Rodgers has no idea which defenders to pick yet, and more…
Liverpool lost 3-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad on Monday evening, and the performance and result highlighted some issues that could plague the Reds’ campaign in 2014/15…
Here’s five of them:
5) Liverpool are going to badly miss Luis Suarez…
At times, the Reds played well last night. Coutinho and Sterling took up good positions in pockets of space in the final third, and Gerrard sprayed the ball around nicely from deep. Last term though, they looked like scoring every time they went forward, with Sturridge and Suarez enjoying a phenomenally vibrant striking relationship – whereas versus City, ideas in the final third were severely lacking, and it looked as though individual magic courtesy of Sturridge was the only way Liverpool would forge an opening. 31 Premier League goals and 13 Premier League assists is virtually irreplaceable.
4) Brendan Rodgers doesn’t know his best team…
Last season, the side picked itself, but with 10 new signings, and the absence of the talismanic Suarez, Rodgers has yet to find his best XI. Who plays in midfield with Gerrard and Henderson? Who starts in the fullback positions? Is Markovic a starter? What’s the best centre-back partnership? We don’t know, and neither does the manager yet.
3) Liverpool’s squad is too young to mount a title challenge…
Moreno is 22, Coutinho is 22, Sterling is 19, Markovic is 20, Can is 20. Even Allen, Sturridge and Henderson are only 24. These seven all played last night for the Reds against a City side whose youngest player was two-goal Jovetic, who turns 25 shortly.
2) £35m spent on Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, and Martin Skrtel is still first-choice…
Liverpool’s defence last night was woeful, and it’s an area the manager has actively tried to strengthen. But despite spending £15m on Mamadou Sakho last summer, and £20m on Lovren this, both are competing for a spot against the occasionally criticised Skrtel at the back… Do Sakho and Lovren deserve a chance together?
1) £117m worth of new signings will take time to settle in…
The new signings had a complete nightmare, it’s fair to say. Moreno and Lovren were at fault for the first goal, and the latter got continuously worse as a result. Markovic barely featured during his 30 minute cameo, and Can was clumsy when he came on. Lambert bagged, but his lack of pace or ability to beat a man was highlighted. Reds fans will be hoping Balotelli can inject some much needed magic back into the side…
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