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View from the Kop

Assessing the Squad

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LIVERPOOL FC have signed Daniel Sturridge already this January, but it could be argued that Brendan Rodgers has been adding to his squad all season long. By offering several youth players opportunities to play regularly in the first team and perhaps more impressively, extracting acceptable performance levels from the likes of Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique, Liverpool’s manager has given himself additional options in his squad.

Now with the January transfer window open and several key players nearing full fitness again, Liverpool’s match day squads should begin to look that bit stronger and crucially, as a result of the increased competition, so should their first eleven.

Attack

Sturridge has finally arrived from Chelsea and with Fabio Borini close to a return, Liverpool will finally have some long overdue options in attack. Instead of relying on teenagers Suso and Sterling to supplement the threat of Luis Suarez up front, the club now has a batch of forwards who offer versatility, quality and a variety of attributes. With the recent upturn in Stewart Downing’s form, Rodgers has six players (seven if you include Oussama Assaidi) vying for the three forward positions in his team.

Borini, Suarez, Sterling, Downing, Suso and Sturridge (and Assaidi) may not compare with the talent on offer in Manchester or at Stamford Bridge, but it does at least have some depth as well as potential and quality. Outside of the mercurial Suarez, there probably isn’t a guaranteed starter in that group at present.

All the attacking players at the club will need to be on their toes day in day out and grasp the opportunities that they are presented with. If not, they now know that someone else will be waiting in the wings to take their shirt. As stated, it isn’t the perfect set of forwards, but it is an encouraging one.

All bar Downing, are young and have scope to improve. All except Downing again, are capable of playing either centrally or from the flanks. That gives Rodgers the luxury of being able to not only rotate on a game by game basis, but also on the pitch during matches. Interchanging of positions between Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge for example would be an exciting prospect that would add another dimension to Liverpool’s attacking play.

Depth is also key. If Luis Suarez is unavailable in a few weeks time, it would likely be Fabio Borini (an Italian international) or Daniel Sturridge (an England international with Champions League experience) who would deputise for the Uruguayan rather than the likes of Adam Morgan or Samed Yesil who, no disrespect intended, simply aren’t of the required quality at this moment in time.

Another attacking player may yet arrive at Anfield (Tom Ince seems likely) but if not, at least Liverpool head into the new year with a group of forwards that can give their manager some genuine selection headaches for the first time.

Midfield

In central midfield, it is a similar story for the Reds. No additions have been made thus far, but the return of Lucas Leiva and the emergence of Jordan Henderson from the Anfield shadows mean that Brendan Rodgers has less need to be overly reliant on Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard these days. Lucas’ reintegration into the side has allowed a previously exhausted looking Allen to rest up and has also given Steven Gerrard a little more confidence to get forward and belatedly offer a goal threat again.
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Perhaps Jordan Henderson’s marked improvement is just as significant. Henderson’s performances recently have added a much needed dynamism to Liverpool’s midfield. He may not look like an £18m footballer yet, but he no longer resembles a fish out of water as he did on the right wing so many times last season.

His play is noticeably more assertive, his passing more positive and his pressing relentless. It is to be hoped that he can continue his progression and really kick on and become the player that Kenny Dalglish hoped he’d signed last summer. He has certainly displayed the commitment and desire to so and Liverpool are reaping the benefits right now.

Rodgers has given indications that he sees a natural play-making ‘number 10’ as a requirement for his squad going forward but concedes that, given the finances of the club, that is more likely to occur in the future rather than in this transfer window.

Having said that, taking into account Henderson’s improvement and Lucas’ return, Brendan Rodgers now has Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Lucas and Shelvey scrapping for game time. The balance in central midfield hasn’t been perfected yet this season and now Rodgers must find it. At least he has plenty of options at his disposal.

