You can prepare all you like, but you’ll never know if you’re ready until you’re flung into action. Kenny Dalglish made plenty of decent additions to his squad over the summer, but now that the season has began, there still appears to be a gap in Liverpool’s squad that needs to be filled.
What struck me, watching Tottenham entertain Liverpool at White Hart Lane, is just how slow the Red’s defence is. Patience amongst fans seems to be running out when it comes to Skrtel who wont have won anymore favour with his performance yesterday. I understand that Skrtel is being asked to play out of position, but it’s not like he’s been all that impressive when he’s played as a centre-half.
At best he’s a solid player and at worst he’s somewhat error-prone.
Then there’s Daniel Agger, a player who I greatly admire, but who tends to spend to long on the sidelines as a result of injury. Let’s face facts: he’s not a player you can rely on to play week-in and week-out. Whilst he can’t help the fact that he’s picked up injuries, his bad luck has cost Liverpool.
Whilst there’s plenty to be said about Jamie Carragher’s sense of positioning, his lack of pace is somewhat alarming. The Premier League’s more pacey strikers will turn Carragher inside out with the greatest of ease and I’m not too sure how much longer Liverpool can continue to support his presence. He may well be a club legend, but if he’s not got the legs for it anymore, it may well be time to move on, or to let another player take up greater prominence within the squad.
Whilst Sebastian Coates is a player with a great deal of promise, with all the uncertainty surrounding other members of Liverpool’s defence, you can’t help but feel that it wont be enough if the Reds want to make it back into the Champions League.
With that in mind, I wish Kenny had bought a centre-back like Gary Cahill, Christopher Samba or even Scott Dann during the summer transfer window. Still, better late than never and Liverpool will have a chance to fix the situation when the transfer window re-opens in January. My personal preference would be for Bolton’s Gary Cahill.
Not only is he the best out and out defender of the bunch, but he’d also very likely be available at a bargain price, given that he’d be only have six months left on his contract at the Reebok Stadium.
What’s your take? Would Cahill be a good addition to this Liverpool squad, or do the Reds need to focus on other areas?
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Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that Gary Cahill will be available at a bargain price in January. He is absolute class in every aspect, and now that he is established as a starter in the English National team he will probably attract attention from top foreign teams as well as several top six EPL teams who badly need a player of his quality. AIMO.
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Liverpool Formation: 31321 Attacking
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Line-up:
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…………………Reina……………
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……….Coates…..Skrtel…..Agger….
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……………….Mascherano…………
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C.Ronaldo………..Gerrard………Downing
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……….Messi……………..Suarez…
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………………..Augrero………….
Why you kept Coates, Skartel, Agger & Downing. What about
Reina
Alvez, Hummels, Vidic, Contero
Mascharano, Essien
CRod Ribery
Messi
Rooney
Bench: Doni, Subtic, M’Villa, Hazard, Wilshire, Gotze & Chicharito
Yes Gary Cahill would be a good signing for LFC. But all will be good if Kenny have the guts to drop Henderson ,Adams and Carroll or its just a waste further money . Whole point is to get results but at the moment Kenny is adamant on justifying his mistake. C’mon Kenny, shit happens. But be brave n drop the non performers.Did’t u insist tjat selection will be basded on merit !!!!
Nah mate, Eden Hazard has to be the main target come January. We’re still useless at getting around teams that park the bus, Eden would halp us overcome this.
Adam Johnson will be my choice.
I couldn’t agree more. Our back line needs immediate attention. In the most basic of terms…
Agger, Johnson, Kelly, Aurelio – All class but alas all rather injury prone
Carragher – Aging/Slow
Skrtel – Calamity/A decent backup
Coates, Robinson, Flanno, Wilson – Lack PL experience/Promising
Which leaves just Enrique as the one reliable class defender. He and Pepe Reina have their work cut out between now and January!
I watched Pool against Tottenham and it´s true that their team lacks a bigname player at the centre of defence.
But then again, it´s not easy to play football with nine men. But it does seem that Liverpool have prioritized their midfield this past summer, which could prove costly in the end…
Liverpool are clearly dying. We have not score a goal since Meireles left.