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Rating the Reds: Midfield

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Liverpool midfieldPERHAPS the least functional part of the side last season, we take a look at how our midfielder players performed individually in 2012/13 and look at where improvement is required.

Lucas Leiva – 2012/13 was always going to be tough campaign for Lucas as he attempted to battle back from his long term knee injury but another prolonged spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury in the first home game of the season was a cruel blow.

Since his return he has obviously struggled to hit regain the fitness and form he showed under Kenny Dalglish. He has performed adequately but not as spectacularly as Liverpool have needed at times. He remains Liverpool’s only natural defensive midfielder and recapturing his best is essential for the Reds next season.

An uninterrupted pre-season should help him next term as every Liverpool fan waits to see if he can get back to his best. C

Joe Allen – It’s easy to forget, given the way his season eventually played out, but Joe Allen was Liverpool’s shining light back in August and September. He was forced into playing a more defensive role than he would have liked due to Lucas’s injury and when his early good form eluded him he struggled to get it back.

His confidence evaporated and he became hesitant both on and off the ball. He played with a shoulder injury himself for a long period before finally having surgery in March which ended his season.

Liverpool fans will expect a big improvement next time out and it will be needed to justify his £15m price tag. D

Steven Gerrard– Nine goals and nine assists from 36 league games was a great return from the captain given his new less offensive role in the side under Brendan Rodgers. Gerrard’s performances have been consistent and the fact that he featured so regularly was encouraging after his recent injury woes.

He has adapted well to playing in a deeper position but doubts still linger about where he can fit best into Rodgers set up going forward. The new manager hasn’t experimented much with his captain since his horror show at home to Arsenal (where he played in the more advanced position at the tip of a midfield trio). Gerrard is a more versatile player than Rodgers seems to have grasped this season and perhaps in 2013/14 we will see more variation in terms of the skipper’s positioning.

That said, this term has been a personal success for Gerrard with some predictably outstanding individual moments of brilliance. B+
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Nuri Sahin – Ended the season by appearing in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund, a far cry from his short, unhappy stay on Merseyside.

Brought in on loan from Real Madrid to much fanfare, the classy Turkish international was never really given an opportunity to shine at Anfield. He was rarely deployed in his natural deep lying midfield role and strangely occupied the ‘number ten’ position for Brendan Rodgers more regularly. He never looked comfortable playing so far up the pitch and his impact was minimal before he returned to Dortmund in January.

A shame and possibly somewhat of a waste from Liverpool’s perspective given his obvious talent. D

Jordan Henderson– Liverpool’s most improved player. His dynamism in central midfield was key to the Red’s upturn in fortunes in the second half of the season. Able to press high and often due to his outstanding fitness levels, Henderson brought a much needed physical force to Liverpool’s midfield that players like Allen, Gerrard, Sahin Lucas and Shelvey lacked.

Indeed, most of Liverpool’s worst performances and results last term occurred when Henderson wasn’t included in the starting eleven (West Brom at the Hawthorns, Arsenal at Anfield, United at Old Trafford, Southampton at St Mary’s). Improvement, especially in attacking areas, is still required but Henderson looks a totally different proposition from the often lost little boy who performed as Liverpool’s right winger so often under Kenny Dalglish.

His new found confidence and excellent displays have led to him becoming a regular in Rodgers’ team. A year ago the same manager wanted to send him to Fulham as part exchange for Clint Dempsey. How times change. B

Jonjo Shelvey – Started life under Brendan Rodgers with high hopes and a regular place in the first team before fading away. Shelvey definitely has some talent and he managed to score a few goals and produce a few good displays for the Reds last season but his future at the club looks murky.

His wild tackling and even wilder decision making mean that he is not a player that Liverpool can rely on at present. For every raking pass or shot that hits the target there are several more that do not.

His intelligence on the pitch has been questioned and perhaps a loan move would suit him. He certainly needs to iron out some of the many creases in his game if he wants to become a regular at Liverpool. D
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13 comments

  • Darragh says:

    We desperately need a xabi alonso type player who can control a game and spray the ball around. It seems we bought Allen to play this role, big mistake. No one should ever buy British to fill that role, no Brit can play it effectively. Perhaps Wilshere can, but no one else.

  • Wayne man says:

    We finished 7th bcos our midfield wasn’t good enough , apart from Gerrard the rest was very very average, nobody could unlock or creat chances, except Gerrard, stats prove this, only when coutinho came we had a class play maker. Must sell downing, Allen, shelvey and borini and Henderson cos they will never when us the title is simple as that ! BR was great and wae spot on on our latest signings, sturridge, coutinho, aspas, alberto, all have great technics and ball control , if we can add erickson and HM to the team , and Suarez stays would b icing on the cake . Match winners all over the park ! In my opinion 80+ goals between them in a season ! Top 4 easy ! A top class CH a must ! Papa would be great he is a winner and a leader!

    • karlito says:

      Don’t know why your placing Allen,Hendo &Borini in list to go,they are up & coming young players who dealt with a hard season,due to transition,Borini &Allen both had injuries & have potential to shine as Borini did for Italy,Hendo is our most improved player,we need to sell shelvey,spearing ,coates & skrtel if we get cover at c/back, Downings time is up aswell.point being why Hendo & other 2 when we have more obvious players can be moved out without affecting squad depth

    • Terry says:

      ????

