Liverpool face Crystal Palace at Anfield today, and after the recent home defeat to Southampton, the Reds will be looking to make amends with (what should be) a comfortable victory. On paper, Liverpool are massively superior in every department, but the team has slipped up before in games like this, and with a return to the top of the table at stake, Liverpool can't afford to take Palace for granted.
On the fitness front, Joe Allen, Glen Johnson and Coutinho are still out, but Daniel Agger is fit, and could make a return to the starting line-up.
Should he, though? Rodgers has a habit of keeping winning teams in place, so I fully expect him to keep the defensive trio of Skrtel, Toure and Sakho in place.
The big question is, how will Rodgers deal with the absence of Lucas? Barring any major surprise, it seems likely that Jordan Henderson will move into a central role, but if - as expected - Rodgers persists with the 352 formation, who will replace Hendo on the right?
I can't see Moses, Aspas or Alberto playing there, and Rodgers doesn't seem to want to start Martin Kelly these days, which leaves Raheem Sterling. He recently played at right back for the U21s, and grabbed a couple of assists, so it's possible he may get the nod. As such, I think we'll see the following team:
---------------------- Mignolet
------- Toure --------- Skrtel ---------- Sakho
------------ Henderson --------- Gerrard
Sterling ------------------------------- Enrique
---------------------- Moses
------------- Suarez -------- Sturridge
The other possibility is that Rodgers will throw a curve-ball and make another selection surprise to cover Lucas. Everyone expects Henderson to take the role, but maybe Rodgers will use Daniel Agger there, or even Ilori?
Today's game is arguably the perfect time to bring Iago Aspas may come back into the team. He's been warming the bench for the last few games, and a home game against Palace is the ideal opportunity for him to get a confidence boosting goal or assist. I'd like to see the following team:
---------------------- Mignolet
------- Toure --------- Skrtel ---------- Sakho
------------ Henderson --------- Gerrard
Kelly ------------------------------- Enrique
---------------------- Aspas
------------- Suarez -------- Sturridge
If not Aspas, then Alberto behind Suarez and Sturridge. Those two cost almost £16m in the summer, and with only one game a week until January, they need game time to stay sharp. I'd also like to see Tiago Ilori get some game time, especially if the team is cruising in the second half.
Predicting a 2-0 win for Liverpool, Reds legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"A lot of people thought Liverpool would walk away with the points in their last home game against Southampton, and look what happened there. They will be a bit more wary about being favourites this time - but there is a difference: Southampton carried a goal threat, and Palace don't. I am thinking things will be a bit easier for Brendan Rodgers' side this weekend".
On paper, it should be an 'easier' game, but in reality, there are no easy games in the Premier League, though in all honesty, this should be home-banker.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
On the fitness front, Joe Allen, Glen Johnson and Coutinho are still out, but Daniel Agger is fit, and could make a return to the starting line-up.
Should he, though? Rodgers has a habit of keeping winning teams in place, so I fully expect him to keep the defensive trio of Skrtel, Toure and Sakho in place.
The big question is, how will Rodgers deal with the absence of Lucas? Barring any major surprise, it seems likely that Jordan Henderson will move into a central role, but if - as expected - Rodgers persists with the 352 formation, who will replace Hendo on the right?
I can't see Moses, Aspas or Alberto playing there, and Rodgers doesn't seem to want to start Martin Kelly these days, which leaves Raheem Sterling. He recently played at right back for the U21s, and grabbed a couple of assists, so it's possible he may get the nod. As such, I think we'll see the following team:
---------------------- Mignolet
------- Toure --------- Skrtel ---------- Sakho
------------ Henderson --------- Gerrard
Sterling ------------------------------- Enrique
---------------------- Moses
------------- Suarez -------- Sturridge
The other possibility is that Rodgers will throw a curve-ball and make another selection surprise to cover Lucas. Everyone expects Henderson to take the role, but maybe Rodgers will use Daniel Agger there, or even Ilori?
Today's game is arguably the perfect time to bring Iago Aspas may come back into the team. He's been warming the bench for the last few games, and a home game against Palace is the ideal opportunity for him to get a confidence boosting goal or assist. I'd like to see the following team:
---------------------- Mignolet
------- Toure --------- Skrtel ---------- Sakho
------------ Henderson --------- Gerrard
Kelly ------------------------------- Enrique
---------------------- Aspas
------------- Suarez -------- Sturridge
If not Aspas, then Alberto behind Suarez and Sturridge. Those two cost almost £16m in the summer, and with only one game a week until January, they need game time to stay sharp. I'd also like to see Tiago Ilori get some game time, especially if the team is cruising in the second half.
