A welcome return to form for Philippe Coutinho has put the little magicians’ name back on the lips of Liverpool fans everywhere. Ben Twelves discusses the Brazilians’ recent impressive performances in his new role.
A second consecutive exceptional footballing display at Anfield saw Arsenal this time on the receiving end of a complete demolition job in a game that will be looked back on for years to come. It was arguably Liverpool’s best league performance of the Premier League years and was one that boasted another master class display from the Brazilian magician that is Philippe Coutinho.
When signed from Inter Milan for an absolute bargain sum of £8million, Coutinho arrived on Merseyside known for being a “technician” in the words of Brendan Rodgers and a typically gifted number 10 player. Most games of his Liverpool career to date have seen him deployed either in an advanced position on the left or as the traditional number 10 behind one of Daniel Sturridge or Luis Suarez, in a position high up the pitch where his intricacy and cuteness in and around the box can break water-tight defences.
The move to the middle
In the last four games in all competitions however, Rodgers has slotted Coutinho into a different role in the team – a slightly deeper and more central position in a midfield three alongside Jordan Henderson, but in front of Steven Gerrard in his deep-lying “controller” position. The change of role for Coutinho has seen him rejuvenated after a far less influential period than we’ve come to expect, but his new function has tied in dreamily with the minor adjustments Rodgers has made to the team.
The more compact and counter-attacking style that has been utilised since the first half horror show against Aston Villa has worked perfectly, with Coutinho adopting a central midfield position. The smart system allows us to patiently sit until we get the opportunity to hound the opposition, win the ball back and spring into life with a devastating attacking force.
The new role
In this system and role, the Brazilian is able to dictate play from a deeper position where he can collect the ball off the back four under less pressure and turn to play-make immediately. Opposition may be relieved that Coutinho is at arm’s length, but his radar-like vision and ability to execute penetrative forward passes, means that he can break defences from anywhere, as perfectly demonstrated with his Kaka-to-Crespo-esque through ball for Sturridge’s goal on Saturday.
Having the 21-year-old in this position further strengthens Liverpool’s counter-attack system. His natural instinct is to go forward, whether that’s with a pass or by carrying the ball. His dynamism complimented by Henderson’s athleticism means we swamp and terrorise our opponents through the numbers we commit forward and the ability we have to carve them open at will.
Defensively, his comfort and composure in possession means that he can relieve pressure on the team. Always willing to take the ball in tight areas, he can change the play with an incisive pass allowing us to progress forward or setting off on a jinking run, skinning three players and slotting yet another pin-point through ball for the counter-attack, just like in the second half to Henderson on Saturday.
It was very much love at first sight with Coutinho for his technical wizardry, but his move to the middle of the park has uncovered a side to his game that was previously hidden. While always one to press high and suffocate the opposition as Rodgers desires, Coutinho has now added a real tenacity in his off the ball work which sees him battle and scrap to regain possession.
It isn’t what we associate with Coutinho or necessarily what we want to see from him – he’s not in the side to unsettle opposition or kick lumps out of midfield opponents – but he deserves credit for adding to his game and taking on the responsibility, not shying away.
A permanent position?
What will be interesting to see is whether this will become a permanent position for Coutinho, in amongst the midfield three. Whether it is indeed a long-term move or just a temporary measure, we have learnt that it’s certainly an option.
It comes as no surprise that since he has moved infield, the last three league matches have seen Liverpool score 10 goals, with Coutinho claiming assists in two of those fixtures against Everton and Arsenal, where he set up goals for Daniel Sturridge, who couldn’t praise the little genius quickly enough.
Seeing the way the change of position has revived the 21-year-old from what had been a fairly quiet season so far, and the level of performance he is producing at the moment, the magician should be kept exactly where he is in Rodgers’ side.
One thing that we do know for certain about Philippe Coutinho is that wherever he plays in the team he’s a joy to watch and when he’s in this kind of form, there’s very little anyone can do but admire his magic.
A welcome return to form for Philippe Coutinho has put the little magicians’ name back on the lips of Liverpool fans everywhere. Ben Twelves discusses the Brazilians’ recent impressive performances in his new role.
