If you beat ,an all be it average, Aston Villa team 3-0 on the Monday night at home but then lose 3-1 to a Newcastle team, reeling from the sacking of Chris Hughton, on the Saturday, questions must be asked about the mentality of the players. The absence of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres was not a problem against Villa, so why with Torres returning should we be any weaker away from Anfield? Surely a good recent run of form should make the trip to the Magpies, who were in turmoil, an easier affair especially with Torres returning to the side? The Reds however looked devoid of leadership and lacked the fortitude to take the game to Newcastle at 1-1. On top of this, the defending for Newcastle’s second goal especially was just atrocious as Roy stated after the match:
“We let Newcastle back into the game and we conceded a second goal – the like of which you don’t want to see as a manager. The ball should have been cleared on at least three occasions before Barton scored.”
In my view, the partnership of Skrtel and Kyrgiakos just doesn’t work. Both competent in the air but lack the pace and guile on the floor to really deal with every attacking threat from the opposition. Only one of the two must play and Soto has shown enough this season for me that he warrants an extended run in team. With Carragher sidelined for a couple of months, the return to fitness of Agger comes ideally with the busy Christmas period on the horizon. The most naturally gifted of our centre backs, comfortable with the ball at feet and keeping pace with opposition attackers, he would provide a better foil for Soto than Skrtel.
The Reds defence has been frail for most of the season. A combination of Roy’s tactics, lack of leadership and lack of form of certain players has contributed to this, but perhaps Roy can stumble on a good centre back partnership in Soto and Agger like he did with Lucas and Meireles in central midfield.
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Liverpool will keep conceding goals because Johnson leaves a huge space behind him when he attacks. Konchesky should be replaced by Mavinga-he is taller and faster. Skyrtel, Agger and Carragher will always be rumbled by any aerial ball into the penalty area. Liverpool need another centreback like Gary Cahill alongside Soto. Play Kelly at rightback. Play with wingers and your fullbacks do not get exposed as much as they do when you play with the likes of Maxi and Kuyt who cut infield the whole time.
Hi David, would have to agree with most of what you said, i believe Agger is our best CH and i think we should look to bring Kelly in at RB as i think he is better defensivly than Johnson who i’d play on the right wing, think they’d link up well down the right flank.
I do agree that we should stick with the Lucas/Meireles partnership also as i think they compliment each other really well and have been two of the better and most consistant performers this season.
In playing Kelly at RB we help tighten things up at the back and by playing Johnson on the wing it would help stretch teams at the back leaving more space for Gerrard and Torres to cause havoc!
I would like to see Aurelio replace Konchesky as he’s a far better LB and just hope he stays fit plus he gives the team more options from set pieces with that awesome left peg!!
The left wing i’d probably play Kuyt just for his work rate and he does contribute with the goals and good with the head!
@turks
i couldnt agree more sir.
Reina
kelly soto agger aurelio
johnson meireles lucas kuyt
gerrard
torres
Our defence at Newcastle was worse than poor. Hodgson has to do something to reshuffle our defensive line and we’ve got to be more solid at the back. I agree with David in saying that both Skrtel and Soto are more than competent in the air but they lack pace and guile on the floor to deal with every attacking threat. Agger’s return will boost our defence and I expect him to play alongside either Skrtel or Soto.
Johnson should be pushed up to right wing and Kelly should come in at right back but it’s unlikely that Hodgson would even consider that. I also hope that Roy realises that Konchesky is not up to the task and Aurelio is a much better left back and even Mavinga, who’s stronger and faster. Surely, Agger’s return will improve our defence and I hope Roy considers his tactics, both defensive and offensive, in order for the team to be stronger at the back and create more scoring opportunities in attack.
He’s not going to stumble on that partnership anytime soon, seeing as Agger is injured – hopefully in the interim, Kelly or Wilson will be allowed to step in and show that they are better prospects for the club than Skrtel is.
For tonight though, hopefully Hodgson will stumble across the solution that Babel and Torres should be playing together more regularly (hopefully with Jovanovich also) so that the oppostion have more than one pacey attacker to worry about