Bleachers Report: Liverpool FC: What Can Kenny Dalglish to Improve Chances of Reaching Europe?
Written on February 7, 2012 – 5:38 pm | by Jake Rodd |Following a consistent run of near-diabolical home performances, Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish are left to rue what could have been. Liverpool have suffered themselves in terms of failing to finish off clear-cut chances that would have won games.
In fact, Liverpool have the worst chance conversion rate in the whole Premier League.
But it’s all well and good telling you what you already know. We need a way to stop it.
The way I see it, there are three things that we can do realistically to try to win more games and give our Champions League qualification hopes a significant push.
1. Stick to a starting 11, and a formation, and don’t change it unless absolutely necessary.
2. Take shots from range.
3. Get more crosses in the box.
The first one, is straightforward. Liverpool have played 24 Premier League games this season; Charlie Adam, who holds the record for most appearances this season, has set foot on the pitch all 24 times, along with Pepe Reina.
Looking past Jose Enrique who has played every game apart from yesterday’s, our next ‘most capped’ player is Jordan Henderson, at 19. He hasn’t even played in five games.
Liverpool need a tad more structure, an 11 that will play week-in, week-out. This builds chemistry, and chemistry is required in abundance for the type of football Liverpool want to play.
Naturally, in this starting 11 you include your best players. This means the back four will be Kelly (Johnson), Skrtel, Agger and Jose Enrique.
Steven Gerrard should start whenever possible, along with Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez. Andy Carroll should also start.
Yes, this means a 4-3-3, or a 4-2-3-1.
———————————————————-Reina——————————————————-
————-Kelly——————Skrtel——————————Agger————-JE——————
————————————–Gerrard—————————Adam (Lucas when fit)———-
———-Bellamy———————————-Suarez———————————-Downing—-
———————————————————Carroll—————————————————
That would be my preferred lineup, but I also wouldn’t mind this type of set up.
———————————————————-Reina——————————————————-
————-Kelly——————Skrtel——————————Agger————-JE——————
——————————————————–Spearing—————————————————
————————————-Gerrard—————————–Henderson—————————
———Bellamy——————————————————————————-Suarez———
———————————————————-Carroll—————————————————-
Both these formations would play to Carroll’s strength with widemen supporting him as well as Gerrard providing longer passes from a deeper position. Personally, I prefer the 4-2-3-1 set up as it focuses more on a pass and move style of play, whereas the 4-3-3 is more about route one football. Also, I want to see Henderson on the pitch more often than not, but unless he plays in a Spearing/Lucas type role his place is being kept out by Suarez.
An alternative, Suarez plays up-top, with Henderson in behind him.
The second thing we can do to improve is take more shots on goal, when it opens up. With players like Bellamy, Suarez, Agger and Gerrard in our squad, we need to be scoring a few belters. I don’t recall one bar Adam’s accidental goal against Manchester City.
If you miss, so what? Unless it’s the last ten minutes and your in dire need of a goal, it most probably won’t haunt you. If it’s on target, then it may go in, or cause the goalkeeper to make a mistake and create a scoring opportunity for a poacher.
And, it gives the crowd something to cheer about.
Lastly, we need more crosses when Carroll is playing. Rephrase moment: We need more accurate crosses. Liverpool use both flanks equally, using the right side and left side 37 percent and 38 percent of the time, respectively. With over 70 percent of the ball being played on the wings, we need accurate delivery.
Downing is capable. No one, in fact, isn’t capable. Carroll is improving in the box, and it only takes one good header to score. So get the ball in the box.
There we have it. I hope you enjoyed it, feel free to comment with what you think.
Oh, and hope is not lost, we are not having a disastrous season, are we? We are on course for a respectable league finish and a cup double. You’ll Never Walk Alone!
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