A second consecutive exceptional footballing display at Anfield saw Arsenal this time on the receiving end of a complete demolition job in a game that will be looked back on for years to come. It was arguably Liverpool’s best league performance of the Premier League years and was one that boasted another master class display from the Brazilian magician that is Philippe Coutinho.
When signed from Inter Milan for an absolute bargain sum of £8million, Coutinho arrived on Merseyside known for being a “technician” in the words of Brendan Rodgers and a typically gifted number 10 player. Most games of his Liverpool career to date have seen him deployed either in an advanced position on the left or as the traditional number 10 behind one of Daniel Sturridge or Luis Suarez, in a position high up the pitch where his intricacy and cuteness in and around the box can break water-tight defences.
The move to the middle
In the last four games in all competitions however, Rodgers has slotted Coutinho into a different role in the team – a slightly deeper and more central position in a midfield three alongside Jordan Henderson, but in front of Steven Gerrard in his deep-lying “controller” position. The change of role for Coutinho has seen him rejuvenated after a far less influential period than we’ve come to expect, but his new function has tied in dreamily with the minor adjustments Rodgers has made to the team.
The more compact and counter-attacking style that has been utilised since the first half horror show against Aston Villa has worked perfectly, with Coutinho adopting a central midfield position. The smart system allows us to patiently sit until we get the opportunity to hound the opposition, win the ball back and spring into life with a devastating attacking force.
The new role
In this system and role, the Brazilian is able to dictate play from a deeper position where he can collect the ball off the back four under less pressure and turn to play-make immediately. Opposition may be relieved that Coutinho is at arm’s length, but his radar-like vision and ability to execute penetrative forward passes, means that he can break defences from anywhere, as perfectly demonstrated with his Kaka-to-Crespo-esque through ball for Sturridge’s goal on Saturday.
Having the 21-year-old in this position further strengthens Liverpool’s counter-attack system. His natural instinct is to go forward, whether that’s with a pass or by carrying the ball. His dynamism complimented by Henderson’s athleticism means we swamp and terrorise our opponents through the numbers we commit forward and the ability we have to carve them open at will.
Defensively, his comfort and composure in possession means that he can relieve pressure on the team. Always willing to take the ball in tight areas, he can change the play with an incisive pass allowing us to progress forward or setting off on a jinking run, skinning three players and slotting yet another pin-point through ball for the counter-attack, just like in the second half to Henderson on Saturday.
It was very much love at first sight with Coutinho for his technical wizardry, but his move to the middle of the park has uncovered a side to his game that was previously hidden. While always one to press high and suffocate the opposition as Rodgers desires, Coutinho has now added a real tenacity in his off the ball work which sees him battle and scrap to regain possession.
It isn’t what we associate with Coutinho or necessarily what we want to see from him – he’s not in the side to unsettle opposition or kick lumps out of midfield opponents – but he deserves credit for adding to his game and taking on the responsibility, not shying away.
A permanent position?
What will be interesting to see is whether this will become a permanent position for Coutinho, in amongst the midfield three. Whether it is indeed a long-term move or just a temporary measure, we have learnt that it’s certainly an option.
It comes as no surprise that since he has moved infield, the last three league matches have seen Liverpool score 10 goals, with Coutinho claiming assists in two of those fixtures against Everton and Arsenal, where he set up goals for Daniel Sturridge, who couldn’t praise the little genius quickly enough.
Seeing the way the change of position has revived the 21-year-old from what had been a fairly quiet season so far, and the level of performance he is producing at the moment, the magician should be kept exactly where he is in Rodgers’ side.
One thing that we do know for certain about Philippe Coutinho is that wherever he plays in the team he’s a joy to watch and when he’s in this kind of form, there’s very little anyone can do but admire his magic.
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen believes that Liverpool can win the Premier League this season.
The Reds are currently fourth in the league table with 50 points from 25 matches, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers' side can close the gap on the Blues on Wednesday with victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, and will be favourites heading into the game with strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge both likely to start.
Meulensteen admits that winning against Liverpool even at home will not be easy, but urges his players to give their all against the Merseysiders and pull themselves off the foot of the table.
"They've had an excellent season," the Cottagers coach told the Fulham Chronicle.
"They might be a dark horse and if other big teams stumble where you don't expect them to and they can carry the momentum into April, you never know.