    • Boss says:

      You’re a complete clown. Allen, Borini and Henderson are all under 23 and will improve. We may need a more experienced player in there, but that doesn’t mean they should be sold.

  • CHUKWUEMEKA says:

    we simply need diame, HM, mignolet to compete with reina nd we wld be ready. YNWA

  • gerard says:

    liverpool need core players to be able to compete. up to now we have Suarez, Gerrard, Agger, Reina – the other players are all ingredients to make the team better. To be on top we need at least 4 players of great calibre: DEFENSIVE – filling gaps behind n launching an attack. I name Feillani. ATTACKING – Penetrating and shooting …ERIKSEN. Fullback…Tiago Silva…a dream perhaps.

  • jsquarze says:

    Evry1 has his own opinion,but u guys fink evrifin dat happen on d pitch is playas fualt?……..i fink we also need a technical advisa in d team,br rili need it……..he is gud,bt e need it

    • David says:

      Go back to school. If your there already then study

      • red says:

        LFC is globally supported. He may not using YOUR language. Me too still struggle to use YOUR language. Judge book by content. If you need nice cover but lousy content, see Tim Williams article.

  • stevieG says:

    Allen deserves an F . Total sh*te. Should be sold

  • Denis D says:

    Here are some of the things that we lacked in midfield: some power, strength, presence in the centre of the park as apart from Gerrard, None of the central midfielders put fear in opposing teams.

    Lack of goals from the centre of the park,

    But hopefully B Rodgers ships out all the dead wood average players still left at club and brings in another attacking midfielder to compete with Alberto and Coutinho for the AM Position. And a no holds barred mobile powerful quick athletic enforcer to compete with Lucas to side.

    The dead wood average hard working players who need to be shipped out this summer:

    1: GK: B Jones 2: RB: Flanagan 3: CB: Coates 4: DM: Spearing

    5: AM: Pacheco 6: RW / RWF: Assaidi 7: LW / LWF: Downing 8: CM: Shelvey

    9: FD: Borini

    Those 9 players will bring the club in £25-£30M on sales, plus the £3-£4m club will make from sale of T Ince to either Cardiff or Swansea that would be £29M-£34M brought in on sales

    And also P Reina who has been great loyal servant but been so inconsistant the last three seasons, should be sold to Barcelona in swap deal with C Tello(21) and £2M

    And lastly L Suarez(26) if he keeps going on about how badly he wants to leave and play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, he needs to hand in his transfer request and then owners and B Rodgers need to stand firm and not to accept no Offer Less than £55m, the going rate for the third best player in world football at the moment,

    Neymar cost Barcelona £61M and Real Madrid’s first offer for Bale was in excess of £65M, Suarez is better than both of these players and should not be sold for no less than £55M. If he is sold for £55-£65M that would be fair play.

    And then B Rodgers needs to bring in these 10/Ten players along with C Tello(21) in the swap deal with P Reina to get club challenging for Top 4 and the league THIS Season:

    Defensive players: for a Combined total= £35-£54M ( For Now and Future of club / next 3- 8 years)

    1: GK: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading for £4-£6M to compete with Mignolet

    2: CB: (21) Of Schalke for £10-£15M to COMPETE with Skrtel

    3: CB: Stefan de Vrij (21) Of Feyenoord for £8-£12M to compete with Agger & Toure

    4: CB: T Llori(20) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £3-£5M to compete with Skrtel and Papadopolous

    5:LB: A Cissokho(26) Of Lyon for £3-£6M to compete with Enrique

    6: DM: E Capoue(24) Of Toulouse for £7-£10M to compete with LUCAS

    4 Attacking players: For combined total= £41-£59M ( For Now and Future of Club/next 3- 8 years)

    7: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£15M to compete with Alberto and Coutinho for the AM Position role in first 11

    8: LW / LWF: D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £4-£7M to compete with Aspas and Ibe for the Left wing / wing forward position in first 11

    9: FD: C Benteke(21) Of A Villa for £17-£23M to compete with Sturridge for forward position in first 11

    10: FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinese for £10-£14M to compete with Benteke and Sturridge for forward position in first 11

    The 9 dead wood average players need to be shown the door as soon as possible this summer and P Reina is great world class goalkeeper who has been great servant to club, but maybe it is time for a change and he is no longer going to be first choice and Barcelona, Arsenal and Napoli all want him.

    So Rodgers should get the best deal he can out of Reina, which is C Tello(21) and £2M, A Young, quick, pacey attacking players with class, quality and alot of potential.

    Otherwise Reina should not be sold for no less than £10M between the £10-£14M bracket.

    No Liverpool fan wanted Suarez to leave the club, but his lack of respect and loyalty to the club, manager and us fans after all the dramas and problems he has brought to club over the last two seasons is shocking and outright comical. But NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN LIVERPOOL FC and he should be sold for NO LESS THAN £55M as that is the going rate of the third best player in world football at the moment.

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