we will **** them
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Mascher need to sit on Elano, and Rafa needs to pick the strongest possible side, this will be a very tough game, Wigan will be easier rest people then if needs be. 12 out of 12 is vital over chrimbo we are half way there dont blow it Rafa.08-09 Dirk monitor
5 goals (target 15)
3 assists also........Comment
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Ever-changing systems put Liverpool in a spin
By Stewart Robson
Last Updated: 1:02am GMT 30/12/2007
After wins over Portsmouth and Derby, Liverpool have managed to stay in touch with the league leaders.
But if they are to challenge for honours they must be more consistent. Many believe that Rafa Benitez's rotational system is the cause for their inconsistency but I disagree.
With so many games, players cannot continually produce their best if they are chosen every week. However, the mistake he has made is in changing formation too regularly in relation to the opponents.
Before watching Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea you can envisage the style they will attempt to play, whereas Liverpool's game plan seems to change from match to match. United and Arsenal have players who are brilliantly unpredictable in possession and have clever positional rotation in the top third of the pitch, but they perform these from a settled formation. Chelsea, too, are drilled in a certain system.
Yet with Liverpool you are never sure what style of football they will play. There needs to be a degree of surprise in your tactics and, of course, there are times when players need to adapt slightly to the opposition's strengths and weaknesses, but this can still be done from a familiar shape and style. When going to watch Liverpool can anyone really be sure which players, formation or style they will adopt?
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One area of consistency over the years has been at the heart of the defence and the benefits have been visible. Until Daniel Agger's introduction, Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher had forged an excellent understanding, enabling them to push up, drop off, press the ball and cover each other in perfect harmony. What is even more important is that they never changed their defensive game plan. With Agger injured, these two have been able to re-form that partnership and add stability to the side's defending. Their mentality, game understanding and ability to read danger is still as good as any defensive pairing, but with Hyypia losing his pace, they aren't as effective as they were two years ago.
However, with Hyypia out of today's clash, Manchester City will look to take advantage of the stand-in centre-half.
Steven Gerrard's role in the team highlights the way Benitez is unpredictable in his selection. He is a wonderfully versatile player and his ability does allow him to be effective in a number of roles but other players need to form an understanding with him, be it when he is on the right, in midfield or a second striker.
Whether it is a full-back knowing how to overlap him, a central midfielder knowing how to combine with him or a centre-forward knowing how he will join him, consistency forges those relationships and it is a luxury Benitez has rarely allowed his players to enjoy.
Benitez will need to be aware of Martin Petrov and Elano. Petrov has pace, power and a dynamic left foot, yet he is most dangerous when City are counter-attacking. Therefore, whether it be Steve Finnan or Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back, they must curtail their forward runs unless they are certain of receiving the ball.
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Benitez spies the sales but the Americans are watching
Paul Wilson
Sunday December 30, 2007
Observer
Rafa Benitez is a fan of the transfer window, even if Liverpool's American owners have yet to be convinced. 'It is better just to have one time for signing players during the season,' the Liverpool manager argued. 'Otherwise you would be distracted by players and agents all the time when you should be concentrating on your matches.'
That said, Benitez will not be pushing the boat out next month. Certain deals still need tying up but the only new player he feels he needs is a centre-half to provide cover for Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia. 'We have some targets in mind, but generally it is very difficult at this time of year,' Benitez said. 'It is almost impossible to find fantastic players at the right price in January, especially if you want players who can play in the Champions League.'
Benitez has just slapped a £40million fee on Peter Crouch, so he should know. Today's opponents Manchester City are known to be keen on the England striker, but not even Sven-Goran Eriksson has that kind of money. Benitez is being only semi-serious in his valuation of Crouch; it is just his way of emphasising that he does not wish to sell him.
'If you sell a player you have to replace him,' Benitez said. 'At least you do if you want to compete. If you are having to find ways to keep up with Manchester United and Chelsea, who have spent much more money, then once you get good players you need to keep hold of them.'
Eriksson does not have any of those headaches yet. He is still buying his two good players for every position, can be reasonably certain of money being made available in the window and does not have to think about the Champions League until next season at the earliest. City's perfect home record might have come to an end in unlucky fashion with a draw to Blackburn after nine straight wins, but few felt Mark Hughes' players were undeserving of a point and City's luck was bound to run out some time.
The Swede's main concern today is limiting the impact of Steven Gerrard. 'Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has everything,' Eriksson said. 'As long as I was England manager, he was extremely important. I am not sure how to stop him.' That job may go to former team-mate Dietmar Hamann.
In some ways the pressure will now be off for Liverpool's visit. City are underdogs again and that is probably how Eriksson likes it. The pressure is never off for a Liverpool team nine points behind the leaders - witness the wild scenes of relief at Gerrard's last-minute winner at Derby, though Benitez denies his players go into every game worrying that defeat will see their title chances written off for another year.
'There's no need to put ourselves under that pressure,' he said. 'Look what happened at Christmas. We won. United won. But Chelsea, Arsenal and City all drew. A draw is not always a disaster because your rivals might not even get that. There is not much between us and the teams above us. If everyone stays fit we have a chance. We were better than United two weeks ago, even if we lost.'
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