Predicting a 2-0 win for Liverpool, Reds legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"A lot of people thought Liverpool would walk away with the points in their last home game against Southampton, and look what happened there. They will be a bit more wary about being favourites this time - but there is a difference: Southampton carried a goal threat, and Palace don't. I am thinking things will be a bit easier for Brendan Rodgers' side this weekend".
On paper, it should be an 'easier' game, but in reality, there are no easy games in the Premier League, though in all honesty, this should be home-banker.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Personally I would like to switch back to the 4-2-3-1 with Hendo in the middle and Suarez or Alberto can play in behind Sturridge. If Suarez is the 10, Sterling and Moses can play on the wings.
ReplyDeleteAnother option would be to put Gerrard higher up and throw an academy/reserve kid in there, but I doubt that will happen. Unlucky for Coady as today could have been his day.
In a 3-5-2 I don't think a centre back can cover Lucas as there is no dedicated DM role in that system, there is a deep midfield combination of 2 players. Any centre back wouldn't have the required mobility to play in that role IMO.
I really want Alberto to be given a start, I would start him over Aspas in the 10 role and then aim to bring Aspas on later in the game. Also what about Moses at WB? He might do a job there, his tracking back is good and he is strong...I would start moses on the right over Sterling and Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI think Kelly is better at RB than WB so wouldn't start him in the current formation.
Brendan certainly has a selection headache, which has got to be a good thing.
I would even be tempted to rest Gerrard, but I don't think that's a risk Rodgers is willing to take.
Why change a system (3-4-1-2) which is at the moment suited for the best strike partnership in the League?
ReplyDeleteGerrard/Lucas and Gerrard/Henderson are not combinations that
will dominate the midfield.
I agree... Would like to see Ilori and Alberto given a run today...
ReplyDeleteWe don't have adequate fullbacks for the back 4 system. Hence we have 3 monsters at the back. I really hope to see Alberto to get more game time.
ReplyDeleteI like the 3-5-2 formation as I personally think it brings the best out of the SAS.
ReplyDeleteThe problem thou is our midfield which I consider weak.
I love Gerrard and what he has done for our club but he simply can't play in this formation, the amount of times I have seen players just ghost past him is scary.
He just doesn't have the legs anymore.
Lucas, I like him but I personally feel he has hit the top of ability, he isn't going to get any better.
We do need a really defensive midfielder, somebody like a Didi Hamman.
I'm hoping Kelly is fit
ReplyDeleteIf you think Gerrard/Lucas cannot dominate a midfield why do you then say not to change anything - Assume Lucas is available.
ReplyDeleteI suggested Suarez playing behind Sturridge, which would allow them to still link up.
3-4-1-2/3-5-2 is to accomodate Sakho. If Kelly is fit we should switch to BR's more natural 4-2-3-1. It's not about 2 players it's about a team.
To accommodate Sakho? Oh not the 'I favour this player to that player' again.
ReplyDeleteIf you did not notice I said not to change 3-4-1-2. Did I mention any players?
BR's more natural system is actually 4-3-3 BTW.
You were clearly referring to Suarez and Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteSakho has played at left back, clearly he is being squeezed into the team. Although a switch of formation doesn't mean he has to sit out but Toure+Skrtel have been performing better.
Difference between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 is the triangle of midfielders. This triangle can be flipped reflecting the change of the two formations. Both are natural, suiting his style of play. Certainly with Henderson playing wide right the 4-2-3-1 has been adopted in more cases than not. BR has spoken in depth about both formations during a media-friendly interview for around an hour but I guess you just called him and he confirmed 4-3-3 is "actually" his more natural system "BTW".
I don't know what you mean by "I favour this player to that player" - I'm just discussing the team. BR wants Sakho in the team, it smacked us all in the face when he started at left back.
Neither Moses nor Aspas are No. 10's are playmakers. Either play them out wide in a front 3 with Sturridge and Suarez, with a directive to stretch the play and open the pitch for our main men, or sit them on the bench and let's see what Alberto is made of in that position
ReplyDeleteI agree with you mate - neither Moses nor Aspas are No. 10's are playmakers. They should either play out wide, with a directive to stretch the play and open the pitch for our main men, or not play at all and Alberto should be given the opportunity to show what he is made of
ReplyDeleteHow is the 5212 more suited to Sturridge and Suarez than a 4312 would be??
