Topic: The Attack

[Chakan]

One clinical finisher is all we need.

[Adeemo]

One clinical finisher is all we need.

I'd prefer to have 2 or 3, like the top teams.

[paddysour]

I know what you're saying but Raheem is still playing as the focal point, the biggest goalscoring threat we've looked all season, bar the Spurs game, was the 2nd half at Old Trafford.

Personally I thought our performance level dropped off in the Utd game when Balotelli came on

[Chakan]

I'd prefer to have 2 or 3, like the top teams.

Beggars can't be choosers.

[LFC when it suits]

Been saying it all along. Pace up front will turn us into the same team we were last year. We need Sturridge back and another fast striker up top and we will be great.

[killer-heels]

Been saying it all along. Pace up front will turn us into the same team we were last year. We need Sturridge back and another fast striker up top and we will be great.

Still won't be able to defend though.

[elpistolero7]

I'd prefer to have 2 or 3, like the top teams.

Well, err, sure. I'd prefer my girlfriend to want threesomes too. Lets be realistic for now, and just hope that the one that we have is fit and firing in the new year. It'll make a massive difference. I honestly think Sturrdige's return could see the return of the diamond and finally Balotelli, under less pressure to fire could get going. I think there's one hell of a player in there.

[elpistolero7]

Still won't be able to defend though.

If and when we can, I honestly think Skrtel and Lovren need to be dropped. Toure and Sakho are the two decent and good center halves at this club. No Johnson, get in a proper RB or play the Spanish kid. Moreno at LB. Get in a proper keeper, no mucking about.

I definitely think there are weaknesses in the way Rodgers sets up a defense, but Skrtel for one has been making the same mistakes for more than half a decade here. Johnson's utterly useless, and they are somehow automatic choices when fit for us? We need stability at the back...a settled center half partnership and a decent keeper. I think a big part of rectifying that will be getting a new keeper. If we're to get 1 player in January, I'd hope we get a keeper, cause there's 2 supremely talented ones available at the minute.

[alvaro]

What do we do with Balotelli? Do we give him a chance or not? I think we should give him some minutes against Burnley as an attacking winger.

[killer-heels]

What do we do with Balotelli? Do we give him a chance or not? I think we should give him some minutes against Burnley as an attacking winger.

I thought we were shitter against Utd with him. What we should do is sell him.

[paddysour]

I thought we were shitter against Utd with him. What we should do is sell him.

Agree with this. Just cut our losses Robbie Keane style. Keane was a better transfer and all

[Chris~]

Unless we plan on making Sterling play a stupid amount of minutes in a short time, which we probably will do, Balotelli will be needed.

[RyanBabel19]

What do we do with Balotelli? Do we give him a chance or not? I think we should give him some minutes against Burnley as an attacking winger.

Keep him, play him in a front 2, he will come good in my opinion and it would do him good to be able to play upfront with a strike partner. Hasn't even been with us a season, still far too early to write him off

[SerbianScouser]

Lallana and Markovic are gonna go to the next level once we manage to field somebody upfront of Sturridge`s quality and style of play. Having somebody who can dominate upfront will open up a lot of good options for us. It`s great to see the two of them finding their feet slowly but surely and improving with every game.

At one point I even wondered have we perhaps grossly overestimated their abilities but the last few games they look proper Liverpool players to me. Also really proud of my compatriot Markovic`s improvement as I`m desperate for him to do well and represent my country in the best possible way on and off the pitch.

[farawayred]

A cold reminder of the cruel reality. Here is the Premier League top scorers table as of today, including everyone who scored more than 3 goals:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers

Only three teams are not represented in that table - Aston Villa, QPR and... Liverpool. 

[Popcorn]

A cold reminder of the cruel reality. Here is the Premier League top scorers table as of today, including everyone who scored more than 3 goals:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers

Only three teams are not represented in that table - Aston Villa, QPR and... Liverpool. 

Sterling will be there on Friday after his double against Burnley.

It does say a lot though and it's obviously been the big problem but it looks like we have moved back in the right direction.. Suspect there's goals coming for us.

[kcbworth]

How fucking sensational was Coutinho. Shame he only got the 1 goal, but man, if everyone else had played even close to the level he played today, we would have done fucking well. Great player.