"It's a good thing the striker in the middle is not an O as it'd be SOS. It has to be all hands on deck for us.
"We have to defend in a good compact manner. The defensive performance from Sunday (2-2 draw with Manchester United) was a massive improvement.
"That's the start of a resurrection. We've got a 14-game league and this was the first game, a big tough away game.
"We defended really well but we need to be more positive when we have the ball."
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen believes that Liverpool can win the Premier League this season.
The Reds are currently fourth in the league table with 50 points from 25 matches, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers' side can close the gap on the Blues on Wednesday with victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, and will be favourites heading into the game with strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge both likely to start.
Meulensteen admits that winning against Liverpool even at home will not be easy, but urges his players to give their all against the Merseysiders and pull themselves off the foot of the table.
"They've had an excellent season," the Cottagers coach told the Fulham Chronicle.
"They might be a dark horse and if other big teams stumble where you don't expect them to and they can carry the momentum into April, you never know.
"It's a good thing the striker in the middle is not an O as it'd be SOS. It has to be all hands on deck for us.
"We have to defend in a good compact manner. The defensive performance from Sunday (2-2 draw with Manchester United) was a massive improvement.
"That's the start of a resurrection. We've got a 14-game league and this was the first game, a big tough away game.
"We defended really well but we need to be more positive when we have the ball."
Architect Peter McGurk, whose blog on the Anfield redevelopment was linked to by Liverpool owner John W. Henry on twitter, writes about recent news regarding the regeneration of the stadium.
The recent publication of a draft planning guidance is another significant step toward the regeneration of Anfield and the Anfield/ Breckfield area. When the draft is confirmed, it will have established a solid planning case for both community and club.
Doing, and being seen to do, the right thing is a far cry from the mishandling of Anfield Plus or from throwing tens of millions at pipe dreams. It may seem a long time coming but getting the literally thousands of people who are directly involved on to the same page is a tremendous achievement in such a short space of time.
The club will have look at its business case as carefully and as comprehensively. More than any other of its direct competitors, this club understands that it must be the cutest with the money. Together, the planning and business cases will be a solid basis to take the schemes forward with greater certainty.
Thus every step has been measured and carefully considered. And this un-common prudence and good sense runs right through the planning and consultation stages to the design of the stadium itself. Neither the club nor council could pre-judge the process by issuing final schemes and detail drawings. But now we can see where the consultations have led and we can glean quite a bit about the stadium itself.
We have all come to understand that a redevelopment can earn as much as a new stadium at half the cost or less. We all expect £72m annual matchday revenue to be not too wide of the mark as a target. We all know it is tens of millions behind United and the London clubs but we all know it’s realistic and worth doing because to do otherwise will net us very little and at huge risk of financial failure.
Most of us remember the extension of the Centenary Stand. We know that the stadium can be extended 365 (minus 19) days a year building higher and behind the existing stands. Some work must go on in the summer for sure but there is no reason to lose revenue during construction. With an application in this year, a newly extended Main Stand in 2016 is not unrealistic.
The club has got closer to a more accurate calculation of the ‘sweet spot’ of capacity. The final figure will be tempered by the sight angles of the existing stadium and the ingenuity of the design.
Whether it’s 58,000 or 61,000 or expandable to 64,000, the club knows to the best of its knowledge that the stadium will be the most realistic balance of demand, ticket price and construction cost.
Whatever the chosen capacity and whenever the roof goes on any particular stand that’s about it for that stand. To expand further the club would need to look elsewhere in the ground.
The (Upper) Centenary Stand has a useful life in front of it and outside of better hospitality is the most difficult technical challenge to expand.
A dominant Kop is part of Anfield but extending backwards is difficult, expensive and disruptive. A new roof for not many extra seats is difficult to justify.
Widening the Kop by filling in the corners (like it used to be) would work in a limited way but to expand significantly, the potentially higher Anfield Road End corners are the place to go. Unfortunately corners are complicated and complicated is more expensive.
This year’s TV deals have been a massive boost to income and the relative importance of the stadium income has fallen behind – there are certainly less risky ways of making money. But while it still matters, ticket prices are not going to get cheaper for many – not so long as player costs and competition are what they are.
