Liverpool: Five things Brendan Rodgers should do in pre-season

Liverpool started their season with a quiet visit to Preston North End where they played for the Shankly Shield winning the match comfortable by a margin of four goals as new signing Simon Mignolet kept a clean sheet. The business of pre-season is a tedious one as it is much more about the club making ground in distant pastures as a cultural-economic venture more than a preparation for upcoming footballing challenges.

It is however not as trivial as it may sound since the new signings get a chance to adapt to the environment of the team and the boss can have a look at some of the exciting new talent present in the ranks as well as give a run-out to players who are coming out from an injury. It provides the fans with something other than hopeful, improbable transfer rumours may it be tame footballing action.

Liverpool have headed to Indonesia, Australia and Thailand this year. Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina and Sebastian Coates, all subjects to transfer rumours, are supposed to join the team at some later stage as they have been granted some extra time due to their participation at the Confederations Cup with their respective national sides.

Daniel Sturridge has been left behind to continue his rehabilitation as he nurses an ankle injury that he suffered while on duty with the English team. Rodgers hopes that his key striking option will be fit to participate by the first Premier League fixture to be played against Stoke. Dani Pacheco has been reportedly informed that he is surplus to requirements at the club and will pursue his career elsewhere.

Here is a list five things Rodgers can do during pre-season:

5. Preserve Players – Lucas, Coutinho, Johnson, Agger, Gerrard

Liverpool have suffered enough from injuries in the recent past. Gerrard just completed his rehabilitation after going under the knife, Sturridge is still recovering whereas Lucas’ returned from a major injury last season. It is important Liverpool have no further injury setbacks before the season and hence the best players need to be preserved. Philippe Coutinho is a young talent who will benefit from time on the field but considering his importance to Liverpool’s immediate future one would recommend that he be preserved as much as possible.

4. Give a run to Kelly, Coates, Flanagan, Wisdom

Martin Kelly will be a part of the pre-season tour after a long injury lay-off. Liverpool are desperately looking for a center-back and that was Kelly’s original position before he was employed on the right by Hodgson and Dalglish. He can be given a run in that position just to observe if he can form a back-up for whoever the new signing will be (if there will be one, if not then for Skrtel/Toure).

Flanagan had a good but brief run in Dalglish’s reign and Liverpool supporters would be eager to see the development he has made. Andre Wisdom was employed by Rodgers last season and he should continue to blood him for the next challenge.

3. Assess Assaidi, Downing, Borini, Allen, Skrtel

Steward Downing has been linked to a move away from Anfield which might not be the worst thing for Liverpool if they get the right price but it seems like he has won some respect from Brendan Rodgers after appearing consistently in his own position in the last half of last season. He was able to contribute some key goals as well. However, there is still a need to push him and keep him on his heels.

Oussama Assaidi has been on the margins of the Liverpool side since his arrival and a lot has been spoken about the talent he possesses but he has not been handed a lot of game time. Brendan Rodgers’s favorite from Swansea, Joe Allen, has not had a dream-start at Anfield. Allen has lacked the vision that is required to construct an offensive move but he did well enough to handle distribution in defensive-midfield in the absence of Lucas.

Borini is returning from a successful stint with the U-21 Italy side where he scored goals in the semi-final and the final. He has been unfortunate in his career at Liverpool so far and hence he should be duly assessed.

2. Hone the skills of Sterling, Ibe, Coutinho

Raheem Sterling was the find of the season for Liverpool last season before he seemed to suffer a burnout half-way through the season. His potential needs to be nursed in order to maximize his impact over a period of years for Liverpool even if it means that he does not make an immediate impact in the coming season. The same goes fro Jordon Ibe. He was one of the standout players in Liverpool’s friendly against Preston North End and also put his name on the score-sheet.

Philippe Coutinho was thrust into the Liverpool midfield to provide that much-needed creativity after being captured in the January transfer window and hence, Liverpool need to realize that he’s still a young talent. Rodgers needs to prepare him for the mental and physical struggle that will ensue next season.

1. Identify Roles for Aspas, Alberto, Spearing, Toure

Liverpool played much of the last season with Carragher standing tall at the back and even though Liverpool would like to capture an established center back before the start of next season, they should not hesitate from employing Toure with Agger if Skrtel fails to regain form. He needs to be tested for that role with whatever opposition is available.

Spearing started at right-back for Liverpool against Preston North End and it remains to be seen what role Rodgers has in mind for him. Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas are Liverpool’s new acquisitions who will gain from whatever time they spend on field in the Liverpool shirt. Aspas had a good outing against Preston coming on in the second half and contributing in two goals while scoring one himself. He might have a huge role to play at the club if Suarez leaves.