Reports: Sunderland, Everton and Stoke

Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool

Thank the lord I wasn't able to watch a game. A shocking performance and result though from all that I heard and read about it and saw from the highlights. It was deeply worrying how little was created and how little pressure was exerted on a determined and well organised but hardly particularly good side. This continued a run of disappointing performances and results.

Liverpool 3-0 Everton

Thank God for Stevie G! Liverpool's inspiration was once again the man for the occasion. He might not be quite the force he once was but he still has it in him as was shown in this truly awesome performance. All round, the team performance was very good as well and a welcome return to form and good to see a few goals go in at home for once this season. Liverpool dominated and the team had a rhythm and continuity that belied their recent poor form. Suarez was also superb it has to be said.

Ratings:

Reina - 7
Solid as always
Kelly - 8
Excellent both offensively and defensively
Enrique - 7
Another good performance
Carragher - 8
Hang on he's not quite done yet, marshalled the defence well
Skrtel - 7
Solid
Henderson - 5
He's not played well lately, could be because HE'S NOT A WINGER and WHY THE HELL ISN'T KUYT PLAYING EVERY GAME?!
Downing - 6
Worked hard
Spearing - 8
Very tidy and grafting performance
Gerrard - 9
What can one say?
Carroll - 6
Seriously what can one say?
Suarez - 8
Always a threat

Subs:
Kuyt - 7
Should be playing every game

Liverpool 2-1 Stoke

A hard working performance and a hard earned win here. It lacked the finesse and fluidity of the performance against Everton, Liverpool seemed to struggle to get into the flow of things but to be fair they are far from the only side to find this against Stoke. Finally, Stewart Downing produced a defining moment in his Liverpool career. I remain, I'm afraid, utterly unconvinced he'll ever properly 'come good' as a signing but hey he took the goal well. Maxi delivered another reminder of his lack of effectiveness and the fact he's probably the only utterly ineffective Argentinian international midfielder there is. So glad we've got him...

Ratings:

Reina - 7
Coped pretty well with the heavyweights of Stoke except on the goal where he was being obstructed
Kelly - 7
Very good job well done
Enrique - 7
Did the sensible thing well as ever
Carragher - 6
Struggled at times but generally pretty solid
Skrtel - 7
Good to have a bruiser against Stoke!
Maxi - 5
He played?
Downing - 6
Good goal but otherwise toiled to little effect
Spearing - 7
Solid and hard working
Gerrard - 6
Didn't have one of his best days
Saurez - 7
Our best player, lively but maybe a bit greedy at times
Carroll - 5
Didn't do much..surprising...

Subs:

Kuyt - 7
As ever injected energy
Coates - 6
Not really on long enough to make a difference
Henderson - 6
Likewise, although I'm sure he wouldn't

A couple of myths that need clearing up

There are two things in football that seriously blight the game at the moment. While I am glad that the horrific chopping, scything tackles from yesteryear are quite rightly ruled out of the game I think most would surely argue that it's gone too far. The myth that I refer to here is the idea that every high or two footed tackle is a dangerous, red card tackle. Some of the dismissals I've seen this season I regard as scandalous. If a player is obviously going for the ball, and gets it, where is the problem?! Even if he narrowly misses it...I mean you get the idea. I just think we're in danger of turning the game into a non-contact sport and eliminating what is an immense skill: the art of the sliding, crunching, but fair tackle.

The other thing is diving. Now of course everyone is getting immensely irritated with diving and simulation but the myth that needs clearing up for me is the idea that 'oh it's ok if he goes down if there was contact'. Do you know what - it isn't. Watching Tiote go over in the Tyne-Wear derby after being lightly touched by the arm of Sessegnon was embarrassing. Was it a deserved red for the Sunderland man? Yes absolutely. But my argument is why wasn't Tiote booked for such blatant over acting? Liverpool's own Suarez is also very guilty of this, as was shown in his reaction to the penalty incident at Anfield on Saturday. He should have been booked as well for such blatant overacting. Only then will this nuisance be mildly decreased.

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal

Oh for f**k's sake! Another excellent home performance that was for the most part dominant and we need the opposition to score for us and just our luck we have to come up against the most in form striker in the division who punishes us with two sucker punches. It really was the story of our season, too many missed chances. We badly need good wingers and more importantly a goalscoring striker!

Little more to say...
Ratings:

Reina - 6
Little to do but maybe could have stopped one of Van Persie's goals
Kelly - 7
As usual a solid display
Enrique - 7
As with Kelly, good both forward and back
Carragher - 6
Good but lost Van Persie for the first goal
Skrtel - 7
Rock solid as ever
Henderson - 4
He's not a winger seriously
Downing - 6
Improved generally of late but this wasn't his best
Spearing - 7
Busy display
Adam - 6
Little in the way of creative breakthrough
Kuyt - 7
As ever tireless
Suarez - 7
Dangerous

Subs:

Bellamy - 6
Brought on curiously late with little time to make an impact
Carroll - 5
No time to make an impact