Suarez and Sturridge teach the Baggies a lesson: 5 things learnt from Liverpool vs. West Brom.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson is wrong
   
   The release of Sir Alex’s autobiography was sure to cause a stir, and that it did. With the former Manchester United gaffer claiming amongst other things that Liverpool’s favourite son Steven Gerrard is not, and has never been, a “top, top player.” These words have surely sparked about half the reported pub brawls in the Liverpool area for the past decade or so. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers took to the media this week to defend his skipper, stating that he felt Ferguson’s comments were “harsh” and that Gerrard’s “performance level at 33 years of age shows he's a top, top player. He's a great talent - a wonderful player - and I don't think anyone could argue against that." However, Gerrard himself did not comment, he rather opted to let his football do the talking, and that it certainly did at Anfield on Saturday. Gerrard took up a more advanced position than he has been in recent matches and his class shone through, he marshalled the midfield expertly, hit his trademark long balls with pinpoint accuracy, fed Sturridge and Suarez with remarkable vision and led his side with poise. Gerrard certainly proved Sir Alex wrong, and he will continue to do so if form is any indicator.
   
   
2. Luis Suarez is one of the world's best strikers
   
   The way in which the Uruguayan took his opportunities was a thing of beauty. If the way he nutmegged a West Brom centre back and stroked the ball calmly past Boaz Myhill wasn’t stunning enough then his second certainly was. Suarez played the ball out wide to left wing back Aly Cissokho who simply chipped the ball into the past of the flying number 7 whose header from the edge of the box was simply perfect to beat Myhill and sail into the top left corner of the net. Headers don’t get much better than that. His hat trick goal came off the back of a beautifully weighted Steven Gerrard free kick from the edge of the box which Suarez helped on its way into the top right hand corner of Myhill’s net. This hat trick showcased every part of Suarez’s game which makes him one of the top strikers in world football. The movement, the clinical finishing, the tricks, the defensive work, the link-up play, every facet of Suarez’s game is focused upon putting the ball into the net, and this is what makes him one of the world’s top 5 strikers. Sure, there are many strikers who can score goals, but as Brendan Rodgers alluded to in his post-match press conference, most are not as ‘complete’ of a player as Suarez. His hat trick was exceptional, and a Suarez firing on all cylinders will be a worrying prospect for Arsene Wenger and his rampant Arsenal side who welcome the Uruguayan and his Liverpool teammates to the Emirates next Sunday. 
   
   
3. West Brom's midfield simply isn't good enough
   
   Yes, Liverpool’s midfield performed well in this match, but they were allowed too much time, space and possession by West Brom’s Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu whose work in defensive midfield was far from satisfactory. Time and time again the ball found its way to Suarez or Sturridge dropping deep towards halfway and they were granted room to run at the defence, and players of their quality and form are not going to be kept at bay for 90 minutes if they are allowed to run at defences. However, Steve Clarke’s tactical approach to this match is partly to blame, although Yacob and Mulumbu were shocking. Clarke failed to realize the necessity to minimize space through the centre of the park and Liverpool continued to exploit this, as the score line reflects. The Baggies significantly strengthened their line-up in the previous transfer window with the arrivals of Nicholas Anelka, Steven Sessegnon and Morgan Amalfitano, but what they will really need in January is a box to box midfielder who will marshal the centre of the park and allow West Brom to accumulate some possession and control periods of a match.
   
   
4. Manchester United are well behind Liverpool this season
   
   This West Brom side defeated David Moyes’ Manchester United at Old Trafford just two matches ago, but today they were handed a heavy defeat by the Reds. This showcases the gulf between the Merseysiders and the Red Devils. In addition to this, as West Brom were convincingly bested by Liverpool, at Old Trafford United scrapped to a 3-2 victory over lowly Stoke City after being down 2-1 at half time. Moyes must be weary of the form and quality of both Liverpool, and current league leaders Arsenal, who have both showed that they have come a long way from last season and could possibly be real title contenders come the business end of this season. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Liverpool have the best strike duo in the league
   
   Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie? Sergio Agüero and Alvaro Negredo? Olivier Giroud and…? Step aside, as Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez’s four goal display at Anfield showed exactly how dangerous they are and that there is no better strike combination on offer in the Premier League this season. In fact, on a world landscape, there aren’t many better. The understanding between the two has flourished since Sturridge’s arrival from Chelsea last January, in which time Sturridge has netted 21 times in 27 appearances in the red of Liverpool. This season, between them they have had the net bulging 14 times in as Sturridge and Suarez sit cement themselves as numbers one and two respectively in the race for the premier league golden boot. Even more remarkably, Suarez has scored 36 goals in his past 46 games for Liverpool, including 6 in 4 games this season. If these two keep firing, there is no telling the heights Liverpool could reach this season, they hold the key to champions league football.
   
