‘’WHAT A GOAL BY MILNER”- Barely any Liverpool fan expected to hear this within first 2 minutes. But, it happened to the delight of The Kops. Whether the nervy 3-2 win against a relegation side will be enough to save Rodgers’ job or not, only time will tell.Sturridge, the dance master is back in tune, buying Rodgers some time. James Milner gave Liverpool a lead within 66 seconds of the game. Alberto Moreno passed to Coutinho from the left, Coutinho then passed it to Milner at the edge of the box. Milner netted the ball at the bottom corner with a clinical left-footed volley. It was Can, Lucas and Milner’s duty to carry the piano and let Coutinho play it and it was happening exactly that. Before the match, meagre flags were seen and Anfield really wasn’t singing. But, Milner’s goal got Anfield into the groove. Rodgers was dressed like he was going to some wedding. After some time, with the scoreboard still reading 1-0, Liverpool started playing what-the-hell-is-this formation again and it looked like it’s going to be 1-0 win with a Linda Pizzuti tweet and James Pearce article on how good Rodgers is, to follow. But, after the half-time, goals started to flow.
Danniel Sturridge scored in the EPL after 6 months in the 59th and 67th minute from a Milner and a Coutinho assist. On the edge of the box Sturridge played one-two with Milner, the latter showed great presence of mind to pass it on to Sturridge at a perfect position, Sturridge lobbed it past Villa goalkeeper Guzan with his left foot. Liverpool’s defence was always shaky; Alan Hutton & Jordan Amavi made seven crosses, which is alarming. Liverpool defending inside the box is like a Hollywood big-budget action film, a disaster or explosion going to happen anytime. Previously, from a Hutton cross, Emre Can cleared the ball to Gestede, with Villa on the verge of scoring. Minutes after Sturridge’s goal, Gestede, unmarked, with Emre Can at fault, netted from Hutton’s cross. Sturridge struck again in the 67th minute with his right foot after playing a one-two with Coutinho. The nostalgia of Coutinho-Sturridge partnership was back to the delight of the roaring kops.
The game seemed to be in the bag for Liverpool, but, Gestede struck again with a unsavable header from an Amavi hanging the cross. Sakho was at fault of this goal. Guzan made a fantastic save to deny Sturridge a hat trick later on. Liverpool dominated the game with 63%possession, 21 shots and 505 completed passes though the defence looked shaky. Guzan, the villa goalkeeper was fantastic, Simon Mignolet was not as good as him. Grealish had a bad game. Alberto Moreno was exceptionally good, making threatening runs down the left and making crucial tackles. Sturridge will deservedly get the limelight, but it was Lucas who is Man Of the Mtch for many, with 100 passes completed, 100%take-ons completed and 10/13 tackles won. This for Anfield faithful was monumental. Rodgers did a good thing tactically, he inverted the midfield triangle, with Milner going forward with great result, that’s where Milner should be, in and around the box, that’s where his best performances for City came. Emre Can is not a CB, he is a midfielder, the sooner Rodgers realizes it, the better it will be for the team. One can’t help but feel when LFC was 1-0 up that Coutinho needed to be deeper, with Sturridge more central, by taking Can off, LFC could go to the diamond with Ibe at 10. Ings impressed with his endeavour, lad ran 60 yards to win a ball speaks volumes of his commitment.
The Danny boy Sturridge is back with his dance steps, Anfield gave him a standing ovation, Liverpool got a crucial win. Can this win turn the season around for LFC?
Time will tell.