The Luis Suarez Conundrum

With Liverpool’s match with Manchester United shortly on the horizon, it begs the question as to how the Reds will go into the match tactically. The 3-5-2 system may be an option again but with Martin Kelly injured for a month, and Fabio Aurelio’s fitness touch and go, the more likely option will be to opt to play with four at the back with Danny Wilson continuing to play in a left back role while Glen Johnson reverts to right back with Kelly sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The change back to the 4 at the back, with perhaps the return of Gerrard, Meireles and even Andy Carroll from injury, will give Kenny Dalglish some selection headaches. Carroll will certainly be picked only for the bench but if Meireles and Gerrard are both fit, what system will we use in front of the back four? After Martin Kelly’s injury in the first half against West Ham, the reversion to four at the back necessitated Raul Meireles moving wide right, a position that we know from Roy Hodgson’s reign he is not suited to. After Meireles was forced off as a precaution because of a knee injury, the Reds played a very familiar 4-4-2 but with Meireles fit, to incorporate the Portuguese man into central midfield alongside Gerrard, a variation of 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 will have to be used.

In this formation though, it would look as though Luis Suarez would have to play the lone striker’s role unless Kuyt is used up front with the Uruguayan being switched out wide. The 24 year old’s best play in my opinion is linking up play outside the box as well as being a danger inside the box. The concern with him playing the lone striker’s role would be that he goes wondering for the ball in midfield while leaving nobody to fulfil the striking role up front.

This worry actually raises further issues as to where Luis Suarez fits into the Liverpool team. When Andy Carroll returns from injury many expect the Uruguayan to partner the target man Geordie up front, in the guise of previous similarly styled partnership of Keegan and Toshack. Such a partnership would necessarily demand a reversion to a 4-4-2 formation. In such a system however, some Reds have raised concerns that either the attacking talents in central midfield of Raul Meireles or Steven Gerrard would have to be sacrificed.

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This week it is Former Liverpool WAG Clio Zenden!

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