The Kopite View

Rodgers Must Avoid Defeat At Old Trafford

Liverpool playing against Manchester United is one of the biggest fixtures on the Premier League calendar, but this fixture takes on a greater significance with both respective managers coming under scrutiny by their supporters after an underwhelming start to the season that has both worried about their chances for the rest of the season.

But a win on Saturday will provide the perfect tonic for the victors, but a defeat will only intensify the pressure on the losing manager.

From a Liverpool perspective, Brendan Rodgers has to prove that the disastrous defeat to West Ham a fortnight ago was only a one-off and he has the chance to redeem himself against the Reds’ greatest rivals.

Coutinho’s absence is a blow for Liverpool and it will be interesting to see if Rodgers’ sticks with Lovren after his nightmare against West Ham. I expect him to select him but the expensive defender must be running out of chances after so many poor performances since arriving at Anfield.

Sturridge has resumed full training again but the United game will come too soon for the England striker and Rodgers will probably play with just Benteke up front on his own.

Playing away from home might suit Liverpool, where you expect United as the home side to take the game to us, where we can play counter-attacking football that worked so well in the 0-0 draw at Arsenal.

It is still very early in the season but the result at Old Trafford could have a massive influence on the rest of our season and Rodgers’ future.

Don’t Put All The Blame On The Supporters

Liverpool’s famous Anfield atmosphere is being criticised in recent years for not producing the noise and vocal support that frightened the opposition. But times have changed in football over the years, like the famous wall of faces that frightened the visiting goalkeeper as he stood in front of the Kop trying to defend the goal against the many thousands that on many occasion sucked the ball into the net.

The die-hard working class Scouser can’t afford to go anymore and the global fan-base, has now made Anfield a tourist attraction with supporters taking photos of the famous arena and sitting in their seat waiting to be entertained.

I was one of those ‘tourists’ last weekend, that doesn’t get to many games, like many, due to a number of reasons, like finding it almost impossible to get match day tickets, never mind the affordability in paying for them.

Last Saturday was a great example of why the atmosphere is suffering at Anfield and it is not all down to the changes affecting the Liverpool support.

Last Saturday the supporters had very little to cheer about and although the team needs the supporters to back them and lift them when they are struggling, they need some encouragement from what they are seeing from the players, and in the last year or so, there has not been much for Liverpool supporters to cheer about Anfield.

Last Saturday there was nothing from the Liverpool team that inspired the supporters to get behind their team as the players showed no desire, understanding and a lethargic attitude that plagued the end of last season’s performances.

When Liverpool were in the title race a couple of season’s ago, the supporters were magnificent and proved that they can still provide the famous Anfield atmosphere, but they need the team to help, and they have been very poor at home in the last year, so people shouldn’t be laying all the blame on the supporters because they are not getting much to cheer about at Anfield these days.

Rodgers Doesn’t Rate Ilori As Much As Lovren

Liverpool let Tiago Ilori go to Aston Villa in a loan deal for this season. If he does well, Villa have the option to buy the 22-year-old. The deal has angered many Liverpool supporters, and the deal is hard to make sense of because if Ilori struggles then we’re stuck with an unwanted player next summer and if he does well, we will lose him to Villa.

Liverpool paid £7million for Ilori in the hope that he would be a player for the future but after being loaned to Bordeaux last season, expectations were high that he might push on for a first team berth in Liverpool’s defence.

But it looks like Brendan Rodgers has given up on Ilori and is hoping to eventually move him on to another Premier League club without giving him a chance at Anfield.

Supporters don’t see what goes on behind closed doors or on the training field but with Liverpool’s lack of quality central defenders it seems crazy to let Ilori go without giving him a chance, especially with the extra games in the Europa League Liverpool have to play this season.

Maybe Liverpool supporters don’t see what happens in training but they certainly see what happens where it matters, in games and many are wondering how Dejan Lovren has had so many chances in Liverpool’s defence when he has been hopeless more often than not, and Ilori has had no chance to prove his himself.

