Nicknames are cringey as ****.
Anyway, my thoughts on the weekend...
It was remarkably uplifting to see Sturridge back. Bang. No questions asked. Just score a brace and get on with it. His link-up with Coutinho was on another level. I thought the latter was way below par, but it says a lot about his ability that he can turn in a 6/10 performance and still be the most influential player in the middle of the park.
Lucas was absolutely great, too. He really played Traore well, but I was surprised by just how little Villa offered. For Sherwood to tell his side to come to Anfield and just shut up shop in a bid to frustrate us went totally against his persona. He's brash, brave and his Villa side played really expansive and effective football against us in the semi-final at Wembley back in March. They were exceptional. On Saturday, they played within themselves.
The goal came too early in some respects. We didn't put out hand around their throat or stamp down our authority, which was a shame. We got the confidence from the goal, but we struggled thereafter in terms of chances and Villa failed to really come at us which didn't help. Despite what MOTD showed, Villa never threatened and we were comfortable.
It was a game too far for Ings, I felt. He was tired and no wonder, having played 120 minutes in midweek. Gestede's goals were well taken, the second especially, but Mignolet is fast becoming a liability once again and nobody came out of their equaliser with any glory. Sakho was questionable. Skrtel didn't do anything and looked hapless, and Can completely failed to track his man.
I feel sorry for Clyne in some respects, given that he's always linked up well with a right winger but now he's being tasked with being a right wing all by himself. He has nobody in front of him at times, which must be tough for a player like him.
Still, three points and three goals. It was one of the first times I have enjoyed watching us play since around March, really. Maybe even before that. It was such a delight to see us score more than once, too.