Defence

While the recent injury to Jose Enrique is a blow, Andre Wisdom and Stewart Downing at least offer viable alternatives in the full back area to compliment the ever outstanding Glen Johnson. Neither Downing nor Wisdom would have immediately come to mind as deputies for Enrique at the season’s beginning but, again, Rodgers’ ability to improve the level of an underachieving player (as well as redeploying him in an unfamiliar role) and his desire to push youth prospects in at the deep end have benefited the competition and cover within the ranks.

Wisdom played at full-back in midweek against Sunderland after being given a prolonged spell out of the first eleven. The teenager had a tough time in the Merseyside derby and wisely, his manager recognised the need to give the teenager some games out of the team. He was only able to do this after his first choice left back Jose Enrique had regained his form and Stewart Downing had shown that he can also fill in, in defence.

It was Rodgers’ decision to switch the roles of Enrique and Downing that seemed to facilitate an upturn in form for both. Not only did it provide Liverpool with two players who can now fill two positions each, it also improved both players’ performances in their natural stations and for that Rodgers deserves credit.

Rodgers did admit in a recent interview with live4liverpool.com that he may seek to bring in an additional left sided player to add further cover for that side, but the Reds do have decent strength in depth across the back line otherwise. Agger, Johnson and Skrtel pick themselves these days as does a fit Enrique. With Wisdom, Downing, Carragher and Coates all also available to fill in and Martin Kelly recovering from a terrible knee injury, Rodgers’ options both at present and in the future look relatively assured in this area.

Brendan Rodgers has a squad that is still a long way from complete or even one that sufficiently fits his footballing image, but as Liverpool enter 2013, the group at least seems to be moving in the right direction.
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33 comments

  • T.boier says:

    Game on reds….lets give 2013 a go with Man untd our next victim…c’mon u reds…YNWA

  • Higgs Boson says:

    I thought Jack Robinson was very good when he played. I can’t understand why you left him out of the squad discussion completely? He’s 19 now and from what I saw he is more than capable of at least covering that left back position. Maybe Rodgers and yourself see something that I’m missing.

    • bug eye bulwinkel says:

      i agree, jack robinson was constantly supporting the winger and maintaining possession, isn’t that what you would want from a 19 year old in his first match for a long time.

  • Robbie ynwa says:

    Are we also forgetting Jon Flanagan? Also he is another option in defence. Local talented young lad.

    • Micah says:

      To be honest Robinson would be better option than Flanagan. He was given opportunities under Kenny but that’s probably because he favored locals, hence why he offered spearing a new contract. But i don’t the kids got it to be a regular for us, he wasn’t all that impressive. I hope kelly comes out good though

  • Hugh says:

    Allen desperatly needs replacing . And at least 1 more top striker … not someone elses reject like Sturridge … a top striker !

    Balotelli ?

  • Finn says:

    All of Rodgers buys so far have been poor and a waste of money and need to go . I also want to see more from Flanagan ,Robinson , Coady , and Morgan
    – Not cos they are local – cos they will be top players and deserve a chance -Rodgers is wasting our youth

    • Souey's 'tache says:

      One of the most ridiculous comments that ‘Rodgers wasting our youth’! What, despite promoting Suso, Sterling, Wisdom and giving Shelvey chances…

      • simon says:

        He has only blooded Suso and Wisdom . Kenny had given chance to Shelvey and Sterling already .

        We have the greatest ever batch of youth in our history . possibly even as good as mancs early 90s batch . It is criminal Rodgers hasnt tried more of them instead of wasting time giving minutes to rubbish like Cole , Assaidi , Downing ( at left back ) ,Borini and Allen .

        • Souey's 'tache says:

          Absolute rubbish. Kenny gave Sterling his (long-overdue) debut, but there’s no way on earth he would’ve made him as much of an essential part of the first team, as Rodgers has this season. Same with Suso. Arguably, yes Kenny gave Shelvey a chance, but that was only AFTER he was forced to do so AFTER sending him on loan then recalling him due to our central midfield injury crises at the time. Which regime also allowed Tom Ince to leave, and which manager now wants his return? So to say Rodgers is ‘wasting our youth’ is way, way off the mark.

