BRENDAN Rodgers spoke this week that he is looking to bring in two more players before our opening 2013/2014 Premier League fixture against Stoke City on August 17th.
There are no guarantees as to whether Rodgers will be looking to add further players to his incoming transfers before the window slams shut, however, it is looking increasingly likely that Liverpool will start the season with an influx of up to six new squad members.
With the club having already secured the signings of Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, Rodgers suggested that he was still in the market for an ‘attacking player’ and ‘a defender’.
It is an open secret that the attacking player the manager wanted was Henrikh Mkhitaryan, however, he looks likely to sign for Borussia Dortmund so will have to look elsewhere.
It is still up in arms who the centre-back will be as reports this week indicate that the club are no longer targeting Kyriakos Papadopoulos – the defender who just weeks ago looked set for a move to Anfield.
If Rodgers gets his way, Liverpool will add an attacking midfielder, a younger centre-back (i.e Tiago Ilori) and another defender to his squad before the climax of the transfer window, however, there may be even more additions should Liverpool be forced to sell any of their current crop.
So, with our new quartet already putting pen to paper coupled with general optimism that an attack-minded midfielder and a central defender will also be in place before the start of the season, what team will start the opener against Mark Hughes’ men?
For me, the battle between Pepe Reina, should he stay, and Simon Mignolet will be a fascinating one and my choice to start is based upon loyalty alone. Reina has stood by the club during some tough times and has made just six appearances short of 400 for the Reds. It is clear, however, that Simon Mignolet will be the long-term successor for Pepe, with continued talk of a move for Reina to Barcelona not looking like going away.
In the defence, unless Liverpool bring in competition at full-back, Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique are likely to start. It is still open for debate whether Liverpool are in need of more competition at full-back – particularly on the left with only Jack Robinson challenging our Spanish number three.
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Centre-back will be an interesting choice for Rodgers with this summer looking as though it will bring with it big changes at the heart of the defence. It is almost nailed on that Daniel Agger will be the number one central defender and a lot of people have suggested that Kolo Toure may even get the nod from day one.
However, for me it all depends on who Rodgers brings in before we kick-off our campaign. If the club splash out on a quality centre-back, it is unlikely that they won’t be seen as the number one choice alongside our Great Dane. Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, if he remains, and Martin Kelly will provide adequate cover.
In a Brendan Rodgers system, and the system of most managers in the world, Steven Gerrard is the heartbeat of the three-man midfield. Whether or not Lucas continues to be awarded with a prominent role remains to be seen as reports have suggested that Rodgers could well be in the market for a defensive midfielder to compete with the Brazilian. For me, the manager will start the season with a midfield three of Steven Gerrard, Lucas and whoever Rodgers has in mind to fill the attacking midfielder slot available.
The front three, if all remains the same, picks itself for the majority of games. Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez represent as potent a strikeforce as any in the Premier League. Arguably our three best players during the second half of last season, Coutinho, Sturridge and Suarez has a perfect mix of skill, strength, desire and, most importantly, goals.
Of course, Luis Suarez still has six games of his ten-match suspension to serve and will not be available until late September. It is still insure whether the Uruguayan will decide to jump ship and leave and, if so, there would be questions over how he will be replaced. For me, the only course of action would be to replace him with a striker of a similar calibre, no matter how much it will cost. However, for now, I am confident he will stay. In Suarez’s absence, I would expect new signing Iago Aspas to start.
As for the substitutes, the supporters of Liverpool could be provided with one of the best substitutes bench the team has seen in a long time. The likes of Martin Kelly, Andre Wisdom, Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson, Luis Alberto, Stewart Downing, Suso, Raheem Sterling and Iago Aspas could make up the bench and provide us with some exciting ‘Plan B’ options. That is without mentioning the players that will miss out in their own private battles which include, potentially, Mignolet, Toure and Skrtel.
