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United Defeat Proves Rotation Needed

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The loss of three points was just the beginning for Liverpool from Sunday

The loss of three points was just the beginning for Liverpool from Sunday

In a previous article not long ago I argued that Liverpool had to ensure the squad remained fresh, so that the current players did not run out of steam during our exceptional run of form.

Alas, our bitter rivals Manchester United will take massive satisfaction in knowing that they started and ended our 13 match unbeaten streak in the Premier League, winning 2-1 at Anfield. Moreover, having cut a ten point lead after the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to only two, Liverpool now find themselves five points behind again with just eight games to go.

With a trip to the Emirates next up, a three game ban for Steven Gerrard after his performance on Sunday, a three game ban for Martin Skrtel and injury problems for Simon Mignolet, Adam Lallana and, yes, Daniel Sturridge, the Reds are on the edge right now in terms of a top four challenge and a place in the Champions League next season.

The 1-0 win at Swansea City foreshadowed events at Anfield, with Liverpool extremely fortunate to escape South Wales with three points. Their improvement in the second half was substantial, highlighting how poor the Reds were in the first.

Credit must go to Swansea and their manager Garry Monk for finding a way to restrict Liverpool and their hugely successful 3-4-2-1 formation and this was replicated by Louis Van Gaal on Sunday, beating Liverpool at their own game, starting quicker and with a very high tempo.

As against Swansea, it looked like manager Brendan Rodgers was set to change formation again to a diamond four in midfield with three at the back, which was very successful and saw off Monk’s side. However, before this could be implemented, Gerrard got himself sent off for a stamp which was reckless and irresponsible, albeit in the heat of the moment, having witnessed a dreadful and limp first half display against the enemy.

The form since Christmas had been outstanding but there has been little true rotation for the squad

The form since Christmas had been outstanding but there has been little true rotation for the squad

Nevertheless, there is no excuse, but Gerrard’s sending off was not the sole reason for Liverpool’s defeat. Sunday proved teams are beginning to work out Rodgers’ latest formation and that perhaps it is time to change again.

Swansea was the warning sign, but no one should change radically based on one performance, just as stubborn managers should change when their system hasn’t worked for months, such as Everton’s Roberto Martinez.

Yet with back-to-back games having the same first half effect, the issues are now there for all to see.

The reason we avoided defeat at Swansea was because they lacked the quality in the final third – which Manchester United had.

It already seems evident that Rodgers has a Plan B with the diamond, yet he needs to come up with a Plan C and D to ensure Liverpool remain ahead tactically, as they lack the same amount of world class talent compared to their rivals and instead it’s the formations used to bring out the very best in the Liverpool players that helps them compete at the higher end of the table.

This is what helped fuel our incredible run last season and then to a lesser extent this season, but you have to adapt or risk being left behind.

With Liverpool lacking the attraction and financial clout of Chelsea, the Manchester clubs and Arsenal, they have to stay ahead in other ways.

Liverpool can return to form and there are still eight games to play in the league, while the FA Cup dream is still very much alive. Both Manchester United and Liverpool have some tough fixtures coming up and it’s who handles those games better that will clinch fourth place.

Rodgers has already proven many times in his short tenure at Liverpool that he is willing to change to accommodate players and turn form around, and he needs to do it again very soon, as Liverpool have to respond quickly at the Emirates or it could be all over.

The likes of Coutinho have barely had a rest since January and are beginning to struggle

The likes of Coutinho have barely had a rest since January and are beginning to struggle

However, it’s not just having different formations to rotate around that brings success, but rotating the players too.

Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson have formed a very effective partnership in the middle of midfield in recent weeks, but Allen was only reinstated because of injuries to Gerrard and, arguably more importantly, Lucas Leiva.

Of course, it makes sense to keep a player in whilst he’s playing well and Allen has been mightily impressive lately, yet Lucas is Liverpool’s only defensive midfielder and a very good one at that, having been in brilliant form himself before his injury.

With modern technology and sports science, Rodgers should have been able to identify that Allen would soon suffer a fall in form, as few are able to play to such a standard for every game.

Yet to have quality squad depth is encouraging and if Lucas was not match fit then it’s understandable that Allen was selected, but after Sunday Lucas should be reinstated as he is simply better in that position.

Meanwhile, the likes of Henderson and Philippe Coutinho could do with some rotation to keep them fresh and performing at a high level, as they were outdone by a vibrant Manchester United team. It would allow Raheem Sterling especially to have additional time in the centre of the pitch, rather than being shunted out wide to accommodate all of the attacking players.

But the one who looks in most need of a break is Alberto Moreno, at fault for both goals at the weekend and seemingly lacking the engine and focus to patrol the entire flank, with little attacking product recently as well.

Now fit, Jon Flanagan may eye an opportunity to seize back a first team spot, while Gerrard should have started on Sunday ahead of Moreno, with Lallana at left wing-back. This could also be implemented in the coming weeks to test Lallana’s defensive resilience, having impressed in the position briefly against Manchester City.

Rodgers has to keep using the entire squad, which in recent months has proved its quality by providing cover for injured players, yet those injured players have to be reinstated at some point as they are the superior options – therefore they need to be match fit, and that only comes by playing games.

By continuing to change the formations and the players, Liverpool could still end up with a top four spot, but there is plenty of work to be done yet.

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