ReplyDeleteIf the team controls the midfield, the fullbacks play the same attacking role regardless, so how are the strikers better supported by having another centre-back on the pitch at the expense of another more creative player in midfield??
Our squad depth is really lacking. I can't see any XI i fell comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, Rodgers must come up with a comfortable win today. It's a home game against the weakest side in the PL. Our next matches are gonna get a lot more difficult, and we don't want to be on the struggling side mental-wise when these times come.
Maybe for the first time the predicted Rodgers XI looks more dangerous - but still not good enough; Especially midfield domination makes concerns and opportunities creation feels that will be very limited and very relayed on individual performances more than team fluency. Moses for example playing the n.10 must be costly eventually.
Agree deeply about the stupidity of buying Alberto and not playing him. My biggest hopes is that we get a good lead and play him, Ilori, Aspas, while even seeing Alberto opens will be refreshing.
I didn't think we would walk away with the points against Southampton. Pochettinho is a ridiculously good manager. To undo the mess Adkins got them into is nothing short of a miracle. That they're still in the premier league despite their start last season is testament to what Pochettinho is capable of.
ReplyDelete4 CB's vs Southampton was an experiment that went horribly wrong but 3 CB's with one bank of 4 seems to be doing the trick at the moment.
ReplyDeleteRodgers was talking about 3 midfielders.
Three midfielders!!! 1 and a 2 or 2 and a 1.
1 and a 2 you need a dominant midfielder in front of your defence which we do not have unless you can point one out?
2 and a 1 you need a exceptional number 10 who can link up the play between midfield and attack and he is injured right now.
How the hell are we going to get the best out of our first eleven at this moment if Rodgers decides to go with 4-2-3-1?
But Rodgers has based his play on counter attacking football has he not?
ReplyDeleteWho are these creative midfielders you are referring to?
alberto as number 10 could be the answer, probably... at least i´d like to see that
ReplyDeleteI didn't refer to anybody in particular, but pretty much any midfielder should be expected to be more creative than a centre-back
ReplyDeleteObviously Alberto is not ready to start matches yet hence the reason why Rodgers has not made much use of him.
ReplyDeletewell, to allow couple of strikers that freedom to play as they like, a team should have a sound defense. The wing backs are very important in this system, they will have to play everywhere from attack to defense. I think its a very good system if you have that kind of wing backs.
ReplyDeleteNotice Alberto wasn't even on the bench last week. Rodgers is playing it safe.
ReplyDeleteI will be overwhelmed if he goes with an opening Alberto.
For me Rodgers has put himself in a dangerous position that he could have avoided. I won't go more into it.
The starting 11 I can realistically hope to see Rodgers play today is:
ReplyDelete-------------Mignolet------------
Toure-Skrtel-Sakho-Enrique
----Henderson---Gerrard-----
Moses------Suarez------Aspas
-------------Sturridge------------
The starting 11 I would go with today myself would be:
-----------Mignolet------------
Kelly-Skrtel-Sakho-Enrique
---Henderson---Gerrard---
Moses----Alberto----Suarez
------------Sturridge-----------
Moses wasn't the solution they assumed he will be. Another mistake done.
ReplyDeleteThe wingbacks are very important, play everywhere from attack to defense and are our main providers of width whether we play with 3 centre-backs or with 2.
ReplyDeleteAnd fwiw our defensive system didn't look any more solid against Sunderland or Man U than it has done throughout the rest of the season.
You miss the point. Rodgers at the moment = counter attacking football which is associated with 3 at the back 5 in midfield and 2 up front and it is working for him.
ReplyDeleteWHY CHANGE IT???
I don't think Aspas will start, and if so, isn't it better to put him right and Moses on the left?
ReplyDeleteI like your second XI, but for me Moses should be more of a front men striker infront of suarez and next sturridge, or just wide left.
I think this XI would manufacture a nice looking win:
Mignolet
Toure, Skrtel
Sterling Enrique
Henderson
Gerrard
Suarez Alberto
Sturridge Moses
[the defense line i don't care too much about whose playing, as long as it's not wisdom]
confidence.
only the positioning went out of place......
ReplyDeleteYou say 'obviously' like it's a fact. It isn't. Why is Alberto not ready to start matches? He's fit. He's 21, not 18. There are plenty of 21 year olds playing games in the Premier League. Why not Alberto?
