Liverpool’s starting lineup for the season
Bereft of a true deep-lying playmaker and the departed Torres, Dalglish was forced to reconsider how to assemble his side upon his return to the Anfield dugout. Whilst critics feared his time away from the game may have rendered him outdated and irrelevant, the 59-year-old (with the assistance of Steve Clarke) has proven himself to be an innovative and adaptable modern-day tactician. In addition to using 4-2-3-1, Dalglish also briefly (and effectively) used 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and various permutations of the aforementioned shapes.
Dalglish’s movement in the transfer market thus far would also seem to suggest that he is assembling a squad with tactical flexibility in mind. Jordan Henderson, is adept at playing in central midfield and out on the right. Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam operates mainly as a deep-lying playmaker, although he could foreseeably be used on the left of a narrow midfield four. Reports in the media this week suggest that Liverpool have tabled a bid for Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing too. Downing, although predominantly used as a left-winger, has appeared for his current club in a more central role as well.
It seems as though Dalglish and his staff have fully embraced the idea of modern football as a ‘squad game’. Whilst certain members of his playing personnel, such as Gerrard and Uruguayan Luis Suarez, will almost certainly be guaranteed a consistent starting berth, the anticipated depth of Dalglish’s squad will ensure a healthy degree of competition and rotation next season. This will allow the Scot to adapt his personnel and shape to suit different opponents, and provide less opportunity for opposing teams to second-guess his starting XI.
For far too long, people have criticised Liverpool’s supposed lack of strength in depth and overreliance upon certain members of their squad. Thanks to the work of Dalglish and his staff, these statements should no longer apply.
Article is courtesy of Zarif Rasul for FootballFancast.com
12 responses to “Liverpool’s starting lineup for the season”
Good article. The points you cover are well thought out and reasonable. You perhaps don’t deal enough with the other aspects of having too many midfielders: whilst we have bought players, we still haven’t disposed of the dead wood yet. In addition, we still haven’t addressed our problem of width in the team. Downing or not, he’s one player. We need more players like that. Man Utd, City, Chelsea et al all have an abundance of genuine attacking wide players. It is an area that has concerned our midfield for an age it seems.
Yah bt 4 me i thnk we r gona use 433 wth lucas adam SG un dats y we r after downing un nt mata coz KK wants a player who wil b on de line us suarez cuts in coz mata playz like our suarez un dat wil mn carol wil nt get eneugh crosess un dats de onli thng wch is making KK 2 go 4 downing un nt mata so us fans we hve 2 understand.
Best goalkeeper in the league
Overrated international
Plodding has been
Euro rubbish
Youth team player
20 million journeyman
31 year old Stevie Me (with dodgy groin)
South American square ball merchant
One season wonder
Luis Suarez
35 million pub player
Liverpools year undoubtedly.
@Jimbo: just give it time…. It will heal eventually..
I bet u still see Suarez in ur nightmares after what he did to u guys.
am so sorry believe me
Can someone please translate the post made by Aliz. Or possibly tell us what language he is using.
Aliz Translation lol
Yes but for me i think we are going to use 433 with Lucas Adam Steven Gerard and thats why we are after downing and not mata because King Kenny wants a player who will be on the line with suarez cuts in because mata plays like our suarez and that why carrol will not get enough crosses and that the only thing which is making King Kenny to go for downing and not mata so our fans have to understand.
I am currently turning in my grave attempting to make sense of the post made by Aliz.
I imagine we will go for a 4-3-3 style team
———————Reina———————–
Johnson——-Kelly———Agger————-LB
—–Lucas/Hendersen———–Adam————–
Suarez——————————Downing/Winger
———————Caroll———————–
I have hopes this style of team will work, and that the winger/wingers we sign can provide quality crosses wor caroll
….so Steven Gerrard doesnt get in your team.
I support billy for asking that question from Don, with his idea of using 433 that does not include the skipper of the team. What a stupid idea of formation by Don.
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Agger
Kelly
Lucas
Adam
Gerrard
Suarez
Downing
Carroll
———————-Reina
Johnson————–Carragher————Agger
Downing/Cole—-Aquilani–Gerrard–Merieles–Kuyt
—————-Suarez—–Carroll
only put carrol in there because we paid so much for him, still dont know why. So many midfielders in our squad and theyre all class. buy another two defenders only keep Johnson in the back. Give Cole and Aquilani a chance. Adam on the bench, shattered we signed him. If aquilani doesnt perform, replace with Adam.
sell Carragher, Agger and Carrol, buy 3 quality defenders and play Gerrard or Kuyt a bit further upfront in a diamond formation like 4-4-1-1 and we could beat any team.