Liverpool – No distractions
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
Having brought in the players who have goals in their blood last January – Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll – Liverpool sporting director Comolli and Dalglish have chased talented providers to supply their canons with ammunition and they may just have found the right players to challenge at the top level this season.
Manager: Dalglish
Tactics: 4-4-2
Players In: Adam, Downing, Henderson, Doni
Players Out: Konchesky, Jovanovic
Current Probable Formation: Reina, G. Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Downing, Adam, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carroll, Luis Suarez
Teams do not usually make as many changes as Liverpool have done over a couple of months and still keep their bid for the title intact. However, here is why I think theirs is more than an unrealistic hope of supporters starving for success.
First of all, and this is perhaps a reason very underestimated by many observers, they have no European obligations. The disastrous start of last season kept them from qualifying to any competition, including the Europa League. They went close but slipped up in the final hurdle when they hosted direct competitors Tottenham at Anfield. But perhaps that was for the best. After all the exhaustive Europa League will not be a good enough substitute, not even for a good run-in for the title which ultimately sees them finish the season as runners-up, let alone winning it all.
No midweek games means Liverpool can focus only on winning a record-equaling 19th title and get back on level ground with bitter rivals Manchester United who overtook them in the hall of fame and deeply wounded Liverpool’s pride.
Secondly, the transfer market. Comolli has been a welcome addition to the club. He has extensive experience as a sporting director and knows the market very well. Additions such as Luis Suarez, Carroll, Henderson, Doni, Adam and Downing can all be primarily attributed to him and he can be proud of each of them.
The team needed a huge boost of creativity and finishing in order to get any hope of being restoring glory to the club. Comolli made all the right moves providing Dalglish with people who can score in January and players who know how to set them up this summer. Ex-Roma goalkeeper Doni was brought on for a minimal fee and should provide good back-up for, or actually an alternative to, Reina, who sometimes does come up with a blunder or two.
The third reason for backing Liverpool’s bid is that they actually did play very good football last season after Dalglish settled in. It took them a while to adapt and come out from the sluggish days under Hodgson, a period in which they were still trying to digest the loss of long-serving and beloved manager Benitez.
Once the tactics all kicked in the overly defensive approach was abandoned for a more positive game which enjoys pace and pressing. It was personally surprising to se a team change so much from a tactical perspective. Luis Suarez was a big influence. He has all the right qualities to take a team a step ahead. His on-the-pitch leadership filled up the vacuum left by Gerrard, unfortunately too often sidelined with injury. Kuyt’s will never died and as soon as he had the right support his part was played out to perfection. Carroll is a prolific goalscorer and is expected to be the marksman topping the charts for the club this season. Both of his supporting players, Luis Suarez and Kuyt can give their contribution but Carroll’s position can only be effectively covered by himself at the moment. There is no substitute for his metres, strength and opportunistic approach.
Luckily, the Reds’ midfield is overflowing with talented players who are quite capable of grabbing the all-important goals themselves. New boys Adam and Downing know all the tricks and will be adding on to a goalscorers’ list already including such players as Gerrard and Meireles. Maxi Rodriguez has played his part as well last season when played in the right position but his was an inconsistent aid to the team.
Henderson is a great player when it comes to distributing the ball but he lacks the touch to find the net. Nonetheless he is still young and will have plenty of time to improve on that flaw. He will have to play second fiddle to other more complete players though.
On the defensive front Liverpool should worry though with just Brazilian Lucas Leiva interpreting the role of defensive midfielder, and not a good one at doing that either. Poulsen is an alternative but the club has been seeking a new home for the Danish player preferring to count on home-bred Shelvey and Spearing.
If they fail to bring in a high level player to provide cover for the defence in midfield there will be too much being asked of the back four, already having to deal with Glen Johnson’s propensity for attacking and eventually forgetting about the players lurking behind him. Agger and Carragher are a very good defensive partnership but both are injury prone, especially the former. Their subs fall very short of the mark. No Reds’ fan wants to lose out on heart beats every time Kyrgiakos needs to mark an opponent or even pass the ball. Skrtel is not much better either. Left-back Jose Enrique should replace the young Kelly in that position after being brought on from Newcastle. That would allow Liverpool to address the weakest point in their starting eleven, boosting their chances further. He is not one to mind much the defensive aspect either though.
If Liverpool manage to address their defensive frailties they would have all it takes to go all the way. Otherwise it will be a good trial run on which they can build for the subsequent season, hoping that it is not Manchester United which pip them to the title and get two ahead of the Reds in the hall of fame.
Predicted finishing position: 1st
As became clear some two months after Dalglish had taken charge of the team the man likes to play offensive football, and surprisingly he can really get things moving elegantly on the pitch. There was too much muscle in the team but with the likes of Adam, Downing, Henderson and hopefully a fully fit Gerrard the team can overflow with inventive and goals this term. No European distractions means that all the Reds’ hunger and determination can be focused on the Premier League. The weak point of this team is now the lack of defensive options in midfield. If no cover is available the current defence will find it difficult to contain opponents. How long it will take for Dalglish to get this sorted out will determine whether their chances for the big win are realistic or whether it will be a close call.
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