WITH the winter schedule approaching, the season so far has already offered festivity for Liverpool. Second in the league, having suffered only 2 defeats and averaging 2 goals a game, the Reds find themselves punching with the heavyweights thus far.
It is a scene which has many fans holding their breath mindful that a sucker punch may well send the team crashing to the canvas. The mood is one of cautious optimism as everything appears a little too good to be true. Not only is the team riding high but David Moyes’ Man United have been on the ropes already marking a real reversal of fortunes for the clubs.
Gifts are not often so generous and it is because of this that Liverpool fans are not ready to talk up any title credentials. The biggest concern about this edition of Liverpool would seem to be the lack of depth. Liverpool are not blessed with options to come off the bench and win a match single handedly. But the team may not be in as much trouble as might be expected.
Football seasons have become more gruelling tests over the last few years with European football and League Cup games expanding the early part of the season to 2 games a week. Throw in the International fixtures and many top teams have no chance to have their preferred line-up in place every week.
This year, Liverpool do not have that problem. Out of Europe and out of the League Cup, there are only two competitions left that Kopites can dream of winning. That situation does not sound ideal but in fact it could be the key to Liverpool staying in the top four this season and perhaps the top 2.
The Reds have played 14 games so far this season by the same point last season they had already played 25 games. That’s more than 78% more games! The staggering thing is that the depth of the squad this year is certainly superior to the team that began the 2012-2013 campaign. With less games and more quality in the team, there is no surprise to see Brendan Rodgers charges succeeding in the months where they flopped last year.
With the team currently playing only once a week, it is much easier to pick the best players for every game without them being worn down or burnt out. It means that players can play at their peak level most weeks which can be great for confidence and form levels. The additional bonus is that Rodgers has a whole week to concentrate on the tactics ahead of each match, which should provide a better drilled team.
But that is not all; the squad itself is perhaps not as thin as it first appears. In fact the defence is padded out with plenty of first team selections for Brendan Rodgers. At centre-half we have: Toure, Agger, Skrtel, Sakho, Coates and Ilori, at right-back we have: Johnson, Flanagan, Kelly and potentially Toure, at left-back we have: Enrique, Cissokho, Johnson and potentially Sakho. The options available are actually a very high standard compared to the genuine title contenders.
In midfield and attack it is a different matter. There is very little cover if we suffer two absences in the centre of the park and up front, were we to lose both components of the SAS pairing we would be in a tough spot.
However, due to the numbers in defence the team is much more versatile than the one that existed last year. Rodgers has already shown his ability to put out a competitive team using a number of formations and, by using 4 or 5 defenders in the same team, the strain on the forward and midfield players is reduced.
The defence has seen a lot of rotation which allows for forward players to be covered. The use of wing-backs also offers respite for the wider players, where the team does not have much depth. The loss of Suarez at the start of the season and the loss of Coutinho later on were coped with by the team being adaptable and players being amenable. This makes the team as a whole more formidable than a normal squad.
The other good news is that Liverpool only have 7 games until the transfer window re-opens and it is likely that the areas which are now lacking in options will be bolstered. It would be hard to envisage a transfer window in which we do not bring in an attacking midfielder or second striker to provide an extra attacking threat off the bench.
The return of Iago Aspas could also offer an extra dimension to the team. While his early appearances have been marked by his inability to get involved in the play or cope with the pace of the game, with Rodgers now making use of two strikers, Aspas would have the opportunity to play in the role that he knows most. Replacing Sturridge or Suarez, Aspas would be allowed to use the pace and finishing skills which were so important for Celta Vigo and which he showcased in the pre-season. Playing as a no.10 between the midfield and attack in a new environment was clearly a challenge that was too much too soon.
By no means is the current Liverpool team one which we should expect to lead a charge to the title but with a number of factors in our favour, we may still be tussling with the heavyweights come the end of the season.
