Liverpool’s second-best option at right-wing back?

IT looks like 3-5-2 is here to stay and while it may not be to everyone’s liking, there’s little doubting that it can be a useful system against certain types of opponents and when we have certain players unavailable or out of form.

One of the strengths that I’ve spoken about before is that it allows Brendan Rodgers to play his two best forwards in central areas, while still maintaining his preferred 3 in midfield. No one doubts that Suarez and Sturridge are both nailed on starters, but with a number of players out injured it begs the question whether, if everyone was fit, would that necessitate a change back to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1?

Of the players out injured, only Coutinho and Johnson are likely to walk back into the team and both of them would seem ideally suited to the 3-5-2 system. Daniel Agger is of course a strong contender when he’s back fully fit, but he’d play equally well in a back 3 or central defensive partnership. While Coutinho would find his way back into the team on either flank of a front 3, or in wide midfield he is certainly even better suited to playing centrally.

In other systems this would require there be only one striker, and either Suarez or Sturridge would have to play wide. In the 3-5-2, Philippe seems like the ideal candidate for the role Victor Moses is currently occupying. Moses is Rodgers’ preferred option in that role at the moment, although I would like to give Luis Alberto a try (as he is better suited to linking midfield to attack) while Jordan Henderson can also play there as a less offensive option. Another option that people haven’t been mentioning is to play Steven Gerrard ahead of Lucas and Henderson. Steven, as many people have said, has not been in top form this season, and has expended a lot of his energy chasing, defending and protecting the back 3 or 4. Perhaps playing him further forward would release the old Gerrard. Although with Lucas suspended against Crystal Palace perhaps that’s one change that would have to wait a while.

The role in the 3-5-2 system which feels the most like a square peg in a round hole is Jordan Henderson at right wing-back. Jordan has set to his task with an excellent attitude, and every good team needs a utility player in their team that can fill a number of roles and do them to a good enough standard. However against Palace Henderson is likely to return to his favoured role in central midfield. With Joe Allen injured, Jonjo Shelvey sold and youngsters Connor Coady and Joao Carlos Teixeira on loan, there really doesn’t seem to be anyone else who could partner Gerrard in central midfield anyway. The only other options would be playing either Toure or Tiago Ilori as the holding midfielder, a position both have played before, but in which neither is likely to be very comfortable. With Henderson central that leaves the right wing-back position open, with Glen Johnson not yet recovered.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
When we played a back 4 the right-back position was very well covered. Kelly, Wisdom, Flanagan, Toure can all play there, as can Ilori if need be. But wing-back requires a much higher level of technical proficiency, passing range, and offensive mentality. For me Andre Wisdom hasn’t yet developed his offensive game enough to play this role, added to the fact he is rather out of form and has been making a number of costly defensive errors, I think it wouldn’t be the right time to bring him in.

Martin Kelly would be my preference, but he didn’t even make the bench against Sunderland, so perhaps his rehabilitation from cruciate damage is taking longer than expected. Kolo Toure is a very capable player wherever he plays, but I would think wing-back, that requires a great deal of stamina to defend, attack, defend and attack again repeatedly, is not ideal for a player in his 30s. Also Kolo has been impressive playing in his preferred central defensive position, where his leadership and co-ordination is also best utilised.

This leaves 3 options. Brendan Rodgers brought Raheem Sterling on in the right wing-back role when chasing the game late on against United. While I can understand and appreciate the forward thinking idea behind this substitution, the thought of expecting Raheem to maintain his defensive concentration for an entire game scares me. Tiago Ilori is another option, he has pace, athleticism, is technically good and passes accurately. However he is completely untried at this level, and throwing him into the Premier League in a unfamiliar position that requires a lot of judgement of when to defend and when to hold width and attack is perhaps a step too far.

This leaves me with the conclusion that Jon Flanagan should get a long awaited opportunity to impress at right wing-back. While Jon is not stellar technically, he’s solid enough, and in the last year has attacked with increasing gusto. I’m not yet convinced Flanno has what it takes to be a Liverpool player in the long term, and if Brendan Rodgers still chooses to overlook the Scouser even in these circumstances, then the writing would seem to be on the wall for Jon’s Liverpool future.

Certainly with injuries and suspensions Rodgers will yet again have to juggle his rather small (compared to City, Chelsea or Spurs) squad. Here’s hoping there’s no repeat of our last insipid game at Anfield, when we meekly succumbed to Southampton, and that both Coutinho and Glen Johnson make quick progress over the international period back to full fitness. We certainly do miss them.

You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook