2. The Progress Is There For All To See
Liverpool have been scrutinised severely this season, as they would any other season, but because of the transitional period Liverpool are fighting through there is a general negativity whenever they're in the headlines. Well, I think it's time for some nice news, and I'm going to deliver it - Liverpool are making progress and BR will take the team and the club forward. Ok, they are nowhere near the finished article yet. Far from it in fact, but, since the start of the season and particularly after the home games against Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City (yielding just 1 point) I have become much more optimistic and almost stealing a point away at Old Trafford after being 2-0 down shows Liverpool not only have a decent side on their day but also, a backbone - a bit of inner strength when stuff doesn't go your way, a bit of heart when you're behind to the best team in the league and a bit of pride in the shirt. This is something that Fergie has mastered to the point where you'd rather go behind to United than lead them at any stage because you know they prefer it and you know they'll hit you back no matter how good you think you are. I think BR intends to try and drill this into his squad and you can see the evidence in his interviews when he talks about the shirt, the fans and the history - he wants his players to tear everyone up for that one inch of turf. If everyone in the team continues to follow that mantra then results against higher placed teams will come and I for one, approach the games against Norwich City, Arsenal and Manchester City with confidence that we can get something from all three. I also think everyone is comfortable with what BR is asking but not too comfortable that they slack off. I think he's bringing better performances out of Henderson - a man, that I think is performing much better for BR than he did for Dalglish. I also think Downing has improved although, I will admit, his last 2 performances haven't been awesome, it literally took him around 75 minutes just to get involved in the United game. I think the addition of Sturridge is a good one, with his 2 goals in 2 games he hasn't put a foot wrong yet. Gerrard's improving too. Overall, I think the squad has become more potent since the start of the season and the second half at Old Trafford emphasised that. I don't want to be completely biased so I feel the need to mention some shortfalls. Joe Allen, after a fine start to his career as a Liverpool player has now regressed and often appears to be a rabbit in the proverbial headlights. He nearly gifted United with a goal with a poor and underweighted backpass. But it's not just the United fixture (in which he did improve 100% in the second half), he's been poor for about 5 or 6 games now and appears to need a short time out of the team. Perhaps some substitute appearances would benefit him - he excelled as a sub against Sunderland when the game was already won so give him some no-pressure games to get his A-game back. Sterling also seems to have hit the wall that Suso and Wisdom did earlier in the season, games are skipping him by without impact now and perhaps he needs a small spell on the sidelines like Allen - maybe, to show he's not a guaranteed first XI player. It worked for Henderson and Downing, to a certain extent for the latter, so why not Sterling?