Earlier today, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers surprised Reds fans by leaving club captain Steven Gerrard out of the starting line-up for the crunch game with Stoke City. Was he dropped, or rested? Prior to kick-off, Rodgers clarified his reasoning for making such a bold decision.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rodgers insisted that Gerrard's omission was merely part of his strategy to manage the captain's fitness. He explained:
"We've got a lot of games in a short period of time, so we've just made a few changes.
"It's nothing to with form or anything like that, it's just to freshen up the team. He's a fantastic player, but he can't play in every single game".
Whatever the reason, Rodgers arguably made the right decision, and in my view, Gerrard should stay on the bench for Tuesday's game with Leicester City.
Granted, it wasn't a vintage Liverpool performance today, but the team (arguably) didn't miss Gerrard, and if Sturridge was on the pitch, the game probably would've been out of sight a long time before Glen Johnson grabbed the winner.
Kolo Toure should also retain his place at the expense of Lovren. The Ivorian delivered a commanding performance at hear of Liverpool's defence, and there no reason to drop him - or Lucas - for the Reds' next game.
As much as I'm in favour of Rodgers' decision to drop/rest Gerrard, it probably wasn't the best idea to bench him on the 16th anniversary of his LFC debut. It's a special day for the captain, and it wouldn't surprise me if Gerrard privately feels angry about missing the chance to commemorate that significant landmark.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rodgers insisted that Gerrard's omission was merely part of his strategy to manage the captain's fitness. He explained:
"We've got a lot of games in a short period of time, so we've just made a few changes.
"It's nothing to with form or anything like that, it's just to freshen up the team. He's a fantastic player, but he can't play in every single game".
Whatever the reason, Rodgers arguably made the right decision, and in my view, Gerrard should stay on the bench for Tuesday's game with Leicester City.
Granted, it wasn't a vintage Liverpool performance today, but the team (arguably) didn't miss Gerrard, and if Sturridge was on the pitch, the game probably would've been out of sight a long time before Glen Johnson grabbed the winner.
Kolo Toure should also retain his place at the expense of Lovren. The Ivorian delivered a commanding performance at hear of Liverpool's defence, and there no reason to drop him - or Lucas - for the Reds' next game.
As much as I'm in favour of Rodgers' decision to drop/rest Gerrard, it probably wasn't the best idea to bench him on the 16th anniversary of his LFC debut. It's a special day for the captain, and it wouldn't surprise me if Gerrard privately feels angry about missing the chance to commemorate that significant landmark.
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Author: Jaimie K
however it happened we won a game so why change it
ReplyDeleteHe should bring him on as an impact player from now on. And stop playing both Allen and Henderson. Drop either of them for Can or Lallana.
ReplyDeleteIs Rodgers is resting Lalana for England.how can he not be in this team ?.
ReplyDeleteTime waits for no man that includes Gerard a great player but thats football
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the club, LIVERPOOL FC, of which Stevie G certainly is part of and valuable to the club, but his landmarks shouldn't be of any importance if those interfere with the club's interests!!
ReplyDeleteThe club always has to come first, no matter what!!
It would be nice for gerrard to follow giggs example
ReplyDeletehe can still be useful but needs to be used rightly , start 45% games and tear best come off the bench and then eventually join the coaching staff
were he can be molded into the new manager
henderson and allen can both play when we ahve the diamond available
ReplyDeletethat means two top strikers as well
liverpool need to get two strikers in January
ReplyDeletewilfried bony and divock origi
this would be a good partnership a mixture skill,experience,youth ,strength,pace
....................................................bony
sterling..........................................coutinho.....................origi
.............................................henderson.......allen
with allen operating as main cdm
bench: balotelli,markovic,lallana,gerrard
this si the way forward
if we get bony and origi it will also allow us to play diamond
ReplyDelete.....................................bony/origi................balotelli
................................................sterling/coutinho
......................................lallana/can.................henderson
....................................................gerrard/allen
it is the best most cheapest solution 25m on bony 5m on origi
we will score so many goals cdm wont matter
if sturridge is injured it wont hurt
this is the best way to get best out of our current investment lallana,can,allen ,balotelli, origi,moreno all suit this formation
markovic maybe in the top of the diamond could work
We need a top DM like Matic. Allen will never be that guy.