[Reeves]

I thought we were shitter against Utd with him. What we should do is sell him.

We MUST sell him - he's shite - doesn't work, try, assist, score, he's a gross waste of money and a negative cancer on our club.

[Mr_Shane]

On the other hand if we had anyone on our team who was clinical. That player would hit 20 goals per season easily. The players we have now can't seem to score to save their lives. 

[Gnurglan]

How fucking sensational was Coutinho. Shame he only got the 1 goal, but man, if everyone else had played even close to the level he played today, we would have done fucking well. Great player.

Coutinho is looking for the ball and he tries to make things happen. Exactly the kind of things I want to see when the team doesn't function. No hiding. There are some more, but so far the effect hasn't been as big as necessary. Still need some more to follow Coutinho's example.

[Elzar]

Sell Balotelli and spend the money on getting his midfield equal, Ars Bandeet.

[jooneyisdagod]

A cold reminder of the cruel reality. Here is the Premier League top scorers table as of today, including everyone who scored more than 3 goals:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers

Only three teams are not represented in that table - Aston Villa, QPR and... Liverpool. 

Charlie fucking Austin has 11 goals ? Seriously ?

[Gnurglan]

Charlie fucking Austin has 11 goals ? Seriously ?

Yes. Something to consider when we think some of our new players are doing alright.

[elpistolero7]

Charlie fucking Austin has 11 goals ? Seriously ?

Nobody, and i mean fucking nobody tell our transfer committee that 

 

[kcbworth]

Coutinho is looking for the ball and he tries to make things happen. Exactly the kind of things I want to see when the team doesn't function. No hiding. There are some more, but so far the effect hasn't been as big as necessary. Still need some more to follow Coutinho's example.

I'd go a step further to say he is making things happen. The first 30 minutes was a masterclass!

Shame Sterling wasn't quite on the same wavelength as Coutinho + Markovic + Sahkho + Lucas tore it up in that first half. Honestly as good as I saw us last year in those positions imho.

We could have scored 5 or more in this one without too much trouble if Sterling Lallana Henderson were at the top of their games (not that I was unhappy with them, well, other than Hendo)

But Coutinho has done some great things this season. And the whole team was wonderful at moving the ball forward with purpose against Arsenal

I think that first 30 is actually a big step forward for us

think wed get more goals with Can in the place of Henderson or Gerrard though

Question for now though is... where does Sterling play when Struridge eventually returns. Id think it is where either Lallana or Henderson played?

Countinho has to be an ever starter now for me

[jooneyisdagod]

Yes. Something to consider when we think some of our new players are doing alright.

It's surreal mate.

Nobody, and i mean fucking nobody tell our transfer committee that 

 

Dear god, no. Let's not make the same mistakes again.

[Didi_ram]

Coutinho as the number 10 was as close to perfection as possible yesterday. If only he hadnt fluffed one of the 2 shots he had in the 2nd half.
Markovic was class: what quite a few of us have been saying since ages. This lad will tear teams apart, if he gets gametime. Lallana I thought was good, not sensational, but did well. Sterling seemed a bit quiet today in the first half, possibly because he was playing CF and the ball wasnt reaching him enough.
With all this creativity, we need a quality striker, and the goals will come.

[The Infamous_LFC]

Coutinho is looking for the ball and he tries to make things happen. Exactly the kind of things I want to see when the team doesn't function. No hiding. There are some more, but so far the effect hasn't been as big as necessary. Still need some more to follow Coutinho's example.

Only saw the first half but big phil was always showing for the ball and showed real leadership imo

[MNAA]

Markovic is certainly getting better. But are getting the best of him at left wing back? He can be more dangerous further up on the right. Outside right perhaps?

[cricketrocks]

Markovic is certainly getting better. But are getting the best of him at left wing back? He can be more dangerous further up on the right. Outside right perhaps?

Sure, it could be changed up; Lallana is mobile enough imo to play WB and Markovic has the pace to get in behind, so  we do have that option, but honestly it's just good to be excited to watch Liverpool play again.

Btw, watching Coutinho is an absolute pleasure - he wouldn't look out of place in Barcelona's midfield.

