Liverpool 3-0 Latics – Suarez Overpowers Latics

A poor second half performance ensured the Latics fell to a second consecutive defeat, against a Luis Suarez inspired Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Having gone into the clash unbeaten in their last five games against the red side of Merseyside, the Latics headed into the game confident that they could pile more misery onto Brendan Rodgers’ men. 

Luis Suarez & Ivan Ramis

Roberto Martinez opted to field the same XI who fell short against West Brom last weekend, with the influential James McArthur missing out once again with a dead leg. 

The Latics frustrated the home side throughout the first period and restricted them to very few chances, with the impressive Jose Enrique, going close with an effort just wide from the edge of the area, and Daniel Agger went close shortly afterwards nodding past the post from a corner.

Martinez was forced into a change on the half hour mark with Ben Watson coming off for David Watson.
Moments before half-time, Enrique just failed to turn home, with Al-Habsi producing a smart stop to ensure the two sides went in at the break level. 

The Latics hardwork in the first half was undone within a devastating twenty minutes as
Liverpool were unplayable for large periods and took the lead with Suarez emphatically striking home, after Raheem Sterling took advantage of some lapse play in the Latics midfield. 
Enrique grew increasingly influential as the game during the second period and was on hand to see Suarez net his second after a great run and assist from the Spaniard. The former Newcastle man rounded off the scoring as he was left unmarked after some neat play between the delightful Suarez and existing Sterling. 

The Latics were unable to get a foothold on the second half as they were unable to live with Liverpool as they secured only their third league win of the season and stretched their unbeaten run to seven games. 

Ali Al Habsi

Martinez will have wanted to extend his side’s recent unbeaten run against the team he turned down in the summer, and will feel that his side were unlucky to have conceded the third and ultimately the killer blow. 

Ivan Ramis’s touch seemed to have deflected off Suarez but the Uruguayan was given the decision which resulted in Enrique’s goal. 

Although he will not have many arguments with the overall result as his side were second best for much of the contest and were lucky not to have conceded more late on as the home side wasted a number of chances. 

Up next for the Latics are two home clashes, first against Reading who themselves picked up their first win of the season against inform Everton. Martinez will be keen to ensure that his side arrest a run of two straight defeats as we head into the busy winter period.