        • Souey's 'tache says:

          and in my opinion, Morgan and Flano are not, and probably never will be good enough to be consistently good enough for our first team – same level as Spearo…is he good enough?
          The only underused youth players so far in my eyes are Jack Robinson and possibly Ngoo…but then, how many youth players do you want in the Prem first XI at once?

        • Phil Sears says:

          Yes the kids at the academy are a fantastic bunch . Rodgers is very lucky , he has a lot of talent at his disposal . While playing too many at once is silly , definitely more need to be given opportunities .

          Rodgers because of his poor results may ignore them in favour of experience , to get us up the table .

          But LFC has a golden generation there , if they are brought through and not wasted

  • bug eye bulwinkel says:

    i think the best players in our team are Enrique, johnson, suarez, allen and gerrard simply because they work so hard for the team even when things look grim

  • westy says:

    People need to stop thinking of Suso as an attacker – he’s a midfielder – an extremely talented one. Look how he controlled the early Europa cup games when he was played there.

    If I was Brendan I’d be developing him as the natural play-making ‘number 10’

  • Gary says:

    Allen is a massive let down and needs to go . I also think Rodgers has not given youth enough chances

  • RED 7 says:

    We really need another world class player , a top striker or winger .

    Plus a top midfielder to replace Allen and Henderson , they aren’t good enough

  • Denis says:

    The Owners need to Give B Rodgers another £20M to bring in five more players this January.

    Three defensive players for now and future and two Loan signings:

    The Three Defensive players:

    1: J Butland(19) Of Birmingham should be brought to club for £3-£6M to compete with Jones and Reina.

    2: LB: D Rose(22) Of Tottenham should be brought for £2-£4M to compete with Enrique and cover the left back position now Enrique is out injured for six/6 weeks. He

    3:DM: M Sissoko(22) Of Toulouse Or M Diame(25) Of West Ham, One of these Powerful, Strong, Tough tackling, Mobile Defensive Enforcers should be brought to club for £3-£5M to compete and Cover LUCAS.

    Two Loan Players:

    4: FD: K Gamiero (25) Of PSG should be brought to club on loan until the summer. ( Mobile, Powerful,Good finisher)

    5: RW/ RWF: Jeffren(24) Of Sporying Clube De Portugal should be brought to club on loan until the summer. ( Creativity, Goals,Pace,Speed and Trickery)

    Then in the summer the owners need to Give B Rodgers a huge transfer war chest (£65-£70M) to bring in 5 more players who would make us top 4 challengers year in year out and could make us contenders for league.

    4 attacking players:

    1: Willian(24) Of Shakhtar Donesk should be brought for £19-£24M AM/LWF

    2: A Sanchez(23) Of Barcelona should be brought for £18-£20M RW / RWF

    3: Isco(20) Of Malaga should be brought for £14-£16M AM

    4: B Arfa(25) Of Newcastle should be brought to club in swap deal with A Carroll and £10M LW /LWF

    Those 4 players would all be of Gerrard and Suarez’s Calibre: Brazilian, Chilean, French and Spanish attacking class and quality will change dimension of side and bring real quality side to squad.

    Defensive Player:
    5: A Pearce(24) Of Reading Or M Richards(24) Of Manchester City should be brought for £4-£8M to compete with Agger, Coates and Skrtel.

  • stevieG says:

    This squad sucks . Rodgers has brought in 4 rubbish players and Sturridge who is ok at best .

    Rodgers has weakened it since last season

  • Danny says:

    The squad is weak , Rodgers has made it so with all of his purchases making us poorer .

    Luckily he has a lot of great youth to cover for his atrocious judgement in transfers

  • BW says:

    Bellamy was your best player last season and I’m sure Joe Cole could have made a contribution had he played more often, he was hardly a disruptive influence to the squad and scored nine goals last season for a Champions league team.

    As a fan of another team some of the Liverpool transfer activity baffles me.

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