To put stadium revenue and player costs into perspective, the additional net income from the stadium might be between £10m and £15m or just about our most expensive player’s wages at £200,000 per week.
The club has done its research. It will size the stadium carefully and it will hope or expect it to be more or less full every game to make the cost of it work.
The different types of family, premium and standard seats will create a wider pricing structure that will appeal to more of the people more of the time, whilst creating the financial surplus to support the development of the team. Yes, there will be more of the more expensive seats (and some premium seats will be eye-watering) but there will be even more of the less expensive ones.
A wider pricing structure, greater pre and post match facilities in an Anfield Square for a longer day, a multitude of ‘price entry points’ – will be something for everyone. To get the kids and future generations of support in. To get as many as possible in at all levels of affordability. To fill the ground. More people. More noise. More atmosphere.
The design will be a simple and straightforward extension on two sides with the majority of new seats in the Main Stand in as few tiers as possible. There, there will be a significant number of premium seats with linked hospitality suites at or around the half-way line, at or around mid height. Some may have to or want to make way for premium seats but with an additional net 10,000 or so standard seats for even a Category A match, there will be better choice and greater availability.
The club has the detail of the season ticket survey. Certainly the cost of a whole season in one go is pricing out many, particularly the young. Given the increase of capacity and the potential need to allow more people to attend fewer games to fill the ground, the number of season tickets might rise only at the same rate as the capacity increases. At that, that would be an additional 5,000 season tickets and that would be too many.
The outcome is a simple stadium. Not a cheap stadium but a cost-effective stadium. Large blocks of seating. Close to the pitch. Rising as sharply as regulation allows. All the columns and overhangs gone. Clear and unobstructed views for everybody to every part of the pitch and every part of the ground. Plenty of hospitality for all groups. A strong roof line. Dominant. Intimidating. In short, a proper football ground.
Such a stadium would be a great stadium. An awesome stadium. And all the better for being Anfield.
Architect Peter McGurk, whose blog on the Anfield redevelopment was linked to by Liverpool owner John W. Henry on twitter, writes about recent news regarding the regeneration of the stadium.
The recent publication of a draft planning guidance is another significant step toward the regeneration of Anfield and the Anfield/ Breckfield area. When the draft is confirmed, it will have established a solid planning case for both community and club.
Doing, and being seen to do, the right thing is a far cry from the mishandling of Anfield Plus or from throwing tens of millions at pipe dreams. It may seem a long time coming but getting the literally thousands of people who are directly involved on to the same page is a tremendous achievement in such a short space of time.
The club will have look at its business case as carefully and as comprehensively. More than any other of its direct competitors, this club understands that it must be the cutest with the money. Together, the planning and business cases will be a solid basis to take the schemes forward with greater certainty.
Thus every step has been measured and carefully considered. And this un-common prudence and good sense runs right through the planning and consultation stages to the design of the stadium itself. Neither the club nor council could pre-judge the process by issuing final schemes and detail drawings. But now we can see where the consultations have led and we can glean quite a bit about the stadium itself.
We have all come to understand that a redevelopment can earn as much as a new stadium at half the cost or less. We all expect £72m annual matchday revenue to be not too wide of the mark as a target. We all know it is tens of millions behind United and the London clubs but we all know it’s realistic and worth doing because to do otherwise will net us very little and at huge risk of financial failure.
Most of us remember the extension of the Centenary Stand. We know that the stadium can be extended 365 (minus 19) days a year building higher and behind the existing stands. Some work must go on in the summer for sure but there is no reason to lose revenue during construction. With an application in this year, a newly extended Main Stand in 2016 is not unrealistic.
The club has got closer to a more accurate calculation of the ‘sweet spot’ of capacity. The final figure will be tempered by the sight angles of the existing stadium and the ingenuity of the design.
Whether it’s 58,000 or 61,000 or expandable to 64,000, the club knows to the best of its knowledge that the stadium will be the most realistic balance of demand, ticket price and construction cost.
Whatever the chosen capacity and whenever the roof goes on any particular stand that’s about it for that stand. To expand further the club would need to look elsewhere in the ground.
