If the departed El Nino aka Fernando Torres is worth 50 million pounds then the zero's that must be either printed on the fibrous fabric of English pound notes, or the pixelated zero's on a computerised pay cheque with regards to both of Torres' replacements at Anfield.
Both Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez put in performances last night, that EVERY Liverpool supporter would loved to have seen come from the previous number nine. But since 'FT's' departure, ( FT is what many red's fans now call Torres as they can't bring themselves top say his name) the two men that were bought with the proceeds of his sale, have both significantly overshadowed the Spaniard with both quality and more noticeably work rate.
We all know the non-stop ethics of Dirk Kuyt, but in Luis Suarez you get the work that Kuyt puts in, twinned with extreme talent and a directness of movement that Liverpool have missed since the enigmatic Robbie Fowler left Anfield for pastures new.
Carroll, still fighting for match fitness after his long lay off also put in a brilliant 90minute performance, working hard and shutting down defenders, winning headers and giving Liverpool a longer option when needed from the back.
He was rewarded for his work with two sublime finishes from very different aspects of his armoury. The first was a crashing strike from twenty yards out after he himself had won back possession, the ball was picked up by Meireles who lined up a very speculative shot from forty-odd yards which bounced back off of a City defender and in front of Carroll, he proceeded to smash a shot first time with the instep which flew passed Hart in between the sticks.
Man City rallied for a bit but only really threatened through Adam Johnson on the right hand side, he had a couple of runs but none had the finishing touch the endeavour deserved, and this was the entire match as City looked pretty toothless all night and never troubled Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
Liverpool doubled their lead through the tireless Kuyt, he dispatched a beautifully placed side foot shot after a pretty scrappy minute or so where the ball bounced and bobbled in the City area before ball finally broke to Kuyt and he finished with a strike right out of the top drawer and Liverpool deserved their two goal lead.
Ninety seconds later and the game was killed off, Meireles picked the ball up out wide on the left, he cut back inside and delivered an inviting ball into the box with only Carroll to aim at, and that was all there needed to be as Carroll outfought Kolarov to flick an inch perfect header just inside Hart's far post and the Red's were giving the Kop something to cheer about.
Maybe it was Mancini's selection? I don't think so, the team spoke for itself, there was plenty in there to get a result they would have been hoping for, City were just so poor, only Johnson showed any kind of quality until David Silva was put on in the second half, but by then the rest of his team mates had already given up.
Suarez continued to find holes left right and centre, pulling the defense around on his own and there were definitely promising signs of the partnership between the two red's front men, exciting times for Liverpool ahead I can say, if last night was anything to go by.
Tonight see's the battle of Britain take centre stage again, Manchester United take their away goal back to Old Trafford and welcome Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League Quarter Final.
I can't see the Blue's doing enough at the Theatre of Dreams but stranger things have happened and Chelsea certainly have the firepower, surely Torres must get on the score sheet sooner rather than later and I wouldn't put it passed him to net here, but I think United will score and I am going to plump for a 1-1 draw........
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