What About Liverpool"s Performance Without Luis Suarez?
Life without Luis Suarez started with a win, but Liverpool certainly made hard work of it against a spirited and surprisingly well-organised Southampton side. Daniel Sturridge's late winner gave Brendan Rodgers' men a 2-1 victory Sunday and three points they probably didn't deserve; the Reds will have to form up pretty quickly given their next fixture is a daunting visit to the Etihad Stadium to confront defending champions Manchester City.It was far from being the perfect way to kick the season off, but Kopites don't have too much cause for concern; the performance against Southampton was poor, but even the best teams have off days. There are plenty of worse things than performing poorly and winning 2-1. Playing terribly and dropping 2-1, for example -- just ask Louis van Gaal.
Days like these have been really rare for Liverpool in 2014. The brand vibrant assaulting soccer was nowhere to be seen and this was a plodding, uninspired display. That was in no small part due to the strange setup utilized by Rodgers. The manager got it wrong, just as he did in the corresponding fixture last season. Thankfully, he corrected his first error and his substitutions eventually assisted to turn the match in Liverpool's favour.
The inclusion of Lucas Leiva in the starting lineup was surprising, as you would expect. There is a great reason the Brazilian and Steven Gerrard didn't play together much in the second half of last season; it just does not work properly. A lot of Liverpool's worst performances last season came with Lucas and Gerrard paired together in midfield, and it was no coincidence that the team's amazing form last season generally came with the Brazilian viewing from the bench and the more mobile Joe Allen or Philippe Coutinho in the midfield three.Liverpool's success in 2014 has been based on speed when they have the ball and high-energy pushing when they haven't. With Lucas and Gerrard in the same group, the press disappears and the ball movement in possession can become too pedestrian.
With Allen and Emre Can both available, choosing Lucas in a 4-2-3-1 was a curious call by Rodgers, and it's fair to state it was the incorrect one.Barring one moment of real high quality from Jordan Henderson that led to the opening goal for Raheem Sterling expertly finished by the youngster, Liverpool's first-half performance was extremely subdued. Sturridge was too separated, Coutinho could not enter into the game and Henderson was stifled by playing wide. The Reds hardly got anywhere near Fraser Forster's goal and their attacks took too much time to build, allowing a well-organised Saints side to get back to their defensive shape and keep Liverpool's formidable attack comfortably at arm's length.
Days like these have been really rare for Liverpool in 2014. The brand vibrant assaulting soccer was nowhere to be seen and this was a plodding, uninspired display. That was in no small part due to the strange setup utilized by Rodgers. The manager got it wrong, just as he did in the corresponding fixture last season. Thankfully, he corrected his first error and his substitutions eventually assisted to turn the match in Liverpool's favour.
The inclusion of Lucas Leiva in the starting lineup was surprising, as you would expect. There is a great reason the Brazilian and Steven Gerrard didn't play together much in the second half of last season; it just does not work properly. A lot of Liverpool's worst performances last season came with Lucas and Gerrard paired together in midfield, and it was no coincidence that the team's amazing form last season generally came with the Brazilian viewing from the bench and the more mobile Joe Allen or Philippe Coutinho in the midfield three.Liverpool's success in 2014 has been based on speed when they have the ball and high-energy pushing when they haven't. With Lucas and Gerrard in the same group, the press disappears and the ball movement in possession can become too pedestrian.
With Allen and Emre Can both available, choosing Lucas in a 4-2-3-1 was a curious call by Rodgers, and it's fair to state it was the incorrect one.Barring one moment of real high quality from Jordan Henderson that led to the opening goal for Raheem Sterling expertly finished by the youngster, Liverpool's first-half performance was extremely subdued. Sturridge was too separated, Coutinho could not enter into the game and Henderson was stifled by playing wide. The Reds hardly got anywhere near Fraser Forster's goal and their attacks took too much time to build, allowing a well-organised Saints side to get back to their defensive shape and keep Liverpool's formidable attack comfortably at arm's length.
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