[JSteve]

Markovic is coming on nicely. We just need a striker.

Coutinho please try to place the shots rather than power it home. When he placed it in the first half, we scored.

[Bobinhood]

I have given Markymarc plenty of stick because I felt he was overwhelmed by the physical prem, but he wouldn't be the first to be taken aback and taking him out of the firing line for a gradual reintroduction here seems to be working, basel borough and arsenal are not hugely physical teams mind, but he has clearly looked much better and although his young age and inexperience seems to cough up the ball once in a while, still it adds a new dimension to this funky blend of magicians and speedsters and speedy magicians the LMC Esses With Lucas hitting the stage shortly great new band its got a great beat and you can dance to it.

That shit will get you a goal. a goal, a goal at last whoo hoo water in the desert.

Borini's brainwaves must be mapped for science although I truly admire his intensity about everything.

[kcbworth]

Btw, watching Coutinho is an absolute pleasure - he wouldn't look out of place in Barcelona's midfield.

Certainly is more crucial to us than most of the other guaranteed starters atm. Think he will hit league POTY form at some point in his career with us

[Didi_ram]

The man wont move if a tiger chased him, but I think Balotelli should come straight into the team for the next few games, until January starts- when something happens in the striker department. Would put Sterling where Lallana plays- Lallana has done well, but at the end of the day someone has to score goals. Would like us to continue with the 3-4-3, although we are shite at the back, because in the last 3 games, we have created more chances than probably 10 games put together before that. I try to be optimistic, we are attacking beautifully without the end product, but atleast something is starting to click.
I think this type of football will give us goals against Burnley and Leicester. Vs Swansea we need to be a bit more stable at the back.

[The Infamous_LFC]

The man wont move if a tiger chased him, but I think Balotelli should come straight into the team for the next few games, until January starts- when something happens in the striker department. Would put Sterling where Lallana plays- Lallana has done well, but at the end of the day someone has to score goals. Would like us to continue with the 3-4-3, although we are shite at the back, because in the last 3 games, we have created more chances than probably 10 games put together before that. I try to be optimistic, we are attacking beautifully without the end product, but atleast something is starting to click.
I think this type of football will give us goals against Burnley and Leicester. Vs Swansea we need to be a bit more stable at the back.

Agreed on everything especially on Sterling in the Lallana role. This formation will do Balotelli a lot of good having runners on either side of him Sterling and Coutinho/Lallana.

[kcbworth]

And Sterling and Lallana (and maybe Henderson) can rotate to keep fresh

[cptrios]

We MUST sell him - he's shite - doesn't work, try, assist, score, he's a gross waste of money and a negative cancer on our club.

To be fair, I don't think he's done any of the "negative cancer" stuff that we were afraid of. The recent Twitter (or Instagram or whatever it was) thing is embarrassing, but it's more or less confined to him and had nothing to do with the club itself.

What he is is a failed signing. He's a square peg in a mobile-striker-shaped hole, and his presence here over a quicker, hungrier alternative - even one who isn't particularly good at finishing - is having a dramatic impact on our season. So yeah, sell him, cut our losses, and try to scrounge up someone who can move around a bit.

[outlaw_nas]

Our form has got better once we resorted to a pacy attacker (sterling), worryingly why did it takes us this long to realise that's what we needed

[Brentieke]

Charlie fucking Austin has 11 goals ? Seriously ?

We now know who we'll get when Sturridge leaves.

Carroll for Torres, Lambert for  Suarez... Charlie's next!

[ThePoolMan]

To be fair, I don't think he's done any of the "negative cancer" stuff that we were afraid of. The recent Twitter (or Instagram or whatever it was) thing is embarrassing, but it's more or less confined to him and had nothing to do with the club itself.

What he is is a failed signing. He's a square peg in a mobile-striker-shaped hole, and his presence here over a quicker, hungrier alternative - even one who isn't particularly good at finishing - is having a dramatic impact on our season. So yeah, sell him, cut our losses, and try to scrounge up someone who can move around a bit.

Restoring balotelli to the lineup would again destabilize our lineup and go agaibst the principle of speed and mobility which appears to be the only way that this team can excel at playing.