Liverpool negotiated a really tricky hurdle against Blackburn to leave Brendan Rodgers hugely relieved. A defeat in the quarter final replay – which was a very real prospect on such a dodgy pitch – could have been a terminal blow for a manager who is on the ropes after two big defeats of late.
Now Liverpool have a really exciting semi-final to look forward to. But they still have a shout in the league too, with a top four place still mathematically possible. They will require others to have big blips but they can only concentrate on their own form.
The big question is whether the 3-5-2 is working. Liverpool have had a good 2015 in terms of results but they have rarely got close to the form which bewitched us all last season. Manchester United also used the system for much of the season and also looked clunky with it. When they reverted to 4-3-3 it a fell into place.
And we think that Liverpool should do something similar. Perhaps injuries to defenders forced this system upon Rodgers but we would much sooner see a 4-2-3-1. We feel that Henderson and Can would be the perfect combination in front of the defence and provide the solid platform for Liverpool to attack more freely.
Despite a hamstring injury to Sakho and the suspension of Skrtel – Liverpool also have injury doubts over Lallana, Balotelli and Ibe – we are going for a 4-2-3-1 for the home game against Newcastle (Monday night, kick off 2000 local time), with an emphasis on attack.
We also think that playing Raheem Sterling through the middle is folly. He may be more useful in a central areas in future but he needs to learn his trade out wide, where he can use his pace to outstrip defenders and get some decent service to Sturridge et al.
Here’s our best eleven for what should be an entertaining fixture. Liverpool fans: let’s have your elevens.
RoyK
Apr 10, 2015 at 5:49 am
The system isn’t the ‘all-defining’ factor here. When we played the 3-5-1, it had more to do with the fact, as BR said, that 1) Our passing was atrocious (unnecessarily giving the ball away when one could have held on to the ball for a moment more and execute a measured pass) and 2) the pressing was all over the place (we looked like headless chickens running after the balls). In the Blackburn game, we had 16 shots (5 on target), but Blackburn had 10 (4 on target). On another day, if Mignolet goes back to the one of the old, Blackburn may have equalised.
So, more than the system, I feel it’s the players’ composure that matters more.