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Liverpool produced one of finest performances of the season with a 3-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s stadium ending an 11 year wait. They also managed to keep a clean sheet which was a rarity for Liverpool this season. This victory pushed them onto 2nd in the Premier League ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. Liverpool are starting to look like the Liverpool of old, the results are coming as well.
I must say this victory was a statement to the other teams in the title race, not too many teams have won at St Mary’s stadium. Liverpool’s fortunes are changing this season. They had a poor record at White Hart Lane; that was before they won 5-0 this season. They had a very poor record at the Britannia stadium picking only 2 points from 5 games; that changed this season with a 5-3 win on a cold wintry night. They thrashed Arsenal 5-1 at home; this has not happened too many times either.
A lot of credit for this has to go to Brendan Rodgers who is one of the brightest British managers. He has brought in the philosophy and tactical acumen to this current Liverpool side. Liverpool has played the most attractive and eye catching football this season. They score at will, concede some and provide tremendous entertainment to the football fans. Their record at home is also something to boast about, having lost only once to Southampton.
Brendan Rodgers has instilled confidence in Raheem Sterling who has been sensational this season. He has made Jordan Henderson a totally different player, more box-to-box with a lot of forward runs. If he improves his goals tally, he will be one player to watch out for in the future. Steven Gerrard has been superb in his new holding role. There have been a lot of positives for Liverpool this season.
Rodgers has also changed the formation quite often to negate opposition strengths. He played a 4-3-3 with Suarez on the right, Sturridge through the center and Sterling on the left, Liverpool went 4-0 up inside 20 minutes. He brought on Joe Allen against Swansea and Liverpool controlled the midfield and went on to win 4-3. He played a 4-4-2 against Southampton with a diamond formation in midfield with Coutinho at the top of the diamond. When he realized that Coutinho was slightly ineffective, he brought on Sterling who scored with his first touch of the ball.
If Liverpool improves their defensive record, they are a serious force to reckon with. With 10 matches to go and the kind of form Suarez and Sturridge are in, maybe Liverpool fans can just start to dream deep down in their hearts; if not the title then Champions League football.
