The Kopite View

Liverpool Have A Squad To Deal With Injury Crisis

Brendan Rodgers counted the cost of the international break that left him with a few injury worries that he could have done without. Daniel Sturridge could miss the next three weeks after picking up an injury to his thigh, whilst Emre Can injured his ankle playing for Germany under-21s when they were leading 6-0, Joe Allen was also injured playing with Wales.

Martin Skrtel, Jon Flanagan and Glen Johnson are also unavailable through injury for this weekend’s match against Aston Villa. Rodgers’ lengthy injury list is unfortunate but if it was this time last year it would have been a crisis, but with all the summer signings and the nucleus of players already at the club, Rodgers has the strength in depth to cope with such troubles.

Sturridge is the biggest blow but his absence gives new signing Mario Balotelli the chance to shine, although Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini are other striking options.

Skrtel’s injury will allow Mamaduo Sakho and Dejan Lovren to play together again at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

There are also plenty of options in midfield with Joe Allen and Emre Can unavailable with the likes of Coutinho and the fit again Adam Lallana hoping to feature with Markovic another option to play alongside Henderson, Gerrard and Sterling.

No manager wants to hear of any of their players being injured but Liverpool’s injuries might just make Rodgers’ job of picking a team that little bit easier, but now he has a squad capable of dealing with the demands of all four competitions.

Sturridge Injury Just What Balotelli Needs

Everyone connected at Liverpool are disappointed with the news that Daniel Sturridge has been injured on international duty but his absence could be just what new signing Mario Balotelli needs to kick-off his career at Anfield.

Surridge is now Liverpool’s main striker after Luis Suarez left for Barcelona in the summer, but the England international isn’t as resilient as the Uruguayan and has been plagued with injuries since joining Liverpool but his latest injury gives others a chance to step up to the plate and it presents a great chance for Balotelli to make his mark at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers has options with Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini as other recognised strikers and he may also play with a lone striker with Sturridge’s absence.

Rodgers played with Balotelli and Sturridge up front in the 3-0 win over Spurs last weekend and he will probably play two up front again next week against Aston Villa but with all eyes on Balotelli I expect him to relish the opportunity to be Liverpool’s main striker in Sturridge’s absence.

Rodgers has been clever in taking a gamble on Balotelli after losing Suarez and he knew he needed to sign a top class striker because of Sturridge’s injury record.

The stage is set for Balotelli next week and there is no better man to thrive on this opportunity and responsibility.

Rodgers Has Depth To Make Liverpool Challengers Again

The Premier League is one of the toughest leagues in the world to win and the most successful teams have squads, rather than teams and Liverpool have been busy strengthening their squad this summer after manager Brendan Rodgers looked to build on the success of last season.

Rodgers is starting his third campaign as Reds’ boss and this is the first season at Anfield that he is going into a season with squad with depth.

Liverpool’s first game of the season was not the barnstorming start Anfield had anticipated, but winning is winning and this victory owed much to Rodgers’ use of substitutes.

Liverpool were struggling against a stubborn and organised Southampton in the second half but this time Rodgers had options on his bench with Jordan Ibe, Emre Can, Brad Jones, Rickie Lambert, Kolo Toure, Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho to call upon.

Rodgers still had a strong bench despite not being able to call upon Jon Flanagan, Daniel Agger and new signings Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana who are unavailable through injury.

Rodgers summoned Allen and Lambert from the bench to try and inspire Liverpool, and both made a difference and contributed to the important victory.

Although Rodgers didn’t need to call upon his substitutes to change things too often last season his stronger squad will give him the important option when things aren’t going to plan like yesterday’s game against Southampton.

Rodgers’ depth of squad just might take Liverpool that extra step up this season.

Rodgers Builds A Team That Doesn’t Rely On One Player

It was only a glamour friendly Liverpool won yesterday but there were plenty of encouraging signs that proved that Brendan Rodgers has a team that plays for each other as a team, and they all understand what is expected of them.

