Today, Liverpool went to Sunderland seeking to get back on the right track. The 2-2 draw at home to Leicester last week was disappointing, and right from the outset of this game it was clear that Liverpool were determined to put in a better performance. Lazar Markovic, who was by far and away our stand-out player, managed to convert LFC’s good play into a goal after 10 minutes – the strike proved to be decisive, as despite multiple chances to extend the lead the game ended 1-0.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Although the performance put in by Liverpool was not quite up to the standard of the excellent showing against Swansea a couple of weeks ago, it wasn’t too far off. The first half in particular was impressive; Coutinho continued his run of excellent form, using his exquisite passing to split the Sunderland defence many times. The problem was taking these chances – Borini, though extremely hard-working as always, squandered a fair few decent opportunities. He did, however, record an assist for Markovic’s goal; he should be given credit for managing to divert the ball into the Serb’s path. Markovic himself could well have added to his tally: he was fouled in the box very early on but denied a penalty by the referee, and later came within millimetres of scoring the goal of the season. The ball came back to him after a corner, but was at an extremely awkward height. Showing immense powers of improvisation, he attacked the ball with a scissor-like movement, sending his shot rocketing off the bar. Sunderland didn’t really create anything going forward in the first half, and in truth the game should have been beyond the reach of the Black Cats after the opening 45 minutes.
As it was, the game was still anything but a foregone conclusion as the second half began. The first five minutes were encouraging – Liverpool looked as if they were simply going to carry on where they left off. However, this momentum was halted by an incident which in theory should have helped the reds (who, incidentally, were playing in their yellow change strip today). Liam Bridcutt was shown a second yellow, meaning Sunderland were reduced to 10 men. Rather than going for the jugular and attempting to kill off the game, Liverpool sat off at this point, inviting pressure from the suddenly potent-looking Sunderland players. Adam Johnson in particular appeared to have been given a new lease of life – he came by far the closest to levelling the match, with his swerving shot from outside the box smacking against the underside of the bar. Mignolet was left completely stranded. While the incident did leave him looking rather foolish (comparisons to The Matrix have been made), the extremely strong wind did make the ball move extremely strangely in the air.
After a couple more half decent attacks, Sunderland settled down again. Liverpool began to push forward once more, with the line now being led by Mario Balotelli. He came on for Borini, and looked extremely bright. He used his physicality well, and almost managed to net his first league goal after cleverly turning his defender – he was only denied by a smart stop from Pantilimon. He has come in for a lot of criticism – which, given that he is a striker yet to score in the Premier League is understandable – but he has certainly shown signs of promise. One feels that once he gets his first league goal he might be able to kick on and really succeed at the club; the imminent return of Daniel Sturridge will surely also benefit him.
As it was, Liverpool didn’t manage to score a second. They were forced to withstand some late pressure, but the only late ‘drama’ was a hilarious piece of theatrics from Sunderland stopper Costel Pantilimon. He came up for a very late corner, and having failed to get his head to the ball went down in dramatic fashion, claiming he was pushed. You can’t blame the ref for not booking him; giving yellow cards to keepers for diving sets a dangerous precedent!
So it ended 1-0, and Liverpool came away with a deserved three points. Although they will come away from this match knowing that they need to be more clinical, the excellent attacking play of Coutinho and Markovic (as well as the solid defensive work of Sakho, Can and Lucas) are encouraging. The draw against Leicester last time out had fans worried that we were witnessing another false dawn, but there were enough positive signs in this match to suggest that we are indeed on the road to revival.
James Martin
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