The Turning…? Perhaps

Liverpool Vs Wigan 16th December (Premiership)

Two goals from our two strikers enabled us to keep up the pace with the Premiership big boys, while making ground on Man City and Arsenal.

This game was all about positivity and attacking play throughout. The all important second goal took far too long to come, but it did, and that’s the salient factor.

Scotland’s strike against the bar at 1-0 was the good fortune we craved, and as late Wigan onslaught rattled us, our confidence was suspect, but we held our nerve.

Holding on at home against Wigan is hardly something to be happy about (no offence Latics) but it’s better than dropping points in injury-time, the tale of the season in Europe so far.

Unlike the arsenal game we stated the second half with positivity and confidence, picking up where the first half had finished, and looked to add to our first half tally.

61 goals from your first 100 games in English football; has anyone had quite the immediate impact El Nino has had? And some thought it was a risk for Benitez to shed £20m on Torres, how wrong they were.

Bear in mind that some of these games include substitute appearances. If he’d been fully fit more often, think how many more he might have scored! A strike rate of 0.75, 0.9, 1.25!! Ok, maybe I’m getting over zealous, but it’s truly an incredible scoring record, up there with the greats, Fowler, Rush and Hunt.

Are there any other centre-halves in the Premiership who have the skill to dribble a ball through the midfield like Daniel Agger? His quick feet, close control and strengthen means he can launch attacks with his mazy runs, and his use of the 1-2, a classic football move, is a joy to watch.

Such attacks catch the opposition of guard, as he makes a huge amount of ground in a matter of seconds, such an exciting move to watch.

Praise surely goes to Rafa who undoubtedly encourages Agger to express himself, and include such elements to his game.

I’m running out of adjectives to describe the titanic efforts of Mascherano, working hard, winning balls, distributing well. While the relationship between Aurelio and Insua is another dimension of the team that is flourishing.

At the start of the season I wondered how both would fit into the same XI, but Aurelio provides real protection for the young Argentine, and they bring each other into play well.

Let’s keep the momentum going with 3 points and more goals on Saturday, and go 2 points off 3rd place, if for only for a few hours.