Liverpool’s Tough Week
Liverpool go in to a tough week of fixtures starting at Oldham in the FA Cup 4th Round, followed by an away trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Wednesday and then another away trip next Sunday to play Premiership Champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
These games could shape the rest of the season for the Anfield side who have improved in recent weeks and are now within touching distance of a top four spot. Brendan Rodgers will probably make a few changes to his familiar line-up when his team travel to Oldham on Sunday, but I’m sure he will treat the tie with the respect it deserves , especially after a difficult victory at Mansfield in the last round of the Cup.
The two league fixtures after the Cup clash will define if Liverpool are to be top four challengers or mid-table also-rans. The improving run of results in the league have been encouraging for all concerned at Liverpool and even the defeat to Manchester United recently, showed encouraging signs in their second half performance. The addition of Daniel Sturridge has excited the Anfield faithful with his three goals in as many games, but his immediate understanding with Suarez has been the most exciting aspect of a fledgling partnership.
Arsenal have been a bit inconsistent this season but their impressive win over London rivals West Ham will give them great confidence for Liverpool’s visit. Arsenal are blessed with tremendous talent with the likes of Walcott, Wilshere, Podolski and Cazorla to name a few. But Liverpool have looked stronger in defence recently with Lucas protecting in front of them, which has also released Gerrard to get forward more and release him from his defensive duties. With Gerrard getting forward more and the addition of Sturridge to the team, not forgetting the brilliant Suarez, Liverpool pose an attacking threat to cause Arsenal’s vulnerable defence problems.
If Liverpool can take a point or even better three points from their trip to London, then it will set them up nicely for their challenge with the improving Champions. The confidence a positive result will give Liverpool would be so important and would help them greatly going to Manchester. City have improved in recent weeks and are beginning to look like the team of last year and have started to reel in United’s lead on them. City have a wealth of talent at their disposal and whoever Mancini selects will be tough opposition for Liverpool, but Liverpool are more than capable of getting a result at the Etihad with the talent available to them.
Liverpool have been beating most teams below them in the league, but they haven’t defeated any teams above them. If Liverpool want to finish in the top four this season then they will need to start doing so and this would be the ideal time to start and it could spur them on for the rest of the season. I’m predicting a win against Oldham followed by a win against Arsenal and ending the tough week with a draw against Manchester City.
The Kopite View 
I was saying that the return of lucas c’d ve help us to see the full potential of allen but that has hinder and benefited only gerrard instead of both. Rodgers has experimented these middle 3 but it works once. That was the return of lucas’ game 1. The problem is allen got confuse with combining his duty as a recycler,presser and mobile passer as well as covering 4 gerrard who refuses 2 retrive and fight 2 regain possession. So i’ve realise that it has never worked when rodgers plays these trio. IMO it can only works in these 2 ways. 1.plays either lucas or allen,hendo,gerrard or shelvey. 2. Play suso instead of gerrard if u want 2 play both Lucas and Allen. I doubt the 2nd option coz rodgers is a coward 2 bench gerrard since he’s the only lad in epl 2 play all games. The made me vindicated. Thats all 2 day. Next i will talk about how is good 2 get both coutinho and ince 2 our squad. Cheers mate! YNWA!
thanks for your theory Omensa, very interesting, and I think you are right that Allen is getting a bit confused concerning his role in the team, and I have noticed Gerrard not tracking back as often as he used to and Rodgers is not brave enough to drop him, but Gerrard has improved in recent matches, so we will see what the next few weeks brings, cheers mate.
Hi mate! Here are the reasons why lucas,hendo and gerrard in the middle 3 are flourishing better that and effectively than allen pairing. With hendo, he possess the fire power in his agility of atleticism and strong presser when team loses possession and he also has a high energetic appetite of workaholic to cover for gerrard effectively without crying for gerrard’s lapses in game efficiently.
hi mate, Henderson has improved dramatically in recent weeks and is playing with confidence now as well as his energy and workrate.