His return to fitness has come at the right time for Liverpool

Liverpool full back Paul Konchesky admitted he was at fault for Tottenham Hotspur’s late winner yesterday. The 29 year old said:

“Straight after I knew that I’d have to hold my hands up, but we also had chances to win the game.”

Commenting on his own form, he said:

“It’s taken me a while, and I got injured early on so I’m just getting back to playing at full fitness now. I’m getting used to the atmosphere and the people surrounding the team. There is a lot of pressure here but it’s a good pressure. The fans want you to be in the top four because that’s where Liverpool belong. I’ve got to up my game. Where I’ve played before has not been as high a standard as Liverpool, but this is a good pressure.”

Watching Konchesky face up to Aaron Lennon yesterday, a winger who has actually been out of form in recent weeks, it shows that the level of performances from Konchesky at the moment are just not good enough. On a number of occasions yesterday evening, the former Fulham left back was turned inside and out by the Spurs winger, and although Lennon can be a tricky customer with his close control and turn of speed, he is not Lionel Messi but Konchesky made Lennon look a lot better than he actually is.

As well as being caught ball watching for Lennon’s late winner, Konchesky also picked up a yellow card after finding Lennon too difficult to deal with. Surely, if Paul’s form doesn’t improve, Roy Hodgson must turn to the player who has shown on a number of occasions in the past that he is up to the task of dealing with difficult wingers. Fabio Aurelio has certainly had a number of injury problems over the last couple of years, and after being re-signed by Roy this summer after previous manager Rafa Benitez decided to let him go, it seemed that his old injuries had come back to haunt him after he was sidelined once again with injury.

His recent return to fitness has seen Aurelio already having a couple of substitute appearances at left midfield, including yesterday when he came on for the injured David Ngog. With Konchesky’s abilities in question, may be it is time for a previous incumbent of the position, Aurelio, to turn back the clock, and perform once again in the full back role? It will certainly be predicated on whether he is physically fit enough to play the position again, but if he can stay injury free, then I can’t see why Aurelio can’t replace Konchesky in the team, and perform to the levels he played at when he played left back during the season which saw us finish second.

Konchesky, in my opinion, has not shown enough in a Liverpool shirt so far to warrant a starting place, and with Aurelio raring to go, it seems like a no-brainer to me to get the Brazilian back into first team action. Let’s see if Roy has a change of heart in the near future.

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Lemmy and his band Motorhead at a French bar

This week it is former Liverpool WAG Claudine Keane.
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