A few quick thoughts on Man United and Norwich games.

It is tempting to be positive when you look at the table now.

Many will say we are making progress and with Sturridge getting off to a flying start I am not all together negative either but it is hard to be overly positive when we have not got a win vs. a top 10 side yet. 

We should have had that early this season against last years champions early in the season when Skertel made that horrific mistake after scoring a fantastic goal. It was not to be however and we will have to continue to be patient.  

I am glad we are beating sides in the lower part of the table emphatically but there are exceptions. There are still worrying signs like the game against Villa, game against Stoke and game against United....

On the other hand games against Norwich, QPR and Fulham we looked good. Promising anyway. The second half against united was also promising (especially with Sturridge) but now it is time to take the next step. 

I wondered why we wouldn't have a go from the start and really take the game to them. I also thought Allen starting in the middle of the park against United did not make sense considering size and his game. We needed someone with a bit of steel, someone with a bit of fight and a bit of size. It is easy to say in hindsight, but Henderson probably deserved the chance. 

This has been the attitude of past years under benitez especially and also under kenny. We ended up coming in fired up for games like this. 

To be fair though no-one expected us to go and win at Old Trafford but we could have had more of a go. You have to give Rodgers credit for changing things and getting it right in the second half At the same time I wonder why Rodgers would not have the boys flying from the get go. I hope however, he learns from this tactically and come out against Arsenal and City which are also away games and make a real fist of it. 

It would be nice to score early. I think the Arsenal game is our best chance of getting something. Skertel has to be back for that game instead of Carragher. Mainly due to pace and I believe Walcott will start up front. Regardless, even if Giroud is up front, which is also is an opportunity after how our defence was undone by physical attackers against Villa and Stoke. 

After seeing Arsenal in the second half against Chelsea today I think they show potential as well but I think they have weaknesses in defense that can be exploited. Mertesacker is vulnerable to pace (which both Suarez and Sturridge can use against him) if he starts. I think that Koschielny may come in and play that game. Gibbs is not the best left back in the world either and Sagna can easily get caught to high which we are very familiar with from our own Glen Johnson.

Glen Johnson by the way, had a great game against Norwich however and has been one of our very best players at LFC this season. 

He is one of the full backs that are going to be targeted by both City and Arsenal when they come to beat us. I also think City will come at us with physicality (Edin Dzeko and Tevez I suspect). We are lucky that Yaya Toure is away for African cup of nations, but unlucky that David Silva looks to be coming into the best form of his season. 

Anyway, great win against Norwich but now comes the real task. It is time to step up and beat Arsenal if we want to get into top 4. If we can do that I believe there is a chance to go and take a point of City as well.

Our team is looking better and better as we have options in attack with Sturridge and Borini now. I hope the competition will raise Sterlings game to another level. I think he can learn a lot of Sturridge.... and get back to taking players on one on one the way he was in the first few games when he came into the team. Being only 18 he should continue to develop. 

I would like us to sign one more striker as well. Scott Sinclair would be brilliant and he is not getting any playing time at City. If it is a play maker we need, this Phillipe coutino that has been roumored in the news I am not sure if that is the right type of player we should be looking for.

Having said that first things first, lets go and win at Arsenal this weekend and hope that our squad gets even stronger by the end of the January window.

YNWA,

Stian