2 Jan 2014

Anfield Alert: Worried Hansen explains why LFC 'could hit trouble' very soon. Problem...?

After suffering two consecutive defeats against Chelsea and Manchester City, Liverpool are back in the top four this week, and Reds striker Luis Suarez once again played a major part in a much-needed win for the club. Suarez failed to score against both City and Chelsea, and it's clear once again that if you stop the Uruguayan, you basically stop Liverpool. This over-reliance on Suarez is a concern, and Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes that it could lead to trouble for the club in the near future.

In his column for The Telegraph, Hansen predicted that the goals will 'dry up for Suarez' at some point this season, and insisted that 'no player in the history of English football has been able to sustain, for an entire season, the kind of form Suárez is producing'. Explaining his fears, Hansen added:

"People may point to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have scored in incredible numbers for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, but that is in Spain.

"It is a different matter in England and Suárez will, inevitably, go three or four games without scoring and that is when Liverpool could hit trouble".


Historically, Suarez - like any other striker - is prone to the odd barren spell:

* 06 Feb 2011 - 20 Mar 2011: 4 games without a goal.
* 02 Apr 2011 - 01 Mar 2011: 4 games without a goal.
* 27 Aug 2011 - 24 Sep 2011: 4 games without a goal.
* 29 Oct 2011 - 06 Feb 2012: 1 goal in 11 games.
* 26 Feb 2012 - 18 Mar 2012: 4 games without a goal.
* 22 Nov 2012 - 26 Dec 2012: 1 goal in 8 games.
* 16 Mar 2013 - 21 Apr 2013: 1 goal in 5 games.

Suarez is much more prolific this season, and two games is the most he's gone without a goal so far. However, as Hansen suggests, it's unlikely that he's be so prolific for the entire season, but when Suarez does have a barren spell, will it be 'trouble' for the Reds? Yes and no (potentially):

* Daniel Sturridge should be back soon, and he has already proven to be a top class replacement for Suarez. He is a prolific goalscorer, and if Suarez hits a wall, Sturridge will be able to pick up the slack. Unfortunately, the 24-year old cannot be relied upon to remain fit, so if Suarez stops scoring, and Sturridge gets injured again, it will be a major issue for the Reds.

* Sturridge aside, if Suarez doesn't score, where will the goals come from? The lack of goals from Liverpool's midfielders is an ongoing problem, and although this has improved somewhat recently, overall, it's still an issue:

- Total Goals scored by LFC this season = 48
- Goals by Sturridge and Suarez = 31 (65%)
- Combined goals total (From open play) of ALL LFC's midfielders = 9 (19%)
- Goals by defenders/own goals = 7 (14%)
- Gerrard: Hasn't scored from open play in almost a YEAR.
- Top midfield goalscorer (open play) = Sterling (4 goals)

Nine goals this season (from open play) for ALL Liverpool's midfielders is a concern, and just goes to show that Suarez's prolificity (yes, it is a word!) is papering over the cracks of the Reds' goalscoring issues.

The positive thing is that Liverpool's midfielders have proven this season that when big players are out, they're capable of stepping-up, and the likes of Hendo and Sterling have contributed to the cause in the absence of Gerrard and Sturridge. This needs to happen much more often, though, and Philippe Coutinho, especially, needs to start chipping-in more regularly with goals for the club.

Whatever happens, I doubt the club will end up in a situation where both Sturridge and Suarez are out for an extended period at the same time, and as long as one of those players is in the team on a regular basis, Liverpool should be okay. There's also the possibility of new attacking players coming into the squad during the January transfer window, and this will (hopefully) boost the squad's overall goal-threat.

Author:


70 comments:

  1. I wonder if it is a matter of time before we start getting goals from other members of the team or it is an issue we have to sort out this window, I think/hope it's both. How many sitters has Henderson, Allen, Sterling and Coutinho missed this season? Henderson started to pick up more goals in the latter part of last season and that could happen again. Coutinho's form has not been the best in regards to his assists but this can also improve. I have noticed a few times this season that Henderson has not been fully expecting certain passes and if he was a bit more alive to begin with or backed himself to get it he may have had a good opportunity. This doesn't guarantee anything as we have seen but more chances surely have to equal more goals at the current conversion rate.

    Personally I hope we get someone in in this window who can get some goals and be a bit more of a spark to others as well. Perhaps Moses and Aspas will become less useless with more time. I won't hold my breath there though.

