“Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress” – Nicholas Murray Butler
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An incessant need for patience is what Brendan Rodgers called for from his players when he first arrived at Anfield last summer. Patience. A key word that not only is important for the squad members to remember, but the fans of this great club, too.
Transition. Another word that sticks in the memory. How could anyone forget this one? Liverpool have been in transition ever since Rafael Benitez left the club in 2010. However, this season – Rodgers’ first – seems to be the last of the ‘transitions’. A squad that started sluggishly is now finally catching up with itself.
January was an important month for the club, and for Rodgers. Having only Luis Suarez to choose from as a notable forward from August through to January would be tough for any manager at a new club. This isn’t just ‘any club’, though. Rodgers was to be scrutinised from the second news broke of his arrival. After all, replacing the ‘King’, Kenny Dalglish, was never going to be easy. He started off with some fans against him purely because of who his predecessor was. Fortunately for Rodgers, he talks a great game.
He promised passing, flowing, attacking football – none of this gung-ho, kitchen sink-throwing football the fans witnessed under Dalglish. Don’t read that wrong, though – the football under Dalglish was exciting; however, there was no substance; no tactical edge to the play. Just a free-for-all, we’ll score more than you attitude.
When I look back at his second reign as manager, I think to myself: what was one of the main issues with ‘Dalglish’s Liverpool’? Patience, or the lack of it shall we say.
Patience, that word has cropped up again. And it’s one of the most important things Brendan Rodgers asked of his players. At first, we could see glimpses of his skills and system rubbing off on the players… until someone hoofed the ball 70 yards up the pitch and expected Luis Suarez to win a header against an enormous central defender.
Most fans have learnt to be patient with Rodgers, too. However, there are hoards of people who simply don’t like him. I’ve seen him labelled as a fraud recently.
Personally, I don’t quite get that, but that’s for another day.
At the turn of the year, Liverpool sat 9th in the Premier League, with 28 points from 20 matches. Since then, Liverpool have picked up 14 more points in eight matches. That doesn’t sound like the greatest form ever, but just look at the Reds’ last six league wins: 4-0 vs Wigan; 5-0 vs both Swansea and Norwich City; 3-0 vs both Sunderland and QPR; and 4-0 against Fulham.
That’s 24 goals without reply. A huge improvement at both ends of the field. A telling sign of Daniel Sturridge’s impression in the team and the system, too. With ten games remaining, Rodgers’ Liverpool have already scored more goals than last season’s tally of 47.
Rodgers must be credited with this. He must also be credited with the renaissance of Steven Gerrard. A lot, myself included, worried about Gerrard’s form, earlier in the season, as his performances were worrying. He was struggling to adapt to the new 4-3-3 system and looked like his days were numbered.
Myself, and many others, called for him to be dropped. But just like Lazarus of Bethany, he rose from the death and scored a wonder-goal at the Etihad Stadium in a 2-2 draw with the reigning Premier League champions.
His performances before that game were equally as impressive but his starring role that night showed never to lose faith or bet against Steven Gerrard. That old adage of ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ has never seemed so true.
Another player who seems invigorated under Rodgers is the magical Luis Suarez. After months of sensational, swirling runs through defences across the country, and 21 league goals, many think Suarez should scoop the Player of the Year awards at the business end of the season. Quite rightly, too. He’s been a revelation this season, and the team is being built around him – something Kenny Dalglish failed to do.
The pace, trickery and silky techniques of Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho allow Suarez to terrorise defenders. The interchange and telepathic chemistry between the trio is the main reason for the number of goals the team is scoring. The best thing about this forward line, you ask? Their age. All three are young; Suarez 26, Sturridge 23 and Coutinho 20.
Another word for you: Potential. The current side is bubbling with it. Lucas Leiva is maturing into one of the most talented ‘destroyers’ in Europe; Coutinho and Sturridge have stepped into the squad with considerable ease and the likes of Andre Wisdom, Suso and Raheem Sterling provide plenty of belief that under Rodgers – who is young himself – there could be success in the future.
The young lads around the first team squad are not the only promising talents, either. The Under-21s side has plenty of talent, as does the Under-18 team. An academy brimming with potential and talent – all at the disposal of a man known for his excellent work with younger players.
After three years of disappointment smashing away the hope and enthusiasm, now it seems, Liverpool are on the up. With Brendan Rodgers at the helm, given time and proper backing, he could be the man to take Liverpool back into the Champions League and challenging for trophies in May.
Optimism. There’s a word for you.
