Last week Luis Suarez said “you win games with young players and win championships with experienced players”. This is partly true; but a) Liverpool shouldn’t be even talking about championships at this stage (let’s walk before we run); and b) the best sides usually have a mix of young and old, which, to some degree, [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Both managers made some surprising decisions. For Liverpool, Rodgers selected Henderson on the left flank, in a very narrow role within what was a lopsided 4-2-3-1 shape. Because Reina’s clash with Kagawa in the previous match was more serious than first thought, the Spaniard had to undergo some nose surgery – so [...]
By Lee Mooney. I’ve used data provided by Andrew Beasley to understand the players that have been used by Liverpool and Manchester United in the league so far this season. The aim was to understand the relative ‘level’ of these players and the compositions of the respective squads. I’ve then looked at areas where Liverpool [...]
By Paul Tomkins. There’s been a lot of talk of late about Liverpool’s buying policy over the past 18 months. With this in mind, I thought I’d take an in-depth look at what’s been right and what’s been wrong with the club’s strategy in that time. This article is for Subscribers only.
By Mihail Vladimirov. Ferguson made some interesting pre-match decisions. Not only did he line-up with a 4-4-2ish formation, but some of the players’ positioning was really surprising. Young went to the right flank, Kagawa was started on the left with Welbeck playing as the second forward alongside van Persie. For Liverpool, Rodgers’ selection was largely [...]
By Dan Kennett. I will try to put the performance of Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers into context using three sources of data: Traditional Premier League table analysis from statto.com starting with Houllier’s 82 point 2nd place in 2001/02 Comparison of results in all competitions with the other managers since the 2008/09 season (using data from LFC [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. For Liverpool there was only one change, with the injured Enrique replaced by Wisdom, so Johnson went to left back. This prompted Downing and Sterling to swap flanks in order to provide balance within the 4-2-3-1 formation. For Sunderland, O’Neill largely kept the side that faced Tottenham, also making just one change. [...]
By Paul Grech. Regardless of whether he signs for Liverpool in the coming days or not, Tom Ince’s story will remain a sensitive one for quite some time; that of a promising player who left the club only to go on and prove his value elsewhere. Unfortunately, whatever discussion there is on the issue will [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Harry Redknapp continued with the 4-4-1-1 formation, but made three changes. Because of Green’s own goal in the previous match, Julio Cesar was re-established between the sticks. At right back Onuoha replaced Fabio, while in midfield Diakite came in to partner Mbia (in the place of Faurlin). For Liverpool there were also [...]
I honestly don’t know how good a manager Brendan Rodgers is. His CV isn’t deep enough to show any greatness, but I’ve little doubt that he’s good. I mean, his thin CV does at least have a promotion and a highly creditable mid-table finish with a backwater club, all within the last couple of years. [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Pulis named largely the same team that earned him a draw away at Tottenham, except for Cameron and Wilkinson swapping places (in the previous match they were left and right back, respectively), with Kightly replacing Shotton on the right flank. The formation stayed 4-4-2. For Liverpool, Rodgers continued with the same XI [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. There were few changes for either team. Enrique was fit to start but – as hinted in the days before the match – Allen and Sterling were rested. So Suso started on the left and Downing on the right flank with Shelvey in the hole. Liverpool reverted to the 4-2-3-1 shape. For [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Both managers made one change from their previous league fixtures. For Liverpool, Enrique was injured and replaced by Suarez, which prompted changes in two positions: Shelvey went to the left wing, Downing to left back. Lambert replaced Agbonlahor with Weimann. With this in mind it was rather logical to see both teams [...]
By Paul Tomkins. Perhaps at the heart of the edginess of a large number of Liverpool fans – aside from the obviously displeasure at 12th position in the table, with five wins from 17 games – is that lack of someone at the club who has been there and done it. We know this is [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Allardyce predictably made two changes to the team that started against Chelsea last week – Diame came in for Tomkins with Taylor replacing O’Neil on the right flank. As in their previous match, West Ham opted for a reactive 4-4-1-1 shape from the start. For Liverpool, Rodgers stayed true to his pre-match [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov Guidolin made some surprising decisions. He started with a back four formation and moved Fabbrini over to the right flank with Pereyra the closest midfielder to the lone striker Ranegie. The interesting thing about Udinese’s shape was that initially it was a clear 4-1-4-1 when out of possession. Pinzi stayed deepest, preventing [...]
By Bob Pearce. Older Liverpool fans will remember a time when there was a very simple rule. If Ian Rush scored, Liverpool would not lose. Amazing as that sounds now, for Liverpool fans (and possibly even opposition managers, players and fans too), once Rush scored you knew we would not lose. No ‘ifs’, no ‘buts”. [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. The biggest news for Liverpool was that Lucas made his return from the start. Everyone else was as expected with the exception of Shelvey starting in the front trio. He spent the first half predominantly off the left before swapping with Sterling every ten minutes in the second half. Liverpool continued with [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov Both managers kept the same teams as in their previous games at the weekend, the only change (and a significant one) being Dembele coming in for Huddlestone. Spurs continued to play in their 4-4-1-1 shape, with Liverpool using a 4-1-2-3 that looked much more like 4-1-4-1 given how deep the wingers were. [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Swansea’s side was largely as expected – Chico was fit to start, and with Ki on the bench de Guzman went alongside Britton in midfield with Michu back in the hole behind the lone striker Schechter. For Liverpool, Wisdom was injured, which prompted some interesting decisions from Rodgers, with Johnson replacing him [...]
By Paul Tomkins. So, what’s been happening lately? Not much? It’s obviously something of a shock to see a recent Liverpool manager in charge of Chelsea, especially as he wasn’t even considered for a return to the Anfield dugout this summer. As was their prerogative, FSG chose Brendan Rodgers, and it’s up to the young [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov After Rodgers himself verified it will be a “strong team” for this match, it was surprising to see the actual starting XI containing only two of the usual key players – Reina and Skrtel. Enrique, Allen, Gerrard, Sterling and Suarez were all on the bench with Agger and Johnson left out of [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov. Di Matteo opted for a largely predictable team, with the only minor surprise being Ivanovic partnering Terry in the centre with Azpilicueta on the right. Betrand replaced Cole at left back and the team’s front quartet kept their places. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea started with their usual 4-2-3-1 shape. Rodgers chose the 3-5-1-1 formation [...]
By Tony McKenna (macattack). This was originally a post by Tony on Lee Mooney’s ‘Winning by Numbers‘ article. It’s so good, and important, we made it into an article in its own right. Lee, this is a great article and whilst people have focused on your brilliant graphic, I have chosen also to discuss some [...]
By Mihail Vladimirov Hiddink selected a familiar and largely predictable side – Zhirkov continued on the flank with Tagirbekov as a fullback behind him on the left; Jucilei and Ahmedov anchored the midfield, so Boussoufa played on the right. Up front Eto’o and Traore started together. For Liverpool, the rumours were correct, Rodgers started with [...]
