So far so good...?



Yes - He loves himself!

 Again, it's been a while since I've written on here. Sad but true. Not that I haven't wanted to. There's one particular reason... I've been shit scared at the strength with which Liverpool have started the season! Call me superstitious but I've been careful not to write too positively for fear of jinxing the whole thing. I mean let's face it, even my arch nemesis Luis Suarez is passing the ball more in the final third. Now this is something I never thought I'd see. Not while he wears the red of Liverpool anyway.

Witchcraft aside, I think most Liverpool fans with the exception of the foolhardy would admit surprise at the start to the season Liverpool have made. The new additions over the summer have not disappointed when they've played and this speaks volumes for Brendan Rodgers' eye for a player. His only utter failing in the transfer market has been Fabio Borini and he's been banished on loan Somewhere or Sunderland (either name will do), which kind of absolves him of the crime he committed in signing Borini in the first place. "It's a fair kop guv'nor!"

Liverpool have adopted a distinct strategy in the transfer market which seems to be paying off. The acquisition of Victor Moses, Mamadou Sakho, Aly Cissokho and Luis Alberto all indicate that the club are looking not just for youth, ability, potential blah blah blah... But hunger. Obviously not in the same sense as in Jan Molby or Neil Ruddock, but as in the desire to succeed where others had written them off. This is true in the case of Daniel Sturridge. Living proof that one man's muck is another man's brass! After Manchester City and Chelsea, he's taken the opportunity at Liverpool with both hands and this is paying dividends for both him and the club. Moses is another example. Although one has to wonder why he ever went to Chelsea from Wigan in the first place. Anyone that's even heard of football could have told the lad he'd struggle to get a run of games there. I hope the move becomes permanent next year. 

Of all the summer signings, I've been most impressed with Kolo Touré.  I'd even say Rodgers has replaced Jamie Carragher with a better player. The guy can do it all. Tackle, positions himself well,  and brings the ball forward out of defence without just "hoofing" it upfield. Touré didn't have anything to prove other than what mugs Man City were for letting him go for free. Liverpool missed him in the Man United game for sure and he's already proving to be a vital part of the first eleven. In fact, the entire current back three of Touré, Sakho and Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger looks to be the strongest central defence the team has had since the days of Sami Hyypia and Stéphane Henchoz. Yes, the formation is different but in terms of confidence. Confidence that they won't leak a goal or two each match.

The midfield is looking good and although we've not seen much of them, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto both look to be good buys. I think the latter isn't quite ready yet, and he'll need this season to get used to things but he his technical ability is as good as I've seen. It's fair to say that Aspas too, still has some work to do but the boy does bring some more invention to the side. I won't call him the next Bruno Cheyrou just yet! But with the Jordan Henderson as the next Ray Kennedy and Philippe Coutinho being the next, well... Philippe Coutinho, it's looking like back to the future. The team is playing well, and thus far, my impression of Rodgers has been spot on. He hasn't delivered totally but he's heading in the right direction.

Rodgers is a man who really knows what Liverpool Football Club is about, and the owners have made the right choice in his appointment. His tactical knowledge is solid, he knows how to motivate the players and most importantly, he learns from his mistakes (enter Borini and Oussama Assaidi). That said the team is still not quite where it should be. I thought there were lapses in defence on Saturday which, against a better side would have been surely punished and the team also needs to improve their concentration and consistency in the second half of games when leading. 

Having said that, a top four finish should be achievable given the start they've made to this campaign. I still believe Liverpool need to seek out a replacement for Luis Suarez in the event that he gets itchy feet again. Am I glad he stayed? I can't say I am really. I am glad that he's playing more for the team now and not being guilty of breaking down the attacking phase of play. But I still don't have much time for the guy.

He's like Marmite. You either love it or you don't. Personally I can't stand the stuff!

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