From the FA Cup semi-final embarrassment at the hands of Tim ‘Tactics’ Sherwood to the downright unforgivable 6-1 collapse at Stoke, Liverpool’s season ended in worse fashion than even the most glass half empty fan could have dared to predict. Despite it being just 12 months previous, the title challenge of 2013/14 seemed like a hazy, fuzzy memory and the reality of Luis Suarez in a Champions League Final and Steven Gerrard heading off into retirement, we mean MLS action with LA Galaxy was, perhaps, enough to make some Kopites question just how tasty that bottle of bleach under the sink may have been.
Alas, a month (or just over) is a long time in football, and with the cash flowing out of Anfield to attract some truly exciting additions and the prospect of starting afresh next term (exactly a month away) present, the mood has changed somewhat on Merseyside. Predictions are a fool’s game, but there are certainly things/trends/changes that Liverpool’s loyal following are craving for 2015/16, and we at FFC Towers have outlined FIVE…
[interaction id=“none”]
A striker! (Not Benteke)
Although Liverpool’s transfer business has been bewilderingly organised this summer, there is still one area in which the club are clearly lacking… up front. If Daniel Sturridge could be relied upon to stay fit for more than three weeks at a time then there would be no issue, yet the Englishman’s spaghetti legs are prone to needing excessive amounts of time on the treatment table… which is where they will be for at least the opening handful of matches in 2015/16.
Danny Ings is in, but there are serious doubts as to whether or not the 11-goal Burnley man has enough about him to lead the line at a club with top four ambitions just yet, while fellow new arrival Roberto Firmino can play in the role, albeit he’s better suited to an attacking midfield berth. Of course there’s Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert knocking around as well, yet they were atrocious last term and could all be with new clubs in a couple of months’ time.
Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke appears to be the major target, however, the way in which big, burly target-men have slumped at Anfield over the course of the past 10 or so years should be setting off alarm bells for both club and player. Instead a striker like Alexandre Lacazette, Stevan Jovetic or even Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez would appear better suited to Rodgers’ technical, transition-based approach.
A return to the ferocious 2013/14 set-up
2013/14 now seems like a blissful summer romance for Liverpool fans. The reality of the club’s plight in recent memory hit home again last season, making that campaign akin to a brief relationship away in the sun with a mysterious senorita or a handsome waiter (away in a cliché-based tropical resort).
Alas, the only way to reignite that flame would be to do what was so successful in that spell… blow teams away with fast-tempo, high intensity attacking football. A move to a more pragmatic approach last season clearly did not work, and although the driving force, Luis Suarez, of the ‘so near yet so far’ title assault is no more, Rodgers still has players able to operate in such a system – which the exit of a creaking Steven Gerrard will surely help.
4-3-3/4-4-2 (diamond)
https://vine.co/v/eBaphJOWaKx/embed/simple
Basically anything to get rid of the 3-4-3. Brendan Rodgers’ switch to the little-used set-up (well, in England it’s rarely deployed) was needed at the time as he moved to cut off the worrying stream of goals at the wrong end of the pitch, but as teams worked out how to play against it – cut off the supply to Philippe Coutinho and prevent Emre Can from getting forward – results dipped and losses crept back in. Through 2013/14 Rodgers flitted between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 with a tight midfield diamond, both of which brought exciting, attacking football and created a real buzz in the Anfield stands. The players are in place for the set-ups to be utilised…
Raheem Sterling in a red shirt
This may anger the group of Neanderthals sending horrific texts and threatening the England international, but he’s a player worth keeping (unless Man City offer silly, silly money). It seems that Sterling is a 20-year-old who has been advised woefully by an agent, Aidy Ward, who’s clearly out to satisfy his own agenda – making money. We’re sure that there are greater villains around than the ever lovable ‘he won’t sign for £900,000-per-week’-‘Carragher is a knob’ spouting dingbat, but his actions have been pretty atrocious. Sterling may well have ambitions, but it’s unlikely the measures used would have been resorted to without the devil on his shoulder whispering promises of £150,000-per-week at the Etihad Stadium, and there’s every chance that a more respectable solution would have been reached by now without Ward’s incessant crowing.
Away from the whole saga, Sterling is one of the best young players in European football, can play in any position across the frontline, has a vast level of Premier League experience (despite his age) and is well-suited to the style of play Liverpool are striving for. He’s not in a position to go on strike and threaten his career as he needs to be playing, and playing well, to have any chance of getting the move he so craves. Just look the Suarez saga of 2013… Liverpool hold all of the aces.
Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino shining
https://vine.co/v/O0b3dzYI3r5/embed/simple
Brazilian football may not be the all-conquering force it was, but there’s something inherently exciting about the prospect of two samba stars linking up in the final third, lighting up dark, cold nights on Merseyside with tricks, flicks and goals. In Coutinho and Firmino the Reds have two thrilling talents who possess the technique and vision to unlock defences in a wonderful attacking third tandem.
We all know Anfield’s longer-standing Selecao ace can do the business, and with over 40 goals and assists to his name in the last two campaigns at Hoffenheim, there’s every chance his compatriot will be just as frightening for defenders.