The (Upper) Centenary Stand has a useful life in front of it and outside of better hospitality is the most difficult technical challenge to expand.
A dominant Kop is part of Anfield but extending backwards is difficult, expensive and disruptive. A new roof for not many extra seats is difficult to justify.
Widening the Kop by filling in the corners (like it used to be) would work in a limited way but to expand significantly, the potentially higher Anfield Road End corners are the place to go. Unfortunately corners are complicated and complicated is more expensive.
This year’s TV deals have been a massive boost to income and the relative importance of the stadium income has fallen behind – there are certainly less risky ways of making money. But while it still matters, ticket prices are not going to get cheaper for many – not so long as player costs and competition are what they are.
To put stadium revenue and player costs into perspective, the additional net income from the stadium might be between £10m and £15m or just about our most expensive player’s wages at £200,000 per week.
The club has done its research. It will size the stadium carefully and it will hope or expect it to be more or less full every game to make the cost of it work.
The different types of family, premium and standard seats will create a wider pricing structure that will appeal to more of the people more of the time, whilst creating the financial surplus to support the development of the team. Yes, there will be more of the more expensive seats (and some premium seats will be eye-watering) but there will be even more of the less expensive ones.
A wider pricing structure, greater pre and post match facilities in an Anfield Square for a longer day, a multitude of ‘price entry points’ – will be something for everyone. To get the kids and future generations of support in. To get as many as possible in at all levels of affordability. To fill the ground. More people. More noise. More atmosphere.
The design will be a simple and straightforward extension on two sides with the majority of new seats in the Main Stand in as few tiers as possible. There, there will be a significant number of premium seats with linked hospitality suites at or around the half-way line, at or around mid height. Some may have to or want to make way for premium seats but with an additional net 10,000 or so standard seats for even a Category A match, there will be better choice and greater availability.
The club has the detail of the season ticket survey. Certainly the cost of a whole season in one go is pricing out many, particularly the young. Given the increase of capacity and the potential need to allow more people to attend fewer games to fill the ground, the number of season tickets might rise only at the same rate as the capacity increases. At that, that would be an additional 5,000 season tickets and that would be too many.
The outcome is a simple stadium. Not a cheap stadium but a cost-effective stadium. Large blocks of seating. Close to the pitch. Rising as sharply as regulation allows. All the columns and overhangs gone. Clear and unobstructed views for everybody to every part of the pitch and every part of the ground. Plenty of hospitality for all groups. A strong roof line. Dominant. Intimidating. In short, a proper football ground.
Such a stadium would be a great stadium. An awesome stadium. And all the better for being Anfield.
Adam Griffies discusses whether an away trip to Anfield is now beginning to be feared once again by Premier League opponents.
Luis Suarez takes a free-kick against Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Not for the first time, a rendition of ‘There’s only one Brendan Rodgers’ filtered around Anfield from the Kop on Saturday afternoon, during the closing stages of an emphatic swatting aside of Premier League leaders Arsenal. The manager, standing proud, acknowledged with a wave.
The Northern Irishman is steadily cementing a place for himself in the hearts of wounded Liverpool fans; even the most fervent of Rodgers sceptics, who will tirelessly argue Benitez or Dalglish could have done superior jobs, are now desperately trying to drag themselves out of their bottomless pit of nostalgia to enjoy the attacking brand of football our current leader is engineering. Those who remain stubbornly unimpressed, know they are wrong.
That being said, I suppose you could dismiss those opening two paragraphs as subjective waffle. So I better provide some statistics. This season we have so far scored 63 goals in 25 games, including 38 in 13 home matches at an average of 2.9 goals per game. These sort of figures are frankly ludicrous, and are of course unprecedented for us in the Premier League era, dwarfing any other numbers. Poor Rafa, even in that magical 2008/09 campaign, could only boast two goals per game.
Okay, okay, I guess talk of the fastidious Spaniard will prompt you to question our defensive record under Rodgers. It’s awful, apparently. We’re a shambles at the back. Well if you bother to take a quick look at our record for this campaign, you’ll realise things aren’t as bad as is consensed. 30 goals conceded in 25 league games is no disaster when you consider Rodgers has been forced to chop and change his backline because of injuries throughout the season, arguably not once being able to field his strongest defensive quartet. Absences are particularly prevalent at the moment, with Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Jose Enrique, an entire back four in itself, all side-lined. This makes our recent solidity all the more admirable; with probably our fourth choice centre-back partnership, Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure, we have conceded a meagre two goals in our last four games. Additionally, at home we have let in just nine goals all season, the joint-second best record in the Premier League.
