Stoke game verdict

Magic liverpool win today. Not because we played absolutely fantastic but because we played well and won on a day where under Hodgson/Benitez we maybe wouldn't have. After a bit of a slow start we dominated. Look forward to Carroll is ready as well and I wanna see more of jonjo. Want him to start for lucas next game. Not likely to happen though.

The main difference under Daglish is that we play more football, more of a passing game and we get more players in the box supporting a lone striker. It is crucial that a striker doesn't get isolated and as good as Torres was he was not the hardest worker when he did not get support. He could get moody if he was not protected by the referee at times. We got lots of money out of him and I think kenny did the right thing despite paying a bit over the odds for Carroll.

Kuyt was man of the match today. He worked tirelessly. Full credit too him. Soto was good as well.

As kenny said in the interview he battled and won most headers and when he got close to Carew he came out on top 9 out of 10 times.

Reina made a great save from Walters' shot. The central defenders fall asleep prior to that (skretel and soto) but apart from that good performance all around today.

Good for Suarez to get a goal even though his finish was scuffed and should have been cleared by Wilkinson. Lots of good tendencies. I tend to agree with Curbishley in the Setanta studio tonight. Like his flicks and awareness more than his finishing. Based on youtube video and his reputation and goal scoring record that part of his game isn't bad either. The back heal, the lie off for skretel after looking up before receiving the ball is a lesson for any striker to learn from.

Another thing about tonight's game is that we now have an alternative formation, an alternative plan. Bodes well for the future. After a slow start we really started playing well. Some good crosses from Kelly, some good runs into space from Mereiles and Gerrard and even Lucas had a good game (some good tackles and a lot of decent crosses to our wingers or wing backs).

All in all we are playing better football. There was one passing move today that typifies how Kenny wants us to play. Lots of small triangles that just opened up Stoke and ended up in a decent Kuyt finish from just inside the centre of the box. It was saved but the move received a warm applause at Anfield.

Kenny got his tactics spot on tonight. Don't beat them at what they are good at. Keep the ball on the ground and get around their wide men to get some low crosses into the box with the odd exception of course to not get too predictable. (Johnson header of the Kelly cross was so close).

There is just more confidence around the place. Kuyt led the line, dropped off when he needed to and held the ball up. Some of his flicks, not to mention his through ball for Suarez was terrific. And one can never fault his work rate.

I just wonder what we do on Sunday against Chelsea.

I was surprised to see Aurelio centrally today but it worked. He has got safe secure passing, moved the ball forward when need be and gave us yet another option to employ when we play teams that not particularly technical football teams.

Because of his accurate delivery I want him employed when Carroll is on the field but to be fair we have a lot of good crossers of the ball all of a sudden... Gerrard, Kelly, Mereiles, Johnson.

Will be exciting to see Jonjo keep developing as well. Wish he would have got a goal today on his one shot that was tipped over the bar.
A jonjo goal would do wonders for his confidence. It will come eventually though.

Hopefully players can learn from Mereiles as well. His finishing the last few games has been exquisite and they have come from both feet.

Sometimes I wonder how much better Gerrard could have been if he spent time practising his left foot. There was one time especially tonight where if he was left footed I think he had a goal scoring opportunity. I just think that is where Lampard has an edge on Gerrard and that is the reason he gets so many more goals than Stevie. Saying that I would still prefer stevie any day in my team for all the other things he does. Bags of potential anyway.

There is more football to be played and more climbing to be done. I am looking at Chelsea thinking they are beatable and that their team and confidence can be rattled with an early goal and some good passing play.

Look forward to Sunday. It is a 6pointer.

Interested in comments from others... Feel free to contribute whether you are a fan or not.

YNWA,
Stian
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