A couple of days after Lovren’s latest disaster against West Ham, Rodgers allows Ilori to leave without giving him a chance and supporters are angry at this decision by a manager that is supposedly renowned for giving youth a chance.

Liverpool only have Skrtel, Lovren, Sakho, Toure and Gomez as options to play in central defence and none are convincing as good enough defenders for the club, so it seems very strange why Ilori has departed.

We are left to trust Rodgers judgement on Ilori and believe that he is not as good as Lovren, but do we really believe him?

Liverpool’s Big Problem

Watching Liverpool play West Ham on Saturday raised a big concern more than the disastrous drubbing from a team that had never won at Anfield in the league for over 50 years.

Liverpool had no width other than their two full-backs, Clyne and Gomez who did their best to hug the touch line to give the central midfielders options wide. But far too often they were overlooked as the Reds tried to play their way through a packed West Ham midfield and defence that played a high defensive line resulting in no space for Liverpool’s midfield to play through because they knew that Liverpool didn’t have the pace in their lone-striker Benteke to get behind them.

Even when Gomez and Clyne received the ball out wide it was often passed too slowly for them to run on to and they would have to pass the ball back inside. Clyne got down the flank a few times but his final ball was disappointing and Gomez didn’t look comfortable going forward down the flank, after all he is used to playing in the centre of defence.

The biggest worry is that Liverpool don’t have many options in regards to playing wide players that can hurt the opposition, Liverpool need to stretch the opposition with good wide men when teams come to Anfield to defend.

Rodgers brought on Moreno and Ibe in the second half on Saturday but although Moreno is pacey and industrious he lacks quality and an end product and Ibe is still young and adjusting to the pace of the Premier League and has struggled since the start of the season.

The decision to allow Markovic to go out on loan seems ludicrous after spending so much money on him last season and he would have been another option to play out wide with his pace.

Rodgers has used Coutinho, Lallana, Henderson, Milner and more recently Firmino out wide but none have the pace to hurt teams and all of them would prefer to play centrally so Liverpool could have big problems breaking defensive teams down this season, especially at Anfield.

Reality Check For Reds

Liverpool supporters turned up at Anfield on Saturday expecting nothing less than a win and a few goals as well after an impressive performance on Monday night at Arsenal and a decent start to the season.

The 0-0 draw at the Emirates was a test that Liverpool stood up to and a home match against West Ham was food for thought for the thousands of Liverpool supporters turning up at Anfield, after all, the Hammers hadn’t won here for 52 years.

But the unthinkable happened, and never looked in doubt after the visitors took an early lead in the 3^rd minute before doubling their lead before half-time. Coutinho’s sending off early in the second half ended any hopes of a comeback and a late third goal for West Ham was thoroughly deserved.

But this result and performance was a reality check for Liverpool after an encouraging start to the season but this defeat will burst the bubble of confidence.

Liverpool’s defence was all over the place and West Ham looked capable of scoring with every attack. Despite having the insurance of Lucas and Can in the middle of midfield to protect them.

The defence’s performance was all the more surprising after taking the plaudits from an impressive performance on Monday night but Gomez looked cumbersome and like a player playing out of position with his poor attacking play down the left.

Lovren and Skrtel looked like they were starring in a Laurel and Hardy film with their comedy defensive capers with Lovren taking the starring role with his 40 yard shots, and step-overs, not to mention his comedy highlight of the game that gifted West Ham a second goal.

Milner gave his usual endeavour but his lack of quality was frustrating and worrying. Liverpool’s midfield never looked like creating anything with their square passing and lack of width with only Gomez and Clyne offering any, and both are more comfortable defending.

Coutinho was a frustrated figure trying to find space to weave his magic but with no movement around him his frustration boiled over leading to him taking an early bath.

Benteke was isolated all game and although many modern managers like to play a lone striker I like to see Liverpool play with two strikers at Anfield.

