Let’s get
one fact clear! I’m not supporting Utd in any way, but you have to give them
begrudging respect when it comes to their success. And no, I’m not talking
about their success with trophies but their academy. For me, the success of the
academy is a direct indicator of the success of the club. Manchester Utd have
achieved that in abundance. I would say the no. of academy players who haven’t
made it at the club and yet are playing at the highest level (read Premier
League or Primera Liga) tell everything you want to know, about the club. Just
try to remember & count the no. of ex-utd players plying their trade in the
BPL & La Liga right now, and you know what I’m talking about! At the same
time, do the same for Liverpool and the difference is as stark as you can get.
The reason I’m stating this fact is because, the players who then survive at
Utd are the ones who are best equipped to handle playing for one of the biggest
clubs in the world & compete for trophies day-in, day-out. This observation
perfectly highlights the importance of the academy in the success of the club.
Anyway, I
strayed off the track for this article. Let’s get to the point straight away. All
the observations stated below are my own personal opinion and based on all the matches which have happened till date. :P
The Squad-
Defence:
Pepe Reina: We all know Reina is not having the best of seasons.
But, his loss of form has been exaggerated. If you compare the no. of mistakes
he has made for the past three seasons to that of Cech’s, then you’ll realize
he is not that bad. Reina is still a commanding presence in the box but I have
a nagging feeling he will leave for Barcelona in the summer to compete for the
biggest prizes.
Rating: 6.5/10
Glenn Johnson: Johnson is having a dream season! He has
been the player of the season for Liverpool apart from Suarez. Defensively, he
looks solid apart from one or two mistakes and attacking-wise he is a
contributing a lot.
Rating: 8/10
Jose Enrique: His form has been rather patchy. But
he is coming into his own as the season has progressed. Enrique was excellent
against Swansea & Zenit. He is also offering a creative outlet up front
with his long balls. His defending also looks to have improved.
Rating: 7/10
Daniel Agger:
Agger committed two match costing errors against Man City & West
Brom, but apart from that he has been solid this season. He was a rock at the
back against Zenit. More importantly, he looks to have put his injury problems
behind him (touchwood). He is the best ball playing CB in the league.
Rating: 7/10
Martin Skrtel: Skrtel’s fall from grace has been
dramatic. Since the performance against Oldham, he has been replaced by the
soon-to-be-retiring Carragher in the team. Accused of lacking the proper
attitude, commitment to the cause, it looks like the defender would be sold to
make way for new signings.
Rating: 5/10
Jamie Carragher: He has been a warrior at the back
whenever called upon. His error ultimately cost Liverpool the tie against Zenit
but, even the greatest are spared one mistake! His leadership at the back has been
one of the reasons for Liverpool’s recent upturn in form.
Rating: 7.5/10
Sebastian Coates: Coates has featured in only 10 games
this season so far, with only three coming in the league. The performance
against Oldham was his worst in a red shirt. He is still a great prospect
though. Where will he fulfill that potential, I don’t know. Rodgers doesn’t
seem to rate him. Instead of selling him, a loan move would do him a world of
good. Juventus has been mentioned as a possible destination. Atleast, if he
comes good in the loan move, Liverpool can sell him for a sizeable sum.
Rating: 4.5/10
Andre Wisdom: The youngster has come on leaps and
bounds in this season for Liverpool. He has made the most of his opportunity in
the absence of Martin Kelly. He has excelled for Liverpool in the RB role
despite his natural CB position. He will become even better as gains more
experience. He looks to a first team player for Liverpool for years to come.
Rating: 7.5/10
Martin Kelly: It’s unfortunate that Martin Kelly
got injured when he could have become a staple fixture in the playing XI. He
can play both as RB and CB. However, just like Carragher, I see him becoming a
CB for Liverpool in the coming years, due to his excellent reading of the game.
Rating: 5/10 (It’s just due to him being
injured.)
Jack Robinson: He needs to buckle down and start
improving his game. Robinson still has time on his side though, as he is just
19yrs old. The loan to Wolves would give him game time and help his
development.
Rating: 5/10
Midfield:
Steven Gerrard: Gerrard has got better and better as
the season has progressed. He has excelled in that deep lying playmaker role.
The fact that he has played every minute of every league game this season is a
testament to his fitness. Liverpool
haven’t really had a Deep Lying Playmaker since Xabi Alonso left, until Gerrard
adjusted into this role this season. However, Gerrard is not getting any
younger, he will turn 33 in the summer. Liverpool have to start finding a
successor to him asap! Still, Gerrard will be in the team for atleast 2 more
years.