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  2. Last year, in their league winning season, Kagawa was Man U's leading scorer from midfield with 6goals.Second was Giggs with 5. That was in all games in all competitions. Kagawa's all game in the league. Giggs scored two. Point being? They can't all score all the time. They won the league scoring a grand total of 87 goals. An average of 2.28 goals per match. We currently average 2.3. Assuming that Suarez scores no more than 10 goals from the remaining 18 games (and that's quite a dry spell) we need another 31 from Sturridge and the rest of our team put together. So all in all there is some truth to what is being said but it is no different for the other teams. We were said to be in trouble when Sturridge went out injured as well but it never happened because Suarez carried the burden alone. Of course, it's always better if you have a lot of scoring players on the pitch at the same time but it's also about balance. Look at what happened when Drogba and Torres had to play in the same team. Or Fowler and Owen. Of course we'll be in trouble when Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard are out at the same time but what do you think will happen if Hazard, Oscar and Torres would be out for Chelsea at the same time. All this so called expertise by pundits is nothing more than speculating on ridiculous what if scenarios. So far, we're fourth and the second highest scoring team in the league. If that is trouble, I hope to see a lot more of it for the remainder of the season.

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  3. With such a great start to the season it's only natural that expectations have risen. Lets be honest though, at the start of the season we would have given our hind teeth to be in this position now with breif stints on top. Top 4 was and is always the main goal for this season, and in the main we all thought it was going to be a challenge.. Well, we are surpassing what most though was possible from our slim squad and a top 4 finish is a very real possibility. We have many players out on loan that are finally starting to look like serious contenders for a starting berth in the coming seasons. So with that in mind, I wouldn't be too hasty in forecasting doom just yet. Top 4 this year and with players returning and a couple of select additions we will definately be in a position to fiht for titles next seaon and on.. Lets not try to run before we can walk... This is an on going project in it's infancy,, let's be patient. We are already starting to worry those around us with speed with which BR and co are turning this club around, you just need to listen to the drivel of Moanrinho to know that their worried.

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  4. Disagree entirely with Hansen's comments. In both games Liverpool were leading and on both occasions the goals came from Skrtel and Coutinho. Suarez does not have to score for Liverpool to win.

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  5. Agree to a point, but clearly he does have to score for LFC to win. Skrtel and Coutinho scored, but LFC lost both games (!) If Suarez had scored, that may have been different.

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  6. The money mostly wasted in the summer should have gone on a top class stiker as I and im sure thousands of others said at the time - you an never have enough goalscorers - they win points.

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  7. Coutinho just needs to work on his shooting which is abysmal at the moment as well as Henderson and Sterling so we do have other potential goal scorers.

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  8. He can't score if he has two or three defenders over him all the time and then when he creates a sitter it doesn't finds the back of the net.


    I feel sorry for Suarez right now, I don't understand what more can you ask that guy with that play. Its the work of the team to make sure that when he gives them a chance to score they should take it and not spill it. We all can see that Suarez did create enough chances for us to win both the matches let alone draw them.

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  9. Its the midfield that's lacking goals and not the strikers mate!!! Only the likes of Aspas is that you get when you're out of Europe as a third choice striker.

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  10. I have though this for a while now, I have been disappointed with Sterling and Coutinho they should start scoring goals now, always do the hard work, then make the wrong choice. Just look at Chelsea, Arsenal and City, their midfielders score for fun, these are the teams that will challenge for the title. Let's see what happens in the transfer window, not holding my breath though.

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  11. We wont score many if any goals from Coutinho's feet he should stop shooting (he cant) and pass the blooming ball. ps I diddnt really mean blooming. Now Stouridge really can shoot, he should be doing wht Coutnho is tryingo do - shoot on sight.

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  12. Because they do not have confidence in their strikers that they can do it for them and hence take the chance.

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  13. Which top class striker? Top class as in Diego Costa who we tried to sign but rejected us because of league position and no champions league football? That would have been 25-30 million pounds on top of what Rodgers already spent.


    Think???

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  14. Sturridge will not be back before Villa so we can save it till then.

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  15. I would be curious to see how other teams' goals are spread throughout the team... is it common for the strikers to score 60% of the goals?


    It would give some relative perspective as to whether we are playing that much closer to the fire where we are likely to get burned.

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  16. Moyes moaning about howard webb not giving them the customary penalty is a bit rich - man utd have not had a penalty awarded against them for two full seasons 74 games. oh and his stand on diving is looking a bit silly utd being top of the booed divers league.

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  17. No, it depends which team has which part(striker or mids or defs) better at shooting goals. I guess Liverpool has the best for strikers and then Chelsea for mids and Everton for defs,

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  18. Coutinho needs to improve his end product, I wonder how many assist and goals he has so far this year? I know he is young and has tons of potential but Henderson has been criticized a lot more for the same reasons...at some point he needs to start to deliver (specifically by working on his shot selection/quality)

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  19. Coutinho has a great shot, trouble with him and Sterling is they make the wrong choice in front of goal, they shoot when they should pass and pass when they should shoot, should get better with experience.

