First off: I thought that was very comfortable and dare I say it - easy.
We never really looked under any great threat; even in a first half where so many players were looking lack-lustre and being admonished. It may be fair to say that both Charlie and Jordan looked out of sorts yet, paradoxically, to my mind anyhow, we still controlled the game and without a deflection would have went in ahead. For all the pre-match talk about Tiote & Cabaye our midfield was dealing with them rather comfortably, I thought... down, in no small part, (pun intended), to Jay.
Bellamy was buzzing, Agger was majestic and we were getting down the flanks with both regularity and ease. The crosses were many - a couple of dozen, I reckon. A combination of poor quality crossing and 'no one there' (when the quality
was better) meant we bore no fruits from that particular labour. No denying tho'; we
were on top.
I just knew that with a bit of luck and Gerrard we would win and so it turned out. I wasn't exactly sticking my neck out - more like adding a bit of perspective to those who may have doubted us.
I'll admit to thinking that he should have come on for Henderson... tho', to be fair; it really wouldn't have mattered who he replaced but... when Gerrard came on for Adam both the middle and forward lines became more assured. Confidence grew and it was only a matter of time, before we drove home the advantage we'd enjoyed the whole game.
Maybe we had become a bit blasé about how good he is but Steve really is something special - a truly World Class player - and it showed. Everyone looked more composed and more confident: everyone upped their game... and in a game with so, so many real positives the biggest of all was his timely return.
An easy three points and the return of Gerrard - what more could a Red want?
Logged