You have your stats wrong which makes this obselite.
we have good team in the starting eleven ,i think luis alberto can change the game for us the thing is pace and physicality otherwise he is good player,aspas is set to spark aw we a playing with two strikers i want to see aspas playing with suarez how he plays,ibe has not been tried he is good player with his pace and skill well natured he would be top class player,allen is a good cover for lucas chases players and gives good cover for his defence,my worry we havent had good academy striker in the bench
It’s going to be a hard slog for Liverpool in these next 7(!) games, which is a lot in this game. Allen needs to produce he is extremely capable but I wouldn’t put my house on it, Gerrard needs to ditch or be ditched with his traffic cone impression especially against good opposition. Our average points per game against teams in the top half is the same as Sunderland’s 1 per game with maximum points against teams in the bottom half pushing us up the table, which is nice.
But as Brendan says we need to control the game better as we’re not always going to be able to score our way out of trouble, especially without a goal scoring midfielder to add that ultimate “winning” dimension to our squad. Gerrard does try in part to fulfil this role but he’s just not that Gerrard anymore, despite his World class dead ball delivery, the substantial reason he’s in the team if you ask me.
Every week it almost feels like we missed the boat this summer for a goal scoring midfielder, if, but (<-don't like these words) we had we could, in my opinion have accumulated more than enough points to be comfortably at the top of the league. But speculation can leave you awfully embarrassed at times and I would love Stevie, Joe or even Jordan to cram these thoughts back into my head with interest!
Good first 11 . Awful squad. Rodgers has been unbelievably lucky with injuries . If we get one or two important injuries then we wont get top 6
The reason we are doing so well is because the other contenders for the top 4 are in europe, but they have good squads. We have a weak squad.
We have a class quality first 11 but a poor and weak squad, Rodgers is 11 class, quality players of having class,quality squad.
And hopefully in next two to three transfer windows, the owners back him heavily and well, starting with January:
This season is the year we can really make statement and make top 4 as we are not in Europe, but the owners need to give B Rodgers 50-70m to bring in these 5 players :
4 of the players are vital and are first team starters:
Our Centre midfield problem: Allen(24) and Henderson(23) both mobile, nibble, have bit of pace, cover ground well, good passers of ball side ways, cautious, not creative, buckle in front of goal and do not score enough.
Gerrard(33) and Lucas(26) both of them are class, experienced, quality but both are immobile, lack pace, movement and struggled when pressed well. And struggle to compete against fluid creative mobile nibbly players or strong tough mobile players.
These two midfielders would change that :
1: DM: M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan should be brought for 10-14M to compete and Cover Lucas
2: Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle should be brought for 14-18M to compete with Allen and Henderson.
If these two are brought to club, S Gerrard(33) can compete with Coutinho(21) in the attacking midfield role and have freedom to do damage, but it depends on team we are up against:
If we are playing against creative fluid mobile free young centre midfielders who can and do press without the ball in the centre of park: Teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, Southampton and Swansea. Then P Coutinho(21) should get the nod ahead of Gerrard(33) in the AM midfield role.
But if our club are playing against Class experienced mobile but physical centre midfielders in the centre of park: Teams like : Fulham, Hull, Man City, Newcastle, Norwich, Stoke, West Ham and West Brom. Then S Gerrard(33) should get the nod against Coutinho(21).
But in M’Vila(23) and Cabaye(27) we would have good strong dominant midfield again like we used to have with Alonso and Mascherano. 5 years and a half on, the class of Alonso and Mascherano in centre of midfield has not been replaced.
M’Vila(23) and Cabaye(27) would bring that class, domination and quality back to centre of park and S Gerrard(33) and Coutinho(21), whichever played in the hole would have license to cause damage with those two keeping things ticking in centre of park.
We have been linked with these class, quality attacking players: Pastore(24), El Shaarway(21), Turan(26) and loads of other names. But each of these players would cost club 22-30m each
Rodgers needs to bring in M Salah(21) Of Basel who terrorised Ivanovic and A Cole all night on tuesday with his electric pace and speed, drifting from wing to wing. And D Capel Of Sporting Clube De Portugal, Rodgers could bring in both those wingers for 22m the price it will cost club to bring one of those attacking players above to club.
Capel(25) and Salah(21) both possess electric pace, speed, skill are both direct, love 1 vs 1 with full back, both good delivering crosses into box and both can score and would score goals for side from out wide.