Rating: 8/10
Jordan Henderson: Henderson is getting better and
better as the season has progressed. Like Lucas, he has begun to prove his
critics wrong. He offers tireless workrate, energy, dynamism to Liverpool in
midfield. His improvement has been such that he is one of the first names on
the teamsheet.
Rating: 7/10
Joe Allen: At the start of the season, he was one of Liverpool’s best players. He was living up to his moniker of the Welsh
Xavi. But the 2nd half of the season hasn’t quite panned out for him
as he expected. A loss in form coupled with Henderson’s emergence has seen Allen
lose his place in the playing XI. He was however excellent against Zenit and
took his goal well. Hopefully he has turned the corner with this performance.
Rating: 6.5/10
Lucas:
An injury at the start of this season hampered his comeback, but his comeback
at the start of this year has been good. Lucas is still not back to his best
yet, but is getting ever closer. He was immense against Zenit. Liverpool look a
much team with him in the side as the pivot.
Rating: 7/10
Jonjo Shelvey: Shelvey started the season in great
form but has petered out. His lack of technique, discipline isn’t doing him any
favours. At the moment he looks too good for the Championship, but not good
enough for Liverpool. A loan move to the likes of Norwich, West Brom next
season would do him a world of good. Shelvey is still only 20, he does lack
some amount of technique but he has good vision, is usually in the right places
at the right times and has good movement. He is still a great prospect for
Liverpool.
Rating: 6/10
Suso: Suso burst on to the scene along with
Raheem Sterling, but has faded out as the season has progressed. He was used as
the inside forward from the right in the earlier games, but his talents make
him suited for a much central role for Liverpool in the future. Suso already
looks one of the most accomplished members of the Liverpool squad in terms of
technique. He is very easy on the eye. A graceful footballer with lazy
arrogance on the ball, we all know Brendan loves those type of players. It’s
clear he would be in the mould of Silva or a Mata in some years. A loan move to
Swansea (preferrably) next season would be best for him. Suso needs games, if
he is given those, he might just become the next big thing not just at
Liverpool, but in football in general.
Rating: 6.5/10
Stewart Downing: Downing’s performances at the start
of the season didn’t do him any favours. He was told in no uncertain terms that
he was free to find a new club. Since then his performances have been markedly
improved. His improvement has been such that he looks a completely different
player.
Rating: 7/10
Raheem Sterling: Sterling broke through the first
team and began to start every game. He was hailed as the next big thing in
English football. He still is, but his performances have declined due to exhaustion
and pressure. He has all the tools to become become a big star. He should add
goals to his game.
Rating: 7/10
Oussama Assaidi: The winger was bought without much
fanfare and expectations. He was bought likely as squad player. He has no real
future in the first team, and most likely would be sold in the summer to make
way for new signings.
Rating: 5.5/10
Forwards:
Luis Suarez:
Suarez is having a phenomenal season. Having scored 25 goals in all
competitions, he has been Liverpool’s best player this season. He is the one
who has been single handedly carrying the team this season. His link up with
Sturridge has been promising and the two of them complement each other.
Rating: 8.5/10
Daniel Sturridge: Sturridge has taken to Liverpool
like a fish to water. With 5 goals (already!) in 7 games, he looks a shrewd buy.
His link up with Suarez has been almost telepathic. Sturridge offers pace,
holdup play, clever movement to Liverpool (something which they have lacked).
He relieves the burden on Suarez.
Rating: 8/10
Fabio Borini: Borini hasn’t really had a chance to
shine with two injuries effectively ending his season. He has only one goal to
show, that too in the Europa League Qualification. Borini, has however shown
very clever movement off the ball in
creating opportunities for others. He looks more like the next Dirk Kuyt than
the next Torres.
Rating: 6/10
The Verdict: It’s clear, there has been progress
this season. Brendan Rodgers has removed much of the deadwood and rejuvenated the
careers of several underperforming players. Liverpool look good on the eye,
though they still have to sort out their defence issues. This team has goals in
them, they have already score 1 goal more that the defending champions
Manchester City and 2 goals more than the whole of last season combined (with
11 games still to go!).
Liverpool
don’t have a trophy to play for, but can give a real go at the top-6 or
possibly top-4 with 11 games to go. The equation is simple, Liverpool have to
try to win every game from now on to have any outside chance for the top-4. It’s
unlikely but still possible!
In Part2
, I will assess the potential transfers & transfer targets for
Liverpool who realistically fall in their range.
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