ReplyDeletewe would get overrun in midfield so hard...
ReplyDeleteabsolutely agree + you dont pay 8m on a player that isnt ready for playing...
ReplyDeleteI think Suarez can play the 10 and I'm hoping Kelly is fit to play right back. Alberto is an option. Otherwise I agree we shouldn't change our shape but I'm just pointing out what I'd like to see.
ReplyDeleteAnd if he can't get a game against Palace at home, when will he ever?
ReplyDeleteWhy change it? Because it isn't working - we have been second best over the whole 90 mins in both games we've started with 5 defenders, regardless of the results.
ReplyDeleteOur performances with 5 at the back have not come close to matching up with any of our first half performances where we've looked to impose our own style on teams with 4 at the back (the 4CB experiment excepted), so why change that?!?
Spot on. Palace is the ideal game for Alberto. Moses has played the last three games, so give someone else a chance. If Alberto doesn't feature today then IMO, it's a tacit admission that Rodgers has (yet again) wasted money in the transfer market.
ReplyDeleteHaha I just realised your caption thing is "what a hit son...what a hit" - Awesome :)
ReplyDeleteWhy is it not working? We beat sunderland 3-1 away from home.
ReplyDeleteWell Rafa played Crouch on the wing in the CL I think it was so you cannot tell me that Rodgers is the only manager to experiment.
I was referring to Rodgers being the obvious reason why Alberto is not starting matches. Maybe Rodgers does not feel he is ready otherwise he would be starting matches?
ReplyDeleteTo me, Moses is pretty a right footed Stewart Downing, with a bit of added confidence - i.e. a standard down the line winger - and as such we'd get more out of him down the right than the left or through the middle.
ReplyDeleteAspas on the other hand is a forward, and playing on the left would allow the team to continue to get its width from Enrique, while Aspas cuts in towards the box...
:)
ReplyDelete8 million Euro is a drop in the ocean nowadays. If he had cost 20 million Euro then it would be a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteWhat do Benitez and Crouch have to do with anything??
ReplyDeleteAnyway, did I not say, "regardless of the results" (which you neglect to mention includes a defeat as well as the victory)? Sunderland are a terrible team and still outplayed us for most of the game!
That win was down to individual brilliance (which can happen irrespective of the chosen formation) and in in spite of the change in formation rather than because of it.
On a final point, Man U and Arsenal are the most obvious proponents of counter-attacking football in the Premier League - a 5 man defence/concession of possession is simply not necessary to generate counter attacking football.
Alberto is not about the now, he is about the future.
ReplyDeletethat's the kind of logic that has seen Liverpool constantly replacing average players every couple of years, while bemoaning the quality of signings going elsewhere
ReplyDeleteI thought Suso was the future?
ReplyDeleteOr Texeira?
Or any other hot prospect we're stock-piling in our reserves??
For a club that is 200m in debt it isn't, I'm sorry ...
ReplyDeleteAlberto was not bought to set the world alight straight away. He has been bought for the future.
ReplyDeleteBut now you are generalising.
ReplyDeleteOur counter attacking football against Sunderland was the reason why we won the match.
200 million in debt? LFC?
ReplyDeleteAnd what was the logic in spending 35 million pounds on Carroll, 18 million pounds on Aquilani and 20 million pounds on Keane etc?
ReplyDeleteAnd what was the reason that we were winning earlier in the season? Or for us losing to the Man U 'B team'??
ReplyDeleteWe beat Sunderland because they are a poor team, and we had two top quality players in the final third that are capable of getting goals out of nothing. Our defensive formation was the reason why such a poor team had any chance of getting anything out of the game at all.
Again, what does that have to do with anything? Where you have you seen me defending any of the ridiculous signings of yesteryear??
ReplyDeleteCould've made more sense to just wait Suso and Texiera to develop then, while investing the money on players who can actually contribute to improving the first team right now then right??
ReplyDeleteHow can you make judgement on how Alberto will turn out when he has not played yet? Was he bought to make an instant impact at 6.8 million pounds?
ReplyDeleteFSG plans is long term, not short term. This has been no secret.
ReplyDeleteIt is the result that matters.
ReplyDeleteUtd would have won what they have if it was not for winning ugly on a regular basis.
Winning is all that matters.
As much as everyone wanted to beat Southampton, looking at their form right now, they do have 11 points out of their first 6 games.
