LIVERPOOL’S best XI, when fit and on form, are capable of beating any team in the Premier League. The criticism of us has been that our squad lacks the depth of other teams.
Well, we are about to find out how true that is.
No doubt we are comfortable, overly so, when it comes to centre-backs, although Brendan Rodgers is yet to decide on who is his best partnership, or triumvirate. In other positions we are now being put to the test.
Right-back was a position that until this season I would have said had the most back-up. Glen Johnson had an excellent season as our and England’s first choice right-back. Martin Kelly had gone to the Euros with England and was about to return from injury. Andre Wisdom had impressed everyone with his debut season, and was newly appointed as England Under 21 Captain. John Flanagan, although further down the pecking order and recovering from injury, had shown he could compete. And we also had the very talented young attacking right-back Ryan McLaughlin.
Now with Wisdom on loan, Kelly not yet recovering his level after injury and Johnson still getting back up to speed following injury himself we are not as strong. Furthermore our previous fourth choice right-back is now first choice left-back given the long term injury to Jose Enrique and an athletic Aly Cissokho who doesn’t seem suited to a team who wants to pass and move.
In midfield our talisman, Stevie G, is now out for 6 weeks, it would seem, missing the incredibly important festive period. One wonders if a rest here or there may have prevented his hamstring injury, but then it is so hard to rest Steven when he is the top assist maker in the Premier League and still possesses one of the best set piece deliveries in world football. With Jonjo Shelvey being sold and Liverpool failing to bring in an attacking midfielder (if only Mkhitaryan had arrived) in his place, midfield has, in my opinion, been our weakest area this season.
We have neither provided enough control of games, enough goals (no one apart from Gerrard has scored more than a single goal from midfield) or enough protection to our centre-backs who have had to do far too much last ditch defending. With Henderson also reportedly struggling for the big away game against Tottenham, the midfield is in for a real test.
Possibly the key thing missing from our midfield this season has been ‘forward drive’. The type of tempo changing surge, through quick passing or running with the ball, that can take out a couple of opposition players from the game and create dangerous positions in the final third. The sort of runs Steven Gerrard has made his name with, but produces increasingly rarely, partly due to his age, but also due to his deeper position. The type of runs a Ross Barkley or Yaya Toure, or even a Jonjo Shelvey, are utilising to great effect for their clubs.
With Gerrard out it will fall to Joe Allen to provide forward thrust. I won’t discuss Joe in detail here, but regardless of what we have thought of him in the past or present, it is key for Liverpool that he finally steps up and produces his best in a Liverpool shirt when he does play. Hopefully more performances like the one against West Ham, rather than against Everton.
In attack we have lost one half of the deadly SAS, but the other half is still scoring plenty. However little doubt Sturridge was missed against Hull away, and away games against big teams like Spurs and Man City are a lot tougher for a lone front man than playing Norwich or West Ham at Anfield. The key to dealing with the loss of Sturridge will be spreading the goals around. With the FA Cup also due to start soon, and games coming thick and fast over the festive period, Brendan Rodgers will have to use players who haven’t been playing regularly. The likes of Aspas, Moses, Alberto, Sterling and maybe even young Ibe, will now have to deliver if Liverpool are to still be in the top four by the time Sturridge returns to the fold.
Given we have more proven quality in defence than attack, and the injuries to our Captain and Sturridge, it may be prudent to revert to a slightly more pragmatic 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 in the big away games. Whatever system Brendan Rodgers chooses to employ, our squad will surely be well used. And those players who have been moaning about not playing enough, and those who have been quietly biding their time, will have to step up.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/
What about TEXIERA – are they all stupid, can’t they see, what exactly does the kid have to do ?, he would take the kop by storm – morons. He can beat a man, he has vision, he scores goals, makes goals, tackles well , keeps the ball, has an engine and he is brave.
I agree, boy hasn’t been given enough opportunities. But I don’t think, given he’s yet to make his debut, that he should play in away games against Spurs, City or Chelksi.
Rodgers should please look at Joao Teixeira..he’s a Fantastic player,he is dubbed the New “DECO” So why don’t Rodgers try this guy am very sure he would perform and be Gerrard replacement….!
I also like the boy, unsure why Rodgers doesn’t. I hope he gets time in fa Cup.
