http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/05/luis-suarez-stay-liverpool-champions-league-norwich-city
If this is true it is very good news. Suarez is key to LFC staying in the hunt for top 4 and after the Hull game I was as disappointed as I have been.
The way they doubled up on Suarez and outplayed us in the majority of that game was sad to see.
Brendan Rodgers was pretty honest after the game and I am glad because that performance was horrific. We were just not wanting to win that one. I would say it was our worst performance of the year.
To then go on and kill of Norwich early the way we did was fantastic to see. Credit to Rodgers because pretty much every time we have a poor performance he has been able to get the team to bounce back. That is good man management and it is a good quality to have as a squad when we have poor performances.
Hull was one of those games that we need to win however if we want to be in top 4. I think it was there to be won and I thought Gerrard and Henderson especially was poor on the day. There were not many performances that stood out as impressive from our side but I think that if we struggle to control the midfield we are always on the backfoot.
The Norwich match was not shown here in Canada so I will have to go on highlights which was pretty much all Luis Suarez. It was therefore when I saw the article that he allegedly wants to stay I thought it was worth a post.
If he has truly turned around 180 and wants to stay this January I think it is a great thing and if we get into champions league and can strengthen further in January, we should be able to kick on and keep results going.
We have looked suspect defensively not only against Hull but Everton as well. I liked that Rodgers after the Hull game said we need to get back to solidity at the back. I still want to see Agger and Sakho at the back as a pair although Skertel has been hard to remove from the first 11 with his performances this year.
In any case if December will be proof of how much bottle this squad really has.
Westham on the weekend is a must win.
Then the rest of December is going to be really tough. Spurs on the 14th is not an easy game, Cardiff on the 21st should be a win at home. Then back to back games against Man City on the 26th and Chelsea on the 28th which are both expected to be in the top 2 will be a struggle. I would argue both clubs have stronger squads than LFC.
Our squad will have to stand up and I think we will need to surprise some people if we are going to come through this month still sitting in the top 4.
We may have to use our squad which I do not think is necessarily a bad thing.
I hope that Moses gets more playing time as I think he has not been given a proper run in the side. He is more likely to get a start now that Sturridge is out and Suarez pushes all the way up front assuming we play in a 4231 formation.
Coming back to the squad however I think that is where we are lacking. If you look at the weakest areas of the squad I would look to goal scorers either from midfield or attack.
We need a clear first choice central midfielder signed and another back-up striker now that Sturridge is out. Scott Sinclair would be a decent option that could be back up striker but can also play on the wing. Crucially I think he would provide goals because he is not getting a game at City. Not sure if they would loan or sell to rival (like chelsea did with Moses).
Central mid I find it hard to suggest names. There are not that many great box to box do it all midfielders anymore. I've wondered if Cabaye would fit us. I think he is a great player and could give some much needed relief to Gerrard or Lucas (The three could rotate). I still like Michael Essien. Because of his age and injury problems I think he could be available for cheaper than you might think (below 6M maybe) and I think with regular playing time he can still be a great central midfielder.
In any case now because of the loss at Hull (and draw at Everton) I think we need at least 10 points from the next 6 games and I am not confident that we will get it.
Fingers crossed the team will prove me wrong.
YNWA,
Stian
If this is true it is very good news. Suarez is key to LFC staying in the hunt for top 4 and after the Hull game I was as disappointed as I have been.
The way they doubled up on Suarez and outplayed us in the majority of that game was sad to see.
Brendan Rodgers was pretty honest after the game and I am glad because that performance was horrific. We were just not wanting to win that one. I would say it was our worst performance of the year.
To then go on and kill of Norwich early the way we did was fantastic to see. Credit to Rodgers because pretty much every time we have a poor performance he has been able to get the team to bounce back. That is good man management and it is a good quality to have as a squad when we have poor performances.
Hull was one of those games that we need to win however if we want to be in top 4. I think it was there to be won and I thought Gerrard and Henderson especially was poor on the day. There were not many performances that stood out as impressive from our side but I think that if we struggle to control the midfield we are always on the backfoot.
The Norwich match was not shown here in Canada so I will have to go on highlights which was pretty much all Luis Suarez. It was therefore when I saw the article that he allegedly wants to stay I thought it was worth a post.
If he has truly turned around 180 and wants to stay this January I think it is a great thing and if we get into champions league and can strengthen further in January, we should be able to kick on and keep results going.
We have looked suspect defensively not only against Hull but Everton as well. I liked that Rodgers after the Hull game said we need to get back to solidity at the back. I still want to see Agger and Sakho at the back as a pair although Skertel has been hard to remove from the first 11 with his performances this year.
In any case if December will be proof of how much bottle this squad really has.
Westham on the weekend is a must win.
Then the rest of December is going to be really tough. Spurs on the 14th is not an easy game, Cardiff on the 21st should be a win at home. Then back to back games against Man City on the 26th and Chelsea on the 28th which are both expected to be in the top 2 will be a struggle. I would argue both clubs have stronger squads than LFC.
Our squad will have to stand up and I think we will need to surprise some people if we are going to come through this month still sitting in the top 4.
We may have to use our squad which I do not think is necessarily a bad thing.
I hope that Moses gets more playing time as I think he has not been given a proper run in the side. He is more likely to get a start now that Sturridge is out and Suarez pushes all the way up front assuming we play in a 4231 formation.
Coming back to the squad however I think that is where we are lacking. If you look at the weakest areas of the squad I would look to goal scorers either from midfield or attack.
We need a clear first choice central midfielder signed and another back-up striker now that Sturridge is out. Scott Sinclair would be a decent option that could be back up striker but can also play on the wing. Crucially I think he would provide goals because he is not getting a game at City. Not sure if they would loan or sell to rival (like chelsea did with Moses).
Central mid I find it hard to suggest names. There are not that many great box to box do it all midfielders anymore. I've wondered if Cabaye would fit us. I think he is a great player and could give some much needed relief to Gerrard or Lucas (The three could rotate). I still like Michael Essien. Because of his age and injury problems I think he could be available for cheaper than you might think (below 6M maybe) and I think with regular playing time he can still be a great central midfielder.
In any case now because of the loss at Hull (and draw at Everton) I think we need at least 10 points from the next 6 games and I am not confident that we will get it.
Fingers crossed the team will prove me wrong.
YNWA,
Stian
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