As well as options going forward, Kuyt also offers good cover at the back, and certainly would have offered more help to Martin Skrtel in the Tottenham game than the Slovakian received from Henderson. It was astonishing that he didn’t start, or at least come on to shore things up after Charlie Adam was sent off. His vast experience would have paid off in that situation, and he would have run himself into the ground for the sake of the team.
Kuyt offers a different option, as well as his attacking abilities, he is always willing to drop back and help out, and his maximum effort rubs off on the others around him, with the team playing at a higher tempo. He isn’t the most technically gifted player of all time, but at this time he is the best option Liverpool have, either wide on the right, or supporting Suarez up front. Even if he isn’t at his best, he still puts a shift in, and that commitment and passion is what epitomizes the club best and what they need at the present time.
It seems that too much respect is being shown to spent money, and there is a stubbornness shown by Dalglish in sticking with the players he has purchased. The players playing clearly aren’t ready for the Liverpool first team, and experienced players must be played ahead of them, especially in the biggest and most important games. At the age of 31, Kuyt certainly isn’t past it, and he should be starting, with the younger players, like Henderson, coming on to replace him in the second half, gradually phasing them in, rather than throwing them straight into the deep end.
There comes a point where you can’t continue to keep sticking with something that isn’t working. New players have had a valid chance to prove their worth and they have yet to show that. Now is the time to bring in the old experienced heads, to sure up the Liverpool side and teach the young players a thing or two.
Do you think the likes of Kuyt and Maxi should be in Liverpool’s starting line up? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.
Written by Lauren Rutter for FootballFanCast.com
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