Video: Suarez Scores Versus Stoke City

this is a nice goal

Suarez Akbar

Annnnnd now the video has been blocked by Big Brother. 

And like a game of wack-a-mole, it pops right back up somewhere else.

Stewed on this for a bit after Stoke (and looking back to every game since the Shambles at Spurs). A consistent system of play is there but with a few personnel tweaks comes a definite shift in style.

Spearing + Maxi seem to leave us a bit more narrow but better able to "ping" the ball around with short, crisp exchanges. With everyone getting involved, there were some great 1- & 2-touch sequences. In tight spaces. There isn't a lot of singular creativity needed, you just need to pass-and-move. The ball will find you.

Replacing them with Adam + Downing (and adding Gerrard), we play wider, a bit slower, but with a bit more direct-aggression; "slice and dice" mode. We take more touches on the ball & look for that "one" killer pass to create opportunities/goals. Vision & audacity demanded.

Suarez is a beast in both set-ups, obviously. And Henderson/Kuyt/Bellamy's industry works in different ways. Enrique/Agger bring some real guile to the left while Kelly/Johnson add their flava-flavs to the party (though becoming clear that Kelly is all-around better player than Glen).

Andy Carroll? I think he enjoyed last night. The "Ping it Around" seems to bring the defense out of a comfort-zone and gives Carroll room to probe/explore. I saw him pick up the ball all over the pitch and that one left-footed hammer (where Suarez almost got rebound) was a direct result of him snagging some open space. In "Slice Mode" I think he struggles because he's not quick enough to see "that" moment when he needs to break off the shoulder or make that last run to the post. But if gets a steady of services (and develops a stronger "Alpha" side), then he can certainly be a force.

This total lack of brevity leads me to this question, is there an XI in Kenny's preferred set-up that delivers both...that balances a possession-ping-it-around approach with the audacious-slice-dice style? Right now, all things being equal, I struggle to find one. If we could meld Downing/Maxi (Doxi) and Spearing/Adam (Spadam), then this would do the trick:

Kelly Carra Agger Enrique
       Lucas  Spadam
 Doxi     Gerrard     Suarez   
             Carroll      
        
Does Dr. Moreau support Liverpool?

Think I actually like us being able to employ different styles.  And you can tell it only involves changing about 2 players to make us a totally different team (which means it can be done within the space of a match if things aren't panning out).

There are very very few teams out there that can just use the same first XI for all matches and still win simply because there's nothing the opposition can do to stop them.  Barca comes to mind, and even then that kind of team only comes around once every couple decades.  For the rest of us mere mortals, we'll have to rely on flexibility, and I think Kenny/Comolli have built a great squad with that in mind.

Suarez had more curve than Torres did. Just sayin.

Tell me you're still talking about the goals they scored.

Wow... Yes, I am.

Two thoughts after watching the game from yesterday:

Spearing vs. Adam:

Spearing really did well yesterday; he seemed like he replicated the form that we saw near the end of last year. I think he is a much better fit (currently) in the double pivot with Lucas than Adam. Adam is a great weapon to have in some situations, but he tends to spread the play out wide. For example: against Man U, Liverpool had something like 30 crosses, but no one in the box to receive them. Against Stoke, there were maybe 10 crosses. Remember that this is with Carroll on the field. Adam needs to be taught how to play the short and easy pass game before he integrates his "Hollywood" passing game that made him such a commodity.

Suarez:

He may have been able to hide it really well just because he is an amazing player, but Luis Suarez has been terribly out of form this season. His confidence was low and he has not been able to influence games like he did at the end of last season. You can see a night and day difference between Suarez before his first goal and after it. He is as guilty as anyone else on the team of needing time to gel with his new teammates. On a side note, with Downing not on the field he is given much more space to roam; but that is an issue that could have a whole blog post dedicated to it.

Anyways, this is another performance that will increase the level of expectation for this squad. Carroll and Maxi both looked good. Hopefully Kenny will get working on the issue of consistency in defense and the finishing.

Is it just me or are the proclamations to allah a bit much, assuming I'm hearing correctly? Though hard to argue with the heavenly nature of that strike. 

Didn't get to see the last ten minutes yesterday, but one game recap mentioned Luis was "hobbled" as he came off: truth, or just a niggling knock?

I believe the word/phrase is "yalla"...which is akin to "andale" in Spanish or "oh my sweet baby Jesus" in South-of-Mason-Dixon. You can use "yalla" to proclaim, "hurry it up, ffs!" or "come on, pass the ball!" or "go on!".

A versatile little word. Like Noel's use of the f-bomb.

Yeah NotTooXabi is spot on. I'm taking Arabic and we were taught that "yalla" basically translates into "Let's Go!". I can't see the video as it's been blocked, but the word "allah" itself in the context could have also been used. For instance, if you see something beautiful/worthy of admiration the word/phrase "allah" or "maa sha allah" would be the Arabic phrase meaning "that's beautiful" rather than a reference to a religion(if that makes sense). Translations aside, it was an absolutely filthy goal.

Trust me, if you ever find yourself a Lebanese girlfriend, you'll learn the meaning of "yalla" real quick.

Filthy, dirty, and nasty.

YALLA!!!

Ah - that's fantastic, then. Being from south of the line, very much appreciate such turns of phrase.

calf problem apparently.  Not heard anything so assume it's nothing.

Thanks. Hopefully will keep the form over the weekend, precipitating one of those face rub episodes, ideally.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I never want to see that again. Memories are too painful.  Made me take up self-harm practices.

Has to be the highlight of the season so far for me. I mean, you just don't get commentary of that calibre where I come from.

it's fantastic to see such a goal scored by SUAREZ but i still ask our lfc fans to stand by LUIS SUAREZ for his best yet to come in lfc colours,but KENNYs should make sure come january trans.window he (kenny) should bring in HULK and HIGUAIN,then HAZARD.for us to be at top 4 also champios league next season.

Yea, I think if we get those guys in front and Tiago Silva, Pique, Ramos and Essien for defense we should be a well-rounded team.

no messi???strange...

Some things I noticed in that game yesterday (I only watched the Arabic commentary highlights): 

- sometimes football is lots of fun to watch in other languages especially when teams score goals. 
- Suarez is amazing
- why do goalies seem to step up when they are against Liverpool? That's why its awesome the goalie got owned with an unsaveable Suarez goal. SUCK ON THAT GOALIES.

What I found really funny was I was reading this article on bleacher report that was started before the Carling Cup game and was written during it till about half way mark and it was all, is Suarez a liability? He needs to share. He's missing a lot of the goals (that he creates mind you) and then he got majorly owned because of the two Suarez goals. Shows how people jump on the criticism boat way too early (I do too but man I love it when people get owned)