Youth v Experience: Who Should Rodgers Go With In The Derby?

THERE is no doubting that Liverpool have had a tough start to the season.

The fixture list has not been kind to Brendan Rodgers at the beginning of his new project.

And just when you were thinking about the possibility of a bit of momentum being built after the Reading victory, the Reds have to make the trip across Stanley Park to face Everton, who have started the season uncharacteristically well.

Many things have been said about their manager David Moyes over the years, from the National press championing him as the heir to the Old Trafford throne, to his very own fans getting on his back for numerous team selections in the domestic cups and various derbies. One thing is for certain though, and that is at the moment, he has at his disposal an experienced squad which is very strong both physically and mentally.

They currently sit fourth in the table and look much more solid and consistent than various other clubs who are supposedly also challenging for the final Champion’s League position. It will be a very tough game. The atmosphere will be fervent, with the Goodison faithful desperate to see their side open up a huge nine point gap between themselves and their local rivals.

While Liverpool have had an inconsistent start, complicated by numerous European fixtures, a number of positives have come to light. Rodgers’ favoured style of play may not be perfected yet but all Kopites are glad to be seeing the youngsters given responsibility. And it appears that the youngsters are taking these responsibilities with great composure and confidence.

There has been talk on the Red half of Merseyside for a couple of years about Raheem Sterling so it has come as little surprise to most how he has flourished in the first team. We may not have expected his regular inclusion to come so soon but it is fantastic to see a winger of genuine quality at the club for the first time since Steve McManaman. Andre Wisdom snatched his opportunity with both hands after a commanding display and glorious header against Young Boys and has not looked out of place since. With physical attributes beyond his years, Wisdom has everything in his locker to become a firm fan’s favourite at Anfield.

Suso has also become a regular starter. There was nobody more surprised than me to see the young Spaniard introduced to a 10-man team at half time during the home clash with Manchester United, but maybe I have become accustomed to seeing Liverpool managers not trust their talented young prospects. It is very refreshing to see Rodgers do this and long may it continue. Suso didn’t put a foot wrong in that game until the second United goal and in fact looked like one of the more impressive players on the pitch. He has since continued his good form and been rewarded with a new contract.

The future looks bright. This is without even mentioning the likes of Jack Robinson, Adam Morgan and Samed Yesil, to name but a few. The Under 21 side is littered with talented youngsters who now know more than ever before that quality displays will be rewarded.

L4L DERBY DAY GIVEAWAY! WIN A BRAND NEW LFC SHIRT BY ENTERING OUR COMPETITION HERE

With the current Liverpool squad resembling something of a crèche, the trip to Goodison will be a very interesting one. Liverpool can’t afford to lose. With a very young squad, and having already been robbed of the relatively experienced Martin Kelly, Rodgers must pick a starting eleven capable of matching Everton’s vibrancy and physicality. Liverpool are going to face an aerial bombardment at times with the ever reliable Leighton Baines looking to create for the powerhouses Fellaini (if fit), Jagielka and Distin. With the predatory Jelavic and experienced Neville and Osman completing the spine of the side, Liverpool must be on top of their game from the first whistle.

With Fellaini struggling to make it back in time from injury, and the crafty Pienaar suspended, Liverpool have a chance to take advantage. However, Everton’s squad is much stronger than in recent years and with the likes of Coleman, Gibson, Naismith, Anichebe and Hitzlsperger waiting in the wings there is plenty of big game experience around.

Everton will not allow the Reds a second on the ball which will immediately threaten the chances of Liverpool’s plan ‘A’ coming to fruition. I recently read a quote, I forget who by, stating that ‘If you have no plan B, your plan A must be unstoppable.’ We know that Rodgers will not defer much, if at all from his plan A, in any fixture. This is a positive in many ways. It shows that he is more focussed on his own team than worried about the opposition.

One thing that I would be concerned with however is starting with all three of Sterling, Suarez and Suso. This may be Rodgers’ dream, to have three diminutive forwards running the opposition ragged, Barcelona and Spain style, but at the moment, while looking very promising, this plan is not unstoppable. Suarez will of course start the game, with Sterling looking extremely likely to join him. Suso, who has shown regular flashes of quality, may have to be sacrificed for somebody with a little more physical presence.

Jonjo Shelvey will surely need to start the game for the visitors, with his energy, passion and goalscoring threat a huge highlight of Liverpool’s season thus far. Whether Rodgers thinks that he can operate wide in a front three remains to be seen but there seems few other places that the London-born youngster can slot in for this game. It would be surprising if Rodgers removed Nuri Sahin from central midfield to allow Shelvey back in, as the Turk’s inclusion with Gerrard and Allen would represent a solid, experienced three man midfield.

If Rodgers decides to go with Sterling, Suarez and Suso then I will fully back his stance. In the modern game where managers are terrified to play youngsters in case they do not yield immediate rewards, Rodgers’ belief in the Liverpool youth is refreshing and pleasing to see, particularly as previous managers have barely used anyone from the Academy.

Glen Johnson will of course play and hopefully continue his recent good form. Which flank he is selected on however will dictate who plays in the other fullback position. Andre Wisdom has been superb and I expect him to keep his place at right back. However, if Rodgers feels that Liverpool could do with more experience in that position to counter the threat of Baines then he may put Johnson there and allow Jose Enrique a return on the left.

Pepe Reina may well be back in between the sticks after an injury kept him out of the Reading and Anzhi games, but if not let’s hope that Brad Jones can find a repeat of his composed FA Cup semi-final performance against the Blues.

Liverpool’s very young squad is not blessed with a great deal of experience, but the youth are proving very worthy of wearing the Liverbird on their chest. Rodgers doesn’t have too many options in terms of switching personnel for this game, especially if he is to stick with his favoured 4-3-3 approach. The first dilemma would probably be how he gets Shelvey back into the team, with his superior strength and goal threat maybe giving him the edge over Suso.

A lesser dilemma would be potentially removing the in-from Wisdom from right-back in order to fill the position with more experience. Whichever Xl is chosen, each individual will need to be on top of their game as this will be a very demanding match, one in which we hope that our momentum can be kept.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook