![Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard: Shouldering the burden]()
Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard: Shouldering the burden
Liverpool FanZoner Richard Garnett saw plenty of room for improvement against Southampton, but is excited over Anfield's new 'SAS'.
Brendan Rodgers' evolving Liverpool side started the 2014/15 Premier League season with a hard-fought victory, but he will be expecting much more from his players than what was offered up at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Adjusting to life without Luis Suarez, the Reds lined up with the tried and trusted Lucas Leiva in midfield, preferred to new boy Emre Can and Joe Allen.
Disappointingly, the result was a sluggish midfield performance from Liverpool that played into the hands of a Southampton side who were in no mood to feel sorry for themselves after so many high-profile exits from the club.
Indeed, new manager Ronald Koeman will no doubt bemoan the fact that his side, who sold three players to Liverpool in the summer, failed to leave Anfield with at least a deserved point.
To their credit though, the home side found a way to win. The second half introductions of Joe Allen and debutant Rickie Lambert effectively turned the tide in Liverpool's favour.
Allen, who enjoyed a strong end to last season, brought more control and energy to the middle of the park, while former Southampton striker Lambert encouraged others to get the ball into the box after they had been so reluctant to do so for the past 40-odd minutes.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this season-opener was the offensive contributions of Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge.
With Suarez now confined to the past, Liverpool can ill-afford a drought in front of goal, but the new-look SAS showed that they are capable of filling the breach left by the 31-goal superstar.
If Rodgers' team seemed lethargic, then they were only matched by the crowd, who, uninspired by the performance on show, suffered somewhat of a summer hangover.
The bleaker periods of play served as a stark reminder of just how difficult it will be to replace a player of Suarez's unique ability. But dwelling on this point is counter-productive.
Rodgers will take heart from winning this match but also from the knowledge that his side can only get better.
On their return from injury, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic will bolster his attacking options considerably, but realistically a top class centre forward must be the Northern Irishman's priority - if one is available.
The collapse of the Loic Remy deal was disappointing, especially for £8m. Since then, a number of names have been banded about but a big name doesn't necessarily guarantee a safe return on your investment.
Rodgers has gone on record to say that if the club doesn't sign another striker before the transfer window shuts it will be because the right player was not available.
Liverpool fans should feel reassured by this approach. The big money failures of past recent eras are all too well documented.
The Bank Holiday Monday trip to Manchester City is of course, a daunting fixture, but playing the champions at this early stage of the season might not be such a bad thing.
Plenty of top sides failed to find their rhythm on the opening weekend of the season, so an opportunity to rectify the previous campaign's Etihad defeat at the earliest opportunity is most welcome.
Joe Allen did enough to warrant inclusion from the start against City, whilst the arrival of Alberto Moreno from Seville coupled with an ill-timed lacklustre performance from Glen Johnson suggests that a change at left back is inevitable.
Whether or not a new striker will join Sturridge up top remains to be seen.
By Liverpool FanZoner Richard Garnett. Follow him on Twitter here, and don't forget you can follow @FanZone too!
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