DO we have the squad to be a contender for Europe?
Everything has gone exceedingly well for the Redmen this season and it is hard to begrudge them their lofty position. But can they hold on to their second place standing and can they parlay their early success into a place in Europe?
There is no doubt that we have the most feared twosome on offense in the form of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. They have developed a link that will keep the goals coming into the foreseeable future.
With service from Philippe Coutinho on his return, the work rate of Henderson and the occasional magical ball from Gerrard, we have only one major fly in the ointment – the status of El Pistolero.
After all, Suarez is a world-class striker who isn’t cup-tied, so there will be another scramble to sign him. The club stayed firm over the summer, and I can’t see them changing their stance in January (unless someone offers a truly stupid amount of money).
Should Liverpool FC be nestled in the top 2 or 3 after Christmas, Suarez may be tempted to consider a future at a resurgent Anfield; should we slip out of the top 4 or should our form until that point prove suspect, we will certainly lose the controversial Uruguayan and the prospect of even the Europa League. If that happens it will deal a serious blow to the Liverpool side and it’s chances of attracting proven stars to the club.
One thing that may mitigate against the Reds slipping from their current form (apart from our newly found good fortune) is the return of Glen Johnson to the side. We have already seen that Raheem Sterling is a competent winger but he seems lost at the wingback position he is expected to play under Rodgers’ current system.
Glen Johnson, on the other hand, plays wingback even if the formation doesn’t call for it – it defines him. Although it may take a match or two to get him back to game shape, I’m sure that Brendan and the coaching staff are as eager as schoolgirls to have our number 2 back in the line-up.
Our defence is solid if a little worrisome at times. Having four able players for three positions and a goalkeeper who is playing himself into form, the back has held when they have had to. Mamadou Sakho is proving himself stronger and stronger as he adapts to the English game and we have an embarrassment of riches waiting in the background should any of our central defenders succumb to injury.
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The midfield has proven to be somewhat problematic which I fail to understand. Lucas has one of the highest passing completion rates in the Premiership and leads the team in challenges won. Steven has had a few brown outs but has been lively and involved in the majority of games. Henderson has demonstrated a work rate second only to Suarez while Moses has combined well with the two strikers.
And yet there have been times when it has all broken down. Whether it is a lack of height in the middle of the park or a reticence to commit, there are times when the middle of the field seems like a no man’s land and the fluidity of the attack (and the defence) loses direction.
There is still so much we don’t know. Why can’t Iago Aspas find his form at Liverpool? Is it the systems that Rodgers employs or a lack of confidence? The player has had multiple opportunities to justify his transfer fee yet continues to disappoint.
With the current line-up, will Luis Alberto get a chance to develop? Will Andre Wisdom, Jon Flanagan, or Martin Kelly be exposed to the pitch enough to hone their skills? Will Tiago Ilori or Jordan Ibe see league opposition before the New Year?
An unexpected spark of form may well ignite in one or more of these players and force a rethink of the composition of the side. In any case, the mere presence of such quality players points to the fact that we have the depth that top clubs must have in order to stay near the top.
I predict a resurgence of teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea once they have grown accustomed to their new managers.
Whether teams such as Man Utd can regain the aura of invincibility they once displayed remains to be seen. Surely they have dropped enough points that finishing outside the top four seems a distinct possibility.
Liverpool’s success depends as much on a drop in form of one of the two Manchester teams and Chelsea as it does on their own performance. Tottenham seems an unsettled side that looks good on paper but even Soldado can’t make up for the loss of an impact player like Bale.
So far, Liverpool’s prospects look amazing. Much of their hope for playing in Europe, though, rests on the shoulders of Suarez. If he stays, we have a good chance of qualifying in the top four. If he goes he will take a big bite (sorry, couldn’t help it) out of Liverpool’s aspiration to bring European nights back to Anfield. If he stays, as I am inclined to think, and Brendan can make some crucial purchases in the January transfer market, the future looks as promising as many of us have dared to hope.
Who would you bring in?
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No we don’t have the squad for a top tour finish. We need four quality players to improve our first team, Defensive and attacking midfield, flying winger and a striker. Maybe we could compete then, but we have to be close enough after Christmas for that to happen this season.
another playmaker (couts is magic,but as we seen ,little lightwieght) so back up there.
