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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If we want to play Suarez, Carroll, Gerrard and Meireles in the same team, we’ll probably have to play 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. As mentioned in the article, Suarez has prevously played as a winger forward for both Uruguay and Ajax. He is like David Villa, capable of playing anywhere along the front line. If we play 4-3-3, we’ll probably need someone like Young or Turan on the opposite wing. I’m not really in favour of the 3-5-2 formation since we won’t be using orthodox wingers.
My suggestions for the team are:
1. Sell Glen Johnson and somehow convince Micah Richards to join us. Shift Kelly into the centre with Agger.
2. Get either Jose Enrique or Taiwo for LB. That’ll be our back 4 sorted.
3. Sign a good defensive midfielder. Although Lucas (we should not sell him) has excelled this season, the fact still remains that he is not a defensive midfielder. He is an attack minded player who unfortunately has to curb his attacking tendencies. Moussa or Momo Sissoko or M’Vila should be brought in.
4. Sign two wingers. It seems that Sylvain Marveaux has all but signed for us. One more top winger will be needed. Young, Turan or Marko Marin should be brought in.
5. Get rid of the deadwood like Degen, El Zhar, Poulsen, Insua (he gets bullied by average players), Jovanovic, J. Cole (waste of space plus on high wages), Skrtel (too weak)and Aquilani(good player but not a prem player). I’d keep Maxi over Cole as he is less injury prone and can fill in pretty much the same positions. I’d give N’gog one more season.
Liverpool 2011/2012:
Reina
Richards Kelly Agger Enrique/Taiwo
M’Vila/
Meireles Gerrard
Young/Turan/Marin Carroll Suarez
Subs: Gulacsi,Carra, Aurelio, Lucas, Marveaux, Kuyt, N’gog/Pacheco
This is not fantasy football. We’ve been linked with all these players before.
What about, having glen johnson already and using the 4-3-3 system, we buy a LWB like coentrao, then we have johnson and coentrao patrolling the wings. With two defensive midfielders. Then one just a little bit ahead of them responsible for the distribution of the ball. Then we have Carroll in the centre, suarez to the left, and one more to the right. That makes up to only two players that we have to buy to make this system work(coentrao and an attacker alongside carroll and suarez). Now as lucas is not really a DM we should be buying a real DM with Meireles playing alongside him. One a DM and one sort of a DM who can also distribute good balls(like the mascherano and alonso tandem). And then we place Gerrard in the hole behind the strikers. Lets say we get coentrao for 25M, young for 15M,A good DM for 15M thats 55M. Now with the deadwoods we get some 20M maybe more. And give youth a chance.
Ok. So your saying we play a 4-3-3 with our midfield comprising of one defensive mid protecting the defence, a deep lying playmaker and an attacking mid. Let me correct you on one thing; Meireles is not a deep lying playmaker. Like Gerrard, he is a box-to-box midfielder who can defend. He has a decent passing range but nothing too special or incisive enough. The same with Lucas. If we are looking for a deep lying playmaker, we should go for Charlie Adam. If we play the midfield your suggesting, then it will not be possible to accommodate both Gerrard and Meireles. We have seen that Gerrard has struggled playing as a CM lately and is only capable of playing a free roaming role. If we let both Gerrard and Meireles venture freely with a defensive mid protecting the defence, we’ll be able to get the best out of both of them. They can track back when needed. Rather than relying on our wing backs for width and risk getting caught out in a 3 v ? counter, it would be better if we have 4 solid defenders with our full backs capable of providing adequate attacking assistance. With Gerrard and Meireles in the box along with Carroll, our wide men will always have targets in the box.
Ok i got the point, bt i think a 4-2-3-1 formation will eventually be better. With reports suggesting that we are close to sealing the signature of sissoko, kenny can play sissoko and lucas in that holding midfield role, and play gerrard and meireles just ahead of them as CAM, with suarez in between them, and carroll up front. With johnson and coentrao we’ll have two great players attacking both flanks and providing crosses. And have the DM going backward in a diagonal way to protect the flanks. Btw sanchez would be a nice purchase, if we think of having our own Cristiano Ronaldo.. But watever, in kenny we trust.. TNWA.
For Sun play 4-4-1-1. With Lucas & Meireles in midfield, Gerrard on the right & Cole or Maxi on the left.
Reina
G Johnson Carra Agger Wilson
Gerrard Meireles Lucas Cole/Maxi
Suarez
Kuyt
After 75 or 80 mins bring Carroll on..
With Carrol on the pitch and the back 4 picking itself the only option is 4.3.3 with Kuyt and Suarez either side (both can switch) leaving Lucas, Gerard and meireles in the Midfield with the latter two alternating between holding and attack. I am not convinced that dedicated wingers are a good option – but more inclined to think the more flexible skills of Kuyt and Suarez will probably be more effective with Johnson making the odd run. If we can sign a fast left winger in the summer then its an extra option.
the more ‘flexible skills’ of Kuyt? What, aimlessly running around the pitch like a headless chicken??
Wingers haven’t done Man U any harm over the past years, nor has it hurt Barcelona to have men hugging the touchline in the final third either. It’s funny to see people with the same nonsensical opinion that wingers are just an insignificant luxury
and after what we saw on the weekend you still think wilson should play against united?!? SMH…i’m guessing the writer has put money on united to win becouse that is what is going to happen if kenny goes along with most of the stuff that you wrote
i totally agree that wilson must not start against utd. we will just get pwned. wilson is just not ready yet. especially he offers nothing in attack. when he is paired with cole on the left, we are finished.