ReplyDeletenot in diamond
ReplyDeletelook at how wilshere plays for england allen cn do same he was a dm at swansea
can is probably better suited at dm in that position he ahs a bit of matic and yaya in him
my dream xi starting next season
ReplyDelete..............................................Bony/balotelli..............sturridge/origi
...........................................................sterling/coutinho
..........................................lallana/can.....................henderson/ibe
................................................................allen/gerrard
.....................................moreno.......sakho...........lovren/toure....clyne
............................................................mignolet/romero
this way all of brs investment is used wisely apart from markovic i will find a place for him soon
so only three buys clyne ,romero and bony which is a reasonable expectation over two summers
sorry meant windows not summers
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers got the result we needed today, but the fact that it has taken him this long to drop S Gerrard(34) is comical.
ReplyDeleteAnd i know G Johnson(30) scored the winner today, but he has been abyzmal and shocking last two seasons and should have started on bench. This goal today, gives him a bit of lee way but Gerrard(34), Johnson(30), Mignolet(26) and Skrtel(29) are the weaknesses in side.
J Allen(24), E Can(20) and J Henderson(24) all offer the same thing: All have good mobility, bit of pace to them, can all press well, they all pass well backwards and side ways. All lack class creativity in the final third and they all lack scoring goals from centre midfield.
B Rodgers wasted £20M on L Markovic(20) when he could have brought Bojan Krkic(24) for £1.5M From Barcelona and Jefferson Montero(25) for £4-£5M from Monarcas Morelia in Mexico in the summer.
Both those attackers would have suited B Rodgers system down to a T and both attackers have brought more class and quality to the premiership so far than L Markovic(20)
markovic is bulking up in the gym i heard 3 hours as a club training program day to get him ready for physical aspect of league
ReplyDeletei will judge him when he gets bulked up look at c ronaldo after he got a bit of muscle
cant wait till rodgers has a strikeforce
ReplyDeleteof :
sturridge,balotelli,origi,balotelli to pick from
we can win the league under him
not two balotellis one of them is meant to be bony
ReplyDeleteGet back to Fifa kid.
ReplyDeleteI honestly feel that Mr Rogers and his "advisors" are trolling this site for new ideas... Explains all the last-ditched chopping and changing of his preferred squad..
ReplyDeleteDesperate times calls for desperate measures!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
ReplyDeleteLeave him alone. Nothing about that is unrealistic enough to be likened to fifa. You can stop belittling people and start accepting other opinions.
ReplyDeleteBojan(24) has class, creativity, mobility, pace and speed and caused us numerous trouble today. He cost stoke £1.5M
ReplyDeleteJ Montero(25) is winger with class, creativity, mobility, pace and speed who cost swansea £4M
None of those attacking players needed to hulk out to do well in premiership
And for you to compare L Markovic(20) to C Ronaldo(29) is comical. I hate diving clown Ronaldo(29) not only because he play for Man United but because he still dives and tries to win cheap penalties or free kicks.
But there is no denying he is the 2nd best player in world and has been consistantly class quality for last 4 years.
L Markovic(20) is not in the top 20 world class players list yet even
I think Gerrard should be rested once more for Leicester but not because I think Lucas/Hendo/Allen is the answer, but I think he should be saved for our bigger games against better opposition, either playing for the first hour or coming on for the last 30 as an impact player.
ReplyDeleteStill, finally a win and a vital 3 points. Leicester are eminently beatable and 2 wins in a short space of time would do wonders for our confidence
We're turning into mid table nobodies thanks to Rodgers. We now celebrate a 1-0 victory v Stoke ( no offence Potters).If he stays we'll become Villa, dodging relegation. Further on, we become Forest. Another graveyard from European Cup winner.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of childish cobblers.You want us in the Conference League?
ReplyDeleteHorray!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you on something?
ReplyDeleteWell it is broke.
ReplyDelete