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  20. We have a very young team with very less experience at the moment, barring a few seniors and so is the reason why the midfielders having trouble when to make runs into the box and when to pass it or when to take a shot. I think we will get to see the better of it in the second half just like we did last season.

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  21. What if's are just madness. LFC staff are looking at ways to improve the team right now so lets hope none of these "what if's come true".

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  22. The end of last season and the start of this one also showed that Liverpool aren't reliant on Suarez.They do need another striker though for back up. Aspas is not the man in fact I would say he is the worst Pool player I have seen including all the flops. They tried he doesn't.

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  23. And they call him The Worker or Labor or something back at Celta.

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  24. At the moment they lack a bit of composure in front of goal. But I'd be more worried if they weren't getting the chances. Patience, for the younglings come good soon they will.

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  25. Not concerned at all as we create many chances, If Suarez doesn't score Sturridge will................ :-)

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  26. I'm reading a lot of negative comments about BR transfer policy from fellow reds and it seems to me that a lot of 'fans' are missing point. The huge elephant in the room is that we don't have champs league and therefore our revenue is smaller, therefore we can't attract the kind of signings that would make an instant success. As a club we've decided to live within our means. We don't have billionaire owners either thank goodness. Also BR inherited a lot of overpaid average players from Dalgleish, Hodgson and Rafa. So he's had to clear a lot of players for a lot less than we originally paid for them therefore our transfer kitty is low thanks to wasteful ex managers. So he's had to rely on his scouts finding cheaper 'potential' players. Some have paid off but a lot have been poor and the success rate is about 1 out of 3 players being good enough. We simply can't go outspending Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Barca, Manchester city, inter etc for £30m+ £200000 p/w instant impact players. This was proven last summer by some of the players that we missed out on.
    I'm more interested with this window. With our strong position in the league the class of players we should be going for are first teamers. I think I read that BR has said that he feels that he has almost built the house,
    now for the decorations...or words to that effect. I do agree that Liverpool getting players on loan deals just doesn't work unless there's an option to buy written into the deal. But I can see that that is what is necessary at the
    moment. We desperately need more goals from midfield. We're going in the right direction. Patience is the watch word. A lot hinges on getting ECL this year. Without it Suarez is gone. This is our most important transfer window in the last 4 years IMO.

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  27. Young players take time to mature, simple as that!!!

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  28. Yes they do, I think we'll see a much more attractive and beautiful football after 2 seasons when these guys will know what to expect from each other and what when to do.

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  29. Yes, hence the reason so many of us want to improve our MF immediately. I believe Sturridge's return will create more oppotunities for both strikers and teams won't be able to park somebody in Suarez's pocket for an entire game. Also, I think Allen, Hendo, Coutinho and Sterling are getting more comfortable all the time. They are creating/getting lots of chances that aren't being finished well. If those four could have finished half of the chances created for them...and they weren't difficult chances to finish...many were virtual tap-ins...I think their combined tally could be easily doubled and we would have beaten City and drawn with Chelski.

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  30. For me the difference is PC and Sterling are trying to finish chances now when earlier they were looking to pass. Even if they miss, then they are forcing defenders to account for them, which creates space for Suarez. They will get better at finishing because now they are concentrating on it more.

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  31. Pablo Von Mooneyo5:59 pm, January 02, 2014

    The problem Suarez has scoring against the top 5 sides IMO is purely down to the dearth of chances and quality possession he receives from midfield when our own midfield is outclassed. Against these teams he gets no support whatsoever either through the middle or from the wings and has to live on scraps. Suarez is good enough to score against anyone IF he's given quality ball to work with. But that's a big if, with Lucas and Stevie both in the starting 11 the pace and drive we need to get the ball between the lines just isn't there. Coutinho seems to disappear in these games and I don't ever remember Sterling laying on a chance for Suarez. He's carrying the team ATM almost singlehandidly which can't continue until may...

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  32. Suarez should really be doing better vs top teams if he wants to win pfa or even ballon d or, dont think he will ever win the second because for that you have to be a champion as well, in both CL and league or at least one of em and we are faaar away from winning the title.

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  33. He should be doing better than 20 goals...twice as many as his nearest actively playing competitor?

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  34. Do you read properly people comments or just reply without even reading them? I wasnt talking about the amount of his goals just about his form vs TOP TEAMS, he can score ten vs norwich but should score some vs city chelsea arsenal mancs as well, GOT IT?

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  35. When against top teams? Like scoring against all the top teams last season or scoring against Spurs this season. Not scoring against City and Chelsea when we have injury problems and dodgy reffing doesn't make sense mate. It was two games, it's not enough to say he can't.

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  36. Read Pablo's comment below and then tell me Suarez isn't doing enough again.

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  37. There is always a possibility that Suarez has a dry run, but right now he's on a heater, and I think it will last the rest of the season, so long as he isn't mangled at some point. Sure his big drought of 2 games didn't provide any goals - but the chances he has created couldn't have been any better - with sturridge back this should change by 1) having someone who can take those passes, and 2) provide more space.
    As you say the issue is with the midfield, specifically with Coutinho - he might be very skillful, but his decision making has been very poor. I don't have a figure of where his shots come from, but of 59 (4/game) I imagine that around 50 of those were from outside of the box, usually with a player better placed for a pass - his 2 goals were inside the 6 yard box. His 2 assists are from set pieces, none from open play. In this respect he's failing at his job, which is first to create chances, second to score goals - Hendo, Sterling, Gerrard, do a far better job at creating.
    Don't get me wrong, I think Coutinho is a great player, and want him to score piles of goals, but at the moment I'd rather have someone on the pitch who will make the right pass, rather than blow it over the net from 30 yds out 4 times a game.

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  38. That's my point though... there's no evidence to say this is an uncommon thing. The goals have to come from somewhere. Do most teams have a diverse scoring ensemble of players or are they relying on the same 2-4 players to score game in and game out.

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  39. Please don't hold your breath,in fact I've exhaled all of mine as regards those two.

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  40. Having a glance at it it doesn't seem like most teams are all that different than us. The obvious exceptions are City, Arsenal and Chelsea, but other teams it seems to be the same as us. They have their primary attackers who score the bulk and others picking up bits and bobs. To truly compete we need a bit more from midfield that is for sure but I would say for our goal this season we will probably be ok.We all want better but it may not be a concern.

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  41. Hypothetically I believe that it's when we're a goal down in a game it's Luis you look to dig you out of a hole followed by Gerrard and Coutinho ,then maybe Henderson,.After that it's a set-piece goal from a defender.It's one thing to score the 'lead' goal but the ability to 'dig one out' is paramount.

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  42. christ almighty , get a life will you!! kamwar

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  43. Sorry,should be 2nd on list.You're on the ball.

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  44. Chelsea game we didn't create alot but still should have gotten something. And that was more to do with how Chelsea played against us more than anything. Mourinho loves playing teams that attack. It feeds right into his style of football. Against City Suarez creates 3 point blank chances, the goal, the one Coutinho hti right at Hart and the one Sterling skied. he did his job and proved that even if he didn't score he affected the game. Our midfielders are very young players. They will gain more composure. Take any two star players from any team and see if they will operate the same. Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard have been out and for the most part we coped. Get Sturridge back and a few signings and we can really take the league....seriously. We have City, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, New Castle, Everton....all at Anfield. If we buy quality this window we sure as hell can win the league with all the other teams in Europe except New Castle and Everton. Its do able.

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  45. That is not true.The midfield has created alot of Suarez's goals particularly Henderson. They are just poor at finishing their own chances. Suarez sat out 10 games and i think we lost once. If you look at the amount of running and pressing that Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling and Allen have done you would see how they work for the team. The thing they all have in common is youth. Even the first goal against Spurs started when Sterling and Allen i think won the ball back and gave it to Suarez. This game is not just assists and goals

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  46. I noticed that cotinhio has stopped creating chances and rather trying to score ....which he is pretty bad at as his shooting is quite bad ...and am sure he is doing dat because of the World Cup he need a more goals .

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  47. Very good points.

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  48. So do young managers.

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  49. Everybody is asking these players to chip in with goals. How are they gonna do this if they don't shoot????

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  50. I really want to see Suarez on the bench for the Oldham game. The guy needs a rest. No matter what he (Suarez) says BR needs to monitor him closely. He is vital to our season and if the second stringers so to speak can't put Oldham away there is something wrong. Suarez was injured before the Hull game with a bruised foot but insisted on playing and was bandaged and injected so he could. Hopefully his enthusiasm to play every game is not his undoing. IMO BR needs to manage him for his own good.

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  51. They take less shots, but quality, otherwise pass.

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  52. It's ridiculous to suggest that Suarez was nullified against Man city. He should have had 3 assists.

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  53. very very good points!