Of course, this is all subject to change. Nevertheless, the squad is starting to take shape and with a few more arrivals, the fans will soon be able to figure out what sort of team will grace the hallowed turf of Anfield this season.
Let’s not forget, this is just my opinion and, inevitably, people will disagree. This is open for discussion and we want you to give us your thoughts on the team you think will start against Stoke in just over six weeks time.
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That muppet Rodgers will pick his useless pets Allen and Borini
Shut it! Be a supporter or else bugger off!!
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/138256-gerrard-s-2013-14-message-to-fans
He is a supporter u tw@t. Not a mindless dummy like u
Are you totally stupid carra ? Gerrard always does and says the right things. He is the perfect PC captain.
Gerrard must be disgusted to spend his last years playin with rubbish like Joe Allen and a useless manager like Rodgers
But what can he say ? Nothing. Unlike idiot fans like u. Gerrard is a winner and has high standards
How many games did Allen and boring start last season?
A lot . Too many for cr@p players like that
I’d be happy enough for Toure to start against stoke, good in the air and physically strong. As for midfield we are too one paced and in desperate need for an actual DM, I worry for Rodgers if he doesnt bring one in before the window shuts. Attacking wise, with Borini, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling, Suso and Aspas we are pretty well stocked.
You say we are well stocked attacking wise. Well stocked is all well and good, but is the stock good enough? I would worry about that. Borini, Aspas and Alberto have yet to prove themselves. Suso and Sterling cannot be relied upon. The compitition for a top four position this season will be the strongest ever.
For me all our signings so far are non entitys . They don’t improve the team so my choice would be
Reina. Johnson . Skrtel. Agger . Enrique
Sterling Lucas Henderson Coutinho
Gerrard
Suarez
Subs . Mignolet. Kelly. Toure. Downing . Aspas. Sturridge. Ibe
tan why including saurez? He is out for six games. Mind u we never agreed that phillipe coutinho was a good signing until he started.
This was my general starting 11 . Not incl suspensions. Obviously sturridge would play instead of Suarez for first 6
Pretty much the same as last season then! Suarez will be gone so sturridge will be in and rightly so. Sturridge should be in even if suarez stays……..which he won’t! And hendo needs to start
Every one has actually made a good point but let’s just keep our fingers crossed
Wit likely of this three man up front Coutinho,sturridge,suarez…..since suarez wil nt be there for 6matchs let Br fill dat gap wit Aspas….den there wil be hope.
Tan wat a bad comment…..how dey hell wil u think….handerson wil bench Aspas….and even ever thinking of benching Sturridge….u are joking…..
Henderson doesnt play same position as Aspas . And aspas will struggle to get in the team , he is not top quality
And what ‘top quality’ is actually there before him?
Those line ups mentioned won’t challenge top 4 . Unless Suarez is kept and 2 or more class players bought we won’t do well.
Borini , Allen and Downing should not be anywhere near the team . We need a DM and another striker
How do you know aspas is not top quality have you seen him play over 10 times like our scouts?
Maybe he has . Why u asking dumb questions?
Please sell Borini and Allen BR ‘s favorites .
Jez! Did you come up with that one all by yourself.
Did u ? Mindless troll
Mignolet
Johnson agger skrtel Enrique
Lucas Gerard
Coutinho
Aspas Sturridge, borini/ sterling / Alberto
Tend to think we will get another attacking mid before the window shuts which would move coutinho forward and borini or other out.
Have mignolet only because I don’t think reina will be there
I think that it will be mignolite johnson kriakos agger enrique lucas gerrard henderson coutinho sturridge sub:reina kelly skrtl toure robinson allen alberto downing suso sterling aspas
Wow you bunch can moan, why can’t you just discuss each other’s opinions why are fans called stupid for supporting BR? And why are fans that don’t deemed plastic, isn’t everyone entitled to their opinion. I doubt anyone here is a manager of any professional team or actually has any credentials, so its just opinions that don’t really count, take it down a notch.
we need strong mid fielder &shap attaker