   
   That’s the Rosey Wrap on Liverpool vs West Brom,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   By Jake Rosengarten

5 Players under 23 who would improve every premier league club

The Rosey Wrap examines some of the brightest young talent available...

1. David Alaba (Age 20)
   
   A 20 year old with a champions league winners medal around his neck is more wanted in world football than a Scottish to English translator is on the ESPN football coverage.  Bayern’s Austrian Left back David Alaba boasts just that. At 20 years old, he has already cemented himself as Bayern’s starting left back, won 2 bundesliga titles, a DFB Pokal title and secured 24 national team caps, after becoming Austria’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years old.  TransferMarkt.co.uk estimates his transfer value at roughly €22 million, reflecting just how valuable he has become, considering his age and experience on the biggest of all stages.
   
   
   The Premier league’s big spenders will surely have their eyes on Alaba with very few world class left backs plying their trade in England. This could well be a chance for clubs in the mould of Manchester City, Chelsea or Manchester United to sign a player they will expect to occupy a spot in their starting 11 for a solid decade. Do not be surprised if Alaba is linked to Manchester City and/or Chelsea for a ludicrous sum this window, however I would be surprised if he makes the switch.
   
   
2. Christian Eriksen (Age 21)
   
   Ajax midfield maestro Christian Eriksen has been linked with big money moves to Liverpool and Manchester United almost every transfer window in recent memory. The Dane is widely expected to leave the Eredivise this window as some of Europe’s biggest clubs lurk in the wings. At 21 years of age, he has already played over 100 games for Ajax as well as featuring 27 times for his country, winning a number of awards on the way, including 3 consecutive Eredivise titles, Danish talent of the year 2010 and Danish Football Player of the Year in 2011. Having seemingly achieved all he can for Ajax many tip that this will be the year which he moves to England, and with Liverpool’s interest already confirmed, they could well be his destination.
   
   
   Eriksen would represent a coup for whoever signed him, as is the case with most players on this list, he already boasts a large amount of top flight experience at a very young age, and this is what will ensure that clubs will be willing to offset a large amount of funds for his signature. 
   
   
3. Romelu Lukaku (Age 20)
   
   Massive Belgian Lukaku looks more like a wrestler than a footballer, his strength and eye for goal are his main assets as he showed in his loan spell with West Bromwich Albion this season. Scoring 17 goals in 35 appearances, Lukaku showed exactly what a force he can be and is widely tipped to secure a position in Chelsea’s first team squad on his return next season. Dubbed ‘the next Drogba’ he already has 19 national team caps under his belt and would command a transfer fee close to €20 million. He proved this season what a force he is, and would almost certainly be snapped up by one of Chelsea’s competitors should the opportunity arise. He would improve the final third capabilities of any and every premier league side as he possesses the attributes of a smaller player in a 1.9m tall frame. 
   
   
4. Mario Gotze (Age 20)
   
   New Bayern signing Mario Gotze is considered by some as the hottest youngster in world football. Commanding a transfer fee of over €30 million in his move from Borussia Dortmund to rivals Munich, Gotze managed 10 goals and 13 assists from 28 matches in this year’s bundesliga, stats which reflect just how good he is. A goal scoring midfielder is something needed by every club and there simply aren’t all that many at work in the premier league right now. At 20 years of age, he has already featured over 20 times for the German national team and is valued highly by Joachim Löw’s side.
   
   
   Considering his signing of a contract at Bayern for next season, he will not be moving to the premier league, he has been included on this list as he is quite simply a player who possesses all of the qualities needed to succeed in England and is a player who every premier league manager would jump at having in their side.
   
   
5. Mario Balotelli (Age 22 )
   
   The man who every Premier league fan misses, more controversial than drugs in sport, a worse haircut than Mister T and a rap sheet longer than O.J Simpson, it’s the Italian menace Mario Balotelli! The now 22 year old, collects the title of the most arrogant man in football and yet he is someone who you just cannot take your eyes off. Simply magnificent on the ball, the ex-Manchester city striker now with A.C Milan had a stellar start to his second stint in Italy, scoring 24 goals in 26 matches and proving himself unbelievably important for Milan.
   
   Despite his past controversies, including throwing darts at youth team players and almost burning down his house celebrating a victory before it happened with fireworks, he is still a player who would be well wanted at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Scoring for fun in the serie A, City could well be kicking themselves for letting him go, and without a doubt he could add something to the forward line of every premier league club.