WITH BRENDAN RODGERS having splashed the cash once again this summer, there have been warnings from some quarters that he’s simply implemented the same strategy that failed so miserably last year.
Many would argue that the money from the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona was squandered and seeing how active the manager has been in the current window only adds to the general feeling that the club got things badly wrong this time twelve months ago.
He’s survived, for now. But there have been a spate of changes – not just to the playing staff. When put through an intensive post-season interrogation by Fenway Sports Group, Rodgers sacrificed his long-term assistant coaches Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh, later saying he needed to ‘change the dynamic’. But change is only good if it works. And Rodgers is under immense pressure for things to start working for him.
One of things is his preferred line-up and it’s difficult to gauge if he’s got a solid starting XI or if he’ll continue to tweak both his personnel and formations throughout the forthcoming season.
Firstly, to the new signings.
It’s clear that be outlaying 60 million combined on Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino that both will be first-choice in attack. Elsewhere, Nathaniel Clyne will slot into the right-side of defence while James Milner was promised a lot to move to Anfield – including the chance to be handed a consistent central role. So, it’s difficult to think he’ll be anything other than a regular.
For Danny Ings, it’s slightly more complicated. He may be performing well during pre-season but with an array of attacking options, he may have to wait for his chance to impress.
The arrivals also lead to questions about last summer’s acquisitions. Rodgers spent £21.5m on Adam Lallana but he may find himself on the bench come the start of the campaign. Likewise, Divock Origi cost the club just under £9m. Lazar Markovic was $17.5. Mario Balotelli was £14m. The latter will likely be sold while the rest will be on the fringes. It’s a costly array of back-up players.
And perhaps the elephant in the room is Daniel Sturridge – the forgotten man of Anfield. After an injury nightmare last term, he’s been ruled out of action until October at the earliest. By the time he returns, he’ll either find it impossible to get game-time or will be desperate to prove his fitness to a new Liverpool manager.
Secondly, how will the team line-up? Is there a best way of accommodating the players at Rodgers’ disposal?
4-2-3-1
This seems a solid, almost ‘classic’ style to start with. It’s safe and cautious and there’s plenty of balance – something Milner gives when part of a front four and Lucas is also part of a midfield. There’s an opportunity for the two attacking Brazilians to dovetail and build an eye-catching relationship (think Ander Herrera and Juan Mata for Manchester United last term) while everyone fits Rodgers model of flexibility.
The midfield can easily become a four with Milner and Coutinho dropping deeper into more conventional wide areas or Milner can slot into his preferred central zone and it becomes a 4-3-3 with Coutinho and Firmino pulling wide.
But, perhaps it places undue pressure on new signing Firmino to carry an instant threat while Milner won’t be handed his preferred position.
3-4-1-2
Firmino’s signing reflects Rodgers’ obsession with players having the ability to do a job in a multitude of positions. With the Brazilian pushed higher and partnering Benteke, it allows Coutinho to move into the ‘number 10′ zone where he was most devastating last season – essentially a reward for how often Coutinho has shone for an under-performing team.
Lallana would come slot in on the left side and nicely complement Milner’s energy and industry on the other flank – the ex-Southampton man is just as tireless but a little more technical and composed in contrast to Milner’s hustle and bustle approach.
Defensively, Lucas and Henderson can protect while a key man from last season, Emre Can, can continue in that eye-catching role as the third centre half – pushing out from the back and providing a neat link with midfield.
4-4-2 diamond
More often than not, the diamond has worked for Rodgers whenever he’s deployed it. And it allows him to do right by a couple of his summer signings. Firmino, as mentioned, is comfortable in a variety of attacking positions so playing at the tip of the diamond should come relatively easy.
For Milner, he’d relish being part of this setup. It’s narrow, he’s well supported centrally and being the rather unorthodox modern footballer, can involve himself in the cut and thrust of games. And the formation also opens up another attacking role.
Danny Ings would seem the most logical choice, considering he was used to playing with a partner at Burnley. And until Sturridge returns from injury, the role of secondary striker is his as Balotelli will likely be moved on and Lallana is so much more suited to playing in a front-three or a variation of it.
The one negative would be dropping Coutinho deeper and him having more defensive responsibility though Milner’s presence alongside him does add a little more protection.
