Game in a sentence

Luis Suarez’s 71st minute strike saves a point for Liverpool, who were the better side for the majority of the match.

Observations

• Though it was Suarez who scored, Raheem Sterling was Liverpool’s talisman on this day. Pace, vision and the ability to revert to those strengths in times of crisis set Sterling apart from his peers. Though his call up to the national team was done to give the teenager a taste of big time international football,  I don’t think he would’ve been out of place. In Sterling, the Reds have a player of top flight ability.
• Humble brag: I picked up Steven Fletcher this week in the Score’s EPL fantasy league. Lets just say I needed the infusion of goal scoring talent – bottom of the table I is. Fletcher’s goal in the 29th minute came against the run of play. The 12 million pound fee for the former Wolves man was scoffed at by many, but the striker has done what Martin O’Neil has asked – mainly, score goals.
• I was extremely impressed by the folks at the Stadium of Light. The Hillsborough tragedy was commemorated on the scoreboard and flags were flown at half mast. It’s goes without saying, but it bears repeating – tribalism runs rampant in Football. With that truth acknowledged it’s always nice to see a club and their supporters buck the trend. Well done.
• Best match up of the day: Sterling versus Danny Rose. While Rose acquitted himself well early on, Sterling took over in the latter half of the match. Who says England doesn’t have quality young talent?
• Glen Johnson summed up in a single tweet

Glen Johnson’s PL season so far: gives away FK that led to Gera goal, let Podolski burn him, Cazorla round him & Gardner past him. 4 goals!

— Kristian Jack (@KristianJack) September 15, 2012

• Steven Gerrard is a legend in the Merseyside, but I get the feeling the former superstar will be on his way out quite soon. Gerrard does not mesh with Brendan Rodgers version of this club. Joe Allen and Jonjo Shelvey do. With that said Liverpool gave up tons of space in the center of their midfield this afternoon. A better side would’ve capitalized on that.
• Luis Suarez is consistent – in the sense that your mouth is left open in amazement by both memorizing play and embarrassed skepticism. Suarez’s exceptional ability was on display ten minutes in to the match – though it resulted in a missed chance the turn he made should be on repeat at academies around the world. Unfortunately bad Suarez showed up as well. Martin Atkinson rewarded an egregious Suraez dive with a yellow card in the 37th minute.
• Belgian football is stacked. Kompany, Hazard, Vermaelen – those guys are pretty good. Add Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet to the list. The 24 year old was outstanding today.
• I end with a complaint. I’m not havin Liverpool’s kits – both away and home. Warrior and the folks at FSG have collaborated to ruin one of my favorite shirts in sport. For shame, for shame.

Three Stars

1. Raheem Sterling

2. Simon Mignolet

3. Luis Suarez