First Weekend Ramblings

 So the first weekend of the season has come and gone and it's good to start with a win after last season's disappointing opening result. There were good and bad points from our performance but overall it was encouraging and a good way to begin our campaign.

 Firstly the obvious, Simon Mignolet. Our new 'keeper looked a bit nervy early on but that's understandable and his save in the last few minutes from Walters' penalty will help him settle in no end. It's the second time in a row our season has begun with a 'keeper saving a penalty conceded by Daniel Agger, but this time it led to a far happier ending. 

 I'd also like to mention Kolo Toure. When we announced his capture I didn't think he would be first choice but it seems he is, and he looks to have found his feet within the group very quickly. He's good in the air and very forward thinking and will be a good addition to Liverpool Football Club. It was interesting to see how a player who has been there and seen it all before slots in compared to the less experienced youngsters we've recruited over the last few years. It wasn't just his performance that impressed me but the way he was the first to congratulate his team mates when they did something good, it looks as if he will be a strong and positive personality within the squad.

 I'll be the first to admit I was slightly underwhelmed when we shelled out £12 million on Daniel Sturridge but so far he's been worth every penny. Fast, persistent and confident with a much better long range shot than I'd previously thought, he is more than capable of leading our attack.

 Stoke are a team we tend to struggle against and it was nice to beat them, and in truth it should have been by more. There's no denying we were far better than they were and that Asmir Begovic was the best player on the pitch, but the one goal margin of victory was slightly concerning. We should have had four or five but weren't as clinical as we will need to be over the coming months. Stoke hit the bar, had one cleared off the line and failed with a late penalty. We got the thoroughly deserved three points but only by a matter of inches, if we continue being so wasteful in front of goal there will be times when we don't get the points our dominance will deserve.

 Elsewhere it was interesting to see Arsenal go down at home to Villa, this will surely spark a reaction from Arsene Wenger in the transfer market. Will the come back in for Suarez? Personally I'd be surprised if they don't. I'm not saying they'll get him but they're sure to try again, it's a saga that isn't over despite it going quiet over the last few days. If you're going to buy a player and pay him £150,000 a week but he's suspended until October why wouldn't you leave it until the last minute to sign him? Every three weeks you wait to buy him would save you almost half a million pounds, and for that reason I still expect more bids for him as the transfer deadline approaches, and possibly not just from Arsenal.

 It's also interesting to see Everton turning down £28 million from former manager David Moyes for Baines and Fellaini. Personally I think that is a fair price, £12 million for a 29 year old full back sounds about right, anything more would be excessive. And £16 million for Fellaini also sounds about right. He could have gone for £24 million before his release clause expired but nobody bid, suggesting his market value is well below that figure. Of course it's Everton's prerogative to turn down any bid the feel makes the deal not worthwhile for them, I think it's more a measure of Man Utd's desperation if they have to come back with a higher bid. It's frustrating that we've not managed our marquee signing yet despite targeting Mikatarhyan, Costa and Willian but we've still fared better in the transfer market so far than Man Utd and Arsenal.

 It's rumoured our pursuit of Brazillian Willian for £30 million (a poet's dream...) will either succeed or fail in the next couple of days, with Spurs also interested. I've not really seen him play so I'm not getting too excited about his potential arrival but he's reportedly a very talented player. Right now there's not a lot to choose between us and Tottenham but they can offer him life in London, something that appeals to many foreigners so in my opinion I'd have them as favourites over us for his signature, though it would be nice to be wrong.

 Anyway, that's more than enough of my ramblings, will leave it at that for now. Bring on Villa away at the weekend, let's hope their midweek game at Chelsea takes plenty out of them and we can take full advantage on Saturday.