The pessimists are all predicting Liverpool to struggle after losing their world class striker Luis Suarez, but Rodgers and his team are evolving and with his crop of new summer signings the Reds’ boss has assembled a pretty strong squad with competition for places in every position in his team.

But on the evidence of yesterday’s hammering of Borrussia Dortmund Rodgers has a team that is not reliant on any one player and that is so important after relying on the likes of Gerrard and Torres and more recently Suarez for too long.

The way Liverpool worked for each other was superb and their desire to help each other defend was mirrored by their energy to attack when in possession, highlighted by four different goal scorers.

I don’t think the worry of injuries and suspensions will be such as big a concern as last season with the squad Rodgers has built this summer and the team spirit he installs in his players will make Liverpool a force again this season.

Liverpool are coming to terms with losing their world class striker Luis Suarez after a deal was finally completed with Barcelona.  Brendan Rodgers believes his team will cope without the  Uruguayan but to lose such a brilliant player will be tough and it will be interesting to see if anybody can step  up to the plate and provide the goals. Liverpool worked wonders to keep Suarez at the club after last year’s biting ban with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and last summer’s transfer speculation that the striker was trying to manufacture a move away from Anfield. But although Suarez has been magnificent for Liverpool he has brought much bad publicity on the club with numerous misdeamanours and his latest one on the World stage make it possibly the best time for both Liverpool and the player to part. Liverpool have negotiated a decent amount of money for Suarez and the player has got his wish of making a move to Spain. So both parties should be reasonably happy, although opinion will always be divided between supporters. One thing is for sure no player is bigger than the club and Liverpool will have new heroes.

Lallana Signing Is A Clever Move By Reds

Liverpool finally sealed a deal with Southampton for their captain Adam Lallana after lengthy negotiations between the two clubs. It looked like the Anfield club were not going to be held to ransom in regards to Southampton’s valuation of their playmaker but this week’s news that the England international will finally pulling on a Red shirt is exciting for the supporters.

Lallana follows his Southampton team-mate Rickie Lambert to Anfield, who signed earlier this summer and both players see the move to Anfield as their ‘dream’ move.

Lallana will give Brendan Rodgers plenty of attacking options and is a creative player that will fit right into the way the Liverpool manager likes his team to play.

The Reds’ new signing can play just behind the striker and also in wide positions and I can see him even play in a central role in midfield because he is so talented and versatile.

Lallana has a good work ethic and is very much a team player but he has that individual brilliance that can beat a defender too. He always shows for the ball and is always looking to make things happen in the attacking third and he is a player that Liverpool supporters will appreciate.

Lallana has made the move at the right time in his career with his experience at Southampton and England and the price-tag and the move to a club like Liverpool won’t phase him and the move is an exciting one for both club and player, and there could be more new arrivals soon at Anfield.

Revenge Is Sweet For Suarez

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez scored both goals as Uruguay defeated England 2-1 in Sao Paulo. The striker’s goals leaves England on the brink of World Cup elimination but Suarez admitted that his two goals were sweet revenge for all the criticism he has received in the Premier League.

Suarez has been banned for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a controversial career in England.

The Liverpool striker was a major doubt for the game after having an operation on his knee and he was playing his first game since receiving the operation.

Suarez couldn’t hide his delight by saying :

‘I dreamt this. I’m enjoying this moment, because of all I suffered, the criticism I received. So, there you go.

Before the game too many people in England laughed about my attitude over the last few years. This is a very good time for me. I want to see what they think now.’

Suarez was desperate to play against England, and he has been waiting a long time for revenge, and how he made them pay, with two clinical finishes to leave England’s World Cup dreams in tatters.

The Uruguayan’s comments show the hurt that he’s felt because of the criticism and the harsh treatment from the FA’s punishment and he has waited a long time to exact revenge and he is enjoying his moment of triumph.