Three 1-0 wins. Three goals from Daniel Sturridge and today’s in the third minute. Three games without conceding a goal. Nine points from nine and the sweetest of wins over their most hated rivals on the day Anfield honoured the 100th birthday of Bill Shankly. Nobody needs to be reminded there’s no point in looking at the league table yet, but as far as the numbers game goes it’s all looking pretty good at Anfield right now.
A 1-0 win over Manchester United has put Liverpool top of the Premier League table while the performance against the reigning champions will give real belief to Brendan Rodgers' side that a top 4 finish is achievable.
If there has been one criticism levelled at Liverpool in their two league wins before today it was an inability to kill those games off. The two 1-0 wins before today – against Stoke City and Aston Villa – were greeted with reservation. While the winning score line was, naturally, very welcome, hanging on for a win at the end of those games was not. Today continues the 1-0 trend, but the calibre of opposition means there can be no claims of unfulfilled potential, or a lack of steel in closing out a result.
Daniel Sturridge got the home side of to the perfect start with a goal in the third minute. Daniel Agger got his head on the end of a corner and Sturridge, lurking near the goal-line, stooped to get the faintest of touches on the ball. The deflection was enough to send it skimming past David De Gea and the Manchester United defenders on the line. The goal puts Sturridge in the company of Anfield royalty, as he joins Robbie Fowler as the only player to score a goal in Liverpool’s three opening Premier League fixtures. It was also his tenth goal in the eight games since Luis Suarez received his ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic.
For the remainder of the game United pushed in search of the equaliser but for all that they were the side offering attacking intent there was never more than a handful of moments in which Liverpool looked dangerously exposed. Efficient use of possession formed the basis – as it has done so far this season – of a defensive performance that ensured a solitary goal would prove to be enough.
Five minutes of added time tested the nerves of the home crowd but a close call from Robin Van Persie – when the Dutch striker fired at Simon Mignolet’s goal from a tight angle – was as close as the champions would come to levelling things up.
Image: Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers
(File photo) ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
