Liverpool FC - True grit, or ready to submit? Discuss.

Lucas Leiva: Bend it like Gerrard!

Liverpool have seven games of the season remaining. Up until now they've bagged 84 goals over the 31 matches played this season. That's an average of almost three goals per match. More than half of them, 47, have come from Luis Suarez with 26 and Daniel Sturridge on 21. This has been all too well. Lovely to watch, deserving of the praise and confirming the side is now in a place to challenge the very best.

However, that's all done now. Brendan Rodgers' men have arrived at the business end of the season in a position that is theirs for the taking and the Premiership title a real possibility. The saying goes that there's no game more important than the next one and this applies to Liverpool this weekend with the visit to Anfield of Tottenham Hotspurs. Can Liverpool come out on top? I certainly believe so. In fact, if I go against the expression and look at the remaining fixtures, I don't see any games that the team can't win. Even the main protagonists Manchester City and Chelsea should not be a cause for alarm. True grit or bottle, yes. Alarm or submit, certainly not. 

This is the time for the entire squad to show what they're made of. Courage is what is needed at this stage of the season. With this statement, I'm not just referring to Joe Allen, Raheem Sterling or Martin Skrtel. Not that any of those named are showing anything less right now. I'm talking about Brendan Rodgers. I'm loathe to criticise a man who has done wonders for the club. He's restored some pride and metal into a flagging side. He's turned a bunch of wannabe's into a real group of contenders and this is wherein lies my point. He has a group of contenders. 

Liverpool Football Club have a squad of players. To cover injuries, to enable competition for places and to allow for practical as well as tactical selection. With that in mind, I'm baffled as to why Rodgers is insisting on playing Gerrard when he's one yellow card away from a two match ban. Yes he scored against Sunderland in the week and he is, after all, the team's source of back bone, drive and a kick up the backside when required. That said, the club has a squad of players and I think Rodgers needs to show the courage to use it. 

The next game may well be the most important but it's not the deciding game of the season and I don't feel there's much point in Rodgers' indulgence. Dare to be brave yes, but foolhardy? I'm not sure if playing Gerrard is what you could call brave. I'm leaning more toward foolhardy. If he's that vital an ingredient then surely we need to avoid the One day feast and one day famine scenario, to coin one of my mother's favorite expressions. There's more food in the cupboard! Looking at the squad, there is another player who could do a job in Gerrard's position and isn't getting a look in. 

Enter Lucas Leiva. Gerrard is, after all playing in his position and I don't think many a Liverpool supporter would say Lucas has done a bad job. For the last three seasons or so, he's become an integral part of the team, let alone the squad and I think it's about time Rodgers showed a bit more faith in the Brazilian and kept Gerrard in reserve for the next game or two. I believe the squad has sufficient depth - just about on account of Lucas - to be able to turn Tottenham and West Ham over without Gerrard. Man City? Debatable. What I'm beginning to not believe, is that the manager is brave enough to stick his neck out and make that call. 

Should Gerrard pick up a yellow card against Tottenham, and let's not delude ourselves, it's not beyond the realms of possibility, then it'll be fair to say that the manager has undone himself. Is Iago Aspas an able replacement for Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge? Probably not and that's definitely an area of the squad that needs a good understudy and reason for not playing him. Is Lucas an able replacement for Steven Gerrard. I'd say yes. Certainly a better replacement for Gerrard than Aspas is for either of the front two. 

Come on Brendan. Show us what you're made of. The team is not a one trick pony and I'm sure you're of the same belief. Let's use the depth of the squad. It may not be as strong as some of our rivals, but there's strength there nonetheless. 

Follow me on Twitter: @Mrbengreen

Liverpool's Loan Players Mean Money In The Bank

Andre Wisdom (Left): Cash cow or Loss leader?

According to reports, the country is now on the road to financial recovery. Despite this we all still need to keep an eye on the purse strings and Liverpool Football Club are no different. Let's be honest, never mind blaming the Mrs., we're all guilty of a retail excess now and again. A little shirt here, £50. A nice jacket there, £200 and, in the case of Liverpool, a centre back or two, £20m. It all adds up. I've been doing some digging and Liverpool have no fewer than 13 players out on loan this season. That's virtually another team, barring a few subs. 

It's common knowledge that Brendan Rodgers needs to strengthen the defence, not only in preparation for potential Champions League football, but also to spare the blushes from some more than ropey defending we've seen in recent months. Well, he need look no further than the loan list where the team almost has an embarrassment of riches available and ready to save the club more than just a few quid on new players. 

To avoid boring everyone to tears, here's my pick of the bunch that will help Chief Financial Officer Andy Hughes sleep that little bit sounder with the prospect of signing off some rather hefty cheques over the summer months to come. After all, as they say, look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. 

Of the five defenders, Andre Wisdom must be in with a shout of pushing for a first team place next season. And the updates from Derby County are very encouraging indeed. The lad is good. Strong, fast and, judging from what we've seen of Glen Johnson's ageing legged performances this term, Wisdom would be worth a run in the side. We have Jon Flanagan at right back now, but he's also been used effectively on the left. Wisdom has been impressive whenever he's played and you could argue that the first team exposure will bring him on leaps and bounds as it has done for Flanagan. That's surely a saving of six or seven million at today's rates. 

In midfield, I'd like to see Oussama Assaidi come back. From what I've seen he's had a decent spell at Stoke City. He scored an absolute screamer against Chelsea in December to give the Potters a deserved victory. He would make a decent replacement in the event of injury, and alternative to any of Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho or Iago Aspas.  Where Aspas is concerned, I think his massive league goal tally this season of, er... two, should make him a contender to be sent out on loan himself if Rodgers still rates him. Or out to graze if I were to rate him. There's also Jordan Ibe who most definitely has something to offer. Not as a starter, but again, bums on seats. Even if those seats take the form of the bench, he should get more playing time in the cup games and cover for the inevitable injuries. That's another five or six million quid there. More if you add the two bob they'd get for Aspas if he was sold on. 