ReplyDeleteMy fault - 90m is still a lot..
ReplyDeleteIt is about the result.
ReplyDeleteUtd have won playing badly on many occasion and in the end winning was all that mattered.
We were not as bad as u suggest vs Sunderland.
Chelsea, City and Utd probably have triple the amount of debt we have so 90m is manageable.
ReplyDeleteYep, it is the result that matters, and playing an attacking lineup against the worst teams in the Premier League gives us the best chance of obtaining those positive results (and performances).
ReplyDeleteWe should beat the likes of Sunderland And Crystal Palace irrespective of the starting formation anyway. That doesn't justify playing the 5 man defence and giving them more of a chance to grab a point.
(btw, we won games this season with a 4 man defence, just in case you've forgotten already, and have only lost when playing 4CB's and the 5 man defence against Man U...)
FSG and Rodgers want the club to be successful - this has not been a secret.
ReplyDeleteThe first team squad needed strengthening far more than the reserves did. This has been no secret also.
Only or midfield needs attention right now. Rodgers will most probably take care of that in January. He was never going to turn it around in three transfer windows.
ReplyDeletesterling is in for lucas ...thats how i saw it panning out after his intro last week....to be fair for a little guy he gets stuck in ...thats why he s got the nod ....
ReplyDeleteWe have lost games with 4 at the back many times so not sure what you are trying to get at.
ReplyDeleteLucas is serving a one match ban for picking up 5 yellows.
ReplyDeletei know thats why sterling is in for him ?
ReplyDeletewe need players who are prepared to put there foot in today...the lesser teams try to hustle us more than the top teams so we have to earn the right to play
ReplyDeleteHendo is in for Lucas and Sterling is in for Hendo.
ReplyDeleteShhh...
ReplyDeleteRaheem doing a good job of playing himself into contention for the U21s.
ReplyDeletedont split hairs do you honestly think i meant sterling to play defensive midfielder
ReplyDeletethats a harsh decision
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing. Moses is so much more mobile, evasive and intelligent than Downing. But I've probably seen more of him than most.
ReplyDeleteSterling looks like he's hit a brick wall with his development. Our midfield is still not good enough. Moses doing okay but clearly the middle is not his position.
ReplyDelete3-0 does not tell the whole story.
But I can't complain lo
Nice from Henderson today! Hope to see Alberto for Sterling in the second half -- shame, cuz it means Hendo going back wide, but he's been excellent in centre mid today.
ReplyDeleteSterling is playing...or was that a sarcastic comment? ;0P
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I wonder if we should not convert him into a defensive midfielder?
ReplyDeleteGreat result so far...but I'm really concerned by the defence. Palace often had WAY too much time on the ball in our own half, and they basically just galloped all the way up to our goal mouth! I don't think Sterling is that great at WB either. Nevertheless, attacking play has been fantastic. Well done SAS. Moses was unlucky, and thank you stevie.
ReplyDeleteMoses has been really good.
ReplyDeleteHe's been ok IMO
ReplyDeleteSterling though...needs to pick up. Of course, he is playing as a wing back.
ReplyDeleteYes he has. But Sterling at wing back is just making me nervous. He's leaving massive gaps on that left hand side.
ReplyDeleteThey had that time and space because we were losing the ball in positions you should never give it away in, basically, especially on the right, so they were able to break onto our defense from the half-way line while we had 6 players up the pitch. That happened maybe what, 3 or 4 times in that half; our defense left horribly exposed.
ReplyDeleteThough I thought Sakho, particularly, showed great judgement and composure in dealing with those moments, I agree with you, that should never happen. You need real quality players, complete footballers, to play wide in this system to make it really work and we have... Enrique and Sterling. Bless em.
Youngsters usually do go through patches early in their careers when they seem to go backwards. I like that Rodgers is giving Sterling responsibilities though, inviting him to grow and develop as a player. Never mind being a good football coach, sometimes he just seems like a good boss, you know, someone you wouldn't mind working for yourself.
ReplyDeleteGod I'm such a fanboy sometimes.
Enrique is great getting forward...but his crosses are just terrible. They never hit the mark. Someone please tell him to stop crossing the ball! Sterling was already struggling with composure in the wing position. He's done a few bad stray passes in our own half. I don't think it's his fault, because he's just not a wing back, and Rodgers is to blame for this. I mean, in real life, I'm a winger/wing back, but if my coach told me to play centre mid, I'd struggle. Can't wait for Johnson and Cissokho to get back.
