Analysing Liverpool’s Revolution

It was 21:50 on Wednesday 5th January and Liverpool have just lost at Ewood park, 3-1. Gerrard missed a penalty, Torres didn’t look with it and the fans have finally lost all faith in Roy Hodgson.

Then it was 14:45 on Saturday 20th August and Liverpool have just beaten Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Suarez came on at 0-0 in the 70th minute and changed the game the Liverpool fans love ‘King’ Kenny more and more. Here is the main reason in Liverpool’s recent turn of form in just over eight months.

1. Transfers.

Luis Suarez came in on Deadline day for around £22m pounds. Andy Carroll followed hours later for £35m as Fernando Torres’ replacement who had left for Chelsea in a £50m pound deal. Since Suarez’ arrival to England he has scored six goals in sixteen games which by any means is not prolific if you compare him to Aston Villa’s Darren Bent or team mate Andy Carroll. But Suarez has what Bent, Carroll or most players in the Premier League don’t have, flair, speed, determination and energy and he is one of the main reasons Liverpool have so drastically improved.

Stewart Downing came in for £20m and already looks settled, Jose Enrique came for £6m from Newcastle and got Man of the Match in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Arsenal. Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam both got there first goals in the impressive 3-1 win over Bolton, Coates came for 7 million and is one of the hottest properties in world football, The 6″6 man got Young player of the Tournament at this summers Copa America and should be a fine signing.

Finally Doni and Bellamy have came in on free transfers, Doni is a good enough backup for Liverpool’s number 1 Pepe Reina and Craig Bellamy returns to Liverpool from Manchester City, both should be good backups.

2. Youngsters.

Liverpool beat huge spenders Manchester City 3-0 at Anfield in mid April that match remembered for Andy Carroll’s first two Liverpool goals. But it should be noted that young eighteen year old scouser John Flanagan made his debut and faced Adam Johnson and James Milner that night at Anfield. He did not give them a chance and as a scouser he will give that extra that maybe a foreigner wouldn’t. Martin Kelly’s 2010/11 season ended with a hamstring injury at West Ham in February but came back at the Emirates and was very solid, England manager Fabio Capello praised the performance so maybe the 21 year old isn’t far away from a call up. Jack Robinson played in the 2010/11 games against Arsenal (a) and Birmingham (h) in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal he came on for the injured Fabio Aurellio and was so impressive he was in BBC’S team of the week he started Liverpool’s 5-0 win at home to Birmingham before being substituted in the 77th minute.

3. Feel good Factor

When John Henry won the club after the long court room battle the club was in turmoil. Under Roy Hodgson every defeat was greeted with boo’s (which is unusual for Liverpool fans, because this isn’t ‘The Liverpool Way’) . When the clubs favourite son Kenny Dalglish took over he made the club ‘happy’ again, albeit after a struggle of a start after an FA Cup 3rd round defeat at Man Utd (1-0) and then the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool, he made the club feel good again. The owners have invested, the favourite son is in charge and Liverpool travel to Stoke on Saturday (a ground they have yet to win on in the Premier League) with a lot of confidence that they can win the game

Follow me on twitter: Tom Storey