Liverpool’s players looked like they didn’t have a clue and Brendan Rodgers must have to answer to that with their dis-jointed play that lacked tempo or cohesion.

Once again Rodgers made changes too late or strange. When chasing the game at 2-0 at half-time Rodgers took off a strong attack minded Can for a left-back Moreno and left a defensive midfielder Lucas on who gives nothing in attack.

Lovren was having a nightmare and should have been taken off after making the mistake that led to West Ham’s second goal for Sakho.

Rodgers brought on Ings as a second striker far too late and with Liverpool crying out for a wide man all game he gave Ibe a meagre ten minutes to change the game.

With all the bad points there was nothing to take positive out of the defeat against West Ham other than a two week break until the next game against Manchester United.

Hopefully this was just a bad day at the office and hopefully not a true reflection on the team we have this season.

Reds Defence Pass Tough Test

Liverpool travelled to London for their toughest test of this young season so far against an Arsenal team that many regard as title challengers this season. Brendan Rodgers men passed the test with flying colours in a pulsating scoreless draw that kept Liverpool’s record of not conceding a goal this season intact.

In a proverbial game of two halves it was Liverpool who had the better of the first half as the visitors took the game to the hosts and caused Arsenal’s makeshift defence no end of problems as Arsene Wenger was left to thank his goalkeeper Petr Cech for keeping his team in the game that ultimately resulted in the former Chelsea keeper earning the man of the match award.

Benteke was denied by a miraculous save by Cech and Coutinho was twice denied with the woodwork in the first half. Although Liverpool were the dominant team in the first half Arsenal had a goal chalked off when Ramsey thought he had put the hosts’ ahead in a tight decision.

But it was no surprise to see Arsenal improve in the second half and they put Liverpool under tremendous pressure at times in the second half with Mignolet making some good saves to keep the Reds in the game. Arsenal’s best chance saw Sanchez strike the outside of Mignolet’s post but Liverpool’s defence stood up to some intense pressure from Wenger’s men.

In the past Liverpool would have conceded under this kind of pressure but Rodgers has his team playing as a formidable defensive unit with every player knowing their responsibility.

Gomez and Clyne were superb under pressure against the pace on the flanks that Arsenal possess and Skrtel and Lovren were rocks in the heart of Liverpool’s defence as they seem to be forming an impressive partnership together with every passing game.

Lucas was vital in Liverpool’s midfield and he showed how important he is in difficult away games. Milner never stopped running and his experience was vital and Emre Can played well and tried to burst forward when possible knowing the ever reliable Lucas was behind him.

Coutinho was his mesmerising self and was so unlucky not to score and Firmino worked hard and showed signs of quality that Liverpool supporters can expect to see on a regular basis when he is fully match fit.

What a difference it is to see Liverpool with an attacking threat in Benteke as the big forward was unplayable at times in the first half and must have wondered how he never scored as Cech pulled off that wonder save.

It feels strange to be happy with a point at Arsenal after missing so many chances in the first half but we were hanging on a bit in the second half and we could easily have lost the game but for some superb defending.

Liverpool Need To Be Solid Tonight

Liverpool face their first major test of the new season at the Emirates tonight against Arsenal. Despite picking up maximum points from their first two games of the season the Reds are struggling to find their best form.

Arsenal away is always one of the toughest Premier League fixtures of the season and Liverpool will have to be strong defensively, which in fairness to Brendan Rodgers side, they have been so far this season and yet to concede a goal.

But Arsene Wenger’s side will provide a tougher test tonight and Liverpool will need to be solid. An injury concern to captain Jordan Henderson is a major worry for Rodgers and there have been rumours today that Adam Lallana is also injured and could be out for a few weeks.

If both players are unavailable then Rodgers will be forced into making changes and I would like to see him keep his back four of Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren and Gomez but play Can in front of Clyne to give him more protection than Ibe would and Moreno on the left to help Gomez out because Arsenal are always dangerous down the flanks.

