paid off, it came at a high cost as Raul Meireles suffered a collarbone injury in a collision with Danny Coles only 20 minutes in and is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

Despite the disappointment caused by the withdrawal of the Portugese midfielder, the travelling Kop were mesmerised by the silky skills of Suarez throughout the rest of the evening, as the Reds' new number seven emulated his illustrious predecessors while scoring once and creating two other goals. The first arrived midway through the first period when he volleyed home after goalkeeper Krysiak had only half-cleared Henderson's cross.

Golbourne then drove infield for the Grecians and arrowed an effort wide of target before Shephard raced through and nearly lobbed Reina in an early second half scare for the Reds. However, the outcome of the contest was put beyond doubt in the space of five second half minutes as a great counter-attack culminated in Maxi netting from Suarez's cutback before Carroll dispatched an excellent effort into the back of the net after a nutmeg from Suarez had added spice to the build up.

Former Manchester United trainee Daniel Nardiello picked himself up to convert a spot kick and claim a consolation for the hosts ten minutes from time following a trip from Slovakian centre back Martin Skrtel.

Nevertheless, the Reds can be content with a comfortable and comprehensive Carling Cup win to complement the crucial three points collected versus Arsenal and now look to develop further momentum with another victory at home to Owen Coyle's Bolton Wanderers on Saturday teatime.

YNWA

The race is on: Assessing the Reds' rivals in the fight for fourth

Despite the Reds' fierce rivals Manchester United retaining a virtual monopoly over the Premier League title (triumphing in four out of the last five title races) fans are routinely told that, thanks to foreign billionaires turning clubs from paupers to princes over night, this season's title race will be the closest one yet and, with Roberto Mancini's City side and Andre Villas-Boas' Chelsea outfit both seemingly preparing to surmount a challenge to United's dominance, this season is no exception.

Whether City have the cohesive squad necessary to win the title and Roman Abramovich has the patience to allow the Blues' 33-year old boss to implement his attractive playing style and wrestle the title from Fergie's grasp is another article all together. However, there is little doubt that the competition to secure one of the four much coveted Champions League places will be as, if not more intense than the aforementioned title race.

Liverpool look set to tussle with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City for a top four finish and in this article I will examine each side in depth.

Tottenham Hotspur

Last season's results: 0-2 (H), 1-2 (A)

When do we face them? 18th September (A), 4th February (H)

Strengths: Spurs possess a vast array of creativity in midfield which aptly supplies a forward line full of ammunition. Speed kings Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale provide raw pace and dribbling ability on the right and left wings respectively, while Rafael Van der Vaart and Luka Modric add guile and invention to the centre of the Lilywhites' midfield.


Meanwhile, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane are all established Premier League strikers and allow boss Harry Redknapp to employ various formations up front, adding a crucial element of variation and unpredictability to their frontline. When on form all four are frightening prospects for opposition defences.

Weaknesses: Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, although capable of brilliance, is prone to costly errors and fails to fill his back four with confidence. Moreover, defensive linchpin Ledley King has suffered horrendous bad fortune with injury, meaning that their club captain is rarely available to patrol the defence and provide much-needed on-pitch leadership.

Last season: Tottenham enjoyed their first Champions League campaign last year, claiming famous victories over both AC and Inter Milan to impressively reach the last eight, before coming unstuck against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, losing 5-0 on aggregate. In the League they pipped Liverpool to fifth place, ensuring they remain in European competition. However, the less prestigious Europa League could prove to be a poisoned chalice, with the extra demands imposed on the squad by regular Thursday night fixtures likely to affect their League form and hinder them in the fight for fourth spot.

Transfer activity: Redknapp moved quickly to snap up experienced former Liverpool keeper Brad Friedel on a free transfer after his contract with Aston Villa expired. The American penned a two-year contract and will provide formidable competition for the unreliable Gomes. However, speculation linking Luka Modric with a move to London rivals Chelsea has proved unsettling for Spurs supporters. The creative Croatian was instrumental in their midfield last season and would be sorely missed.

There have been few new arrivals so far, but Redknapp has a reputation for finalising shrewd transfer deals close to the deadline, demonstrated by the stunning capture of Rafael Van der Vaart for only £8 million two hours before last August's transfer window slammed shut.

Where will they finish? With the distraction of the Europa League and further investment required to break into the top four once again, Spurs will struggle to match last season's fifth-placed finish. 6th

Arsenal

Last season's results: 1-1 (H), 1-1 (A)

When do we face them? 20th August (A), 3rd March (H)

Strengths: Widely considered to be the best footballing team in the country, at their best Arsenal resemble Catalan kings Barcelona with their free flowing, forward thinking style of play a hallmark of Arsene Wenger's fifteen year reign. Inevitably, plenty of goals result, with only champions Manchester United bettering the Gunners' total of 72 strikes last season.