MF,we need a strong DMF and strong AMF,and if the defence can tighten up,theres not a lot to change.
this all hinges on suarez ( not being cup tied is just an added bonus for a team with 50 or 60m)but if he stays,cos he only wants to leave to play CL football,i think he will with us next year.
it can only get better now,couple of the right players in jan window,and we really cud do it!!
so lets watch and see……..
A disappointed afternoon for reds. The tempo of our game most time is more or less as bunch of pregnant women playing on the pitch,lack of aggression,low winning mentality. I can’t just fathom why our expectation diminishing day by day. Failure to win some necessary matches like that of Southampton,Newcastle e.t.c will only end up putting more pressure on us,send away big name players and even downcast our prestige. Powerful way forward is to sign aggressive player like D. Costa. and strong defensive midfielder Attacking midfielder. YNWA………………..
Thanks to communication between D. Sturridge and Luiz Suarez.
Moses is not a 10 another Couts is required.
Dynamic midfielder certainly needed.
Aspas looks lightweight and, first glances, not up to it. So another striker desperately should be on the January shopping list.
Unsure why Sakho and Llori were purchased at the same time. One was needed and money for the other could have helped strengthen further upfield.
None of the above can explain why we are nowhere near the performance level of last year.
I’m a Rodgers fan but he’s starting to scare me. Come on reds, you’re better than this!!!
No, our squad is not good enough. 7 Class , quality players short:
Back GK needed, A Mobile solid tough tackling defensive midfielder, Two Creative offensive goalscoring centre midfielders, two class creative pacey quick Goalscoring wingers on either wing and Another good striker to compete with Sturridge and Suarez
But Rodgers will need to ship out these 6 dead wood average players between January and the summer:
GK: B Jones RB: J Flanagan CB: S Coates
RW / RWF: Assaidi FD: F Borini FD: I Aspas
We need two offensive centre midfielders brought into the club between January and the summer, to replace S Gerrard. As he has been great loyal servant, but he needs to be rested and he does not have the legs for it anymore. He regularly misplaces passes when he is under pressure and gives away needless free kicks as he does not have the legs/mobility for it anymore.
S Gerrard rarely shoots nowadays from far and in Allen and henderson, there is a lack of creativity and goals. So Koke(21) Of A Madrid should be brought in for 14-20m and so should B Etxrebarria(26) Of A Bilbao be brought to club for 10-14m , these two players would compete with Allen and Henderson for next 2-5 years at club.
A DM: No person in squad does the job Lucas does for team as there is no other defensive midfielder at club and it shows whenever he is missing, if Lucas was playing do you think Cabaye would have been able to take two touches before smashing ball into net, Lucas would have been biting at him from his first touch.
No one went close Cabaye down until it was too late, A young mobile strong tough tackling defensive midfielder is needed to compete and cover Lucas, as no one else at club can play that role. And M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan should be brought in for 10-14m , then when club get him fully fit and he is injury free we will have a beast in the centre of park protecting back 4. And if Lucas is injured, there would be someone else at club who actually protects back 4 well and gets stuck in and wins tackles consistantly all over the pitch.
We need two classy, creative, pacey quick Goalscoring wingers: As when Newcastle went to ten men if we had two classy creative pacey quick goalscoring widemen at our disposal, Then we would have been able to expose Newcastle with Ease.
Moses is descent winger, but does not score enough. Ibe and Sterling are two youngsters learning their trade and need time and to be loaned out for two years so they can play regularly somewhere.
B Rodgers needs to bring in B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle, their best player by country mile who was causing Cissokho and Sakho problems every time he got on ball, Rodgers needs to bring Arfa to Anfield for 10-15M to play on the left wing as left winger or Left wing forward
And also B Rodgers needs to bring in M Salah(21) Of Basel for 12-16M to play on the right wing as a right winger or a right wing forward
Lastly B Rodgers needs to bring in either one of these forwards to compete with sturridge and Suarez:
1: Konstantinos Mitroglou(25) Of Olympiacos for 5-8M
2: Abel Hernandez(23) Of Palermo for 3-7M
This is not a FIFA manager game where you can just form your dream team, mate….
Harvey, you clown.
We do not have enough class, creativity, goals , offensively from centre of park or out wide: And we do not have any class competition or cover for Lucas:
Assaidi, Aspas, Borini, Coates, Flanagan, Jones are 6 players who need to shipped out in January or the summer.