I would play Lucas with Milner in the middle because the former Man City star’s industry will compliment the Brazilian’s reading of the game and Lucas is great at breaking opposition attacks up despite his lack of pace.

I would like to see Coutinho play in behind Benteke with the hope that the pace of Can, Milner and Moreno on the left can provide support when Liverpool are attacking.

I think it’s a really tough game to start Firmino although I’m looking forward to seeing him start soon and Saturday’s home game against West Ham would be ideal.

I’d take a draw tonight but a win would give us a great start to the season that not many people predicted.

Time Running Out For Liverpool’s Big Money Signing

There has been much criticism over Adam Lallana’s performances since joining Liverpool last summer and after spending £25 million on the former Southampton player the criticism is justified.

In fairness to Lallana an injury in pre-season last year didn’t help his start to life at Anfield but after playing a starring role in an impressive Southampton side Liverpool supporters have been expecting more for the money spent by the club.

Lallana certainly has ability but he is finding it difficult to fit into Brendan Rodgers’ side and although it is still very early into the new season Lallana is still struggling to impress despite starting both of Liverpool’s first two Premier League games of the season.

I honestly think Lallana is too slow and lightweight for Liverpool and he slows the play by taking too many touches. I also think he is running out of time nail down a regular place in Liverpool’s midfield with Brendan Rodgers keen to start new big money signing Firmino when he reaches full match fitness.

Daniel Sturridge is another player that is close to returning after injury and Lallana could find himself out of the team when they return.

Is Money Enough To Keep Sakho At Anfield ?

The news that Liverpool are reportedly offering Mamadou Sakho a new long-term contract is encouraging news for Liverpool supporters after concerns that he could be on his way out of Anfield after losing his place to Dejan Lovren in Liverpool’s defence.

Many supporters including myself regard Sakho as the better defender and are currently disappointed to see the French international left out for Lovren who had a disappointing first season at Anfield.

But Brendan Rodgers is obviously keen to give Lovren another chance after spending a lot of money to bring him to Anfield last summer and has chosen to start the Croatian with Martin Skrtel at the heart of Liverpool’s defence for the first two games of the season.

In fairness to Lovren he has played well in the two Premier League victories Liverpool have recorded this season without conceding a goal.

Lovren deserves to keep his place in the team and Sakho will just have to stay patient until he gets his chance.

Reports have suggested that Roma and Bayer Leverkusen have been showing an interest in Sakho and this offer of an improved contract for Sakho may well be an attempt to fend of competition.

It is believed Sakho will increase his wages from £75,000-a-week to £100,000-a-week but I don’t think money will be the defender’s priority.

Sakho will want to know that he has the chance of playing regularly in Liverpool’s defence to improve his chances of featuring for his country.

With Kolo Toure the only other experienced centre-back at the club Liverpool can’t afford to lose Sakho.

Hopefully Sakho will accept the new deal and wait his chance to get back into Liverpool’s defence because he is better than Lovren.

Rodgers Must Bring In A DM Before Selling Lucas

Lucas Leiva took a long time to win me over regarding being good enough to play for Liverpool, but over time he has with his determined attitude and his improvement as a defensive midfielder. But unfortunately the Brazilian has been unlucky sustaining a couple of serious injuries in recent years when playing some of his best football for the Reds.

The injuries have left him a yard slower and I don’t think he will ever get back to the level he was at before injuries curtailed his progress, but it is disappointing to hear that Brendan Rodgers is making Lucas surplus to requirements and looking to offload the Brazilian before the transfer window shuts.

Rodgers should be bringing in another defensive midfielder to the club before releasing Lucas because he is the only natural DM we have at the club. Henderson, Milner, Allen and Can are options Rodgers will use in the defensive midfield role but none have the discipline to read the game and break things up like Lucas and Rodgers will be making a big mistake if he doesn’t sign a player that is an upgrade on Lucas before the transfer window shuts.