Wilson was a youngster starting his first prem game – how are the kids supposed to get any better if they’re dumped on the scrap heap as soon as they have a bad game?? Especially when considering the fact that the senior counterparts are not given the same treatment and are allowed to put in consistently poor performances with no repurcussions
nah that wont be the case i guess.if i put money on what our squad would look like,i’d bet on this:
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Agger Johnson
Lucas Gerrard
Kuyt Meireles J.Cole
Suarez
Joe Cole to come off at 75+th minute,Suarez to play left wing and Andy Carroll in the striker role.with united having both Vidic and Ferdinand out,means that they wont be tought at their back but we gotta get hold of their great attacking threats by Rooney,Nani,Javier Hernandez.also Fletcher is a player who plays well.if we manage to get hold of those 4,we can win this game.it will be Suarez’s goal as he’s been playing awesome already.so i would go to 1-0 win for Liverpool..YNWA
lets hope wilson is well protected or not playing because nani could have a field day !
Agree. I would replace Wilson with Aurelio. Experience counts alot in such game. Wilson is still young.
I think the team should be:
Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Wilson
Gerrard Lucas Mereiles
Johnson Carroll Suarez
there are no downsides as far as I can see
Hayden,
I see a big downside to that team selection…
Martin Kelly is injured and won’t be playing!
I think team will be:
Reina
Carra / Skertel / Agger / Johnson
Kuyt / Meireles / Lucas / Gerrard / Maxi or Cole
Suarez
If Carrol fit, he will come on around 70 mins! Also dependent on how the game pans out!
I wil go with a mre likely formation of 3-5-2
Reina
Carr-Skrtel-Agger
johnson-lucas-meriles-cole
gerrard
kuyt-suarez
Not a chance Wilson will play at LB in a flat back four. He is a learning CB and he was cruelly exposed time again at West Ham which was why Carra looked so bad as he was always trying to cover him.
With United having a dodgy defensive line up we certainly don’t need one too.
If Gerrard, Meireless, Kuyt and Suarez are on top of their game then i’d be happy with a 6-2-2.
Wilson was trying to cover Carragher’s fallabilities in the air which is why he ended up challenging their big centre forward before our goal – Wilson had a poor game, but he was not helped (or shown up) by his colleagues at the back…
Play Reina,Carragher,Skrtel,Agger,Wilson,Gerrard,Meireless,Lucas,Kuyt,Suares,Caroll.
I think the future is 4-4-1-1
King Kenny has said that when all four players (Stevie, Meireless, Suarez & Carroll) are all fit we will be a team to be feared.
Since Stevie or Meireless are not suited to playing on the wing that to me suggests that we will be attack minded and they will both play in central midfield (no Loucas).
For the games we need to be more defensive we could play one up top and bring in a defensive midfielder and play 4-5-1.
I also see the future with Kuyt on the right and a new player (e.g. Ashley Young) on the left.
The game against Manu I think will be 3-5-1:
[Agger/Kiriakos]-Carragher-Skyrtl
Johnson-Stevie-Loucas-Meireless-[Aurelio/Wilson]
[Suarez/Kuyt]
There should be no future that has Kuyt starting games still…
But he’s also been very quick to complement Lucas too.
Reina
Johno. Skrtel. Agger. Aurelio
Meireles. Lucas.
J. Cole. Gerrard. Kuyt
Suarez/Carroll
3-5-2 with wingbacks, provided we can get a quality, fast left back who likes to get forward in the summer. The perfect man would be Coentrao.
So:
Reina
Kelly, Carragher, Agger
Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles, Coentrao
Carroll, Suarez
Kelly and Agger can both play the ball out of defence, both have a touch of pace, especially Kelly, with Carragher staying back, almost like a sweeper (consider his performance against Chelsea). Johnson and Coentrao are both free to go forward and put in crosses (Johnson now on his favoured right foot). Lucas holds whilst Gerrard and Meireles alternate supporting the strikers, lurking outside the area. Carroll is the target man with Suarez supporting him. Comments?
The point about Suarez is he was bought to suit a side that has not been fully built yet, i think the 4-3-3 formation is what we will be seeing regularly next season.
Hopefully! We played well with that when KK first game back. i.e Wolves, Fulham
I would go with a 4-2-3-1 formation. I think it’s the most suited to progressive fluid passing football these days. Although Mereiles has been exellent in a AM position I would drop him back as I think Stevie has more to offer from there (for now)
Based on the players we have at the moment (when all fit!) this would be my 11
Kelly Carra Agger Aurelio
Lucas Mereiles
Johnson Gerrard
Suarez
Carroll
This is easy play Suarez and Carroll up top, get in two wingers and a left back and play 442 gerrard and meireles in the middle no Lucas although improving not good enough and no kuyt hard worker but sadly not good enough and attack teams make them worry about us as we are Liverpool
i will not like what happens last week against west ham repeat itself anymore,the coaches should introduce a good system that will give us good result,and they know that man utd will never want to loose this game because they’ve loose to chelsea on tuesday,our lost to westham utd have cost us 9 point behind chelsea which give us a battle to move
Team on Sunday
Reina
kyrgiakos Carragher agger
Johnson Aurlio
spearing
Gerrard. Meireles
Kuyt suarez