THERE has been a common thread throughout Liverpool’s improved results since January 2013 and that has been the signings of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge. But with Coutinho now facing a spell out of the side after suffering an injury to his acromioclavicular joint, or top of the shoulder to you and me, Brendan Rodgers faces a selection conundrum that he had probably hoped to avoid until January: How to replace the diminutive Brazilian.
At just 21 years of age, Coutinho has shown such a level of intelligence as well as skill that his place in the first team is completely unquestioned. He has borne the burden of providing the link between midfield and attack without so much as a shrug of the shoulders and Liverpool have looked far more dangerous since the midfielder swapped Milan for Merseyside.
The relief for Liverpool fans is that a certain Uruguayan will almost certainly fill that void after Saturday and as much as the Reds will miss the intricacy of their no.10, the team may actually be even better than it has been once Suarez returns to the team. While most fans have been very excited at the prospect of Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge combining again, a line-up that seemed unlikely for a large part of this summer, waiting a little longer to see the trio might not be such a disaster.
Firstly, it offers Suarez the opportunity to return to the centre of the pitch, the area where he has performed so well for Liverpool before. Secondly, it ensures that Henderson will retain his position in the first team, which is no less than he deserves. Not only has he played particularly well but Henderson has also offered an extra solidity to the team and has the engine to lighten the load for Gerrard and Lucas.
The temptation for Rodgers must be to play Sturridge, Coutinho, Suarez and Moses all in the same team and that is certainly a tantalising proposition. However, the loss of Henderson could upset the balance of the team and some of the defensive resilience we have seen so far this season could be lost. Coutinho’s injury means that Henderson will keep his place and holds off that particular selection dilemma until late October.
The challenge for Rodgers now is who Coutinho should be replaced by on Saturday. In all likelihood Iago Aspas will be that man but this is a potential concern for the manager. So far Aspas has not really done much to prove that he can bridge the gap, in fact he has barely touched the ball despite playing for most of the games this season. That said he has also been a member of the team that is unbeaten so far this season, so perhaps he is contributing in less tangible ways. What’s certain is that if he is to fill Coutinho’s void, he will have to be much more involved with the ball than he has been in this early part of his Liverpool career.
The other options open to Rodgers is either to play Moses in the centre who, although naturally a winger, showed some of the ingenuity required to break down teams or bring Alberto back into the squad. Alberto has not quite carried the spectacular edge that I was hoping to see in his brief cameos since his move but he proved to be completely destructive in the recent under 21’s match against Sunderland, grabbing a hat-trick as well as the plaudits.
Rodgers will probably prefer to take the safe option of Aspas in the centre for Southampton’s visit and it would take a brave manager to either play Moses out of position or put faith in Alberto to handle such a demanding position on the field. But with Alberto’s confidence sky high and Aspas struggling to impress, perhaps it could be a gamble worth taking.
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I cant believe the criticism Aspas is getting. 4 games down the line and he is vilified for nothing. you also going on about Henderson, what did he do apart from running around doing nothing. aspas has at least an assist to his name and his over all contribution is good sure there is room for improvement but he doesn’t deserve the amount of c**p he is getting. luis alberto can replace countinho for now. Aspas will prove you wrong give the chance.
This is words coming from someone who obviously is a *or doesn’t watch football
Henderson has been solid, constant performer
Asaps I’m sorry is a joke, he’s not good enough to be a striker, he’s not intelligent enough to be a number 10
He’s just a squad man so boy my bet would have to be with Alberto who was boarderline perfection
Aspas just isn’t doing it, he’s not put in one good performance this season
We thought he was. Aproven player, instead I’m being told give him time????! We don’t have time we need top 4 this season
Alberto every time, aspas is not suited to this role.
I do like aspas but as a centre forward only.
Pls.play.aspas
al wat ur guys re saying means noting 2 me,wat is more importan 2 me is dat tittle dat first position, is a vry big tittle 2 me and i want 2 hold it as lng weks as we cn,i cnt aford 2 los it 2moro,any body can play any hell place i dnt care jst win the match dat my emm.
Plsss sir rodger b wise. Use ur brain 4 dis game we nid 2 win.
Hence.football.is.a.profession.play.aspas.sturiedge.moses.in.a.three.man.attack.gerard.lucas.allen.midfield.kelly.skrtel.agger,sakho.defence.bring.in.enrique.later.to.replace.movice,sterling.to.replace.aspas.mignolet.to.maglet.the.goal.post.4me.
give aspas d trial i tink he is beter he has been play 4game.despite dpoor peformance,is an experience player.
what are u smoking over there at Ben? Aspas is very weak to be played in the no 10 pls Br we prefer Alberto rather than Aspas.Ben without Hendo swans would have scored 4 or more get it into your head u childish fan.
Aspas fears more than even allen,pls I prefer Alberto and Allen than baby Aspas.He is even part of the reason our midfield has been leaking.Brendan if u play Aspas and Wisdom in that no 10 and rightback respectively bet me u will certainly lose this match.Don’t underestimate saints and bring Moses in the 50 mins,I said this before swans game and i won’t say it again.
We can replace him with Alberto for now. Lets give the boy a chance at home this week.
Next week we have Luis back and just need to get a few wins, stay top for as long a possible. Well, luis might decide to kick a ref in the nuts this time around but until then, he is welcome back.
It will help if the team performs for 90 minutes for the first time in the season!!! Saints are a tidy team. They have quality to hurt anyone. We need to play better than at Swansea, especially better than the last 30 min against Swansea
YNWA
Alberto is in high spirits after his hatrick performance. Sterling too will be fresh after his court case charges dropped. Eitjer one of them. Aspas is good to be used to create confusion. All he needs now is a goal for all his runnings.
Alberto is all we need for now,i start aginst sou’tmp
i think we all know the answer to this puzzle =joe allen (as much as i dont like it, i simply know that is what rodgers will do) i hope against hope for the good if lfc, that this is where he steps up his game and becomes liverpool. YNWA
i think we all know the answer to this puzzle =joe allen (as much as i dont like it, i simply know that is what rodgers will do) i hope against hope for the good of lfc, that this is where he steps up his game and becomes liverpool. YNWA
If Joe Allen is fit to play,he’s the only player capable of mounting that playmaking role.Aspas & Alberto can’t hold that position as much as Allen.
Are we all forgetting Steven Gerrard??? Henderson and lucas in midfield with Gerrard playing behind Sturridge. Thayt I’d love to see. Nobody can pick a pass like Stevie.. And Moses/Sterling – Sturridge – Alberto/Aspas. I think Gerrard should play further forward in certain games. Who’s says he is too old??? And when Suarez returns I’d like a front 3 of Countinho – Sturrige – Suarez with Gerrard playing attacking midfield!
S Gerrard Or Henderson should play in Coutinho’s Role. I wold say Henderson because of youth, movement and speed. Gerrard and Lucas are quite solid in the centre of the park, Henderson could do well playing in the advanced Coutinho Role.
And Moses and Sterling should both start together on either side of Sturridge , so our attack is blessed with pace, speed,trickery and goals.
Denis D u r a gud analyst, wat u said is absolutly fantastic. But for me i will lyk henderson md lucas to play midfield nd gerrad 2 play coutiho’s role.
Denis D u r a gud analyst, wat u said is absolutly fantastic. But for me i will lyk henderson md lucas to play midfield nd gerrard 2 play coutinho’s role.