Suarez bites back

Luis Suarez has hit the headlines again this week, however, this time it was for all the right reasons after two goals in a week helped Liverpool climb to the top of the Premier League, albeit for probably only 24 hours with Arsenal and Tottenham yet to play this weekend.

It was the Uruguayans first Premier League appearance at Anfield since April after serving a ten match ban for biting the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, nevertheless, Suarez continued his impressive form this season by netting in the 16th minute as Liverpool swept past a sinking Crystal Palace ship.

In a one sided first half it was the 'SAS' partnership of Suarez and Sturridge who tore the Eagles apart, before captain Steven Gerrard crashed home his 99th Premier League goal from the penalty spot to give Brendan Rodgers's side a unassailable 3-0 lead at the break.

Coincidentally in Suarez's last fixture at Anfield it was against a London side (Chelsea) and both him and Sturridge were on the score sheet, of course this game didn't see Suarez chomp on the arm of a player, despite him looking hungry for goals.

Liverpool will also be boosted by the return of their King Kenny, who on Friday announced he was returning to the club as a Non-exec director. The sight of Kenny Dalglish back at Anfield brings about immense happiness to the fans of the red side of Merseyside, even more so while they sit at the top of the Premier League.

Suarez has shown two impressive performances in the Premier League against Sunderland and Crystal Palace and despite bigger tests to come, there is a real belief amongst supporters that he is back to his best and he has put the past behind him.

One Liverpool fan told Everything Sport that Suarez was 'firing on all cylinders again'.

"Luis is the best striker in the Premier League. I know it's only been two games but he is firing on all cylinders again and he is putting in a shift for the team."

Despite a growing belief that the damaged love affair between Suarez and Liverpool is coming to an end, newspaper rumours wont go away that the striker is waiting on a move to Real Madrid in January.

That speculation was fired even more on Saturday morning as Suarez's Uruguay teammate Edinson Cavani said Suarez was 'still hoping for a move to Madrid.' Whether or not Liverpool would sell or in fact if Suarez will go remains unclear, however, the striker is back to his best and alongside Sturridge, Liverpool could remain in the title hunt for some time yet.

Is Suarez back to his best? Are Sturridge and Suarez the best Premier League partnership? And will Suarez leave Liverpool in January and join Real Madrid? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below or tweeting @RyanDay100

Top two? Your having a laugh........surely?

This week Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claimed that the club should be looking to finish higher than fourth and instead should be chasing Manchester City in second.

Those comments came just one day before Liverpool crashed to an humiliating 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa who before the clash at Anfield found themselves struggling in 17th place in this seasons Premier League. So what can Liverpool fans really expect for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season?

It has been a difficult few years now for the Reds on and off the field of play and most Liverpool fans want stability at the club, but is that enough? Rodgers took over the reigns of one of the biggest clubs in Europe who appeared to be on their last legs. Liverpool had finished eighth the previous season and even club legend Kenny Dalglish could not provide the magic spark to blast the sleeping giants into good form.

Many fans argue that Dalglish was making a difference and a League Cup last season was proof of that argument, however that sits uneasy with me as Liverpool just were not performing in the league and an eighth placed finish was not good enough. Another disappointment during the second coming of Dalglish was his willingness to spend large amounts of money on average players. £35 Million on Andy Carroll and £20 Million on Jordan Henderson clear proof.

So what has Rodgers done differently? In all honestly not a lot. Liverpool have endured their worst start to a Premier League season and still find themselves in the bottom half of the table as we approach Christmas. Rodgers has no right to demand his side chase second place and should firmly set his sights on ensuring his side qualify for European football next season.

I am not knocking Rodgers for showing a bit of outward belief in himself and his players and in fact it should be applauded that he has the courage to make such bold statements, however he is only adding pressure to his already broad shoulders as Liverpool fans have a tendency to get carried away, something I fear Rodgers latest comments could spark, however Saturdays defeat at home to Villa would have brought some Liverpool fans back to earth rather swiftly.

Rodgers must buy in the January window, but he must buy players that will perform in the Premier League and the likes of Fernando Llorente, Daniel Sturridge and Darren Bent all fit into that bracket. Liverpool need to rebuild quickly, defensively they are fine, the midfield could do with some adjustments although not much, however it is up front where Rodgers must relieve some of the pressure that is currently being carried by top goal scorer Luis Suarez.

Liverpool fans expect every season for their team to be challenging at the top end of the Premier League table and it saddens me at this current time in its history that some fans still expect that, even though it is not on the horizon anytime soon. With the right reinforcements in January, Rodgers can guide Liverpool to a top six finish this season and then look to build upon it next season, however his comments last week will mean the Reds fans will expect more and sadly that wont be possible this season.

Let me know what you think. Will Liverpool challenge for a top four finish or will Rodgers and co have to settle for a top ten finish?

Carroll exit could be the only way forward for Liverpool

Five goals in 28 appearances simply isn’t good enough for any striker, especially when they cost £35 million. So is it time Liverpool cut their losses and sell Andy Carroll in the summer?

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish continues to throw his full support behind the former Newcastle striker, however, there is no doubt that the Scotsman is becoming fed up with his striker, not that Dalglish would admit that in the media.

