Finally transferred his Valencian flavour?

[Craig_H]

The last 2-3 months has seen us playing in a way i've never seen under Rafa and, to be frank, i never thought i'd ever see.

We've been overpowering teams, moving the ball beautifully, seeing overlapping fullbacks and smashing in goals left, right and centre.

Are we finally seeing the Valencia model that Rafa's been shaping?

And more importantly, will this be the permanent 'new Liverpool' going into next season? Or have we only been playing like this simply because we've known that we've had to win virtually every game?

The Liverpool of the past 10 weeks or so, has been a sight to behold.

I've absolutely loved the way we've played and as someone who had specific ideas about how Rafa would let us play and how he wouldnt, i'm delighted to see us playing in a way i never thought Rafa would advocate.

I'd be devestated if, come next season, we were to revert to type.

How do you expect us to play next season?

[-V-]

Benayoun = Aimar?

Never would have thought it a year ago

[Craig_H]

Benayoun's been superb. Aimar took more control of games, but then, we have Gerrard & Alonso to do that. The similarity is there to a point though.

If Yossi maintains this kind of form on a consistent basis, he has to be in the first team. Possibly at the expense of Riera, who's decent, but doesnt offer the same goal threat.

[ukfootballfan101]

I completely agree we have been great (apart from the Chelsea and Arsenal games) for the past few months but i'm a bit worried about the summer.

We now have a formation that works, but what is Rafa's plan for next season? should we continue to play 4-2-3-1, or does he have a plan to play something different? does he want the players to be able to play 2 or more formations?

I think these are very important questions as it determines who we plan to buy in the summer. The Barry rumours have come up again, but if we're going to play 4-2-3-1 then I don't want him, as I wouldn't drop Alonso or Masch and he doesn't have the right skills to play in a wide left role.

If we are only playing 1 up front then I don't think we need another striker, we have Ngog and Nemeth plus if we get another wide right player Kuyt can play up front if Torres is injured/rested.

I don't want us to revert to a 4 man midfield as you can't fit Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano into that formation and I can't see Rafa going 3 at the back so I think we will continue with one up front. Which I think means going out and buying 2 great players that can play either side of Gerrard, behind Torres and having Kuyt, Reira and Benayoun as their backups.

[Craig_H]

For the record, the Arsenal game wasnt bad, apart from stupid errors. We played well.

Chelsea was a weird one, nobody seemed up for it, neither players or fans. Again stupid errors made the difference.

But one poor performance in about 10, i can live with. Especially if the other 9 produce 3/4 or 5 goals. Bring it on.

If we'd played like this all the way through, we'd be a few points clear right now, and comfortably on course for the title.

[Guest]

I think we're more confident now, that's the key thing.

[Darkon]

We have been great lately, and it could be a combination of things.

The offence seems to be working more smoothly than ever under rafa, which is a major contribution.

Besides that I can't help to think that we are playing well again, because we are not touted as favorites for the league, and we seem to play better without that pressure on us.

But I don't like the comparison with valencia. In the time of Rafa valencia was perhaps the best counterattacking team in europe, and they took full advantage of that in the spanish league and their all out attack style.

The frustration often been talked about under rafa (that we are not enough of an flowing attacking team), has somewhat IMO changed because Rafa has changed mentality slightly. To many teams in england play out of a strong defensive, which makes counterattacking less viable as a team wanting to challenge for the title.

We have changed I think actually finally changed the style from Valencia to a Liverpool style looking more like the way the scum or arsenal plays.

[cumbriankop]

same again next year. rafa has seen that smaller clubs can block asystematic liverpool but not a red rolling machine

[Angry Dan]

Chelsea was a weird one, nobody seemed up for it, neither players or fans.

You were not at Stamford bridge then

[FatTony]

We've certainly been impressive going forward, but we need another imposing central defender to strengthen.

I have a worry that we're going to see too many players leaving this summer and we'll lose the fluidity which we now have.

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that we won't see Reina, Babel, Alonso, Lucas and one of either Aurelio or Arbeloa next season.

[Fowler_God]

We've certainly been impressive going forward, but we need another imposing central defender to strengthen.

I have a worry that we're going to see too many players leaving this summer and we'll lose the fluidity which we now have.

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that we won't see Reina, Babel, Alonso, Lucas and one of either Aurelio or Arbeloa next season.

[Elvoz]

we needed to change from a team set out not to lose to one who setsout to win
much as i hate to say it the scum are like that
maybe rafa realises it now and if he had continued in the style he had previously - he could very well of been looking for a new job
he has wised up imo
i like to think the word i had in january helped

[Roboklopp]

Cant see there being that big turnaround. Why would Reina be off? I think we'll keep Xabi now.

There's room for improvement in both the fullbacks, but I cannot see them not being in the squad.

[Tee]

I think next season we will be somewhere in between the 2 styles of football. So hopefully we will be disciplined enough to keep our shape and defend in numbers when we lose the ball but take some of those shackles off when we are attacking.

It is also interesting to see Xabi and especially Mascher playing about 10yards further up the field in recent games.

[Craig_H]

You were not at Stamford bridge then

I was at both games - and i was talking about Anfield