After two wins against inferior opposition, Liverpool's first big test of the season comes against Arsenal this Monday, and according to Reds legend John Aldridge, it's already time for one of Rodgers' summer signings to move into a different position.
Previewing the Arsenal game for the Liverpool Echo this week, Aldo mused:
"Milner [should] be moved out to the right for the [Arsenal] game to make us more solid. [Rodgers] promised that he’ll play centrally but [he can go] back to the centre the following week"
This is predicated on Lucas being brought back into the team for the Arsenal game, but it looks like he's on the verge of a move to Besiktas. With that in mind:
* If Lucas signs before Monday, and Henderson is out injured, that leaves Milner and Can as the only genuine central midfield options.
* In that situation, there's no way Rodgers will move Milner out to the right.
* There's also the option of bringing in Jordan Rossiter to cover Henderson, but again, I doubt Rodgers will shift Milner - whose contract is reportedly worth £31m over 4 years (£150k-a-week) - to accommodate an inexperienced teenager.
There are various lineup permutations to consider:
1. WITHOUT HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Milner
---------------- Lallana
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
2. WITHOUT HENDERSON but with LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Lucas
---------------- Milner
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
3. WITHOUT HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Rossiter
---------------- Milner
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
4. WITH HENDERSON but without LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
--------- Henderson - Milner
---------------- Coutinho
------------ Ibe ----- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
5. WITH HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
----------------- Lucas
---------- Milner ---- Henderson
--------------- Coutinho
------- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
My personal preference is line-up number 5.
On a related note: it pains me to see Milner wearing the number-7 shirt, which is historically associated with exciting, creative players.
The list of luminaries to grace that shirt is a veritable who's who of LFC attacking greats, including Keegan, Dalglish, Aldo, McManaman, Beardsley, and Suarez.
They all have one thing in common: attacking genius, and the ability to score/create goals on a regular basis.
Plus, Dalglish et al never played as (ostensible) holding midfielders (perish the thought!), which is a big part of Milner's role right now.
In my view, Milner should be wearing 5 or 6, not 7, and a top class attacking player should be gracing the number-7 shirt.
Author: Jaimie K
Previewing the Arsenal game for the Liverpool Echo this week, Aldo mused:
"Milner [should] be moved out to the right for the [Arsenal] game to make us more solid. [Rodgers] promised that he’ll play centrally but [he can go] back to the centre the following week"
This is predicated on Lucas being brought back into the team for the Arsenal game, but it looks like he's on the verge of a move to Besiktas. With that in mind:
* If Lucas signs before Monday, and Henderson is out injured, that leaves Milner and Can as the only genuine central midfield options.
* In that situation, there's no way Rodgers will move Milner out to the right.
* There's also the option of bringing in Jordan Rossiter to cover Henderson, but again, I doubt Rodgers will shift Milner - whose contract is reportedly worth £31m over 4 years (£150k-a-week) - to accommodate an inexperienced teenager.
There are various lineup permutations to consider:
1. WITHOUT HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Milner
---------------- Lallana
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
2. WITHOUT HENDERSON but with LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Lucas
---------------- Milner
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
3. WITHOUT HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
-------------- Can -- Rossiter
---------------- Milner
--------- Coutinho -- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
4. WITH HENDERSON but without LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
--------- Henderson - Milner
---------------- Coutinho
------------ Ibe ----- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
5. WITH HENDERSON and LUCAS
---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ------ Skrtel -- Lovren ------ Gomez
----------------- Lucas
---------- Milner ---- Henderson
--------------- Coutinho
------- Firmino
--------------- Benteke
My personal preference is line-up number 5.
On a related note: it pains me to see Milner wearing the number-7 shirt, which is historically associated with exciting, creative players.
The list of luminaries to grace that shirt is a veritable who's who of LFC attacking greats, including Keegan, Dalglish, Aldo, McManaman, Beardsley, and Suarez.
They all have one thing in common: attacking genius, and the ability to score/create goals on a regular basis.
Plus, Dalglish et al never played as (ostensible) holding midfielders (perish the thought!), which is a big part of Milner's role right now.
In my view, Milner should be wearing 5 or 6, not 7, and a top class attacking player should be gracing the number-7 shirt.
Author: Jaimie K
0 Comments:
Post a Comment