Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes the Reds should start Craig Bellamy against Everton at the weekend. He wrote in his column for the Liverpool Daily Post:
“Bellamy didn’t feature onSaturday after playing 90 minutes at Brighton, so he will be rested and raring to go this weekend, and away from home I think he could be a great option. He makes opposition defences take a step back because he is keen to play in behind, and he can open a game up with his pace and running. I think if you asked Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin who they would rather face out of Bellamy and Carroll, they would say Carroll, because they can just stand and compete with him.”
Lawro did feel however that Andy Carroll had a “promising display” against Wolves last weekend:
“Carroll looked much better than he has in recent weeks, and produced a very promising display. He still probably needs a goal to completely settle him down – and he had a few chances on Saturday – but his work-rate, his link-up play and his quality was much improved. There seems to be this strange fascination with Andy in the media at the moment. It is almost as if people have made their minds up that he isn’t going to make it at Liverpool, and Kenny is rightly irked by this.”
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Lawro talking sense about Liverpool, well there is a surprise!!
Bellamy and Carroll upfront for me – pace, invention and the big physical presence will keep Everton guessing while Gerrard & co bomb on and cause havoc.
At the back I’d play Carra & Skyrtel with Enrique and Kelly on the flanks
442 sucks if you don’t have quality wingers and we don’t. Bellamy should play at the expense of Downing, who needs to buck his ideas up imo
Suarez, Carroll & Bellamy up front with Gerrard supporting them from deep gives the team the pace, power and flexibility to cause far more damage than we have thus far
…and if we are at deadlock second half bring on Suarez early and go 4-1-4-1. Bellamy to the left of midfield, Downing to the right with Gerrard and Adam in the middle (Lucas sitting)
I do agree that Bellamy should be given a start Saturday, but I don’t see any way possible to justify leaving Suarez out of the starting XI. He brings too much to the table; always a threat to score, creates opportunities for others with his movement, and runs the opposition defense ragged. IMO he has to be one of the first names on the team sheet every week.