Progress, particularly at Anfield, is undeniable.
Now as I’ve got that off of my chest, onto the game itself.
Arsenal strode into Anfield at 11:30 am with a content swagger, indicative of their position at the top of the table, and possessing the strongest away record in the 2013/14 Premier League: eight wins from 12 matches. They were unbeaten on our patch in their previous six visits. Arsene Wenger had never been so happy, having to invent new ways of releasing the abundance of anger and frustration he has always been inhibited by. The zip of his seven-eighths length, ridiculously long coat was seen as the ideal, helpless target.
That didn’t last long.
By 1:06 pm, within 20 minutes of kick-off, the Frenchman found his shell-shocked side 4-0 down. It was a stunning start, surely never matched previously at Anfield, particularly in a fixture of this magnitude. Wenger didn’t know how to react, pitifully asking why a free-kick wasn’t given to Arsenal in the build up to our third goal, as the tireless Jordan Henderson won the ball from Mesut Ozil and bounded towards the Anfield Road net. Wenger knew it wasn’t a foul; he was just desperately in need of something to complain about. Mesut Ozil sat and watched, doubtlessly affected by his team’s predicament. Possibly.
Arsene Wenger shakes hands with Brendan Rodgers after his side are thrashed 5-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Wenger’s February-fall-apart expression had now encompassed his face, as he contemplated another annual springtime capitulation.
Centrally, with a staggered one-two shape, we expertly monopolised what, on paper, looked a world-class Arsenal midfield. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho shuttled dynamically from opposing player to player, providing a constant springboard for fast, flowing red attacking waves. Behind them, Steven Gerrard controlled proceedings consummately, as he continues to grow into his new regista role. The Brazilian magician Coutinho looked every inch an all-round midfielder, executing six successful tackles, less than only his captain, and roaming deep to record 66 touches of the ball, more than any other Liverpool player. Coutinho’s burgeoning ability to play as part of a central trio is a bonus for us, giving us an extra option; the 21-year-old is proving he can play the determined role Joe Allen performs, but clearly with more guile.
Further forward, Yevhen Konoplyanka was frighteningly good. Sorry, Raheem Sterling I should say. His directness exemplified his current level of confidence, terrorising Gunners’ defenders with explosive, weaving runs. He deserved his two goals and was unlucky not to grab a hat-trick. After absurdly being written off by some last year at the age of 18 (yes, eighteen), the England international has clearly stepped up a level in recent months. You’d hope when, and not if, he next goes through another patch of poor form, he gets more backing from a lot of supporters.
It seems unfair to mention individuals, as everyone was very good on the day. And that is no exaggeration.
To be fair to Arsenal, Everton had hardly fared better against a similarly swarming Liverpool opening salvo 11 days earlier. Roberto Martinez’s men found themselves 3-0 behind after 35 minutes, and perhaps looked just as vulnerable to the Reds incessant, whirlwind attacking style.
And that’s the thing, this demolishing of teams is becoming a pretty regular occurrence, and not just against mediocre outfits. The Reds, unbeaten in their last 10 home games, have scored at least three goals in eight of their 13 Premier League matches at Anfield this campaign. That is some going.
Brendan Rodgers has unequivocally transformed us from a side which netted a miserable 47 goals in 2010/11, distinctly lacking attacking diversity and potency, to a fluent unit with, well, just that.
The manager’s explanation for his repositioning of our attacking trio in Saturday’s win was particularly impressive. Things were subtly changed from last weekend’s draw at West Brom to counter Arsenal’s strengths and prey on their weaknesses. “We shifted it about tactically,” Rodgers said. “We played Daniel Sturridge through the middle to try to exploit his speed centrally. Luis Suarez played in a wider role today and put in a selfless job. We switched Raheem Sterling over to the left side to penetrate and to control Sagna a little bit.” It’s this sort of proactivity and ingenuity which, in my opinion, makes the Northern Irishman one of the best young managers around.
