Andy Carroll is set to make his Liverpool FC debut in a few weeks time, with several reports suggesting that the striker has been pencilled in for a return against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday March 6th 2011.
When the towering frontman does eventually return from injury, King Kenny will be presented with more than one selection problem. The manager will have to not only decide which 11 players will take to the field but Dalglish will also have the decision of which particular formation to deploy. Will he favour his recent favourite 5-3-2? Or will he stick to the tried and tested 4-4-2? Or even go back to 4-2-3-1 which was seen under Benitez and Hodgson?
The Reds have been in form as of late, with only a below-par performance and the woodwork preventing Liverpool from picking up a fifth straight win against Wigan on Saturday.
It is going to be difficult for Dalglish to drop any of his players but you would fully expect Andy Carroll, as Liverpool’s record £35 million signing, to go straight into the starting eleven once completely match fit.
So, what team would be most effective? Well, to start with, Pepe Reina is untouchable. Brad Jones is a great goalkeeper but Reina is one of the world’s best and the Spaniard will hopefully, despite recent noises, be between the sticks at Anfield for years to come.
After not being able to secure a left-back in January, the defence should pretty much stay the same throughout the rest of the season. Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, barring injuries, will be the full-backs and either Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger will partner Jamie Carragher at the heart of the defence. Unless, of course, Kenny reverts back to two wing-backs and three centre-backs, a formation that won us the game at Stamford Bridge, in which all five are then likely to play.
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‘Brad Jones is a great goalkeeper’???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I stopped reading at that.
Having options is surely a good thing? But it’s difficult to take the article seriously if your going to suggest Maxi is part of our strongest 11.
Reina
Agger Sktle Carra
Kelly Johnson
Lucas
Gerrard Mereiles Suarez
Carroll
I agree with some of your points but how can you possibly say that Maxi is part of our strongest midfield. As a winger, he has no pace, no guile, no penetration and offers very little in attack, usually just passing the ball sideways or backwards. When we have a full squad available for selection, Maxi should be the first to be dropped since we have players who can do a better job than him out wide.
Also, you didn’t include Lucas in your strongest midfield which I think is quite strange. You can’t possible play without a holding midfielder who protects the back four/five and breaks down the opponent’s attacks. Gerrard and Meireles are definite starters but there’s no way you can sacrifice the holding midfielder. Either you play with 3 central midfielders in Gerrard, Meireles and Lucas or you play Gerrard out wide.
Suarez and Carroll must pretty much be on from the start so it depends largely on what formation Kenny employs. 5-3-2 then Kuyt would be sacrificed to accommodate another central defender. 4-4-2 then the midfield would be Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles and Kuyt.
Hmmmm, Lucas has been key to the teams selected by King Kenny so far, cannot see how you can leave him out of the team…
LUCAS AND MAXI RODRIGUEZ SHOULD BE OUT…
and with that money that hopefully we will get also from Aquellani, we can buy 2 strong and creative midfielders/wingers…
Hi, author of the article here. In response to comments, I chose Maxi in my preferred starting eleven simply because I feel 4-4-2 is the best formation to use and I believe that Maxi is our only real option on the left wing at the moment . I, more than anyone, am desperate to see one or two quality wingers brought in over the Summer months. As for Lucas, with only two centre midfield positions available in a 4-4-2 formation I would pick Gerrard and Meireles over Lucas. Don’t forget guys, this is just my opinion. Of course, you are all welcome to yours.