FEW places appreciate its strikers like Anfield. Kenny Dalglish can testify to that.
Yet while the eyes of the football world seem to be trained on one of Liverpool’s big-money hitmen, the other is fast establishing himself among the finest in the business, the modern-day version of the man who signed him.
Andy Carroll’s form and fitness is the running debate on Merseyside and beyond at the moment. The most expensive player in Liverpool history enjoyed a promising 90 minutes here, though is still looking for his first Premier League goal since April, but the day – again – belonged to Luis Suarez.
It is ironic that Suarez should have ended this game with a frown rather than a smile. The enjoyment and entertainment provided by the Uruguayan in his 81 minutes on the field was such that, when he was eventually replaced by Steven Gerrard, it was hard to tell where his ovation ended and Gerrard’s began.
There is an angry side to Suarez. A kick of a water bottle and a shake of the head greeted his substitution. Dalglish admitted afterwards that he speaks little Spanish – it was probably a good thing here as his prized asset chuntered away to himself in the dugout.
By that time, of course, the damage had been done. Much of it by Suarez.
The Uruguayan’s 38th minute strike would eventually prove decisive, although Liverpool were forced to resist a second-half fightback from a spirited Wolverhampton Wanderers.
An own goal from Roger Johnson, who must have spent the evening shielding himself from Suarez-shaped ghouls, had set Dalglish’s side on their way in the 10th minute, although they missed a clutch of chances to make the game safe in the second period.
The win moves Liverpool up to fifth in the Premier League table but, more importantly at this stage, banishes the memories of last week’s debacle at Tottenham, and sets the Reds up for a crucial October, in which they face both Everton and Manchester United, as well as a Carling Cup trip to Stoke City.
Those games will likely tell us an awful lot about where this team should realistically be aiming this season. But the importance of this win, coming off the back of such a chastening surrender at White Hart Lane, should not be underestimated. Liverpool were far from fantastic, but thoroughly merited their victory.
Having banished some of their demons at Brighton in midweek, Dalglish opted for just one change from the side which failed so abjectly in north London last weekend, with Martin Kelly replacing the injured Daniel Agger.
It meant Charlie Adam retained his place in midfield, despite his red card at Tottenham, and within 10 minutes the former Blackpool man had repaid his manager’s faith by engineering the game’s opening goal.
In truth his fiercely-struck 25-yard effort was heading a foot or so wide of Wayne Hennessey’s left-hand upright until Johnson, who appeared to have been clambered over by Carroll in the build-up, stuck out his head and diverted the ball in via the post.
Carroll, confident throughout, sent a free header into Hennessey’s arms soon after, while Suarez ran the Wolves defence ragged, with one piece of skill drawing gasps of disbelief as he left Johnson for dead but saw his cross cleared by Christophe Berra.
