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Time to choose your starting XI

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Liverpool teamIF I read the name Suarez anywhere near the word ‘transfer’, I will be searching for some sharp instrument with which to poke out my eyes.

I am so glad that we are on the verge of starting a new season and actually poised to talk about the game rather than team transfer budgets and the obscene amounts paid to ordinary men with extraordinary athletic gifts. So the speculation can now turn to which of those gifted men we will put onto the field for our first league game against Stoke.

With the move of Pepe to Napoli, the position of keeper is a foregone conclusion. It’s obvious from his recent comments that Reina did not see this coming, but everyone else must have anticipated his imminent departure, if not for Barcelona, then some other top-flight team, somewhere.

A chance to play for Benitez and regular exposure will help in securing him a spot on the Spanish National Team and keep him in the public eye. For Mignolet, his appearance as the first team keeper of a legendary club gives him a chance to show what he can do in front of the best fans in the world (unctuous but true).

Depending on whether Suarez stays, I prefer the 4-4-2 diamond formation or a Suarez-less 4-3-2-1. Let us assume that Suarez stays and I won’t have to face the derision that comes from my choosing the Christmas tree. Since we have a keeper who is used to lots of action we could use the 3-4-3 that was so effective in Istanbul but with both Enrique and Johnson blowing hot and cold, we could be in considerable difficulty if one or both have a ‘cold’ day. So let us assume that the Uruguayan stays and proceed to populate the 4-4-2.

Sturridge and Suarez have shown how effective they can be together so playing one slightly ahead of the other in front seems to make sense. It would probably be best to play Daniel slightly ahead of Luis to give the defence more to think about and create some space for Suarez. With Coutinho allowed a little latitude to move in from the left side, Sturridge and Suarez could post some very significant numbers by November.
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As I have mentioned, Coutinho is my preferred left midfield. As well as an outlet for Enrique (who is too often caught in possession), he has shown the playmaking ability that could strike fear into opposing right-backs. Playing inside Coutinho, I would place Lucas as the holding midfielder although I would experiment early in the season with Joe Allen, who has had an excellent pre-season, and adjust the formation accordingly. Steven Gerrard is my choice for the top of the diamond not only because of his experience and talent at that position but also because his service is second to none.

Raheem Sterling gets the nod on the right. Although I am tempted to insert either Jordan Henderson or Luis Alberto at this position, I still have concerns about Henderson’s consistency and how quickly Alberto can adapt to English football. Whoever is relegated to the bench, with such a potentially talented midfield, is just a misstep by a first team player away from a start.

My first choice at right-back is Glen Johnson, although I am a huge Andre Wisdom fan. A Johnson at the top of his game elevates the club considerably. Should his consistency suffer, we have ready replacements in both Wisdom and Martin Kelly. At right centre-back, I know that Rodgers will give the nod to Toure ahead of Skrtel. I do believe that Martin deserves a chance to prove the gaffer wrong, but we have to see how well Toure slots into his spot and how effectively he replaces Carragher.

At left-back, Jose Enrique is still my first choice. As with Glen Johnson, when he is in top form, he is impressive moving the ball up the left side. When he is playing with confidence, he is one of the better left-backs in the Premership, but when his play is tentative and cautious, he can be a liability. At centre-left, Agger is a lock, especially if his injury prone past is behind him.

Choosing a line-up is one of the more difficult tasks any manager has to perform since the latitude to second guess yourself is so extreme. It is painful to tell a player who has been playing his heart out that he is not in the first eleven.

As a high school coach I often wished that I could sneak an extra player onto the field because my alternates were as worthy of playing as the young men who trotted proudly onto the field. But rules are rules and, at the end of the day, you can only put eleven men onto the field and brush all doubt aside when the whistle blows.

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Retired High School English teacher. Coached high school football (soccer) and basketball. Played football (soccer) in high school and at university. Live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with my wife and 2 cats. Have been a Liverpool fan since we started receiving broadcasts in Canada. Love to golf and read Terry Pratchett.

12 comments

  • Jack says:

    How can you pick a team half way through the summer transfer window? Get a grip boys, all we need to worry about is getting costa In, keeping Suarez and bringing In a solid centre half and a full back on the left flank, papa is a BAD choice, good player WHEN for when being a important factor, get Williams from the swans, we need experience not youngsters, we need top 4 this season not 2017 when the players have matured, come br sort it out please, don’t want any “young talents” anymore we want match winners

    • Adarsh says:

      He is picking it just because all these transfer rumours and stuff are frustrating especially for LFC fans. Most of what you see is SUAREZ SUAREZ SUAREZ – in a negative way (for lfc). SO the author suggests we be realistic and talk about things that will go on on the pitch. Of course, as you said there will be other transfers and the starting 11 may be adjusted. But all this was like a break from the actual suarez saga. Correct me if I’m wrong 🙂

      • Aaron says:

        He is picking the team because he can’t think of anything else to write about !

        Jack is right , we haven’t finished business , it’s a waste of time article

        • Fritz says:

          Adarsh is right. I am anxious for the season to start but I’m tired of the Suarez dog and pony show. If there is a blockbuster trade in the next month, I’m ready to reorganize my starting eleven – I just wanted to give the readers an opportunity to do the same. I’m sorry that it wasted your time – perhaps, after you saw the title, you could have just skipped to the next article. 🙂

  • stevie says:

    Mignolet, johnson, kelly, agger, enrique, hendo, gerrard, coutinho, sterling, aspas, sturridge. Assuming all are fit. Want to see kelly in central defence but doubt I will get my wish. Subs….jones, toure, skrtel, alberto, ibe, borini, downing. Things will change in two weeks I’m sure

    • stevie says:

      Forgot about lucas! Put him on the bench instead of borini. We are playing stoke. With respect, we should be going all out attack so lucas can come in later on

      • Fritz says:

        Just watched the Olympyakos game. Hendo looks hungry and I wouldn’t hesitate to start him. I hate to admit it but, after the pre-season it will be hard to keep Joe Allen out of the lineup. I think the shoulder kept us from seeing the true player.

  • allaboutanfield says:

    I would hold on to naming the first XI until the final transfer day is closed. A lot of things can still happen on the last day of the transfer window.

  • vicky says:

    please article writers of these should tell BR that we don’t have reliable left full back,and striker partner.because the double luis we have are at times not consistent especially luis of left full back. Thank you. Ynwa

  • Geoff says:

    Pointless article with the window still open

  • Palo from Nigeria says:

    pls let’s stop saying the double Luis onboard are not consistent, the 2 aces are trying especially the unstable Suarez. we should be talking of how 2 prevent the ace from leaving. I believe with him, skipper, Enriqke coutinho, mignolet + other new faces yet 2 arrive, Lfc can win premiership.

  • Tommy says:

    Boring article and complete waste of effort. Wait and see who we get b4 playing silly fantasy football

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