Thats Two forwards both similar and useless, Two pony defenders, A Average winger and A terrible Gk.
The positions we are desperately lacking are:
We need two class creative attacking/offensive Centre midfielders with goals in their locker as Gerrard is on the way out and he only looks like he will score if team get a penalty. ( Koke (21) Of A Madrid And Etxrebarria(26) Of A Bilbao should both be brought to club in January ) Not Fantasy facts
Both would bring more class, creativity, goals and mobiity to centre of park
When Lucas is out of team, who else tackles in the middle of the park consecutively well? Who protects back 4 well? No One, even with 11 vs 10, Newcastle had chances to hurt us. As there was no real protection in front of back 4 yesterday. So M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan should be brought to club in January
Out of Ibe, Moses and sterling: Over course of season out of over 50 games the whole season, i do not think between them they will get 12 goals. And that simply is not good enough, the best wingers in world football today, create and score goals. At least 8-15 goals a season
So B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle and M Salah(21) Of Basel, two pacey quick goalscoring wingers who will bring class, creativity, width to squad.
And Aspas and Borini are both pony, non existant neither are good enough to cover Sturridge or Suarez, in that: Konstantinos Mitroglou(25) Of Olympiacos should be brought into club in January for 5-8M to compete with the two of them
If i was picking a fantasy football or fifa manager team: I Would pick these 6 players to play for our club as i know we have no chance in hell of getting any of them and this would be FIFA OR Fantasy picks:
CM: Fabregas(26) Of Barcelona DM: J Martinez(25) Of Bayern Munich
CM: Alacantra(22) Of Bayern Munich
RW / RWF: Neymar (21) Of Barcelona LW / LWF: Di Maria(25) Of Real Madrid
FD: Lewandowski(25) Of B Dortmund
Those would be the 6 players i would say club should go for if i was thinking FIFA Or Fantasy Football, you Joker Harvey.
But i am saying going for players of class high quality that club could and should bring to the club in January
Essentially what Harvey is saying Is that you cannot buy a completely new team every season, no matter who you are.
If you do buy a new team every year, you’ll require a year or two before they have bedded in, of that
Team some will still not make it, even in any computer game.
Harvey is not ridiculing the previous comment just pointing out sound facts!
We all want sugar daddy owners, until they leave and leave clubs in serious debt that no sensible new business owners can cover.
What’s the problem with Harvey’s comments, NOTHING!
Aaron, Our club has now won the premiership in over 21 years. That in itself is diabolical, we have now been out of Champions league for last 5 seasons.
And every season we are out of it, thats a minimum loss of 20M in the coffers, 20 x 5 = 100M , so club has lost out on 100m due to non participation of the Champions League.
Aaron, if you seriously think our current squad with no class, quality additions is going to make Top 4 you are one deluded guy.
There are too many average players in squad: Until Rodgers ships them out and brings in better class, quality players then we won’t be in Champions league again next year.
Our club has needed some serious investment in the side for over 5 years, just millions were wasted on the wrong players.
We don’t need to spend over 100m every season, but we are 150M away from having a class quality Squad with depth on the same level as in Man United, Chelsea, Man City’s, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG.
The only places in club that there is sufficient class, quality cover for in whole squad is at Full back and at Centre BACK now.
If Mignolet is Injured or Suspended , We are in trouble as Jones is Dibaolical
If Lucas is Injured, the back 4 has no Protection in front of them, everytime Lucas is out of side teams go through us in the centre of park with ease
Now coutinho is out, the creative spark between midfield and attack is missing.
In Centre midfield: Gerrard is 33 and is on his last legs , he is no longer mobile and should be used wisely and rested alot more. Gerrard only looks like scoring in games if we get a penalty.
Allen and Henderson, both two descent footballers who can and will keep improving but both play to safe, both lack creative edge, both do not score enough goals.
Wingers: In Ibe, Moses and Sterling, none of the wingers are world beaters, none of the wingers score enough or create enough. So thats a huge problem
Forward: Sturridge and Suarez are lethal, but there is no real class or quality competition for either of their places as Aspas and Borini are comical to say the least and god help us if Sturridge or Suarez are out of side together.
Where would the goals come from? As out of 25 man squad, we are over reliant on 2 strikers to get us top 4. For us to get in top 4, we need more than our strikers regularly scoring. We need goals coming from all over the squad
i agree with 90% of your msg,but not the last 2 players.i have seen them play on a few occasions,1,kon,very much a player similar to aspas,and for that reason no.
