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“Very, Very Good” but will Rafa revert to what he knows best?

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steven-gerrard 7It is very rare for a former Man Utd player to praise a team from the red half of Liverpool, and in fact it has been even rarer this season for an opposition manager to praise Liverpool’s style of play, but both occurred yesterday from Steve Bruce. Despite being playfully taunted by sections of the Anfield crowd for having a head the size of a beach-ball, the Sunderland manager took time out after the match to pay tribute to the way Liverpool played:

“Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say you are beaten by a far better team, today was one of those days. We showed resilience in the second half because it might have been embarrassing. Liverpool had a wonderful start. When Torres and Steven Gerrard are in that sort of mood it is very difficult. We were beaten by a very, very good Liverpool team.”

A “very, very good Liverpool team,” how many times I have dreamed that to have been the case this season. The fundamental difference yesterday against the Black Cats was the pace in the passing. Beautiful one-two touch football was played at Anfield for the first time in many months and if you play in a fast, attacking style, you will be rewarded with goals. Teams can come to Anfield and put two banks of four in front of their goal, and in the past the Reds have found it difficult to break teams down. Early goals always help, and Torres’s wonderful first on three minutes yesterday obviously helped open up the game, but right from the off, the Reds played at a speed that prevented Sunderland from setting their stall out to make it difficult for their opponents by being positionally disciplined. As Bruce also said, Liverpool just played around the Black Cats and any plans Sunderland had for the Reds’ attacking players just went out of the window.

A lot of praise has gone the way of Steven Gerrard, and rightfully so, as he always looks right at home in central midfield, making runs from deep, fizzing balls wide for quick counter attacks, and making late bursts into the penalty box to offer different options for players around him. The problem with the Reds midfield with two defensive minded midfield players in the past is that the play becomes static, and that players around the central areas then stop and play the ball slow. The midfield yesterday could not have been accused of such play yesterday, as Rodriguez and Babel provided ample support on the wings while Mascherano and Kuyt provided bundles of energy and industry to help out Torres and Gerrard. Quality possession has never been Liverpool’s problem, quality passing and incisive play has been this season. Not so much at home where the Sunderland victory was Liverpool’s eighth straight league win, but away where the Reds have scored only 13 league goals the entire campaign.

Nobody expects Gerrard to play central midfield every match but it is clear for me that Liverpool benefit from Stevie’s dynamism in that area. A concern for me though is the response Rafa gave to Jamie Redknapp’s comments which were made after the Man U game last week.

“This expert said he (Gerrard) cannot play on the left but he is playing with the national team on the left. He was playing here on the right and scoring 23 goals so Gerrard can play everywhere. It depends on the team. I told him before the Sunderland game he was playing in the middle and he was happy. He can help the team and that is the main thing. With the same tactics we scored more goals than anyone in the Premier League last year and more goals than anyone in England two years ago. It is a question sometimes of accuracy, pass completion or just a little bit of luck.”

You can see the stubbornness in Rafa’s comments on the Gerrard positional question, and although he is certainly correct that in the past that such tactics (with Gerrard on the right or as a support striker) have been successful and that pass completion and accuracy have a critical part to play in such tactics being successful, it has become apparent that such a plan has not been successful away from home this season. The pairing of Lucas and Mascherano in midfield has generally led to slow build up play and low chance creation, leading to only 13 goals and 8 defeats on the road in the league this season. When we go to Portugal to play Benfica on Thursday, I fully expect us to revert to Kuyt wide right and Lucas alongside Mascherano in midfield. Benfica will not be as forgiving as other teams such as Unirea or Lille and will look to attack with a lot more purpose at home. We can’t sit back and allow Benfica to play like they did in their 5-0 victory over Everton. I would like to see Gerrard in central midfield but with Aquilani ahead of him to support Torres, passing accurately and with pace, we could pick off the Portuguese League leaders, but I fear Rafa will go back to what he knows best, something which hasn’t worked away from Anfield this season.

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6 comments

  • zam says:

    Agreed 100%. Rafa will revert back to “well known” 1st eleven with 2 DM to defend without visionary and creativity. Agreed if Gerrard play as Central Mid and Aqua to be attacking mid to support Torres. But I think this only dreaming. Rafa very stubborn.

  • Roy says:

    We(fans)have been crying out all season for Gerrard to go back to where he’s best and for Rafa to let his team off the leash, the games against portsmouth and Sunderland, show what a good side we can be, but yes Rafa will revert to caution once again, restore Lucas (what does he do?)and stifle the life out of the players yet again.

  • Dennis says:

    Rafa’s negative, cautious theory all the time is a joke and it proves he gives teams to much respect, we are Liverpool we should pick the best team to get out and get at teams, But Rafa picks out two holding mids to stop other teams, Rafa think needs to think about we can do to them and not what they can do to us.

    And we could beat Benfica or anyone if we played our strongest 11 that we have with the current squad at club:
    Playing a 4 3 3

    Reina

    G johnson Carragher Agger Insua( Only because Aurelio is out injured)

    Mascherano Aquilani

    Gerrard

    Bennayoun Babel

    Torres

    If only rafa plays this team against Benfica we could get some joy in portugal thursday night.

    And it would be even greater if he could play that team from now until the end of season if they all stay injury free, then that team can get us Goals at Home and away.

  • Chris says:

    Away to tough oppositions rafa can play 2 DM (Lucas Masch) but home or away to lesser sides gerrard should in the middle with masch and play either benayoun, babel or Aquilani next to torres! With don’t need 4-5-1 against stoke, burnley etc we need to go for it and stop all this ‘containing the opposition’ rubbish it hasn’t worked all season!

  • Mike says:

    The fact remains that Gerrard has had brilliantly productive seasons NOT playing central midfield. Check out his goal return. Agreed in some games it works, in others he is better further forward. He’s our star man and should not be limited to a central berth. Think Zidane, Figo et al.

    Why some people STILL think he is better in the middle is such an old tired argument.

  • Greg says:

    I agree with Mike. Gerrard in the middle will work best for some games, and in others he can hurt the opposition more from other positions. He’s our best central mf, but also our best left and right mf and support striker, and could make a case for being our best left and right fullback. But it’s not about Gerrard, it’s about what’s best for the team on the day. I think he’ll be up with Torres against Benfica (but I hope it’s Aquilani rather than Lucas who comes in.)

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