Forgetting the issue of Mario Balotelli, how can Rodgers change Liverpool’s fortunes before it’s too late?
Hopes were high for Liverpool this season, but their poor start has continued to the point that they are on the verge of throwing the season away before the start of November. Here are five things that Rodgers can do to turn the Reds’ fortunes round before it’s too late.
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5) Manage Danny Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge’s absence has been directly blamed for almost all of Liverpool’s problems this year, and he will certainly make a huge difference when he returns. Rodgers must resist the temptation to play the Englishman too often at first, and risk him breaking down again.
4) Keep Raheem Sterling fresh
It’s no wonder Raheem Sterling told Roy Hodgson he was too tired to play for England after Brendan Rodgers scandalously played the attacker for the full 120 minutes (plus 3 hour penalty shootout) of Liverpool’s Capital One cup fixture against Middlesbrough. Rodgers needs to save Sterling, who has become his key man, for when it matters.
3) Buy a centre-back
The investments in the defence over the summer have proved to be a disaster, with Dejan Lovren in particular looking a liability in every game. Rodgers must buy defenders even if Lovren recovers his form. Neither Mamadou Sakho or Martin Skrtel are top level defenders, and Liverpool are in desperate need of a leader at the back.
2) Rotate Steven Gerrard
The 34-year-old has played 90 minutes of every Premier League game for Liverpool, as well as every game in the Champions League and two FA cup games, which is a ridiculous amount of game-time for a player of his age. The captain still has the occasional inspirational performance in him, but can’t produce it every week. It won’t be easy for Rodgers, but he has to make the big call and start using Gerrard more sparingly.
1) Drop Glen Johnson
One doesn’t want to be unnecessarily cruel on Johnson, but it certainly hasn’t been his season so far. He had a shocker against Manchester City, where he picked up an injury. He then returned to play against QPR, where he was dreadful again, and was then forced to again midweek against Real Madrid, where he was torn apart again. One could blame Rodgers for picking him, but sometimes a having a scapegoat does everyone some good…