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As we leave behind another weekend and all the Premier League action and excitement that it brings along, Liverpool dropped points at Anfield, albeit only for the second time this season. It was a game that typified the classic “game of two halves”, which has been predominantly associated with the English League for the famous (and infamous) games where one team, beaten, outplayed and on the verge of embarrassment comes out all guns blazing only to get something from the game or as the say,”clutch victory from the jaws of defeat.”
But it was neither miraculous football nor the fact that the two teams were seemingly outplayed, but the game highlighted Liverpool’s lack of depth in the centre of the park. More importantly; it gave us an insight into what kind of a role Steven Gerrard might have in the Liverpool line-up in the future, near as well as the long term. Liverpool played the first half with Gerrard sitting deep in front of the back four. Lucas was introduced in the second half allowing Gerrard to operate in a more advanced role. Though Lucas was substituted fifteen minutes later, it did not affect Gerrard’s role.
This game highlighted almost all the combinations that Liverpool could deploy in the remainder of the season and beyond. Here’s a closer look at the various different pairings and how it affected Liverpool’s play:
First Half
Liverpool played a 4-1-2-3 with Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling up front, Coutinho and Henderson behind them and Gerrard filling in the void left by Lucas.
Liverpool’s build -up play was way below what is expected of them, and most of their problems could be narrowed down to the centre of the park which allowed many Liverpool fans and analysts to point fingers at the role which Gerrard was asked to fill in. He was clearly not at his best as he was not able to orchestrate the play like he has been doing for so many years now. However, a closer look would allow you to see that the problem lay not in midfield, but in the return of Daniel Sturridge. No, that is not how it sounds.
Sturridge’s place in the starting line-up meant that Liverpool had to sacrifice one of the central midfielders, a system which they have deployed the whole season and particularly in the absence of Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen. They began the season with Lucas and Gerrard in the center, then they brought in Joe Allen to replace the injured Gerrard and once again, Gerrard returned to the starting line up upon his return from the medical room.
One player plays and the other comes in to replace him when he’s injured – quite simple and should not be affecting Liverpool’s or Gerrard’s play. But one glaring difference in the starting line ups is Raheem Sterling. In the early stages of the season, Liverpool often deployed a 4-3-3 or an attacking 4-2-2-2 with Lucas in the center along with Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge up front. This allowed Liverpool to win the midfield battle that is so often crucial to the outcome of any game. But with Raheem Sterling in the fray, Liverpool had to play with only one central midfielder. No matter how much creative talent you put out in the final third of the pitch, unless you keep the ball in the centre of the park, you cannot win matches.
Second Half
Brendan Rodgers was quick to identify and address the problem and replaced Coutinho with Lucas. Hence, Liverpool reverted back to the system with which they began the season. Suddenly, their confidence returned, their passes made much more sense, and the beautiful football was back on display, with Suarez and Sturridge looking menacing once again. Gerrard looked a different player, providing some brilliant through balls, once again reminding the Anfield faithful that he could orchestrate the play from deep inside midfield and that he was up to the challenge that Rodgers has so often spoken of, with both expectations and confidence.
However, people, as always, continued to neglect the impact that Lucas made and he once again exposed the magnitude of difference his presence made to Liverpool’s game when he was forced off due to injury around the hour mark, to be replaced by Joe Allen.
Although this substitution did not affect Liverpool’s formation but Gerrard’s role was again restricted because Allen does not offer the physicality that Lucas or Gerrard offer. Hence, Gerrard was needed to provide some cover for the back four but not as much as he was expected to in the first half.
This led to people jumping to conclusions about Gerrard’s role and future impact on Liverpool’s bid for a Champions League spot. However, Gerrard has shown that he has what it takes to succeed as a defensive midfielder. His impact is no doubt not limited to just a 100% effort, but he also brings to the team leadership and motivates them to try harder and allow others to punch above their weight.
Despite him being 33 with “ageing legs”, he could still hang around long enough to witness Liverpool’s rise to prominence once again playing as the defensive midfielder along side Allen or Henderson, or fill the much more unrestricted central midfielder’s role upon which he has stamped his authority over the years. He has the ability and the heart to succeed in both the positions and either way, he would be in the Reds’ lineup as long as he is on their payroll.