2 ,abel,i dont think he,ll cut it at top flite EPL.these are just MY opinions.
talk of traore nerves me a bit,hes not the type of footballer BR is keen on (cos he wants anfied changed to anfield/nou kamp lol) ,hes 2 big and 2 awkward to slot in our puzzle.
i do however agree with your views on MF,DMF,ALW,ARW and that our talisman should be rested,and play an hour,or cum on as sub.
but because theres no one to take control centrally,BR has no choice.
he shud be able to change his game like giggs,lost his pace but his footballing mind has matured ,to wer he doesnt need 2 work his balls off. SG shud be doing the same,but as u sed,hes missin passes+tackles,cos hes played every second of ev game.if he had confidence in defence+midfield,he cud just wander round and do wat we,ve all seen him do(remember the screamer in E.T against the hammers ,friggin hell i can still see it now lol,neva 4get) make great 60 70 yard passes onto players toes,and score belters from 30 40 yards.but until he,s confident he,ll run himself ragged,trying to do everything. what price wud HE have brought 5 or 6 years ago???? STAYED LOYAL ………….YNWA CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Denis…….always enjoy your comments. You are clearly someone who spends time looking at who is available and what solutions there are. However, fsg will not fork out for players to the extent you are advocating. I disagree about sterling and ibe though. Both should be playing more, especially in the last 20 mins of games like yesterday which we needed to win. Defenders hate pace in the last quarter of games. I would like will hughes in january to come in. But I do have a strong bias toward english players so that is no surprise!
Stevie, Ibe and Sterling need to be loaned out. So they can play week in week out and get some experience, they are both light weight for the physicality of premiership and both of them would struggle in Premiership.
Our club needs some real class quality out wide to trouble the best sides and poor sides: B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle and M Salah(21) Of Basel , would cause problems to ANY Full back in world football when they are fully fit and Injury free.
The class, creativity, goals, pace, speed, width these two players would bring to club would be immense and we would carve open them at will with their pace, speed , trickery out wide.
Ibe isn’t light weight. He is similar to moses. I agree that sterling is and needs beefing up. Ben arfa is injury prone and i would steer well clear. I agree that if rodgers has no intention of giving them a lot of game time then a loan would be best. There is no point watching all the time. I would certainly trust ibe to do the business but it remains to be seen what rodgers does. He’s the manager
Stevie, Ibe and Sterling will need a few years to get to terrorizing premiership full backs week in week out. They both need to be loaned out in order for them to gain some experience and chance to play week in week out.
B Arfa(26) is a class, quality player. He used to be injury prone, same could be said about Agger. But since all the new physios and doctors at club , Agger has played more game in last two seasons than he had in the previous five years at club.
The class and quality B Arfa(26) Offers he is a gamble worth taking: he is the same type of player Rodgers should be going for, A Class, quality player who is of Champions league quality but is not playing for Champions league club. And Stevie,B Arfa(26) has more class, creativity than Ibe, Sterling and Moses put together. B Arfa(26) is a game changer and match winner
These are the players of Coutinho, Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez’s class we should be bringing to the attack.
Failed to beat 10 man Newcastle, embarassing bottlers.
For once I agree with you sir.
Are you a supporter? I would hardly think so considering your comment. We had 9 players, including Gerrard, Suarez, and Sturridge off on national team duty. Consider as well that Newcastle are desperate to return to form and the fact that St. James’ park is a difficult ground to visit, emerging with a point is not the end of the world.
So what ? Newcastle had many on international duty too. Quit the dumb excuses
And so did every other club you plank. Oh, and we were against 10 men for 50 odd minutes. But yeah its all the fault of international football now isnt it? You mug.
Bring in koke from atletico and that big guy from anzi. Maybe 1 defensive mid. To get lucas competition 🙂
Sorry to say no. Need more quality and experienced players.
Not good enough . Not til we get a decent manager. BR doesnt cut it at highest level .
either lfc need better scouts (unlikely) fsg have to loosen the purse strings(very likeley) or BR doesnt know how to buy.
i think its the 2nd, BR is handcuffed financially,but still,he,s only brought in 3 maybe 4 players,worthy of CL. studge,couts + mignolet.sahko + alberto may come really good,with EPL experience.but most are relegation teams or championship players at best.the money spent on the rest could,av bought better,eriksen for example (i cud name a dozen,we all know)
p.s. kolo has also been a great buy,started well,straight away.and keeps doing it.
