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Do Liverpool still have a missing link?

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Forget a striker, forget a pacey winger what Liverpool need is a to finally replace Xabi Alonso. when playing a 4-3-3 formation the three in midfield consists of a holding midfield an attacking midfielder playing higher up the pitch possible behind the striker and a link between the attack and defence a “typical box to box midfielder “someone that can get the fullbacks involved and move a hole team forward.

Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson currently occupy this midfield road but both have short comings Charlie Adam has great passing ability and amazing vision however he’s about as fast as a concrete elephant and is exposed defensively giving nothing to that area of the pitch. Jordan Henderson gives Liverpool more energy in that area of the pitch and can get from box to box with ease however he isn’t as technically gifted as some in the premiership and has struggled to hold a regular role at Liverpool, and you get the feeling he feels more comfortable out on the wing. This leaves Liverpool with a hole in there midfield one of the most important places of the pitch and one they must fill if they want to challenge for the top four again.

So let’s have a look at a few options shall we first is my personal favourite Mathieu Flamini nicknamed by fans as flatuso when playing for arsenal he proved he had one of the biggest engines in the league coving more ground than anyone, and in a game ageist spurs this season showing he still has an eye for a tackle angering many spurs fans with a tackle on Caulker and getting away with just a yellow card. He wouldn’t be a star name but you don’t need to be a star name to make yourself known to Liverpool fans just ask Lucas.

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Another option is yet another Frenchman. His name is Lassana Diara the tough taking Frenchman has a wealth of premiership experience playing for Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth before sealing a big money move to Real Madrid. The midfielder would have no problem adapting to the league however he may not have the passing ability needed for this position but could give Lucas a helping hand when needed.

Which brings to another option which is to move lucas slightly further up the field to fill this role the Liverpool man struggled in his first season at the club but over the past few years hes become an important cog in the Liverpool machine proving that players can get over a rough start become a fan Favourite. but Lucas dosent just have defensive talent he has shown he has great skill going forwards (after all he is Brazilian) and might be the perfect cog to move Liverpool that step further. you could then argue that Liverpool would then have to replace Lucas but after all it seems its easier to find a holding midfield player than a Xabi Alonso and if Liverpool want to finish in the top four this season its something they must address.

This article was written by Cameron Makeman and is courtesy of our partner website thisisfutbol.com. Read the latest news and blogs about European Football at TiF. – ed

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12 comments

  • Decky says:

    What rubbish. First off we don’t play 433, therefore Adam and Lucas are doing a fine job. How you can say henderson looks more comfortable on the wing is beyond me when it’s clear to see that all his best performances have been from the centre. Alonso was never a typical box to box player either he’s a deep sitting playmaker spreading and dictating the play and tempo from deep.

    • Steven says:

      Totally agree! We didn’t go out and buy Adam, Downing and Henderson… Not to mention the other midfielders to play 3 in the middle!
      Liverpool will always play with a minim if 4 across midfield… That’s the way KK likes to play… And as shown also plays 5 in the midfield!!!
      If Adam and Lucas stay on track, they would match the Alonso and Mascherano combo

  • Sam Wanjere says:

    Which Liverpool are you talking about? Lucas doesn’t have defensive talent? http://j.mp/v5fpMR Adam has directly contributed to our goals in the past two games, first by harassing (and dispossessing) Chelsea’s defensive kingpin Mikel, secondly by forcing Lescott into an own goal. Hendo doesn’t have the technical talent of most? Comparisons keep hurting players in all of sports. That kid’s engine is first class, his vision and passing underrated, his wing play inferior to central midfield positioning and so on.

    I agree with Decky’s assertion that we hardly play 4-3-3, favoring 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 mostly. The article’s slack and needs facts.

    However, this doesn’t mean we don’t need help in being clinical upfront. We do need offensive reinforcements in a classic, fox-in-the-box No. 9, specialist wingers and another CB or defender at the back.

    Once more check your facts.

    • Decky says:

      Absolutely Sam, he says forget a striker and pacy winger when in fact any fan with an ounce of common sense can see its a pacy tricky creative winger for the right and a real 20-25 goal a season striker to take all the chances we have been creating (most in the league I believe)

      Doubt we’ll have too much to spend in jan but I saw us linked with Soldado today (was only a matter of time) but I really think he’d be ideal for us , he’s Villa but younger. The winger is harder depending on how much we have maybe Boudebouz.

  • Sam Wise says:

    This was the biggest waste of time article I have ever read. Nothing is correct! i read these articles to pass the time but now i actually feel like i am time wasting.

  • Jason Duffy says:

    Absolute rubbish – poorly researched (if at all). Adam has no pace? He’s not Henry but he gets about the pitch quite nicely. Ask Mikel. And I would remind you that Xabi was hardly a sprinter.
    Lucas doesn’t have defensive talent? Go watch the Chelsea/Citeh matches then have a wee rethink. He was a defensive giant in both and this has been the case all of last season and so far in this.
    Henderson is a central midfielder-if anything the error is playing him wide. He is quick and agile
    And another thing – neither of the players you have mentioned would get a gae at Liverpool. In Lucas,Adam and we have a combination of vision, strength, passing ability, defensive awareness, workrate,aggression and commitment, all 3 are oung enough to keep progressing. Easily winning over 2 average, mercenary midfielders. Not a good article at all I’m afraid….

  • Ashfah Hussain says:

    Yes, the missing puzzle is in the midfield. No need to guess where it should be strenthened. Just get the right player and no sentiments about it.

  • chudy says:

    he said dat lucas doesn’t just have only defensive talent.pls dont misjudge him,dis article is indeed mischievous

  • shibashis says:

    Whoever the author is tried very hard to stay away from the pack, and ended up saying things which do not make sense anywhere in the footballing universe !!!

  • Gerrardious says:

    is this the new comedy issue av bn hearing about? u’re takin bout replacing Alonso n then mentioning names like Diarra, Flamini ……seriously??

  • anfield rd dreamer says:

    Extremely strange view points, considering Henderson was statistically the best creative centre mid in league at sunderland last year and been promising in his cameos so far. Adam is less than 6 months into his Liverpool career and showing more promise than alonso did in his first 6 months. Also lucas an Adam just completely dominated city an chelseas multi million pound midfields, not bad for around 15 million. Plus you linked us with 2 awful over rated defensive mids with limited passing ability for the alonso role….ok…Nuff said.

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