The loan market has already helped Liverpool to save a fair packet.  I'm sure Mr. Hughes is glad they've taken some players on to the books with only the wage liability and not a burdensome multi-million pound transfer fee to add to the balance sheet as well. Enter Aly Cissokho. He was mooted as a £12m must have purchase a year or two ago. The 26 year-old on loan from Valencia has been a tad disappointing in my eyes and I'm grateful that the club didn't part with a large fee for him. Thank The Lord! They've only just turned the corner of financial recovery like the rest of us and he'd have been the footballing equivalent of a pair of loafers too far. The ones that looked nice in the shop, but now they always squeak and hurt your feet when you wear them. 

Liverpool have a good thing right now. Not only are they second in the league and improving mentally, tactically and technically physically with each game, but the future prospects for the team look very bright in terms of the younger players at hand. It's vitally important that the likes of Ibe, Conor Coady, Jack Robinson and the rest are developed into the players that they have the undoubted potential to be. My only concern with them playing at clubs like Derby County and Sheffield United is that they do not get the kind of challenge in the lower divisions that they'll get in the Premiership and the club should strive to find top quality clubs for these players whenever possible. 

In summary, let's try to have a win win situation here. The home-grown players mean the team can grow from within and build a stronger base. LFC must not rely on the transfer market where prices and quality are both overinflated. Money makes a good servant, but an awful master. 

Follow me on Twitter: @Mrbengreen

Let the games begin!

Once it was "The Twist", now do "The Sturridge"!

After a gap of a couple of weeks focussing on the day job, I've made a welcome return to the keyboard this weekend. As well as casting a more than beady eye over Liverpool's performance yesterday it's worth having a look at the noteworthy from the first week of the 2013/14 Premiership season. To say a scoreline can be deceiving is a massive understatement if we look at some of yesterday's results. The two most contrasting being Liverpool's opening 1-0 win against Stoke and Manchester United's 1-4 "drubbing" of Stoke.

I watched the Liverpool match with a Manyoo supporter as it happens which, apart from sacrilege, was actually very good fun so thanks to him for that. You know who you are! I thought Liverpool were impressive and Jordan Henderson and Kole Toure hitting the post makes me begin to think that the woodwork at Anfield is due for a trimming seeing as it's been getting in the way so much this last couple of seasons. The United-ite was actually impressed by what he saw of Brendan Rodgers' men and I have to say so was I although not surprised. The understanding between Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho is as good as any I've seen since John Barnes and Peter Beardsley and that can't do the reds any harm. Add to that the inventive Iago Aspas and it seems that Rodgers may well have struck gold with these guys. On this showing, they can ban Luis Suarez for another ten games for me. I'm not entirely sure why he's still there but that's another discussion for another time.

The scoreline definitely didn't do Liverpool justice but I think it was a good result seeing as they haven't won an opening league game for the last five seasons. The passing was neat, the movement was inventive and the intensity was high. The only thing missing was clinical finishing and this is something the guys definitely need to work on in they want to improve on last season's finish. With the exception of Robert Huth hitting the crossbar early doors and Lucas Leiva clearing off the line shortly afterwards, the Liverpool goal wasn't really under threat for much of the 90 minutes. Simon Mignolet's late penalty save gave more food for thought that Rodgers is definitely building something worthwhile at Anfield. Despite that numpty Daniel Agger needlesly committing the hand ball to concede said penalty in the first place. Asmir Begovic picked up the Man of the Match award. Need I say more?

In total contrast to Liverpool's efforts, that from those at the other end of the East Lancs road can best be described as scant. Having turned up at the Liberty Stadium 35 minutes late, Robin van Persie spectacularly volleyed them into the lead. This was, it had to be said, against the run of play and curbed the clear annoyance of Manyoo fan who was glad to see something positive from his side at last. Most would agree David Moyes was a good choice to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson and it seems the style of football under Moyes hasn't really changed from what I saw. In view of what he's inherited though, I believe the phrase if it aint broke don't fix it is appropriate. Swansea were unlucky to go behind and but for a little more guile from Nathan - Soul singer look-alike - Dyer, Swansea could and should have snatched a lead early on. Save to say, if's but's and maybe's... It didn't happen and Manyoo went on to win at a canter as the Swans had clearly given up the ghost once Danny Welbeck's second put the game out of reach. They were probably thinking about next week's potential beating at Tottenham by the end.

Away from those matches, Arsenal were done 1-3 at home to Aston Villa to put more pressure on Arsene Wenger. He now needs to seriously contemplate opening that hefty wallet he's sitting on at the Emirates Stadium and bring some steel into the side. The Norwich Everton 2-2 was no real surprise and Roberto Martinez is evidently going to continue the Everton tradition of doing not very much. Cardiff went down 0-2 to West Ham which was harsh. Having to go to Upton Park for their first game in the Premiership is a baptism of fire putting it mildly, and hope goes against hope that Cardiff can resist more beatings this season. Sunderland, Fulham and West Brom, Southampton both 0-1 away wins respectively seemed pretty boring from what I saw so I won't bother with them. Like I said in the beginning noteworthy.

All in all a good start to the new campaign. Hopes are high for Liverpool who have made a good start. With the next match being at home to Manchester United, I think it was important for Liverpool to get some points on the board before what is definitely going to be a stern test.

Follow me on Twitter @Mrbengreen