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  54. I for one think that we should focus on getting a playmaker if Alberto ain't gonna get any game time. Coutinho is more of a dribbler with mostly no end product or it'll be wasted whenever he pulls a shot. Maybe not the same mould of Rakitic or Mata, let's be honest, we wouldn't be able to get him. Maybe someone realistically, Cabaye, Veratti, Steven Defour or Shaqiri? Just someone that have an eye for the killer pass in the middle. We completely lack of it at the moment, with Lucas, Hendo and Allen, I just don't see any creativity in between the trio. There is no problem to play SG and Hendo together, but that player has to come in between, sit in the middle and pull strings for the team. BR should now try to play SG as DM, rest Lucas for games like Stoke, which he is for sure be outmuscled in the middle. And start playing more attacking away from Anfield. If we gonna be in the mix, we should start winning away games (Kill it off as our defence are leaking like the rate of my pipe water currently is).



    Now we are only relying for Luis individual brilliance to keep us in the race, if we were to seriously challenge, we need signings that really hit the ground running and instil the belief onto our really tired squad now. Salah should be as good as done deal I hope which will no doubt add to our attacking threat in final third. We still in need of an enforcer and playmaker. Full backs are good if Glen stop sulking and Enrique back in the fold. I got a belief that Raheem maybe could be slotted into the left wing back role if SAS pairing is back in business. Without Allen, we can't press high with Hendo alone, hence, we only can afford to play patient game with SG in the side.


    I think we will at most see 2 signings this January window as I must say it is not the best time to do business. Overall, our very thin squad has outperformed so far and hope we stay injury free for the rest of the season to mount a serious title challenge. I think we have a real good chance this year to challenge if we can put those teams below us away. I'm eyeing an 76-80 points season for us ahead. Let's see if we can achieve that. Not forgetting all the top 8 teams have to come to Anfield except for the scums and Southampton. I optimistically hoping that we will keep up the consistency.

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  55. There is no doubt that Liverpool are playing a very good brand of
    attacking football. and there are also scoring goals..But I think when
    we are playing Top level teams away we need to be more careful in
    regards to defending.. we scored the opening goals in both the
    matches..but continued to play fast attacking football, which left gaps
    in defence... we could have slowed the game and waited for them to
    attack us and then played on counter attack..... in both the matches we
    conceded goals on counter attack..
    All i can ask of Brendon Rodgers is to be more careful in Away games against top teams...
    I know we won the match against Tottenham 5 - 0 but .. Chelsea and Manchester City are away above them...

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  56. There is no doubt that Liverpool are playing a very good brand of
    attacking football. and there are also scoring goals..But I think when
    we are playing Top level teams away we need to be more careful in
    regards to defending.. we scored the opening goals in both the
    matches..but continued to play fast attacking football, which left gaps
    in defence... we could have slowed the game and waited for them to
    attack us and then played on counter attack..... in both the matches we
    conceded goals on counter attack..
    All i can ask of Brendon Rodgers is to be more careful in Away games against top teams...
    I know we won the match against Tottenham 5 - 0 but .. Chelsea and Manchester City are away above them...

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  57. I agree. This is just paper from people who don't really understand football. Have a look at all of the players that have scored this season, and it proves that LFC have many players that can score goals. Saurez is supreme, and with the return of Sturridge, LFC will go o0n to score many more goals/.

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  58. gerrard hasnt scored from open play in nearly a year... what about the banger against city to take us 2-1 up at city

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  59. Hansen is not entirely wrong. We just cannot rely on Suarez carrying the goals/game load. Sturridge will need time to get back to match fitness. Aspas is no where 1st team material. Nevertheless, Suarez also carries the load in assist as well. I'm more afraid of Suarez getting injured than him not scoring, because Suarez is not about scoring, it's his overall game to bring players into attack and how he brings defenders off others.

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  60. Another Hansen statement... Will he be right? Similar to... you won't win the league with kids!

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  61. you could say the same thing about any team in the top 7 at the moment , all hansen has basically stated all negative if's , what about the positives of suarez does keep scoring , sturridge comes back firing , midfielders do start scoring just basic negative hypotheticals , we will strengthen this window and our football will show we are good enough were are worth a top 4 spot

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  62. It wasn't long ago that Jaimie was belittling Suarez's contributing, giving factual evidence that his goals didn't amount to an actual gaining of points in the league, and now we can't do without him and are effectively a one man team. I guess it proves that you can use "facts" to back up just about any argument.

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  63. That ain't what you were saying last season Jaimie!

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  64. honestly ? It is the lack of effort I am surprised at . He looks like he is kidding on he is playing. I would do better at 37.

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  65. Yeah, I can feel ya bro.

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