Liverpool
produced a scintillating second-half performance as they beat Fulham on Sunday
afternoon at Craven Cottage.
The
reds began the game in a 3-5-2 formation – with Glen Johnson and Stewart Downing
playing as wing-backs. The away side controlled proceedings early on, without
creating any clear-cut chances, as Fulham looked lethargic and disorganised.
However,
the match was jolted into life as Dimitar Berbatov put the Londoners ahead in
the 33rd minute; the unpredictable Bulgarian nodded home a Sascha
Riether cross after losing his marker, Andre Wisdom.
But
just three minutes later, Wisdom atoned for his error by assisting Daniel
Sturridge to score Liverpool’s equaliser. The English defender, who turned 20
last Thursday, played a speculative long pass in behind Fulham’s defence, which
Sturridge latched onto and made the most of. The vibrant striker controlled the
ball skilfully, before emphatically smashing it into the roof of the net from close
range. Theories that Brendan Rodgers has been too stringent and inflexible with
his instruction to his players to play a short passing game, will be
momentarily banished by such a direct goal.
At
the start of the second half, Liverpool switched to a more conventional 4-2-3-1
system – with Andre Wisdom replaced by Jose Enrique at left-back. Wisdom’s
withdrawal could have something to do with the red’s under-21 Play-off
game with Manchester United on Tuesday, which he looks set to start.
The
away side took the lead for the first time in the match on 61 minutes, as
Daniel Sturridge grabbed his, and the reds’, second goal of the afternoon. The
England striker finished comfortably from point-blank range, after Philippe
Coutinho’s deflected shot fell fortuitously into his path.
As
the game began to open up, a string of chances fell to either side. First,
Fulham goalkeeper - Mark Schwarzer – twice denied Sturridge his third goal with
two impressive saves in the space of a minute. Pepe Reina, who seems to be
regaining his form, then made two good stops of his own from Berbatov and Aaron
Hughes – the latter was left unmarked in Liverpool’s box from a corner.
Fabio
Borini replaced Jonjo Shelvey in the 77th minute, and came agonisingly
to grabbing his second Premier League goal with his first touch of the ball.
The energetic Italian cut inside from the left channel, before firing a fierce
shot across Schwarzer, which crashed off the post. Borini’s anguish was tangible
but if he continues in his recent vein of form, he is certain to win the
Liverpool supporters over.
Deservedly
and belatedly, Daniel Sturridge finally got his hat-trick in the 85th
minute – but it was worth the wait. Brazilian magician - Philippe Coutinho -
played his customary outside-of-the-foot, defence-splitting pass, and Sturridge
nonchalantly lobbed the ball over the onrushing Schwarzer. The England forward’s
performance will have undoubtedly impressed national team manager, Roy Hodgson,
who was watching from the stands. The assist was Coutinho’s seventh in 11 Premier
League starts for the reds, and supporters got an opportunity to show their gratitude
to him, as Brendan Rodgers brought him off in the 89th minute. His
replacement, Conor Coady, was coming on for his Premier League debut. The
Liverpool under-21 captain has been knocking on the door for a while and
deserves his opportunity in the first-team.
Referee,
Mark Halsey, brought the game to an end after three minutes of added time – probably
to the relief of Fulham players and fans as the reds looked the only team
likely to score more goals. The three-one scoreline didn’t flatter Liverpool in
a match they controlled – particularly in the second half as their front four
interchanged slickly, causing havoc in the home side’s defence.
Positives
·
Daniel
Sturridge continued his impressive form, taking his goal tally to 10 in 11
Premier League starts, since joining Liverpool in January.
·
The
average age of Liverpool’s starting team was just 25, and that’s including
Jamie Carragher.
·
Coutinho
and Sturridge continued to develop their understanding.
·
Jamie
Carragher marshalled two inexperienced defenders alongside him well; Andre
Wisdom (20) and Sebastian Coates (22).
Negatives
·
Pepe
Reina’s distribution was unusually quite poor.
·
Coates
looked clumsy and unsure on the ball – the Uruguayan doesn’t seem to fit
Rodgers’ style of play.
·
Jamie
Carragher tried the Sturridge dance.
Player ratings
Reina:
7
Wisdom: 7
Coates: 6
Carragher: 7
Johnson: 8
Downing: 7
Downing: 7
Lucas: 8
Henderson:
7
Shelvey: 7
Coutinho: 8
Sturridge: 10
-------------------
Enrique: 7
Borini: 7
Coady: N/A
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Coady: N/A
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