You just said possibly BR doesn’t know how to buy then went on to mention almost half a team of players, he bought, you say are worthy of playing in CL???????
Thanks for making me laugh.
Tottenham bought a sackful of players costing a fortune and currently are just above mid table.
I’d take a team full of Sturridge’s Coutinho’s and Toure’s then when someone really good comes along with a high price tag, we can afford it.
You also say handcuffed by FSG, is this the same FSG who sanctioned £75m on three players? (i know you’ll mention Torres, but it’s still £75m for three players!)
And the same FSG only interested in making money?
Br shuld nt try 2 play dt 5 2 1 2 4mation he played against newcastle it didnt yain any fruit 4 us, he shuld go bk to 4 3 3 4mation. Sturidge ned 2 caution 4 selfishness game he du play always if posible bench him 4 2 or 3 match he wil pickup his game. We ned 2 creative mfidas an a sharp striker lyk costa frm A.madrid 2 start playin tuesday an wednesday ucl matches. YNWA MY FANS….
God you lot are so pessimistic. We are two points off the top and you’re about to hang yourselves
Easiest start to a season EVER . this is not a top 4 squad sadly.
Straightforward yes i agree. Still need to play well and we have. You can only beat what is in front of you and for the most part that is what we’ve done. Tougher tests lie ahead that’s for sure
If Rafa was in the same position we’d all be calling him the new messiah!
Because Rodgers hasn’t the same pedigree, he’s labelled as a waste of space by some, unbelievable considering have the most ‘educated’ fans in the world.
With rafa we knew we had a capable manager we could trust . Rodgers is just a championship level clown
Rodgers shud stop using FIVE defenders that was the course of draw to newcastle a game we suppose to win without Question.
We are not making top four dat is for sure. We need to spend like 50million. He should av bought eriksen
We will fail to get top four with Rodgers as our manager. The guy is useless tactically.
And trying to sell Alonso and buy Barry is the sign of what… A excellent manager?
No. But winning 10 major trophies is . Rodgers doesnt know what a trophy looks like
The guy is young, give him a chance to prove himself, that’s how football works.
No one starts a job with a trophy in their hand.
Look how hard Moyes is finding life at a top team, he inherited a decent squad.
BR inherited a pile of s**t.
Bullshat . Rodgers inherited an expensive squad full of top quality players who had just reached 2 cup finals
Rodgers IS young. If he wants to learn his trade he XAN f**k off to league 1 and learn it there.
my own is simple Br win Westbrom and draw Arsenal or go.Br u are a good manager but i think u some times overthinks.3 5 2 is good against lower teams but not good against midtable and top teams as soon as we switched 4 3 3 Newcastl were begging for final the whistle.
StevieG.
You seriously think the squad inherited by Brendan was in tip top shape?
Did that squad not leave us the lowest in the league that we have had for… how many years?
You can gloss it over if you want, with two cup finals but seriously you think it was a good squad?
At least now I know without any doubt that reading anything you post is a serious waste of my time.
Re learning his trade, he did learn his trade and got his team promoted then comfortable in the premier league, only a few places behind the wonderfully over expensive and fantastic squad he inherited, that you say was full of quality! Hahahahaha
my own is simple Br win Westbrom and draw Arsenal or go.Br u are a good manager but i think u some times overthinks.3 5 2 is good against lower teams but not good against midtable and top teams as soon as we switched 4 3 3 Newcastl were begging for the final whistle.
If we can get 5 wins from our games before January then our top four ambition will be certain. The rotation of defenders is not helping us. We need regular back four,, that is what champions league team do.
I think if we are all honest ,Saturdays result was not totally unexpected , our position in the league has not kidded most of us, but we have certainly taken a step back, the fixtures coming up will tell us more though. By Christmas we will know exactly what this season holds for us, i have a feeling that the top 5 even with a woeful Utd will start to emerge and leave us all behind and below that the 2nd tier teams which will include US , Swansea, Southampton, Everton & West Brom will also take shape . I really dont honestly think we are any better than that ., we will do well to hold off these teams .
I’ll tell you what dissapointed me. Mr sturridge and his selfishness was back to his best. Bar that goal that was served on a plate. I found his contribution lacking.