
October Update







Europa League Group I consisted of Ast. Tripolis, Athletic Bilbao and Dinamo Moscow. After beating Athletic 1-0 at the San Jose in the opening game, Liverpool made it certain to put themselves on top of the group, they had a chance in October to extend their lead at the top if they were to overcome Ast. Tripolis.
They would welcome to Greek club to Merseyside where they would contest in a game that anticipated a dominant Liverpool victory but that wasn't quite the case. Tripolis came to spoil the party and were very good for a long period of time in defense.
Liverpool did dominate and ended up with nearly 40 shots by the end of the game. Tripolis were limited to 3, but could not use those three chances to their advantage. The Reds had a scare in the first half when it was thought Martin Skrtel brought down Lassad in the box, but no penalty was given. The ball rolled out to Cristian Loboto who skied it over the bar.
The boys left it late and in the end it was Adam Lallana who came to the rescue. In the 85th minute Gundogan found himself on the edge of the box and he set up Milner for a shot who drove the ball at the right side but was denied a worldie. The keeper could only parry it out to his side and Ibe was there to collect it, looking for options he cut it back to Lallana who accurately curled it past the keeper at the near post.
West Brom have always been a tricky fixture to predict when they came up against Liverpool, you could consider them a bogey team. The past is no object for this new and improving squad though, who forgot all about their qualms against The Baggies in previous years.
Lazar Markovic was handed his first goal of the season on a plate by Coutinho who's free kick was parried out to the Serb. Markovic still had to keep a cool head and he did that while placing the ball into the empty net. He gave his side the lead in five minutes.
Eight minutes later he pooped up with another goal which would see him end up with the man of the match award. This one would easily be contender for goal of the month as he used his flair to take on two players at the half way line, push on to take another and then play a simple but effective one-two with Flanagan. The English right back helped him unlock the defense, he was 1-on-1 and made no mistake lifting it into the far top corner.
The game was all but sealed when Mamadou Sakho got himself back in amongst the goals for his side. Henderson corner to the near post found the Frenchman who directed it down into the net with his head. Claudio Yacob got hsi side a consolation from a 75th minute free kick, but there was nothing to play for from here, and Liverpool saw the rest of the game out with ease.
Rodgers would undoubtedly have to field a weakened team against Southampton if he was to go out and finish Dinamo Moscow off just days later but surprisingly the Northern Irishman fielded a squad that would more than likely be looking to blow the Saints out of the water, and that it did.
Yet again Mamadou Sakho was back and marked the occasion with another goal. He hadn't scored a Liverpool goal in two year and now they were coming all at once. This one was another headed goal from a Coutinho cross.
Henderson was sadly injured for this one and wouldn't be able to lead the team out so it was Sakho to take the armband and he showed he was more than willing to lead the side out against Southampton.
For the second game in a row, Adam Lallana scored again but this time one minute after the goal he scored against Tripolis. It was a fantastic goal and playing his former side clearly had no effect on his performance. On the left flank he laid it off to Milner who was in the box and back to goal. Milner then played it back and Lallana curled it from outside the box into the right top corner.
Remaining unbeaten all season, the Reds kept their 100% record for the month in what seemed like it was going to be a tightly contested match.
A win over Dinamo Moscow would have Liverpool on nine points and one point away from qualification to the Europa League round of 16 so it must have been a relief for Rodgers when he saw his star striker Daniel Strurridge net in only the 15th minute of the game.
Ten minutes on, Flanagan took a less than threatening throw in and found Daniel Sturridge on the the right wing. The striker whipped the ball in and teammate was there to lash it into the top left of the net from close range for his second goal of the season.
Ings came on later in the match only to assist striker partner Sturridge for his second. Danny Ings' long shot was mistakenly dropped by the Dinamo Moscow keeper and Sturridge sprinted on past with the ball placing it into the empty net, canceling out Kokorin's 50th minute goal and giving Liverpool a definite three points.
One for the headlines lately though, Sakho just couldn't miss out. No...he didn't score. He actually got himself sent off for a second yellow card for a needless foul in the last minute of the game.
The last Premier League game to come to a conclusion in the month of October would be Stoke. Liverpool took Stoke on in the Capital One Cup only last month at the Britannia where they beat them 1-0 through Divock Origi's wonder goal.
This time it was at Anfield where it was evident the team was much more comfortable at home. Stoke hardly got a sniff of the ball and the Reds were dominant through out most of the game.
They left it a while for the first goal of the game though but it was all smiles when they did as Ilkay Gundogan engraved his name on the score sheet after firing a long shot into the back of the net following a goal mouth scramble.
Balotelli even got his chance to show his manager he was worthy, and he did very well leaving it late in the 87th minute to do so. He put the Potters to the sword with a glorious scissor kick after receiving a good cross from Jordan Ibe.
Bristol city had been a challenge awaiting Rodgers' side for just over a month now and after beating Stoke in the last round as well as the last game, the lads were high on confidence. Not much would need to be said here, except obviously don't underestimate them.
They got the job done out there but it was by no means pretty. Bristol City drew blood sweat and tears from the Red's as they began their pursuit for a goal.
The Robins defended valiantly but like many before them were still no match, and Philippe Coutinho scored the winner late on when Ibe headed down Henderson's high corner for the Brazilian magician who wheeled away in celebration as he lashed it into the bottom left.
City ended the game with a red card for Chris Taylor, Gundogan left the pitch a little early through injury, and Jordan Ibe secured man of the match for his top efforts in the final third, and his assist.
Player of the Month - Mamadou Sakho

Sakho is the outright winner of October's Player of the Month award. He was incredible throughout the entire month defending with all his might. He kept some good strikers out this month and it was hard fought to do so.
He even converted into a striker at the start of the month picking himself up two goals for himself.
Thoughts on the Report
Rodgers: This month was much better. 100% win rate all the way through, we were ruthless and paid no mercy to anyone. This is what I'm looking for from the team and we've put ourselves in a commanding position in the Europa League with two wins from two, needing only a point to qualify for the next round.The league table is also looking very good. Second to only United. I'm sure we can change that though.