And Salah(21) would occupy the right wing or be the right wing forward and Capel(25) is left footed and would occupy the left wing or be the left wing forward:
The pace, speed, skill and directness of both these wingers would keep teams pegged back and would both supply Sturridge and Suarez or either one of them if Rodgers reverts back to one up top with regular service from out wide.
If Rodgers brings M’Vila(23), Cabaye(27), Salah(21) and Capel(25) to club, those 4 players would cost club 55-60M
Those 4 players can and would cause trouble to any team in world football
And we could anielate teams at Anfield and hurt teams away from home also, with the class, creativity, experience, Goals, mobility, power and strength in centre of park with M’Vila(23) and Cabaye(27).
But the pace, speed of Capel(25) and Salah(21) and both are goalscoring wingers so in attack would destroy teams, we would have the engine room sorted and the supply line sorted.
And be able to field numerous line ups:
4 4 2
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Agger Cissokho
M’Vila Cabaye
Salah Capel
Suarez Sturridge
4 2 3 1
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Agger Cissokho
M’Vila Cabaye
Salah Gerrard or Coutinho Capel
Suarez Or Sturridge
Denis…….you seem to be obsessed with m’vila. Every time you write something he’s always top of your list. Is he superman?
Lucas and S Gerrard are not mobile steve, Even watching the game now. How the Hell did Huddlestone arrive in our box without Gerrard or Lucas anywhere near him?
G Johnson was shocking again, two games on trot he has been woeful. He offered nothing going forward and was terrible defending.Flanagan is abyzmal. Yeah he has heart and passion, yeah he gets stuck in, but he has poor touch offers nothing going forward and 1 vs 1 with a attacker he always gets beaten with ease.
We just lost to Hull city, Which was a joke? And i am absolutely fuming, Skrtel was immense again just unlucky. The other 3 defenders were pathetic, How does Toure get ahead of Sakho and Agger? Both of them are much better than him. Sakho should have started against the powerful Sagbo.
And the positions i have said we desperated need strengthening in January were where we were exposed?
Lucas(26) and gerrard(33) have not got the legs for it, They made Huddlestone and Livermore look like Cazorla and Ozil. Henderson has the legs but is a headless chicken, Moses and Sterling have pace and speed but their final ball is comical, they are rarely created or stretched hull citys back line and they do not score enough goals.
Suarez had scraps all game, best player in premier league away from home had no support, no good service. He can’t do everything on his own.
Steve, Cabaye(27) CM M’Vila(23) DM, Salah(21) RW / RWF and Capel(25) LW /LWF
will bring the class quality we are lacking and change squad and first team DRAMATICALLY
I hate all this fuss and posting about liverpool cos remove Suarez and we are suddenly a mid table team.No disrespect to Br but am really disappointed with our midfield cos it’s only against fulham and westbrom that our midfield has perfomed this season.
denis d just get bck to ur football manager and waste your unseen money @ pino pino our midfield is one of the best in the league in my opinion would rate it 4th just behind the leaders,city nd chelsea even beta dan united and the spurs team that spent close to 100m in the summer and talkin abt wea our midfield has performed? “west brom” they tok a point of arsenal,3 from united at d so called thearte of dreams and wer unlucky not 2 come away wit al three points against chelsea bt we put 4 past them not only dat bt we controlled the beta part of the game so i dnt agree wit you pino pino. YNWA If u like dz follow me on twitter @dennyide9
Total plank. Twitter off
Denny shut the hell up you clown, if you knew anything about football i would take you serious.
Our Centre midfield is immobile, soft, weak lacks creativity, lacks fluidity and Lacks goals and steel in the centre of park.
Our wide men have pace and speed but offer nothing, don’t stretch teams enough, do not create enough, do not score enough. Coutinho offered the team more class in 25mins that Moses and Sterling together and they had 60mins plus each.
after watching salah (basel) single handedly destroy chelsea, my january wish changed to m’villa/sneidjerlin, mitroglou and salah. with this three,we can beat them all. (30mil wld solve the puzzle)
m’villa,salah,mitrologu we ll reach our peak. But will br be courageous enough to bring this three wise man on round lether game to anfield?
Todays result makes this article and it’s author look highly ridiculous. Most intelligent fans know our squad is not good and Rodgers is out of his depth .
Yep