Liverpool season 2012-13: Still in transition

Impressive Raheem Sterling

As autumn was drawing to a close, Sterling was starting to look a little burnt out and £15m summer signing, Joe Allen’s form had deserted him. Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing had come back into the fold and made an impression, but it was to be the January transfer window that would prove decisive. Daniel Sturridge was signed from Chelsea and Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan.

Despite the humiliation of a premature exit from the FA Cup at the hands of giant killers Oldham, Liverpool continued to tighten up defensively in the second half of the campaign and Sturridge was making an instant impact, taking the pressure off Suarez to score the goals. The energy and work rate of Jordan Henderson was making him an important member of the team, helping to press opponents higher up the pitch, as Liverpool looked to have adjusted to the style of play that Rodgers demands.

Skipper Steven Gerrard was also increasingly adapting to a more withdrawn role in the midfield, yet still exerting his influence and after a poor start to the season, Pepe Reina even recovered some of the form that had once made him the most consistent goalkeeper in the country.

The icing on the cake though, would be the growing influence of Coutinho. The young Brazilian attacking midfielder was once considered by some as one of the hottest prospects in world football and he settled quickly, showing his skill, technique and vision to give the Kop a new hero.

In any other year, Luis Suarez would’ve been named player of the year; not just for scoring 30 goals or the breath taking quality of some those goals, but also for the consistently high level of performances he put in throughout the season.

However, as soon as he inexplicably bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, he ended all hopes of the LMA version of that accolade. The burning pitchfork brigade may have wanted a lifetime ban and 50 years imprisonment, but had to make do with a 10 match ban, as the FA got caught up in the hysteria.

With Suarez unavailable for the last few games of the season, it allowed Coutinho and Sturridge to develop their understanding on the pitch. They did that to aplomb as Liverpool ended the season in good form, the highlight of which being the 6-goal mauling of Newcastle.

All in all, if Liverpool can take their form and progress from the second of the season into next year, along with a successful transfer window, then perhaps there can be some reasons for optimism that Liverpool can compete for a top 4 spot next year.

It seems only appropriate that my final note should be that Liverpool’s final league game against QPR saw the birth of a promising Anfield career in the shape of Jordan Ibe, but it also saw the end of another as after 17 years and 737 appearances, Jamie Carragher hung up his boots. Liverpool’s loss will be Sky Sports’s gain.

Written by Andy Wales

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