Rodgers should please look at Joao Teixeira…he’s a Fantastic player,he is dubbed the New “DECO” So why don’t Rodgers try this guy am very sure he would perform and be Gerrard replacement….!
If we have to rely on Aspas …then we are DOOMED !!!
Rodgers has been amazingly lucky so far with injuries . Now we will see how he handles missing a couple of important players.
Ay??
Sturtidge out for another 2 months
Coutinho missed 6 odd games
Aspas out for a couple of months
Agger in and out with injuries
Johnson missed several games
Suarez missed the first 5 suspended
Hardly lucky
Oh wow . Arsenal had 7 first teamers missing when they played us .
Most clubs have 4 or 5 out at one time ….Rodgers has never been missing more than 2
Suarez has NEVER missed a game through injury. Till now Gerrard the same . .. And sturridge
Rodgers has been AMAZINGLY lucky with injuries
Aspas and Allen don’t count . Rodgers was lucky they WERE injured.
Shudt of let suso go on loan or sold shelvy just give alberto and texiren chance to shine we can cope wit out steve g reinforcements for January
Shelvey would have been a good squad player, but I think he wanted to move. I’d liked for him to have stayed.
I disagree on Suso. He’s a great talent and is learning so much more playing for Almeria. I wrote an article on this a few weeks ago. He’ll be much better for the experience, and be a good addition next season.
There is a site on the net Liverpool-Kop run by a man utd fan
How’d you know he’s a man u fan? Site seems fairly legit, and author says he’s being ‘stalked’ by trolls or something. Never been to the site before. Anybody else know about this?
Nothing wrong with that site or its editor. Stop trolling shawnreid.
Shawnreid has been posting this same message on this and many other sites for days.
Liverpool kop takes a realistic approach to Liverpool news and stories , rather than the biased “aren’t we wonderful” approach many others do . Some people don’t like hearing the truth.
Introduce alberto pls
Br should employ 4-5-1 formation against spur. Believe me we wouldn’t lose the match. Migolet,johnson, skytel,agger, sakho,Alberto, Allen, lucas, countiho,sterling,and suarez. Spur will fall.
No big deal when missing the liability – Gerrard. In fact, the team is better without Gerrard. It is a bit difficult without a proven striker like Sturridge. By the way, I eager to hear early retirement announcement from Gerrard.
????? Lol . Must be a Manc
Indi, why waste your life being a pleb. There are better ways to spend your time rather than going on other sites to post garbage.
you do have better things to do, surely!!
Ian/Aaron still trolling . Idiot
Obsessed much?
Idiot
Tough match there at spurs. We can’t afford to lose. Please play sakho he’s been great!
Br should deploy 4- 5 -1 formation with skrtel partnering Sakho then kelly RB,Johnson leftback,Lucas and Hendo with Allen just in front of them,then coutinho and aspas/sterling either side of Suarez.
The players i am hoping step up for missing Gerrard and Sturridge,
I think J Allen(24) and Coutinho(21) will step up for us missing S Gerrrard(33).
But Sturridge(24) is a hard one, apart for Sturridge and Suarez. There looks to be no other player in squad who will get 8-15 goals over the course of season for team and that is worry.
But hopefully Sterling(19) starts to finish more of the chances he is getting and try to create alot more. But he is class, quality young player who will only get better.
Wheres Moses(22) needs to be sent back to Chelsea as he is pacey and quick, but does not create enough and does not score enough , so why did we waste loan on him.
Rodgers needs serious backing in January from the owners: No more players for potential next 2-5 years, we need class, quality players who will hit the ground running from January 2014, not January 2017.
And these are the 6 players Rodgers should bring to club: A DM, 2 CM, 2 Wingers and a FD
1 Defensive Midfielder:
Y M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan for 9-14M to compete , Cover and to keep Lucas on the Bench
2 Centre Midfielders:
M Diame(26) Of West Ham for 3-5M to compete , Cover to and to keep Henderson on the bench
Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for 14-18M to compete, Cover and to keep Allen on the bench
2 Class, Creative, Direct, Goalscoring pacey quick skilful wingers for each wing:
M Salah(21) Of Basel for 10-15M to compete and Cover Sterling RW / RWF
D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for 3-6M to compete and Cover IBE LW / LWF
One class good quality Forward/ Striker:
L Remy(26) Of Qpr ( On Loan at Newcastle) for 6-9M to compete and Cover Sturridge
These are the 6 players who need to brought to club in January
We need to forget about the Tello’s, Pastore’s, Matic’s, Pedro’s, El Shaarwaay’s.