ReplyDeleteThe defender had no right tostop Sterling in his run once he'd passed him ==> Penalty
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for CP's goalie am sure the score line would've been more than double of the score it is now.
ReplyDeleteTrust somebody to moan about us getting a penalty.
ReplyDeleteEnrique has that one ball he plays well though, where he sort of chops it forward with backspin and it drops into the space in between the fullback and centre-back. And I do like seeing him run forward, like a little bull on a mission.
ReplyDeleteI actually think it's good to see Sterling being made to develop some more qualities in his game at this point. But yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing Cissokho in this system, too. He'll be like a new signing again when he comes back.
God, come one Sterling! Just one decent final ball please!
ReplyDeleteLook at Gerrard now, he's gone already, strutting around, lashing the ball instead of taking care with his passing and movement. Please let's see Alberto this half!
ReplyDeletePoor Chamakh. He's always seemed determined to become a Ronaldo hairstyle model...but it looks like he's going bald. I'm hating this second half complacency...
ReplyDeletei thought sak and moses have been two of our better players ...it must be a play well get subbed strategy...he should have brought of gerrad and sterling
ReplyDeletejust f*** off sterling.
ReplyDeleteYep. I knew they'd score.
ReplyDeleteSeriously wtf are you doing Gerrard. You have so much experience for Christ's sake...
ReplyDeleteoh GET OFF STERLING!!!!!
ReplyDeleteand again showing bad decision making...
ReplyDeleteCalm down calm down!
ReplyDeleteI'm a completely different person when I'm watching my team compete, lol.
ReplyDeleteSecond half shambles again.
ReplyDeleteThe idiots most likely thought they don't need to work anymore
ReplyDeleteWe are top of the league again!
ReplyDeleteWhen last have we been able to say that?
Indeed. Sterling....
ReplyDeletea few weeks ago lol
ReplyDeleteEnrique....no attacking prowess at all.
ReplyDeleteThe dude has a lot of work to do. So does Enrique with his crossing, and Suarez definitely knows it.
ReplyDeleteI can give a final ball better than him!
ReplyDeleteanother win liverpool u are amazing my only frustration with the match was the referee we got almost no calls in the match today for clear fouls that gave palace opportunities on goal sigh apart from that good game and still enrique u need to be sold
ReplyDeleteAlberto looked very very impressive when he came on; could hear the crowd warming to him as well. Can't wait to see more of him -- looked pure class, playing at his own pace, vision and ability -- great prospect.
ReplyDeleteAccording to some people he is a waste of money.
ReplyDeleteSolid win, Palace had their moments but only ever got a goal from a bit of bad luck. We're defending well this year, even despite those moments of panic. Sakho is ever improving and looks like he could be real quality. Enough energy and drive in the first half to get it done, I have no complaints about a pedestrian second 45. Top of the league again, here's hoping West Brom have another upset up their sleeve.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I said we are top again.
ReplyDeleteLet them have their pointless opinions, the player will get plenty of time to show his quality.
ReplyDeleteSo glad Rodgers knows how to handle young players. Henderson is such a good example.
ReplyDeleteHe's still a kid. Let him have these struggles when he's young and we have easier teams to play against, it means he'll learn more quickly. He needs to be challenged and find new ways to be effective, it's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteGreat game Pool! That being said: 1) BR needs to sit SAS down and tell them when they play for/off each other, they are unbeatable and will score a torrent of goals. When they try to outscore each other they will score none as they shoot from impossible angles against a ready keeper. We easily could have had 3 more by my count with just a smidge less glory chasing. 2) Hendo played well but there is still too much standing in the mid-field. Pass and watch is now the standard. When SAS must come back to mid-field to start the attack, the mid-fielders are not doing the job. 3) The MFs need to try to win the ball back more. The few times we did, good things happened. 4) Sterling played pretty well at right back. 5) When young guys with fresh legs enter, Alberto and Aspas, it stands to reason they get the ball so they can use the fresh legs. How are they supposed to get any better if they don't get to touch the ball...especially Alberto. He was open a lot but it looked that he was consciously ignored. 6) The back line were beasts today...good line-up. 7) We should never cross a ball again. We are so bad in the air. We have the quickness to play it in and we should do that. 8) Moses actually looked comfortable as the AM. Maybe he should play there more. 9) Mignolet...simply wow.
