Liverpool's Full Back Injury Crisis

[Gibbo]

Dreading the City game. For people questioning Kenny's ability as manger look at that team and look at our position in the league, I know that hasn't been the case all season but we really really lack depth. I for one are amazed that we are sixth, if we still had the hodge it could've been so much worse.

[Exiled_red]

Can we bring Insua back at this point? I realize he is loan-tied with Gala until the end of the season but he's not their first choice (almost didn't play at all since Hagi took over) and I don't think they would be too opposed to let him go as long as that is possible.

I think that the UEFA rule mean he would be unable to play in competitive games because it was a season long loan, the same thing happened a couple of years ago when we had an player return from loan early (Nemeth?)

[Exiled_red]

It all points to the 2 dodgy physio's we signed from Newcastle. Look how quickly their injury problems have disappeared and ours have exploded

I thought we'd got rid of them?

[Lecter]

I won't even criticize our central defenders if they hoof the ball a lot. It is not like they will have that many options.

If City take Lucas out of the game ,and you expect them to do that, then hoof will be the option we have left.

Simple solution would be just to play Suso & Sterling

[RichC]

Horrible situation we're in at the moment with the defence, noises being made that Aurelio might be back this weekend although not holding my breath.

If he makes it I'd look at this, not great at all but we're not exactly blessed with available players - pack the centre of midfield, get Kuyt to tuck in and protect Carra and pray that Carroll and Suarez can nick something

Carra......Skrtel.....Soto......Aurelio (Wilson most likely)

.............Lucas.......Spearing.......
...................Merieiles..................

......Kuyt...................Suarez

..................Carroll.................

[red g]

Horrible situation we're in at the moment with the defence, noises being made that Aurelio might be back this weekend although not holding my breath.

If he makes it I'd look at this, not great at all but we're not exactly blessed with available players - pack the centre of midfield, get Kuyt to tuck in and protect Carra and pray that Carroll and Suarez can nick something

Carra......Skrtel.....Soto......Aurelio (Wilson most likely)

.............Lucas.......Spearing.......
...................Merieiles..................

......Kuyt...................Suarez

..................Carroll.................

well if he is back this weekend then he would have to get through 1 or possibly 2 days without injury till monday. Big ask.

[PTP]

deary me what a ****ing mess lol - going to be a long hard slog to keep it going to the end of the season

[RichC]

well if he is back this weekend then he would have to get through 1 or possibly 2 days without injury till monday. Big ask.

hence my Wilson comment - even if he starts you can see him coming off after 15 minutes with some sort of injury

[dww]

Out of interest - how does our injury situation this season (and last) compare with previous campaigns and other teams. It really does feel like our defence in particular is cursed. Certainly it is difficult to detect an improvement from our new medical set up.

[Mostar]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Liverpool-defender-Fabio-Aurelio-in-line-for-comeback-against-Manchester-City-article720182.html

Aurelio in line for comeback against Man City

Fabio Aurelio is set to return to action to ease Kenny Dalglish's injury headache.

Aurelio is training again after missing the last month with a torn hamstring and is in contention to face Manchester City on Monday at Anfield.

Dalglish will be glad to have the Brazilian defender back after Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson joined Martin Kelly and Steven Gerrard on the crock list.

Agger injured his knee in the defeat at West Brom on Saturday and Johnson his hamstring and the Reds fear they could be out for some weeks.

Liverpool are also waiting for the scan results on Gerrard's troublesome groin amid fears the Reds skipper could be out for the rest of the season.

Dalglish has turned to rookie teenage defenders Jack Robinson and John Flanagan to bolster his back four.

The pair were omitted from the Reserves' defeat against Aston Villa last night and will train with the first team this week.

Robinson, 17, is the club's youngest-ever player after making his senior debut at Hull on the final day of last season, while Flanagan has been on the bench for three Europa League games during the current campaign.

[Cormack74]

Excellent.

We'll have our first choice left back available for another 20 minutes.

[Fernandinho]

Give or take 19 minutes.

[DeeTheDog]

"Kenny Dalglish, meanwhile, has brought the academy youngsters John Flanagan and Jack Robinson into the first-team squad at Melwood as he deals with a defensive injury crisis that could leave him without Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly for Monday's visit of Manchester City."

Why not take the opportunity to blood one of these young players at full back? Full back probably allows the greatest opportunity to give a young player a game. We cannot be allowed to field a back four of Carragher, Skrtel, Soto & Wilson again; we might as well remove our midfield and just play 5 forwards, to chase the endless hoofs.

[dww]

"Kenny Dalglish, meanwhile, has brought the academy youngsters John Flanagan and Jack Robinson into the first-team squad at Melwood as he deals with a defensive injury crisis that could leave him without Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly for Monday's visit of Manchester City."

Why not take the opportunity to blood one of these young players at full back? Full back probably allows the greatest opportunity to give a young player a game. We cannot be allowed to field a back four of Carragher, Skrtel, Soto & Wilson again; we might as well remove our midfield and just play 5 forwards, to chase the endless hoofs.

I think this is true in a stable defence, where a player can be allowed to either essentially play a very defensive or attacking game and other players instructed to cover or they can be helped through by the CB inside them. In an unsettled team like ours there is a real danger they get exposed in what has in recent years become a more important position in both attacking and defensive aspects of the game.

[Fredo]

There's no way Aurelio will play on Monday, he's never been rushed back from injury before and the club isn't going to take this risk surely. Bring back Konchesky.