Weaknesses: The Gunners lack a trustworthy number one stopper. Wenger has experimented with Almunia, Szczensy and Fabianski yet nobody has fully convinced the fans or the manager and a top quality keeper is surely a must in the transfer window this summer. Arsenal are defensively vulnerable and have lacked a destructive midfield general in the mould of Makelele or Mascherano since the departure of Patrick Viera six years ago.

Last season: Arsenal appear to be locked in a nightmare Groundhog day scenario, with each successive campaign following a predictable pattern and only exacerbating the fans' frustration. Early promise is routinely followed by end-of-season heartbreak and yet another trophyless campaign.


A catastrophic mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny in the Carling Cup final proved to be the catalyst for last season's collapse. After losing out to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup, the London side bowed out of the Champions League to Barcelona and suffered defeat at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, their title tilt fell to pieces, as the Gunners even missed out on automatic qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, ending an underwhelming fourth.

Transfer activity: Wenger has boosted his attacking options with the signing of Ivorian striker Gervinho and 18-year old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (who was linked with a move to Anfield) from Championship side Southampton.

However, in a summer when their squad requires replenishing rather than dismantling, the focus has been on those departing the Emirates rather than those arriving. Star player Cesc Fabregas finally completed his £35 million transfer to boyhood team Barcelona recently while Samir Nasri has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, severely damaging Arsenal's creative heartbeat.

With the fans becoming restless and pressure mounting, Wenger surely must invest in the playing squad this summer. However, even though the Gunners are one of the most financially stable clubs in the country, the stubborn Frenchman is inherently reluctant to spend cash, and remains unlikely to buck that trend any time soon.

Where will they finish? Despite their phenomenal record of reaching the group stages of the Champions League every season since 1998/1999, there is a very real possibility that the Gunners may miss out next season. 5th

Manchester City

Last season's results: 3-0 (H), 0-3 (A)

When do we face them? 27th November (H), 2nd January (A)

Strengths: City have an enviable wealth of attacking talent. Their front line is composed of a string of household names including Adebayor, Balotelli, Bellamy, Dzeko, Aguero, Santa Cruz and Tevez, allowing comprehensive cover up front. Mancini's side is built upon a strong defensive core though, with England's first choice keeper Joe Hart and robust central midfielders Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Yaya Toure sandwiching and protecting their back four. In fact, alongside Chelsea they conceded the fewest goals last season, with their net bulging on average less than once a match.

Weaknesses: The occasionally over-cautious approach adopted by manager Roberto Mancini when facing their main rivals saw City collect only five points from matches against the top four last season. The Italian's traditional 4-5-1 set up may need to be altered if the Eastlands outfit are to rack up more points in those crucial fixtures this time around. Moreover, with characters such as the moody Mario Balotelli, controversial Craig Bellamy and enigmatic Emmanuel Adebayor in the dressing room, squad unity could prove difficult to foster amongst City's pampered and overpaid prima donnas.

Last season: The owner's twin goals of Champions League qualification and a domestic trophy were met as City enjoyed their most successful campaign in years. After securing their first trophy in 35 years thanks to Yaya Toure's solitary strike versus Stoke in the FA Cup final, the Citizens clinched third place and automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages. They'll be looking to go one further this season and mount a serious bid for the Premier League title.

Transfer activity: The possible departure of club captain and modern day mercenary Carlos Tevez has dominated the headlines, as the Argentina international has been linked with a return home to South America. Although speculation has recently quietened, City fans cannot trust Tevez, who has shown a shocking lack of loyalty throughout his career. This was shown most patently when he swapped Old Trafford for Eastlands in the summer of 2009.

Nevertheless, although chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak promised a relatively quiet summer transfer window, City's squad has deepened further thanks to the financial support of owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.


Defenders Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy have arrived from Partizan Belgrade and Arsenal respectively for a combined total rumoured to be around £14 million, while highly rated Spanish striker Sergio Aguero was snapped up for a fee that could rise to an eye-watering £38 million. Such is City's wealth; they appear to be able to purchase players simply to deplete their rivals' squads, with a further £25 million likely to be spent to entice Arsenal to sell Samir Nasri.

If this is what City's owners describe as a 'quiet' summer than I'd hate to see what a 'loud' summer is like!

Where will they finish? Although another season may be required before they can settle as a squad and clinch the title, City are going from strength to strength and surely must be considered genuine title challengers. I certainly cannot see them failing to qualify for the Champions League. 2nd or 3rd

Conclusion: Liverpool will struggle to compete with Manchester City, who appear destined to compete for the Premier League title as their owner's massive investment may finally pay off. However, North London sides Arsenal and Spurs appear to have stalled this summer and, with a Kenny Dalglish inspired red revolutuion and several new faces arriving to bolster our squad, there is no reason why we cannot finish fourth.

YNWA