Five Lessons From Liverpool Last Weekend Wes-Brom Defeat:
1) Raul Meireles is not a left winger - It was quite apparent from Liverpool’s first half performance that the team lacked balance. With Suarez and Carroll playing up front together, Dirk Kuyt was asked to play from the right with Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva anchoring the midfield. It left Kenny Dalglish picking Raul Meireles on the left hand side for the second match in a row, and although the intention must have been for him to drift in field and have a free role, he was completely isolated out of position. He played a lot better in the second half when playing in his most natural position of attacking midfield after the Reds switched to 4-3-3 but it must be said that if the Reds are to play 4-4-2 in future, Meireles must either play in central midfield or not at all for he has been completely ineffective on either flank.
2) We need wingers, or otherwise we will turn into Stoke – When asked about the need to support Andy Carroll, Kenny Dalglish replied:
“Andy is part of our team, so is Luis Suarez so we need to get players who complement them. Whatever we need we will go for.”
The suggestion being that wingers will be needed to get the best out of the pairing in the summer. From the West Brom display, it is something that need’s sorting fast as the only supply Andy Carroll is getting at the moment is long balls hoofed up from the likes of Jamie Carragher at the back. When you have Roy Hodgson suggesting after the match that the Reds needed midfielders to support Carroll at the knockdowns from hoof balls, you know you are doing something wrong.
3) We need another centre half to replace Kyrgiakos and cover for Agger – It was head banging against the wall time again when Agger was yet again subbed because of an injury. A man made of glass rather than steel, the Dane is no doubt our most able defender on the ball and his passing range was sorely missed when he had to go off. His replacement Kyrgiakos, although mighty in the air, lacks any real pace, and alongside an equally slow Skrtel, it was no surprise to me that the Reds gave away two penalties. Soto was easily turned for the first penalty and he failed to deal with a long ball for the second. A capable footballing centre half is now an essential summer purchase along with another full back.
4) Spearing and Lucas can’t be relied upon to control matches – You may have all the tackling ability in the world, but one of the key aspects of the Premier League, is its physicality. Although Lucas is very capable at intercepting opposition attacks, he will never outmuscle an opponent off the ball, while the less said about Jay’s physical attributes the better. Roy Hodgson intended to make the affair a physical encounter and Spearing & Lucas were not able to control the match to negate Hodgson’s game plan. The likes of Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong at Manchester City would have certainly dealt with the physicality a lot better. A defensive midfielder to play alongside or instead of Lucas will be needed this summer with Yann M’Vila or Moussa Sissoko being the best candidates.
5) 4-3-3 has to be the way to go – at least until the end of the season - The lack of any wingers or natural width in the team necessitates the Reds to play 4-3-3 rather than 4-4-2. Although Dalglish is probably keen to keep Suarez and Carroll together as a pairing, it was quite clear from the second half performance that Suarez can be an equally big threat from the left hand side. With a front line of Suarez- Carroll – Kuyt and Meireles playing just behind, you can get the best out of the players at your disposal, at least until the end of the season when the Reds can rectify the massive imbalances in the squad. |
發表於 2011-3-28 03:27 PM
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