Martin Skrtel

[Lecter]

While I agree to a certain extent, the likes of Watford and Leicester haven't bought top class players, but they have got to where they are because they have players that will get stuck in an will make a difference, they make things happen in the game, which we seem to be lacking. But with all due respect to those sides (and I am not running down what they have achieved), but at the so called bigger clubs the challenges are different. Despite Leicester being above us in the table teams are more likely to play an open game against them and pack men behind the ball against the bigger sides like ourselves, similarly despite their higher position in the table there is more pressure and expectation on us than there is on them. Despite playing in the same league what the sides come up against and what is required of them is IMO very different, many of the players that we consider as struggling this season would probably improve sides such as Watford or Leicester because of the differences in situation and expectation.

I agree that we need more pace and movement in the side, we need to move the ball quicker and compete in the midfield aand improve our soft centre at the back, but as well as bringing in good footballers, we need good organisers, leaders and players who are mentally tough, which are (usually) at the top class end of the market.

Pace and direct running, combined with good movement and quick passing is hard to counter-act no matter whether the opposition sits back or not

Just look at against West Brom, 2nd half they were comfortable sitting back on their penalty box. Balls to Benteke where just gobbled up, but once we brought on Origi and Ibe the whole complexion of the game changed. Defenders just dont like people running at the with pace

The game is so much about pace now in the Premier League

[Fosterbloke]

It's an observation I made before, and one we've identified many times.

In 2015, we relentlessly attacked with direct running and clever play.

This season we're not passing between lines or getting someone to run forward. It's all sideways and pass backwards crap. If we do run forward we usually get dispossessed due to ball hogging.

[redmike65]

You've got your years messed up I think. Esp as 2015 is just a calender year not a season!

There is talk elsewhere that Sktrel has done himself an injury and will be out for months

[DannyMan2006]

Skrtel out for 6 weeks he has said on his Instagram.

[danperkins]

We are jinxed, hopefully he makes a good recovery. Really need a bit of luck now keeping the rest of the CBs fit....vital games coming up.

[Chris]

Oh well, a better player will come in.

[Slinky Skills]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35165161

Martin Skrtel: Liverpool defender confirms six-week lay-off

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has confirmed he will be sidelined for six weeks through injury.

The 31-year-old Slovakia international limped off in the 41st minute of the Reds' 3-0 defeat by Watford on Sunday.

In a post on his Instagram account, Skrtel said he had suffered a tear in his hamstring and tendon.

He wrote: "I will work hard on my recovery and will do everything to come back as soon as possible and even stronger than before."

Skrtel has been ever-present for Liverpool this season, making 26 appearances in all competitions.

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[Harv]

Been saying it for years. He's absolutely ****ing rubbish and weak as piss and has been one of our biggest problems for years! **** positioning, awful reader of play, rash tackler, crap header, can't pass to save himself. Can't believe he's still one of the first names on the team sheet.

[The_weatherman]

Interesting, maybe this means we'll try to speed up the Matip deal? Hope so anyway. Will also be interesting to see how the team performs over a longer period without Skrtel.

[Exiled_red]

Interesting, maybe this means we'll try to speed up the Matip deal? Hope so anyway. Will also be interesting to see how the team performs over a longer period without Skrtel.

I think that not much will change in the short term. The Leicester game will give Klopp a headache I imagine. Sakho has been rushed back and didn't look right at the weekend but really has to play so it's a question of who partners him:
Lovren - questionable about whether he'll be back, gives us a pairing of 2 CBs just back from injury
Toure - has been prone to errors when he has played
Lucas/Can - would be playing out of position and weakening the midfield

Not great options.

I assume when Lovren is fit him and Sakho will be the prefered option while Skrtel is out, I guess it will be interesting to see how that works

[dww]

Sakho is the only one I feel confident will be good when fit. I would like to see Toure have a bit of a run though. At his best he was a really excellent CB.

The idea of Lucas back there is an interesting one. It's an experiment I would like to see tried but not right now. I also think he is just about the only midfielder we have capable of adding structure to our game.

[McDermotX]

Toure is far too absent minded though, and even in his best two seasons for Arsenal he was blessed with having good partners, not just in defence, but also good ball players around him always willing to take a pass or offer an outlet. That in no way could be applied to us, and Kolo is further down the train line with many more miles on the clock.

Sakho is often too reckless for the most part as well, with his athleticism often bailing him out, but we all like a ball player and while he can vary from game to game, his intentions are usually positive. Cannot count on him with regard to his injuries though, so unless he proves himself we should probably be looking further ahead. Which leaves us in a bit of a quandry given that we'd need to laying out a lot of money for up to 3 CBs which is complete madness.

We have far bigger issues elsewhere which is endemic to us not controlling games and minimising defensive concerns. Get another CB in and concentrate in other areas (middle of the park and attack - new goalie upgrade would be nice as well).
Love Lucas but sticking him back there is experimental at best, and even with the re-jigging against Watford in mind, he still found it necessary to push out towards the weak midfield and leave gaps, which also led to Sakho having to drop back to cover the space afforded to their two forwards - something which happens across a lot of modern defences but some cannot grasp this and probably would like a return to the Arsenal method of the late 80s

[Exiled_red]

Sakho is the only one I feel confident will be good when fit. I would like to see Toure have a bit of a run though. At his best he was a really excellent CB.

The idea of Lucas back there is an interesting one. It's an experiment I would like to see tried but not right now. I also think he is just about the only midfielder we have capable of adding structure to our game.

Sakho and Toure seems the best option for the Leicester game. Toure was a really good defender at Arsenal and City, but I would never say he has ever shown it for us, sadly I think his best days are behind him.

I thought Lucas did well there for the hour or so he had against Watford after Skrtel went off, but of course Watford were 2-0 by that time so getting him to play there from the start could be a whole different issue. And as you mention taking him out of the midfield weakens us in there.

[dww]

I can see all of your concerns re: Toure. I just feel sometimes you are best off looking to have the most positive best possible outcome, rather than mitigating things to have a not bad solution. I do think several of our players have a past of showing for passes from defence (Lucas, Milner, to differing degrees Lallana and Coutinho too). Toure has been dominant in the air in the past too. If we had other options I was confident of I wouldn't be advocating it, but we don't.

Long term I think it is a shame that we didn't keep either Wisdom or Illori, even if only to rule them out or in as possible solutions.

For me what we really need is a partnership - even if it is not of the best individual defenders. I'd say there is a chance that no one at the club now will be first choice next season.

[McDermotX]

I can see all of your concerns re: Toure. I just feel sometimes you are best off looking to have the most positive best possible outcome, rather than mitigating things to have a not bad solution. I do think several of our players have a past of showing for passes from defence (Lucas, Milner, to differing degrees Lallana and Coutinho too). Toure has been dominant in the air in the past too. If we had other options I was confident of I wouldn't be advocating it, but we don't.

Long term I think it is a shame that we didn't keep either Wisdom or Illori, even if only to rule them out or in as possible solutions.

For me what we really need is a partnership - even if it is not of the best individual defenders. I'd say there is a chance that no one at the club now will be first choice next season.

Its possible that Wisdom and Illori are done with us alright, more probable to be honest, but Joey Gomez pre-injury showed some promise, so I'll be interesting to see how he returns and adapts. Still very young, but it'd be nice to have a promising candidate. Not first choice by any means, even before the injury, but fast, calm and strength go a long way.