Although it’s gone fairly unnoticed in the midst of such a stunning team performance, I also liked Rodgers introduction of 18-year-old Jordan Ibe in the 76th minute. The London-born winger got some invaluable Premier League experience against a host of big names and certainly didn’t look out of place or shy of confidence. It’s encouraging to see our manager continue to pick from a busy conveyer belt of young talent from the Academy.
Brendan Rodgers applauds the Anfield crowd against Arsenal. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Rodgers was replaced, when he came to Liverpool, at previous club Swansea by Michael Laudrup, leading to calls that the Welsh club had got the better deal. 18 months on, Laudrup was dismissed from his job with Swansea lingering perilously above the bottom three. Meanwhile, Brendan continues to take us from strength to strength. Oh the irony.
Upon making that switch from South Wales to Merseyside, Rodgers firmly stated “I want to use the incredible support to make coming to Anfield the longest 90 minutes of an opponent’s life. That’s the idea. I want to see this great attacking football with creativity and imagination, with relentless pressing of the ball.” It’d be hard to argue with the fact he’s achieving exactly that. Anfield is becoming a place for travelling sides to fear again.
And finally, a special mention to David Moyes: the gift that keeps on giving, and crossing.
Adam Griffies discusses whether an away trip to Anfield is now beginning to be feared once again by Premier League opponents.
Luis Suarez takes a free-kick against Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Not for the first time, a rendition of ‘There’s only one Brendan Rodgers’ filtered around Anfield from the Kop on Saturday afternoon, during the closing stages of an emphatic swatting aside of Premier League leaders Arsenal. The manager, standing proud, acknowledged with a wave.
The Northern Irishman is steadily cementing a place for himself in the hearts of wounded Liverpool fans; even the most fervent of Rodgers sceptics, who will tirelessly argue Benitez or Dalglish could have done superior jobs, are now desperately trying to drag themselves out of their bottomless pit of nostalgia to enjoy the attacking brand of football our current leader is engineering. Those who remain stubbornly unimpressed, know they are wrong.
That being said, I suppose you could dismiss those opening two paragraphs as subjective waffle. So I better provide some statistics. This season we have so far scored 63 goals in 25 games, including 38 in 13 home matches at an average of 2.9 goals per game. These sort of figures are frankly ludicrous, and are of course unprecedented for us in the Premier League era, dwarfing any other numbers. Poor Rafa, even in that magical 2008/09 campaign, could only boast two goals per game.
Okay, okay, I guess talk of the fastidious Spaniard will prompt you to question our defensive record under Rodgers. It’s awful, apparently. We’re a shambles at the back. Well if you bother to take a quick look at our record for this campaign, you’ll realise things aren’t as bad as is consensed. 30 goals conceded in 25 league games is no disaster when you consider Rodgers has been forced to chop and change his backline because of injuries throughout the season, arguably not once being able to field his strongest defensive quartet. Absences are particularly prevalent at the moment, with Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Jose Enrique, an entire back four in itself, all side-lined. This makes our recent solidity all the more admirable; with probably our fourth choice centre-back partnership, Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure, we have conceded a meagre two goals in our last four games. Additionally, at home we have let in just nine goals all season, the joint-second best record in the Premier League.
Progress, particularly at Anfield, is undeniable.
Now as I’ve got that off of my chest, onto the game itself.
Arsenal strode into Anfield at 11:30 am with a content swagger, indicative of their position at the top of the table, and possessing the strongest away record in the 2013/14 Premier League: eight wins from 12 matches. They were unbeaten on our patch in their previous six visits. Arsene Wenger had never been so happy, having to invent new ways of releasing the abundance of anger and frustration he has always been inhibited by. The zip of his seven-eighths length, ridiculously long coat was seen as the ideal, helpless target.
That didn’t last long.
By 1:06 pm, within 20 minutes of kick-off, the Frenchman found his shell-shocked side 4-0 down. It was a stunning start, surely never matched previously at Anfield, particularly in a fixture of this magnitude. Wenger didn’t know how to react, pitifully asking why a free-kick wasn’t given to Arsenal in the build up to our third goal, as the tireless Jordan Henderson won the ball from Mesut Ozil and bounded towards the Anfield Road net. Wenger knew it wasn’t a foul; he was just desperately in need of something to complain about. Mesut Ozil sat and watched, doubtlessly affected by his team’s predicament. Possibly.