ReplyDeleteGood win bur overall we are still not performing well in the second half, if this was vs a better team we would have been punished. Someone like Arsenal would kill us right now with our second half performance.
ReplyDeleteMy review:
Mig- Done well. He needs to work on his accuracy and delivery.
Defence: played well enough.
Enrique- Good going forward but terrible crossing, no end product. Does not offer us any attacking threat at all. We need Cissokho to come back and offer him some real competition.
Hendo- played well today. His versatility might be his Achilles heel. He is a good player but does not shine at anything in particular apart from having a combative spirit and a good engine. No attacking threat. Played well today though.
Sterling- Seems to have stalled. Playing as a wing back does not help as well. He needs a good loan. If we get a winger this Jan then he should go on loan. Why play Sterling as wing back and not Wisdom? Gave the ball away too much, still has no physical presence. He plays much better on the left when he can cut in. To be honest I rate Ibe higher than him.
Moses- did well. But middle clearly is not his position. Unlucky not to score.
Gerrard- Sigh! We need to buy a class midfielder to offer some real competition to him. Gerrard is guaranteed every game but his performances have not been the best. No attacking threat too. His legs as gone as well. He played decently, but that's about it, and believe me it hurts me to say it.
We cannot rely on him anymore like we did in the past, time for us to spash on a class midfielder.
SAS- Played well. Each could have had 3 goals each :)! Let's hope DS does not come back injured!!!
Aspas- Why bring him on with 8mins to go?
Bench is looking thin. There's no goals in the bench at all.
Is Suarez and Sturridge get injured at the same time we are done.
3-2-2-2 or 3-5-2 works well if we have good wing backs. Like Juve.
Second half performances are still puzzling. This was a repeat of last weeks game. We will click eventually, at least we are winning these games and building up the points. Last season we would have lost.
We certainly are missing Coutinho and Johnson.
Overall I am happy with the 3 points, but not pleased with second half performance.
We will get better!
YNWA!
I have no complaints about a pedestrian second 45- IMO you should. We will improve of course, but imagine if we were 0-0 or 0-1 to them come second half?
ReplyDeleteBased on our performances so far we would have struggled. We need intensity play in our second half.
I saw a few times Sturridge refusing to pass to Sterling even though he was open because I suspect he does not trust him enough with the ball.
ReplyDeleteSterling will improve but he needs a good loan.
he needs a good something......
ReplyDeleteDoubt he would have played if Kelly was fit.
ReplyDeletei disagree about hendo he offered way more in attack today than lucas does...granted its not frank lampard level but at least he got up the pitch
ReplyDeletewill kelly ever be fit though......
ReplyDeleteMore than Lucas yes, I agree for sure. He is def more positive in his play than him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. Some players are just unfortunate with injuries.
ReplyDeleteThree points and top of the table not a very exciting match but a job well done.We concede a goal from a set piece again due to poor defending and overall the defense still inspire too much confidence Sterling was poor defensively.When Luis Alberto came in i was wondering what his role on the field was and i'm still baffled.Albeit the best start ever as far as i can ever remember .
ReplyDeleteWhy imagine if we were 0-0 or 0-1? We were 3-0 up, that's why it didn't really matter. Of course it would need to be different if we have to push for a win but we didn't. We cruised over the line so what difference does it make? I suppose it would have been more entertaining but there is just no need for the team to stretch themselves when an easy victory is all but in the bag. What matter here is the win. If we put in a bad second half performance in a game where we needed to press for a win then I'll obviously have a different view, but every game is different.
ReplyDeletein this formation i feel the 2 midfielders main requirements are to be fit and mobile....athletics over ascetics if you like ..
ReplyDeleteThese are the type of games we would have lost last season. When we click, and I suspect we will click soon when PC and GJ are back.
ReplyDeleteSterling needs a loan move.
Your right to some extent, I agree. Although we have not been behind yet this season, would be interesting to see how we would cope.
ReplyDeleteto move to the next level though you have to be relentless its what puts the fear factor in other teams
ReplyDeleteEnrique- no attacking threat whatsoever, except the assist for Suarez goal, putting Moses one on one with the keeper..............
ReplyDeleteTrue about Sterling what about Alberto where do you see him play if he does ?
ReplyDeleteGerrard and Lucas don't cut it I'm afraid. Now would have been such a good time to give Allen a chance.
ReplyDeleteWhen Allen is fit I think we should give him a chance. Gerrard does not have to play each game this season.
