Wigan vs Liverpool- My Post-Match Thoughts

In the late kick-off game yesterday (Saturday 2nd March), Liverpool  faced Wigan at the DW stadium.  Before the game many fans were concerned, as Daniel Sturridge was not playing and in the past we haven’t  proved particularly  clinical in front of goal without him. However, those fears were soon forgotten as Liverpool  ran riot, in the end winning 4-0. A very positive part of Liverpool’s play recently is how quickly they get out of the blocks. This game was no exception, and Stewart Downing headed Liverpool in front (yes, you did read that right) after just 110 seconds! The goal was made by Philippe Coutinho, who showed phenomenal skill to beat his man out wide, and then delivered a perfect ball into the box. The next goal was also created by Coutinho. Whereas the first goal demonstrated his excellent on-the-ball skill, this one showed his vision and sense of timing. He held the ball up, waiting for Suarez to make the run, and when he did Coutinho slotted it through to him perfectly. Suarez then finished extremely coolly, slotting it past the helpless Al-Habsi. After this it got even better for Liverpool, when they got a free kick just outside the area. Suarez slipped as he took it, but it deflected off the wall, off the post and in. It wasn’t ‘El Pistolero’s’ finest goal,  but it put Liverpool 3 goals in front. After half time Liverpool continued to dominate. The 4th goal seemed inevitable, it was just a question of who was  going to get it. The answer, of course, was Luis Suarez. Johnson slotted a lovely ball through to him, and he  completed his hat-trick by clinically slotting the ball into the Wigan net. So far I have only talked about the attackers, but one player who certainly deserves a huge amount of credit is Pepe Reina. He was back to his old self, making some absolutely stunning reaction saves. Although it is unlikely that Wigan would have got anything from the game with Liverpool in such a rampant mood, they did  have 4 big chances, all of which Reina managed to keep out spectacularly. Were it not for the outstanding play of Suarez, Reina would have been my man of the match. In conclusion, Liverpool played brilliantly. The attacking play was brilliant, the new signing Coutinho is proving  himself to be just as good a signing as I said he would be (see my previous article), and Reina appears to be  back to full form. If we can keep this up we should certainly qualify for the Europa and with a big game against  Tottenham next week, who knows? Maybe the top 4 still is just possible.