Magix

Madness, all this. But I'm lovin' it.

Could we have a 'Do wins put you in a winning mood'?. Think that thread can last...

Yup, my starting pair as well. Think they're both more of the front-foot, proactive, comfortable on the ball defenders Rodgers is looking for. Also helps that Toure and Sahko speak the same language.

This foul mood is taking a while to go away.

That was really well put by Gerrard. Well played, sir.

With Sturridge's arrival, can picture Downing (the current incarnation, that is) playing as the left wide forward, delivering crosses which will be attacked by Suarez and Sturridge. Would probably be interchanging within a match anyhow.

If that's the case, rather we got him in the summer for a tribunal set fee; he's more a take a punt on player than someone who is more certain to improve the first team.

If the rumours swirling are true, does that mean we'll be getting someone in midfield as a replacement? What if we can get a midfield spoiler who can play a bit like Diame on the cheap in place?

Ditto,

With Gerrard in the form he's in, we can close up without necessarily losing our expansive game, not with the kind of balls he's been pinging around. Having Sturridge in the frontline alongside Suarez and Sterling would make our counterattack even more potent. The pace we can break at is something.

Yeah, though there's this suspicion (unsubstantiated or not) that he's playing for a move, and once the window shuts he'll revert to the old Downing we love to hate.

If a good offer (say 6-7 million pounds) comes in this transfer window, do we still take the money and run? A month or so back it was bite their hands off; now, he's surely played himself back into the first-team picture. Can do a decent job at leftback, especially against weaker opponents, while impressing more and more in his usual attacking role.

Has played himself into the first eleven, especially after last night's performance. The Lucas-Henderson-Gerrard combination is the more balanced trio at the moment.

Great result and a near pitch-perfect performance. While Suarez leads the plaudits, it was truly a laudable team effort. A tasty glimpse of what's to come once the inconsistencies are ironed out and the team gets fully attuned to how Brendan wants us to line up. Agree with you both. Perhaps Borini can play Kuyt's role; he has a similar natural stamina and movement and makes those great pulling-defenders-away runs into the box.

Yeah, relying as much as have on youth, while gratifying to watch on one hand, seeing the Academy's hard work and planning bearing fruit (thanks, Rafa!), exposes the side more to inconsistency, in a team already plagued by a lack of consistency. I think midfield is where a lot of the structural issues to the our consistency stem from; the midfield three aren't functioning enough as a unit. In the absence of a fully fit Lucas, a defensive midfield of 2 would offer up more insurance, like how Gerrard and Lucas seemingly lined up against Fulham.