With the return of Luis Suarez to first team after serving his eight game suspension for being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Carroll could find himself on the bench in the coming weeks especially with the continued success of Craig Bellamy in the absence of Suarez.

People argue that Carroll brings to the side so much more than goals, however, at the moment he isn’t even bring assists to the team as Liverpool continue to struggle to find the net. Liverpool’s performance against Tottenham on Monday evening was frightfully poor in an attacking sense for the Liverpool fans at Anfield and those watching at home on TV. Despite having Carroll up top Liverpool still looked inept to understand that balls floated on to the 6’3 strikers head is the best way to use the 23 year old.  Instead Liverpool still insist on playing beautiful football on the floor while trying to zip balls into the middle, all very well if you have a striker that is quick and has good movement, the problem is Carroll is anything but.

The striker enjoyed his time at St James Park because the Toon knew how to use him and they played to their strengths, however Liverpool continue to remain stubborn and cling onto the belief that they are a top four club and playing beautiful football along the floor is the only way to win games, unfortunately with Carroll in the team, playing ugly and playing to their strengths is the only way they will win some games.

Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish may well decide to keep Carroll on the books although that would mean altering the way the team play and no one at Liverpool seems ready to admit to that meaning it is more than likely the club will sell the 23 year old in the summer.

Should Liverpool sell Carroll? Would Newcastle take him back?

Is the King of Anfield about to be dethroned?

It’s just over a year since ‘King Kenny’ returned to Anfield with the belief that he would be the man to lead the Merseyside club to the League title or European football at the very least, forward to today and Liverpool’s 0-0 draw at home to Stoke left the ‘Reds’ five points behind fourth placed Chelsea and a massive 13 points behind league leaders Man City who have played a game less.

The one thing that will worry many Liverpool fans is that a win for Newcastle against QPR on Sunday would see the ‘Toon’ move above Liverpool into sixth placed and leave Dalglish’s men languishing in seventh, outside of any European spaces available.  There is no doubt that Liverpool do have a better squad than when Roy Hodgson departed, however, that can only increase the calls for Dalglish to fix Liverpool’s stuttering season or face the consequences.

With Luis Suarez banned for a further six games after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra and Andy Carroll struggling to score goals Liverpool are struggling for both goals and points with the club having only scored 24 league goals so far this term which could prove costly for Dalglish soon. The January transfer window could prove vital as to whether Dalglish will be in charge next time the window opens on 1^st June. Should Liverpool spend and rise to the heights of fourth and above then Dalglish will remain, should the club not make European football for the second year in succession the kings reign may come to a sour end.

Draws against Blackburn, Stoke, Norwich, Swansea, Wigan and Sunderland while defeats at Fulham and Tottenham have left the pressure on Dalglish but will the Scotsman get the boot? Like Sir Alex at Manchester United the Liverpool fans love their boss, however, with results continually disappointing for Liverpool I seriously think his honeymoon period has come to an end and patience is beginning to wear thin throughout Merseyside.

However hard it is to imagine I don’t think we should be too surprised if in the coming months we see ‘King Kenny’ removed from his position.

What do you think? Would Liverpool sack Kenny Dalglish? How can he turn Liverpool’s season around or do you think he is doing a good job? As always let me know.

The unEXpected goalscorer

Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles and Nicolas Anelka were all lining up against their former club Liverpool this afternoon hoping to grab a goal that would help Chelsea avoid a second consecutive home defeat in nine years, however it was a former Blue now playing for the Reds who scored to condemn Villas-Boas’s side to a second home defeat in a row.

Glen Johnson of all players on the field was the man to score against his former side after playing at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2007 as he swept home a fine goal to send the travelling supporters delirious as they claimed their second win at Chelsea in two seasons as well as recording their third straight win against the London side.

This defeat will of course add to the disgruntled noises that are currently rumbling out of Stamford Bridge. Club officials rubbished reports of a rift in the relationship between AVB and owner Roman Abramovich as ‘Total nonsense’, this result would suggest otherwise.

Torres, a £50 Million pound buy last January from Liverpool started the game on the bench and was lacklustre when he did rear his head above the pit in what was a feisty encounter. Torres defendants will say that the man himself never claimed to be worth that amazing figure so he shouldn’t be kept be judged by it, however, money in football has spiralled out of control so when fans see their club pay that much for a player with the money that supporters pay to watch after a long week at work then I feel it is fair for Chelsea fans to begin so much for from their ‘star striker’.

As for Liverpool this was a superb win and ironically they earned it with their massive signings on the bench. Andy Carroll (£35 Million), Stewart Downing (£19 Million) and Jordan Henderson (£20 Million) were all rested as Kenny Dalglish threw the likes of Maxi, Suarez, Lucas and Johnson into the mix.

These two sides will be expecting to challenge for the title this term, however the grim reality for the pair is that they both sit 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City. Dalglish will be happy with the win whereas AVB will be aware the pressure is building on the 33 year old and despite many hoping that he will be given the chance to turn it around, knowing the way Abramovich does things it could be that AVB could be gone before Christmas.

What do you think? Did Chelsea deserve to lose? Will AVB sacked before Christmas? Can Liverpool build on this win and push for the title?

As always let me know.