Firstly, goddamn. Secondly, holy crap, goddamn.
In Context, that is the best away game I have ever seen Liverpool play against Spurs, ever. And I have been supporting Liverpool 30 years now. I think I heard somewhere that this was the best away result to Spurs, ever.
Liverpool fans, young and old, I urge you, don't treat this as another routine away win, results like this are once in a lifetime. Relish it, these are the games you will still be talking about 30 years from now. Games like this are the reason we watch the sport, quite incredible.
Caveats: there are a few, always will be. Not many though. Firstly, Spurs were missing a few players and had played midweek. The big one though was the way they were set-up. A big physical, but not technically brilliant midfield and a slow back four playing a high line - madness, no idea what AVB was playing at, but that still doesn't detract from the performance.
In terms of the performance, how often have you watched a game and thought 'everyone has played brilliantly there'? Not often I will warrant, but that's how I felt watching that game. Maybe Mignolet and Johnson didn't excel, but for the former, he didn't need to, since Sterling was busy eviscerating Naughton, for the latter he didn't have a chance to excel, so ordinary were Spurs. As the OP notes, one blasted shot over the bar and one free header was all they had. Astonishing.
To sum up, a magnificent performance, just magnificent. I can't really warm to Rodgers as a person, but as a coach I have had my doubts. By and large they have been allayed this season. He's doing a terrific job at the minute.
In answer to the OP's Qs:
Do we think Henderson maybe feels unshackled by absence of Gerrard?
Henderson has been playing well this year, if anybody was unshackled it was actually Allen. The concern all season has been the slow, static midfield. Those problems were magnified last year when ALlen played beside Gerrard. This year, the triuminative of Henderson, Allen and Lucas looked very comfortable together, mobile with quick, neat passing. I would say though that SPurs leaving acres of space in behind them suited Henderson down to the ground but he exploited that space brilliantly and was my MotM. I think for the next few games, away to Chelsea and City, it might be a blessing in disguise to be without Gerrard and Sturridge - they will be forced to play a 5 man midfield with the leagues best striker up front on his own, but that midfield, particularly Henderson, has the energy to get up and support him.
Do we think Sterling is perhaps just beginning to get it?
He was fantastic yesterday, as well as last week. His final ball needs some work, but for a 19 year old, he is some talent. When you think of Jordan Ibe coming through as well, its frightening.
Do we wish we could play them like that every week...
Only if they keep using formations and set ups that maximize their weaknesses and Liverpool's strengths like they did yesterday...