WITH the confirmed signings of Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, and with Ian Ayre cancelling a trip to Brazil in order to oversee an attempt to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shaktar Donetsk, I see Brendan Rodgers’ long term plans beginning to come to fruition.
With the exception of Samed Yesil, our strike force can be summed up in one word – versatile.
That isn’t a criticism of the young German striker, I want to see him get a few games next season, but he is an out and out striker.
Whilst that is Daniel Sturridge’s preference we all know he is capable of playing left or right of a front three. I personally think central is when he looks his best for Liverpool and he was prolific as the season drew to a close in the absence of Suarez.
Speaking of the Uruguayan, he might well leave by the end of the transfer window, but I personally think he will still be here. He is more effective through the middle as displayed by his fabulous goal return last season but is effectively a free role player. He will drop deep or drift wide, making runs and drawing defenders away. I really hope we keep him, I really want him to stay because if we make the adequate improvements to our squad I think he could be the key to us significantly improving our league position.
When you consider that Fabio Borini is actually a central striker but has been deployed on the flanks of the front three with a handful of exceptions, we suddenly have a very interchangeable and fluid front three.
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If we do sign Mkhitaryan, which we are going to flat out to do so if you believe the reports, then he is also someone who can play anywhere across the front three. As an aside, Downing can also play left or right and performed well there for the second half of the season.
Coutinho is an exceptionally talented young lad but will play that bit deeper or from the left. He’s versatile but not in terms of playing across the three.
Aspas and Luis Alberto are other ones who can play anywhere across the front three. I can certainly see what Rodgers wants. Not as much dependence on any one player for goals. We needed more goals from midfield and out wide and I think Rodgers has taken massive steps to address that. We might not yet sign Mkhitaryan, he will represent something of a coup if we get that deal done. But you can see what Rodgers wants to do and it’s the logical step to our improvement.
I still don’t think we will get enough goals from central midfield but if Coutinho can continue to supply the service for a flexible and liquid front three, we should be able to get by because of an improved return from out wide.
The Armenian lad could hold a big part in our hopes to return to Europe. If he can replicate his record breaking goals of last season he could propel us up the table and back towards Champions League places which has to be our big aim.
Either way, variety is the spice of life to most, but to Brendan Rodgers it would seem that versatility is the spice of life.
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I WANT RB TO SIGN MKHITARYAN.
Do you watch Ukrainian league?
Please also add wayama to our defensive midfield coz when playing man u,man city, or chelsea we need some forceful pple.the signings are good but we need that physical presence as well.
This mkhitaryan is very good player,
Plays a little like coutinho but is bigger and more goal minded and direct
If ewe sign him then europe is a serious aim that we can achieve if teams like arsenal and spurs don’t improve massively
Mkhitaryan, another defending midfielder and another centre back..
attacking is the best way of defence.let’s keep the ball at the opponent’s half.nothing will affect our team.sign henrikh pliz.he reminds me the likes of giully at barca & pires in arsenal.
I want Suarez gone as quickly as humanly possible. The author is one of the many apologists for Suarez. Regardless of how many goals a player can score i believe that he should be held accountable to a higher standard. As someone wearing the Liverpool shirt Suarez should conduct himself professionally. I don’t care what we have to do we need to sell him and take the money we get and buy a lot more versatile players.
Having got that out of my system I think that Rodgers has the right idea as he is working to strengthen the team. A team with more versatile players doesn’t need to be that large. You can get more production with a small squad if you have versatility. We just need to make sure that we are deep enough to cover for the needless red cards and injuries we are sure to have during the season. It would be nice to have some quality players on the bench for once.
I agree about the Suarez point. We can’t afford to have players like that. However, I can’t see where he’s going to go at the moment and I also think other clubs are weiry of buying him due to his behavior.
Suarez was man of the match 8 in 10 games he played in.
I don’t care if he wants to leave or if he is a troublemaker, I want him to stay and even if he doesn’t want to be at the club. He will still be our best player. We will not come close to replacing him!
Such idiots that want him to leave
Well said David
Continue playing fantasy football………FOOL!!
What has fantasy football got anything to do With it?
@chib, u don’t just sell your key players. Despite his attitude, Suarez is a god. We need him like no other. If we can get our targets and keep suarez, next season will be gr8. Chelsea needs to adapt to a new manager, so is Man u, City and Everton. We can make dat top 4 if not 3. Just believe folks! YNWA.
Let suarezz go
Mr D.Thomas, Ayre cancelled his Brazil trip 2 weeks ago. Now the Mkhitaryan transfer saga is not about the price anymore. Its the negotiation with various groups. Thats what stalling the deal. But nevertheless its a good article.
Good work done so far by BR
BRs should sign in Ryad boudebouz. Skillful player.. http://youtu.be/KSKQDrPttgI watch him play..
chib Akobundu……………Nice to see the mainstream propaganda worked on you, keep Suarez, get rid of you instead.
Our squad needs more mobility, pace and speed in it.
Suarez keeps going on about real madrid and it feels as if he has nothing to loose and its doing his utmost to get a move: The owners and B Rodgers need to stand firm and should only sell Suarez for £55 to £65M
As suarez is currently the third best player in world at moment and Neymar cost Barcelona £61m and Real Madrid have offered £65M plus as their first offer.
And Suarez is better than both of them, so he should not be sold for no less than £55M
But if Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid Or Manchester City meet that Valuation then he should be shipped out and replaced with these 5 attacking players, but owners would have to add £10m to money brought in from Suarez sale:
1: FD: C Benteke(21) Of A Villa for £18-£22M
2: FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinese for £10-£14M
3: RW / RWF: Nolito(26) Of Benfica for £3-£6M
4: LW /LWF: D Capel (25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £3-£7M
5: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£15M
These five attacking players would cost club: £43-£63
They would bring more class, quality, quality competition for places, creativity, depth, goals, mobility, movement, pace and speed to the squad.
And we could have two dangerous attacking line ups with these 5 players:
Premier league side:
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Lucas Gerrard
Coutinho
Nolitto Benteke Capel
Carling Cup and Fa Cup
Reina
Kelly Toure Hopefully Papadopolous and Cissokho
Allen Henderson
Alberto
Munian Sturridge Aspas