A good mid is needed this Jan.
Must have missed that!
ReplyDeletealberto is a squad player..hes up against moses sturridge suarez or tino....is he better than any of them answers on a post card
ReplyDeleteI still don't know what he offer because he has not played too much. I feel we could have easily gotten a better player with more experience than him if we looked hard enough.
ReplyDeleteBut I think he played behind the striker, with Coutinho back soon I doubt he'll play much.
i actually think hendo and allen would work together in this formation...but that would take a massive change in mind set for rogers
ReplyDeleteMotD will likely help ya out there :-D
ReplyDeleteRodgers does not have the balls to drop Gerrard IMO. I would like to see Hendo and Allen too.
ReplyDeleteGerrard is being wasted playing so deep.
For sure lol!
ReplyDeleteStill...you have to admit his crossing is pretty poor?
ReplyDeleteWe overpowered Palace in the first half and we scored 3 goals.
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt any defence wants to face SAS. That in itself should be the fear factor for our opponents.
in this formation playing 3 center back...and 2 wingbacks...luis/cissoko and johnson means allens height is not as much as an issue defensivly
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Do you think this is our best formation?
ReplyDeleteI still think 4-3-3 is the one.
with the players we have i do .....i dont think we have the midfield for 433
ReplyDeleteI understand mate. Like Adam said he's still a kid with a lot of growing to do. Give the boy a bit of grace!
ReplyDeleteits psychological if teams feel we switch off second half it may be the difference between them coming out guns a blazing or sitting back ....and we are shite when teams pile pressure on us
ReplyDeleteour near post defending has been dreadful all year im surprised more teams havnt took advantage...in several game this year an opposing player has moved towards that area completely unmarked
ReplyDeleteits not great buy we dont really have the front men to cross high balls into anyway...its a big ask i feel expect a player to be able to tackle like a defender, and dribble and cross like a winger all in the same game...the wing back position is a twat of a position carido wise...sprinting up and down the flanks
ReplyDeleteit appears these days that you can throw Hendo anywhere and he will play well. 2-3 years if he developes this well we will have one hell of a player.
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a creative midfielder to me. Play him in one of the central midfield positions, give him responsibility for creating from deep and prompting transitions. He looks like a proper talent to me.
ReplyDeleteRodgers is coming close to having things turned around already (assuming that building a CL challenging squad was the short term target), even with the wasted signings of the likes of Borini, Sahin, Allen etc, so no way was it impossible.
ReplyDeleteAll you need is to bring in 2-4 legit first team players in each window (which we have had the opportunity to do) and a squad can easily be transformed within 3 transfer windows.
The point was that you bring up the win against Sunderland as if that proves that we need to play 5 at the back in order to win. Which we clearly do not.
ReplyDeleteMoses is obviously quicker and a stronger than Downing, but it's just my opinion that he is a pretty one-dimensional winger very much in the mould of Stewart Downing. Of course I'd be delighted to be proved wrong during his time at LFC though!
ReplyDeletefwiw, I was a very vocal critic of Downing during his time at LFC, but I honestly believe that he was actually capable of much, much more than the dire performances that he delivered for us if he could've just got some balls (and been played almost exclusively on the left wing).
You know that ultimately we want teams to pressure us up the pitch. The whole system is about drawing the opposition towards our goal line when we have the ball so that we can create space to pass the ball into. The fact that we're bad at handling this is absolutely a worry, but it's not something we need to discourage. We're not going to be the best team we can be if teams allow us a ton of possession in our own half and just sit back to defend. We should prefer them to come forward against us and simply be better and making those good passes in small spaces. That's the ultimate goal, at least that's how I see it.
ReplyDeleteThat is your opinion of course.
ReplyDeleteSo my post gets deleted for saying that it is his opinion?
ReplyDeleteAllen is not a wasted signing. He is going to make all his naysayers eat humble pie.
ReplyDeleteOh I'll give you that, his high crossing isn't great, but he can be very incisive on the ground, especially when Suarez is playing. They have a great understanding and most of Enrique's assists are scored by Suarez (Sunderland and Spurs at home last season being good examples). Generally though, if there's a time to criticize Enrique's attacking contribution, it's not on a day where he got one direct assist, another indirect one and created another great chance for Moses.
ReplyDeleteI've never disputed that Allen is a talented player.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to argue though that he wasn't the type of player that we needed when we brought him in, and we could've improved the squad far quicker by directing those funds elsewhere...