Has this duo solved Liverpool’s long standing problem?

Liverpool have long been troubled with problems down their left side. They have struggled over the past few years in finding players to fit into the left back and left wing positions, and it has greatly affected the balance of the side. Could these problems finally be put to bed with the signings of Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing?

Liverpool’s left hand side has been problematic since Rafael Benitez took over in 2004. John Arne Riise had a good few years where he made the role his own, bombing forward, getting goals, and also putting in solid defensive performances. He was sold by Benitez after a drop in form, and after Stephen Warnock also left the club-a mistake in the eyes of many-Liverpool have struggled with the left hand side. They have relied upon Fabio Aurelio who is a quality player, but has spent more time injured than he has on the football field, and a host of others including Emiliano Insua and even Glen Johnson, but none have really made the role their own.

The left wing posisiton has been even more troubling, with no one except Albert Riera really making the role their out and out position. Liverpool have lacked the width that natural left footers would provide, with the likes of Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun always cutting inside, and leaving the side short of balance and far too narrow.

Liverpool look to have signed two top quality players in Downing and Enrique and will hope they can form a great partnership, lighting up the left flank and providing a winning formula. Both players are intelligent, and used to dealing with pressure and big expectations, as both are proven Premiership players, so they should have no troubled bedding into the Liverpool side. Once they get to know each others game and start to gel, they will provide Liverpool with the strong left side that they have desperately been missing out on in recent years.

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