Arsene Wenger shakes hands with Brendan Rodgers after his side are thrashed 5-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Wenger’s February-fall-apart expression had now encompassed his face, as he contemplated another annual springtime capitulation.
Centrally, with a staggered one-two shape, we expertly monopolised what, on paper, looked a world-class Arsenal midfield. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho shuttled dynamically from opposing player to player, providing a constant springboard for fast, flowing red attacking waves. Behind them, Steven Gerrard controlled proceedings consummately, as he continues to grow into his new regista role. The Brazilian magician Coutinho looked every inch an all-round midfielder, executing six successful tackles, less than only his captain, and roaming deep to record 66 touches of the ball, more than any other Liverpool player. Coutinho’s burgeoning ability to play as part of a central trio is a bonus for us, giving us an extra option; the 21-year-old is proving he can play the determined role Joe Allen performs, but clearly with more guile.
Further forward, Yevhen Konoplyanka was frighteningly good. Sorry, Raheem Sterling I should say. His directness exemplified his current level of confidence, terrorising Gunners’ defenders with explosive, weaving runs. He deserved his two goals and was unlucky not to grab a hat-trick. After absurdly being written off by some last year at the age of 18 (yes, eighteen), the England international has clearly stepped up a level in recent months. You’d hope when, and not if, he next goes through another patch of poor form, he gets more backing from a lot of supporters.
It seems unfair to mention individuals, as everyone was very good on the day. And that is no exaggeration.
To be fair to Arsenal, Everton had hardly fared better against a similarly swarming Liverpool opening salvo 11 days earlier. Roberto Martinez’s men found themselves 3-0 behind after 35 minutes, and perhaps looked just as vulnerable to the Reds incessant, whirlwind attacking style.
And that’s the thing, this demolishing of teams is becoming a pretty regular occurrence, and not just against mediocre outfits. The Reds, unbeaten in their last 10 home games, have scored at least three goals in eight of their 13 Premier League matches at Anfield this campaign. That is some going.
Brendan Rodgers has unequivocally transformed us from a side which netted a miserable 47 goals in 2010/11, distinctly lacking attacking diversity and potency, to a fluent unit with, well, just that.
The manager’s explanation for his repositioning of our attacking trio in Saturday’s win was particularly impressive. Things were subtly changed from last weekend’s draw at West Brom to counter Arsenal’s strengths and prey on their weaknesses. “We shifted it about tactically,” Rodgers said. “We played Daniel Sturridge through the middle to try to exploit his speed centrally. Luis Suarez played in a wider role today and put in a selfless job. We switched Raheem Sterling over to the left side to penetrate and to control Sagna a little bit.” It’s this sort of proactivity and ingenuity which, in my opinion, makes the Northern Irishman one of the best young managers around.
Although it’s gone fairly unnoticed in the midst of such a stunning team performance, I also liked Rodgers introduction of 18-year-old Jordan Ibe in the 76th minute. The London-born winger got some invaluable Premier League experience against a host of big names and certainly didn’t look out of place or shy of confidence. It’s encouraging to see our manager continue to pick from a busy conveyer belt of young talent from the Academy.
Brendan Rodgers applauds the Anfield crowd against Arsenal. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Rodgers was replaced, when he came to Liverpool, at previous club Swansea by Michael Laudrup, leading to calls that the Welsh club had got the better deal. 18 months on, Laudrup was dismissed from his job with Swansea lingering perilously above the bottom three. Meanwhile, Brendan continues to take us from strength to strength. Oh the irony.
Upon making that switch from South Wales to Merseyside, Rodgers firmly stated “I want to use the incredible support to make coming to Anfield the longest 90 minutes of an opponent’s life. That’s the idea. I want to see this great attacking football with creativity and imagination, with relentless pressing of the ball.” It’d be hard to argue with the fact he’s achieving exactly that. Anfield is becoming a place for travelling sides to fear again.
And finally, a special mention to David Moyes: the gift that keeps on giving, and crossing.
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