Going into today’s match against West Bromwich Albion the Reds are again expected to be without their Spanish fullback Jose Enrique who continues to struggle with a knee injury.
Whilst that might have previously caused Brendan Rodger’s a slight selection headache he now has, in his eyes, a more than capable replacement in Aly Cissokho.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo Rodgers said “I’ve got no problems about playing Aly. I thought he was excellent against Newcastle.”
After enduring a frustrating start to his Anfield career in which Cissokho was forced to come off early having sustained an injury in his debut against Notts County, the Frenchman will be keen to stake a claim for a starting place. A fact boss Rodgers acknowledges.
“He will only get better and in training this week he has been outstanding. His fitness is excellent and he knows the role well. He will provide real stiff competition for that position this season”.
If Cissokho can build on an encouraging ninety minutes last week and produce another good performance at Anfield against the Baggies, Enrique could find it tough to get his starting place back. Aly Cissokho will no doubt be doing everything he can to see that is the case going into a huge fixture at Arsenal next week.
Meanwhile Rodgers must decide between reverting to a 4-2-3-1 formation today or sticking with the 3-5-2 he has deployed in recent weeks. The latter has got the best out of the SAS partnership of Suarez and Sturridge but with Lucas Leiva expected to come back in after missing the last two games, a change of tactics could well be on the agenda.
GOOD AND EXCELLENT DISPLAY FROM LIVERPOOL AGAINST THE BAGIS, BUT RODGERS MUST THINK FAST ON THE POSSIBLE STRATEGIES AGAINST A WELL COMPOSE ARSENAL MIDFIELD AND SHARP ATTACKING FORCE. IF LIVERPOOL CAN BEAT ARSENAL,TOP FOUR WILL BE A GOOD GAMBLE OF POSSIBILITY.
I READ ABOUT LIVERPOOL GOING FOR EL SHAARAWY, YOUNG, VIBRANT AND TALENTED PLAYER.IT WILL BE A VERY GOOD BUY IF WE CAN ONLY MAINTAIN OUR GOOD FORM TILL JANUARY. SOME GOOD QUALITY PLAYERS WILL BE TEMPTED TO COME TO LIVERPOOL THAT’S IF WE CAN REMAIN AND MAINTAIN TOP FOUR TILL JANUARY.