Reality of Real Madrid

Daniel Sturridge's newest setback couldn't of came at a worse time, with Real Madrid coming to Anfield on Wednesday. Ronaldo, Bale, Kroos, Rodriguez, Modric and many others gives me a sick feeling in my stomach, if Skrtel and Lovren take up the same form they've been displaying a dark shadow will take place above Anfield and the media will have a field day. Last year we were able to outscore our opponents with the best strike partnership in the world now we within 6 months we've lost both for the biggest match for Liverpool in the past 4 years. Can you see Rickie Lambert or Fabio Borini dribbling past Sergio Ramos or Pepe, fat chance. Its hard to see how such a good start to pre-season as well as all the hopefulness we took out of the new signings can put us in this position. We need confidence and goals will bring this, what options do we really have?

We need a miracle, I think we have a few. Step up the man who needs a big game to prove his worth, a man deemed a terrible buy compared to Daniel FUCKING Welbeck, a man who can be a superstar and a fool all within one kick of a ball. Mario Ballotelli. its about time he showed the fans a bit of passion, more desire, more appetite to play for the shirt rather than his own ego. Putting him against one of the toughest oppositions in the world may just motivate him enough to prove himself. Mario has been with the club now for 2 months and the opposition couldn't be more perfect, this is the same team that Luis Suarez will prove his worth against come Saturday but first Mario gets his turn.

Second in the miracle possibilities is the main who has saved Liverpool's arses countless times, Captain Fantastic. Steven Gerrard wont need any introductions in this match he will know exactly what it will cost to get the victory. Every Liverpool fan remembers the score when these two
last met, highly unlikely of a repeat especially when Steven Gerrard was one of the best players in the world at the time, but the man still has a few sparks left in his old wise legs hopefully Brendan will unleash him in a more attacking role for some time against QPR to get him more comfortable there ahead of Real Madrid .as giving the surprising the opposition may be the key

The loss of Sturridge may be a blessing in disguise it may allow Mario or even Lambert the opportunity
 to step up and be the hero, however when the boy is back fit he needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap because he is one of the few senior players at Liverpool now and only time will tell how much we miss his services. Liverpool need to get back playing the Liverpool way not struggling to beat lower teams, we need ruthlessness and power. The passing and everything else needs to be stepped up, rely on Brendan to get the best out of all of the players and hopefully catch the rest of the teams up.

Sterling Thrown to the Wolves

From the outside, Sterling will be criticized for apparently being honest with his national team football

manager and stating his tiredness. That's fine, the typical thing in this scenario for any manager with any decency would be when asked why their player is not in the squad would be to say "We felt hes been working really hard and we wanted to rest him and bring him on later on in the game to have more of an impact". Did Hodgson do this? No, he knew exactly what he was doing which is more than I can say about

the way he runs his England team. Sterling has been abused and verbally demolished by the public and media all for being honest rather than being too proud, and playing a match where he wouldn't of been very effective. What fans don't realise is the sheer amount of discipline and hard work is required from these athletes to play at the top level look at Ronaldo it has taken him years to build that temple that he calls his body, where as it will also take Sterling a few more years to manipulate his body to be accepting of the day to day demands of the highest quality football.

Sterling will come back a better player after all of his brief criticism, he will have a tougher backbone and a thicker skin, especially when he has top quality professionals around him such as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney to guide him. Sterling was due a rest he has been one of the top performers int he premier league this term and in his last couple of Liverpool fixtures it was clear he was tired and beginning to show signs of a burn out. Young stars are expected to give everything they have week in, week out which is just impossible its too much too soon. Messi adapted his game to make fewer dribbles and bursts forward in the first half to save himself in the second half. Young Raheem is 19 and will soon find his rhythm, with the right people and guidance around him he has the potential to be the best player in the world.

The scariest thing about all of this is that, all of the best players who played for Liverpool were quickly linked with moves away from the club. Suarez to Barcelona and Real Madrid, Gerrard to Chelsea and Real Madrid and Torres to Chelsea. Hopefully Sterling will be able to recognise everything Liverpool has done for him and stay at the club and give it more time rather than jumping the gun which is not always guaranteed success