By Robert Nevitt 1. Defeat to Baggies puts new-look Reds under pressure already Optimism was high going into Saturday’s opening game of the season at West Bromwich Albion, but by the end of the 90 minutes, the scale of Brendan Rodgers’ task to turn Liverpool into Top four contenders was clear for all to see. The new Reds’ boss will take positives from the first hour of the game which, Zoltan Gera’s stunning drive apart, wasn’t that bad. The Reds new ‘Tika-Taka’ style saw a 89% successful pass rate, Liverpool’s highest for 10 seasons. But, as the diagram on the right shows, much of the passing was done in the middle third of the pitch, with a lack of quality in attacking areas, with most of the chances being created through the individual brilliance of Luis Suarez. At 1-0, the Reds were very much still in the game, but once Daniel Agger was dismissed, Rodgers will be extremely concerned at how the team visibly capitulated. To their credit, West Brom took full advantage, with the introduction of sub Lukaku stretching the ragged Liverpool defence. By the final whistle, the Reds were lucky to get away with only a 3-goal deficit. Though he publicly praised the players for their efforts and instead queried the referee’s controversial decisions, Rodgers will hopefully have noted the Reds all-too-familiar failings. Missed chances, a lack of creation on the wings, no real backup in full-back areas and a mental fragility all contributed to the defeat. With Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all coming up in the next four games, it was important that Liverpool got off to a good start at West Brom. The fact that they didn’t now puts added pressure on Rodgers and his team. Whilst it is far too early to panic, the next few weeks, in terms of the aforementioned matches and the closing of the transfer window, could go along way to defining the Reds’ season. 2. Time for Suarez to move out wide It took less than 10 minutes for Luis Suarez to pull off his first customary nutmeg of the season. A little longer for him to twist, turn and leave the Baggies defence wondering where he had gone. But, disappointingly, it also didn’t take long for the Reds’ number seven to showcase his increasingly alarming profligacy in front of goal. There is no doubting the Uruguayan’s class. His workrate and trickery are both exceptional, but when it comes to putting the ball in the net, he has a poor conversion rate. On Saturday, he had eight efforts on goal, but only made the goalkeeper work twice. He headed one clear opportunity over from six yards, which would’ve put the Reds’ 1-0 up and subsequently changed the dynamics of the match, whilst he squandered two more opportunities in the second half, where on both occasions he should have at least hit the target. But, this wasn’t a case of one of those days though. Last season the Reds amassed a paltry 47 league goals, with Suarez netting only 11 times from a total of ?? efforts on goal. As we try to become more potent in attack, I think it’s time we looked at how we are utilising our number seven. With Rodgers favouring a 4-3-3, Suarez’ looks well suited to occupy a starting berth on the left of the front three, with a licence to roam, a position from which a lot of his best work is done anyway and one in which he excelled at previous club Ajax. Not only would the new position give the Reds some much needed creativity on the flanks, but it would also allow the introduction of a more natural goalscorer, whether it be Borini or A.N. other, to play as the middle striker and help take the goalscoring burden off the Uruguayan’s shoulders. 3. Joe Allen looks a player One bright spot for the Reds on Saturday was the performance of new signing Joe Allen. After completing his £15m move from Swansea last week, this was Allen’s first start in a Reds’ shirt and the young Welshman took no time in showcasing just why Brendan Rodgers was so keen to bring him to Anfield. Confident, always available for the ball and with a 95% completion rate from 68 passes, Allen was Liverpool’s standout performer. 4. Time for duo to be shown the Anfield exit Saturday’s match at the Hawthorns surely helped hammer the final nails into the coffins of two the Liverpool careers of Joe Cole and Andy Carroll Cole’s time at Anfield has been littered by set-backs; a sending off on his debut v Arsenal, a missed spot-kick against Trabzonspor, a combination of poor form and injuries and a season-long loan to Lille. But with new boss Rodgers at the Anfield helm, Cole sensed a new beginning. A good US Tour saw him named in the European tie with Gomel, but before he’d even had time to do his trademark bent over hands on hips routine, ping went his hamstring. On Saturday, with the Reds 2-0 down at the Hawthorns, a fit again Cole replaced Lucas on 68. But, a short sprint later, he suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and was subbed. Surely now Rodgers must realise that it just isn’t going to happen for ex-England international at Anfield, though his latest injury could scupper any late August transfer. Up until Cole clutched his hamstring, his replacement Carroll, had remained seated on the bench, despite the fact that Liverpool found themselves three-nil down. Throughout the summer, the press have made it common knowledge that Liverpool are looking to sell their £35m man, but Saturday’s decision to leave him on the bench when the team were crying out for a Plan B, is the biggest public indication that he has no future at Anfield. It is debatable as to whether or not this is the correct decision, but with Rodgers seemingly having made his mind up, it is in the interests of both the club and player that Carroll is moved on before September 1st. 5. Sometimes you’ve just got to hand it to your opposition Sometimes, no matter what tactics, philosophy or personnel you have on display, you simply can’t account for everything that happens on a football pitch. On Saturday, referee Phil Dowd’s decision to award West Brom their first penalty was controversial, whilst his dismissal of Daniel Agger left many mystified. Less than five minutes later, he incensed the travelling Kop as he pointed to the spot again. But it wasn’t just Dowd’s performance which was uncontrollable as the manner of West Brom’s opening goal was simply unstoppable. From a James Morrison corner, Liverpool seemingly did what was required with Martin Skrtel rising above the attackers to powerfully head away, whilst Glen Johnson followed the ball out. But, as Zoltan Gera chested the ball down 25 yards from goal, the ball sat up perfectly for the Hungarian to hit a half-volley which flew into the top corner. If we’d have had Pepe Reina, Brad Jones and Alexander Doni all in goal at the same time, I doubt we’d have been able to keep the effort out such was its power and precision. So as Andy Gray would say; Take a Bow Zoltan Son!

A news article on 2012-08-20 21:38:00 from: The Anfield Opinion

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