With just ten games remaining and sitting in 2nd place after an unbeaten run that stretches from the start of January, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it just can’t get any better for Liverpool. The lack of signings in January left Liverpool’s already small squad even weaker so it’s a miracle that the club is sitting in 2nd with a game in hand over leaders Chelsea, who are 7 points clear with a visit to Anfield still awaiting them.
Those new signings may well be on there way though as, on Friday evening, both Mamadou Sakho and Lucas Leiva took part in the U21’s victory over West Ham, with both impressing in what turned out to be a relatively comfortable win.
With Martin Skrtel and Dan Agger looking like being the first-choice CB partnership for the remainder of the season, the return of Sakho might not seem as pressing as Lucas but with TToure having What can only be described as a couple of ‘mares recently, his return to the squad will give the Reds some much needed cover at the back going into the final run-in.
Given that the big French defender can also cover at left-back, he provides a different option to either of the full-backs that are currently able to play in that position. His size, strength in the air and ability on the ball means he provides his manager an option to play three at the back, in closing out tough games, that perhaps Rodgers would be reluctant to try with just Kolo available. Regardless of how he’s used, having him back fit again will give the squad a timely injection of defensive quality and ensure that neither Skrtel or Agger allow their collective form to dip.
On the other hand, the injury to Lucas couldn’t have come at a worse time for the club, as initially goals were shipped left and right following his injury. Eventually though, manager Rodgers adapted his tactics in Lucas’s absence and – barring the odd blip – goals shipped stopped being such a huge issue.
With Liverpool’s innate ability to outscore the opposition this season, goals against was only ever going to prove a hurdle rather than an insurmountable obstacle but make no mistake, Lucas will provide Liverpool with an extra dimension; he will become that practically insurmountable obstacle in front of Liverpool’s back line when the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea come to town. If Rodgers uses Lucas correctly, he could well prove to be the masterstroke that introducing Didi Hamann was at half-time in Istanbul.
Given the current form of the Liverpool side, many would choose not to throw Lucas straight back in to the mix. And given that the next match for the Reds is away at Old Trafford, I would probably agree. There is no point in trying to fix something that isn’t (entirely) broken and with United likely to be more up for a game against Liverpool, the pace of the game may well pass him by after such a lengthy period on the side lines.
Go back a few months and we all firmly believed that any challenge for the top-4, never mind a challenge for the Premier League, would require new signings and that we’d need back-up in both attack and defense. At present, I think even Barcelona and Real Madrid would loom at our front 4 with envy, but by the time we arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday morning, we could well have two ‘new’ defensive signings in the squad to bolster our push for a first league title in over 20 years.
Liva 2nabeba ndoo msimu huu.
the king of european nights is now back YNWA
My broder u will se best of liverpool on sunday
We going to OldTrafford to win,& no 2 ways about it, BravooOOO Rogers.
hmm! Big task ahead. I suggest that Bren. Should employ Jose pathern during sunday visit to old traford. Pack home defence and one man front.. To avoid defeat.. Oh united are good in falling our hands. Ynwa!
Come on you Reds kill the game within 20 mins just like Arsenal game then, we’ll send a message to others. Reds till i die. Our front lines should be clinical. Defence please avoid mistake, then, we’ll be good to go. YNWA
Sakho is rubbish. Please loan him to bury (if they’ll have him!)
Do u know football?
there is a certain stevie who is not even sure about who himself his,saying sakho is rubbish….is he a liverpool fan or just one headless chicken from the manure?
been a liverpool supporter for 38 years. reckon sakho is rubbish that’s all. we all have an opinion!
sakho rubbish? What r u smoking over there? Ynwa @stevie
YNWA, I believe in SAS to kill man u, tanks lad 4 making us dreamin abt winning d league..
i truely belive in sas ok
I think the game btwn liv’pool and man u is gohng to b the toughest one so brendan shud introduce sakho alongside skrtel and lucas in D.Midfield.Then he should let henderson to be our supersub for that clash.
it aint broken, dont fix it Brendan, stick to our football, to our philosophy in recent games that has seen us unbeaten in 2014 and we will “galvanize” Man Utd, thats a guarantee
its our year
“We all firmly believed …”
Not all of us. I’d prefer to say that a large portion of fans were getting oddly upset at the prospect of us not signing anyone considering we were a team that were already doing so well and still due to improve by some margin. Some people may be surprised by where we are but I’m not sure why.
Must Win absolutely we can’t blow this chance to put United out of it
what you talking about lad put United out of what!!! do you really believe there in with a chance of winning the race for 4th, get real wobbly head!
I think we only need lucas 2 start bcaus our last game is of ntin in d midfild until starling came in dat day so i think we need lucas at dat mid
God blessd our brilliant team. Our injury player will fit our gap. Y.N.W.A
Dont change the team. Keep sakho and lucas as substitutes and bring them on in the later stages of the game. Thanks. YNWA.
thank God is our year to shine, up liverpool, rogers gud job and this is critical stage be vigilant don’t be slack, there is enough materials dat we can use to qualify for champions league
I don’t think Liverpool need to change anything, they are playing a attacking style of football that United can’t live with, among the problems that are simmering beneath the surface at Old Trafford will be high-lighted for all to see this weekend and it wont come to any real Man U fans as a surprise, real fans know Liverpool have done well this year, and the double over United this year is certainly on!