With Liverpool’s squad looking reasonably healthy these days, it is inevitable that not every player will get to have as much game time as they would like. One player directly affected by Liverpool’s summer strengthening is Maxi Rodriguez. You have to feel a bit sorry for the Argentinean, whose blistering form towards the end of last season was one of the highlights of Liverpool’s resurgence under Kenny Dalglish.
He never has been a spectacular player for Liverpool but Maxi Rodriguez’s clever movement and link up play should not be underestimated. His form has certainly never been bad enough to warrant his current exile from the first XI for Liverpool’s league games this season and I believe it would be highly beneficial for us if the Argentinean was given more minutes on the pitch. Perhaps the most impressive attribute of Maxi’s under the Dalglish era has been his eye for goal. The former Atletico Madrid man clearly has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and his efficient finishing last season was probably the main reason why Dalglish decided to keep him.
Whether he can continue to be as deadly in front of goal remains to be seen, but I don’t think it would hurt to have Maxi play in the first XI on a more regular basis. Who would he replace? Well I think it would be fair to say that Liverpool’s right midfield position is currently up for grabs, with Jordan Henderson looking like he will need a bit of time to find his feet at Anfield. I have no doubt that Henderson will eventually become a top class international but he has time on his side and will have to learn from the senior players at the club in the meantime.
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Saying that, I would like to see Maxi Rodriguez given a few more run outs in Henderson’s right midfield position, as I believe his experience and game intelligence would compliment our new-look attack. You only have to look at the end of last season to see how much of an understanding Maxi formed with Luis Suarez, with the deadly duo being key reasons why Liverpool seemed to be scoring goals for fun.
Having more players on the pitch that link up well with Suarez can’t be bad for the team and a player with the goalscoring ability of Maxi Rodriguez should not be ignored. With players like Downing, Gerrard and Suarez buzzing around the pitch, I can see a goalscoring attacking midfielder like Maxi Rodriguez combining well with them to help make Liverpool one of Europe’s most feared teams again. It will be interesting to see whether Maxi remains a part of Dalglish’s long term plans, but for this season at least, I’m hoping we get to see a lot more of the talented Argentinean. In my opinion the squad sure could use more players like him.
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In one word….yes!!!
Maxi has experience, n more importantly.. guile!
Yes, or any other player to replace Lucas the squad player. Sickening to see him playing every game.
I wouldn’t normally follow up with a comment to people like you but you are an utter moron. Clearly there are still people out there that don’t want Lucas in the team, despite his enormous improvements in the past couple of years. I imagine you were screaming at his every touch today, despite his awesome destructive performance against the Blues. Do everybody a favour and go support another team ‘Livmad’.
Maxi is more intelligent and creative than Kuyt. He’s also got more pace and attackin instinct. Honestly though, I dont see Maxi being a Lfc player in the near future considerin he’s climbing 30 and on a good contract for a squad player.
Maybe Kenny is tryin to ease him out while warming the position for a much younger natural RW (hopefully in January).
Maybe he’s being punished for childishly tryin to engineer a move to Argentina during d preseason.
Maybe Kenny is preparing for a future without him.
i fin he’ll get more game time as d season progresses.
Maxi should have certainly started at the very start of the season, he had continued his good form from the end of last season into pre-season where he looked good and was scoring goals.
Unfortunately our manager missed this opportunity and instead didn’t give him a run out not even a sub. I’m convinced had Maxi played a part in any of our first few games of season he’d have been on the scoresheet.
Football is all about form so Kenny should have selected Maxi.
I know Maxi is not a good player, he’s average but he was in good form and would have nicked us a goal especially when we’re struggling to find players in the side who can tuck chances away.
Selecting maxi now is pointless he’s gone off the boil, which was evident in the Brighton match. It took us the full season last season to get him to hit form.
Well done Kenny, you still got lot to learn.
Kenny’s got some madness in him! I would have started Maxi this game! We got lucky with the Red Card against Everton, but you can never predict the out come of games! However, I wouldn’t even have signed Jordan Henderson, however, I believe that if Maxi is fit, then he should at least be on the bench!
Maxi has never been spectacular but he has always been a reliable midfielder. With his skill, clever movement, game intelligence, efficient finishing and experience, he deserves to be playing more. To play Henderson ahead of this guy is an absolute joke. And to put Spearing on the bench instead of him is even worse.
Some how kenny sees different. Maxi should start he should be patient with henderson.
You feel the same is being done to kuyt?
I feel that both Maxi and Kuyt should have been regulars from the start with the new signings subbing them until they became more acclimated. The only summer midfield signing showing real promise has been Downing. Kuyt should, for probably this season, always be ahead if Henderson and Stevie G will be replacing Adam shortly. Maxi and Downing should be interchangeable based on the defence they are playing against.