Top 4 ways for Liverpool to keep winning

Yes, it has happened.

After five long weeks of enduring the worst start to a league campaign in well over a century, Liverpool picked up their first win of the season at Carrow Road on Saturday. They did this by thumping Norwich City 5-2 in an exhibition of scintillating football, passing the ball around with aplomb, and for once, displaying that clinical edge that was characteristic of Fernando Torres’s spell at Anfield.

The team was a joy to watch, as they were finally able to supplant ‘beautiful’ football with a butt-load of goals, and keeping the naysayers quiet for the time being. They literally treated Norwich to ‘death by football’ with their passing, before dialing it down after going 3-0 ahead.

The battle has been won, but how do Liverpool win the war? How can they ensure that they don’t fall into a rut again, and be decimated by lower-table teams? How can they ensure that people will consider them a serious threat to the Champions League spot?

I now present a few ways as to how Liverpool can continue winning:

Help Luis Suarez

You could forgive Norwich fans for melting at the mere sight of the enigmatic Uruguayan, as he seems to have picked the Canaries to be his punching bag in the EPL. Two hat-tricks in two visits says it all, as he absolutely ripped through a hapless home defence, while being ably supported by the likes of Sterling, Suso, Sahin and Gerrard, with his third goal serving as an exceptional example of clinical finishing.

However, cold hard facts will show you that the man has scored 45% of Liverpool’s goals, and is often relied upon to be Liverpool’s ONLY danger man in the final third. While you cannot bestow the infamous tag of a one-man team on the Merseysiders (thanks to Joe Allen), Suarez seems to be their only goal threat, as their midfield has flattered to deceive in the scoring department, with only three goals being scored. Overall, the team has played exceptional football, but seems to lack the cutting edge, until the Norwich match.

What worries me is that we don’t have a player to step up for Suarez if he gets injured or suspended. The midfield and the rest of the offensive players such as Borini and Sterling desperately need to start scoring.

Allen-Sahin-Gerrard axis

While the midfielders haven’t been renowned for scoring goals, they’ve played with a flair and style that’s been absent ever since the legendary Xabi Alonso departed in 2009. The undisputed star has been the summer signing Joe Allen, who’s served as the fulcrum of Liverpool, and BR has built the rest of the side around him, with Allen serving as Liverpool’s engine a la Paul Scholes at United. With his pin-point accuracy, he’s maintained well over 90% passing accuracy throughout the season, not only in the defensive half, but the attacking half too.

Allen will play a major role for the Reds this season and he’s been the best midfielder by far on the pitch. Sahin is settling in nicely too, with three goals in his last two games, and linked up beautifully with Suarez at Carrow Road. He could potentially be the goal scoring midfielder Liverpool need, despite not being renowned for that and displayed the kind of form that made him the best player in the Bundesliga in 2010-11.

After an indifferent start under BR, Captain Fantastic has burst into life in the last two games, playing a vital part against United and grabbing a goal at Carrow Road too. Although his best years are behind him, as always the Reds will look to their extraordinary leader for inspiration.

The midfield axis is a very crucial recipe for success, and if they continue dominating matches, life could become very easy for BR.

Improve defensively

Despite the much derided offence under Kenny Dalglish, his defence was always a force to be reckoned with, conceding just 40 goals last season, a total bettered only by the clubs from Manchester. Due to a change in style effected by the new manager, the defence has struggled to get accustomed to the change, resulting in the influx of goals into Reina’s net. The most glaring blunder was Martin Skrtel’s transition from hero to villain against Manchester City, when his ill-timed back-pass allowed Tevez to score, and steal a point for the Citizens.

Pepe Reina too has been poor, with his fumble yesterday only adding fuel to haters’ fire. The old adage “Form is temporary, class is permanent” is being relayed by staunch Merseysiders, and with good reason too. We can expect the defence to come good and shore up, and it really shouldn’t be a matter of much concern going forward.

Continue breeding youngsters

Raheem Sterling looks to be an early contender for the breakout star of the season; such has been the high level of his displays this season. Sterling is at the centre of everything good about BR’s reign, with the manager heavily emphasizing on the role of youngsters. With the current crop in the academy, they could be the cornerstone of Anfield for a long time to come. Shelvey and Suso have also impressed, with Andre Wisdom too getting a run against Norwich.

Suso could be the next great play maker and his instant impact against United serves as a testament to this. As is common with young players, temperament seems to be an issue, evident by the Shelvey situation. Sterling too has made some rash tackles, and the defensive side of their game needs to improve, and that comes with experience.

More ‘fledglings’ to look out for: Samed Yesil, Adam Morgan, and Danny Wilson.

In conclusion, the supporters need to keep their feet firmly grounded and not get carried away with a few good morale-boosting wins. Despite initial hiccups, Rodgers has most definitely injected some much-needed fresh blood at Anfield. It’s a long season, and expect the Reds to be dark horses in what looks to be a very exciting race for the Top 4.

As it’s with the EPL, anything and everything can happen.