Those 6 players would cost club 60-74m, but those 6 players would bring THE CLUB Champions league football and a trophy this SEASON for sure.
With those 6 players at club:
We could field so many sides capable of combating small mobile creative quick sides: Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Swansea, Norwich.
Line Up: 4 2 3 1
Mignolet
Johnson RB Skrtel RCB Sakho LCB Cissokho LB
M’Vila DM CabayeCM
Salah RWF Coutinho AM Capel LWF
Suarez FD
Or Against Mobile physical sides: Man City, Tottenham, Newcastle, Southampton, Stoke, West Brom and West Ham
Line Up: 4 3 3
Mignolet
Johnson RB Skrtel CB Agger LCB Cissokho LB
M’VILA DM Cabaye CM
Diame AM
Salah RWF Suarez LWF
Remy FD
or 4 4 2
Mignolet
Johnson RB Skrtel CB Agger LCB Cissokho LB
M’Vila Gerrard
Salah Capel
Suarez
Remy/Sturridge
We will certainly need Coutinho. I’d like him to play central with Suarez, like he did do well with Sturridge last year. Either in no. 10 role if we play 4231 or behind a front 2 if we play 352. Allen has to perform or his career will be over. Rodgers is undoubtedly going to play him alongside Lucas.
In your list of players, all good names though I’m not sure of Diame. Doesn’t seem to be Liverpool Quality to me, lack guile and passing ability. I’d rather have lars bender from leverkusen or Granit Xhaka from moenchengladbach. They are both ‘complete’ midfielders who can attack and defend equally well. And provide the ‘drive’ from midfield we’ve been lacking.
Taintless Red:
Diame(26) is a good strong power player, he is a mix between Viera and Yaya going forward, he is good in attack but poor in defence. But he has good engine, bursts away from players in the middle with his power.
Rodgers could bring M’Vila(23), Cabaye(27) and Diame(26) for 33M 3-4m less than what club paid for Allen(24) 15m, Henderson 18M and Lucas 5M = 38M
And a midfield trio of M’Vila(23), Cabaye(27) and Diame(26) would trouble any side in Europe problems and i mean any, their is class, creativity, goals, mobility, pace and physical power, steel in centre of park would do our club wonders.
Those three midfielders would cost club cheaper than what Bayern Munich spent on J Martinez(25) 37M .
These three midfielders as a trio could do serious damage to teams. Diame(26) is like Yaya Toure(30) and M Sissoko(24) of Newcastle, when they are attacking and get going and in full flow they are very hard to stop or to bring down as they simply power through teams.
We have alot of small nimbly players, But we also need some big fast mobile powerful strong players in centre of park also, so we can mix it up.
Bender would cost the club 12-18M minimum, Diame(26) would cost club 3-6M minimum and knows the premiership inside out.
And Cabaye(27) and Salah(21) are the two players B Rodgers should spend between 12-18M on each. Cabaye is French international who has been doing well in premier league for two years, he is not playing for Champions league team. So If Rodgers brought these three Centre Midfielders to club in January.
And the three other players i mentioned, i honestly think we will make top 4 for sure and have an outside but SERIOUS chance of winning league this Season.
Take your points in regards to power and I agree on that. Diame may become more than be is, but he isn’t at the level of Granit Xhaka or lars bender in my opinion. Xhaka is a monster of a player and technically far superior to Diame on his own. It’s rare to have such power and grace in a single player.
However I’d we don’t buy either one, but get Draxler (who does of course play in a different position anyway) I’d be even happier. Though despite rumours I really doubt we could afford him.
What we probably need ore than anyone is Coentrao to solve our massive problem at left back.
bendar, draxler, tello, xhaka, pedro etc in my view, fall into the same category of players = overhyped players. the players lfc need are players who wld settle into the team and make impacts instanta/intoto. m villa, diame, remy, cabaye, salah, capel will be ‘a hand in glove fit’. but can we get them all? i doubt it. but signing villa, remy, salah, diame is possible while i dont know the contract situation of diego cos i heard the president of sporting issue a handsoff on him. NB: the above mentioned have all got the heart for challenge and give their all when asked to while most have had champions league experience