Guest Post: How a back three can save Brendan Rodgers' job

Since Brendan Rodgers became Liverpool manager we've only looked consistently solid defensively while playing a back three. In between the 2014/15 season-changing games against Manchester United, we conceded only 15 goals in 23 games in all competitions. The only other times we have looked solid defensively for more two games in succession came in the three consecutive 1-0 wins at the start of both this season and 2013/14. Both of these spells, however, were characterised by defending deep and in numbers, and making the clean sheet a priority. Balance was lacking. Our attacking play suffered. The manager's return to playing three at the back in the last two games gives me reason to believe he's not finished yet. He can still turn this around. Here's why.

Martin Skrtel

The big Slovakian has been the mainstay of every Liverpool defence under Brendan Rodgers, seldom finding himself out of the team for any great length of time. Skrtel has a very specific skill set. He is very good at certain aspects of defending, and absolutely abject at others. Those of you with decent memories will remember Rafa Benitez' ill-fated experiment with playing Skrtel as a right back against Sunderland a few years back. He was terrible. It's fair to say he is terrible whenever he finds himself being pulled into a fullback position from centre back too. Take him out of the centre and his positional sense abandons him, along with his confidence. His response when an opposition attacker is able to isolate him and dribble at him with pace is to back off so quickly and to such an extent that he drags the whole team deeper, and puts needless pressure on his goalkeeper. Brendan Rodgers' commitment to having both his fullbacks joining in with attacks has often left Skrtel in this position on the counter attack. This discomfort at 1v1 defending has always made Skrtel seem very unsuited to being a Brendan Rodgers centre back. For this reason I was surprised and disappointed when he was given a new contract in the summer.

However, during the three at the back spell last season, he was immense. Having a centre back either side of him meant he never got isolated 1v1. He was able to stay central except for sweeping up balls played in behind the other centre backs. Having two holding midfielders in front of him meant he rarely had to defend on the front foot. His propensity to back off became a strength rather than a liability when he was deployed as a sweeper. Furthermore, there was little onus on him to start attacks with incisive vertical passes: he was able to leave that to the more capable Can and Sakho.

Rodgers' ideal formation is clearly 4-3-3. His first blueprint for this season was to play this formation, and to mitigate Skrtel's (and Lovren's, who is also more comfortable in a low-lying, compact block) weaknesses by restricting his fullbacks' and central midfielders' attacking movements. This was more from the Mourinho or Pulis school of defending: ensuring the centre backs are rarely left isolated because if one full back gets forward the other stays back, and holding midfielders are constantly ensuring the centre backs don't have to step out of their defensive line. Unfortunately, this predictably detracted from the attacking side of our game. The three 1-0 wins at the start of the season were dull, lifeless affairs (a great 20 minutes at Arsenal aside) in which we rarely got enough players ahead of the ball or into the opposition penalty area.

The return to a back three for the Norwich game hopefully hints towards the manager acknowledging that he cannot maintain a good balance between attack and defence with Skrtel in a back four. If he is determined to play a back four in the long term then Skrtel cannot be part of it. A Gomez-Sakho partnership may well be the future of a Liverpool 4-3-3, but for now there are question marks about the youngster's readiness for such a prominent role. For now, keeping Skrtel in the team but playing to his strengths in a back three seems sensible.



Daniel Sturridge

I have found it quite bizarre just how many Liverpool fans seem to have written off the possibility of Sturridge playing a key role this season. Yes, he has had a year of injury problems, but the noises coming out of the club suggest that they are confident that his operation at the end of last season fixed the underlying problem. He is our best player when fully fit, bar none. We would have finished in the top four last season had it not been for his injury problems, and Rodgers would not be under nearly as much pressure now.

When Sturridge did play last season, it was as a lone striker (Tottenham away aside). He can certainly do a good job in this role, but I feel he is better with a partner. He does some excellent work dropping into the number 10 position, and drifting wide to isolate defenders. I believe it takes something away from his game to ask him to spend more time in the penalty area. The travails of Balotelli, Borini and Lambert meant there were no good options to partner him last season. That has now been rectified, and Benteke, Ings and Firmino could all prove brilliant foils for the prolific Brummie. Of course this has tactical implications too: Rodgers' preferred 4-3-3 is most likely to see Sturridge playing off a main striker in a wider position. The switch to a back three allows us to get our best player in his best position, playing to his strengths.

Alberto Moreno

One of the strangest decisions the club made in the transfer market, given Rodgers' aforementioned blueprint for the season, was not investing in a more defensively sound left back. Moreno is great going forward, has infectious energy and enthusiasm, but has looked a liability at the back. He is precisely the kind of full back that Skrtel and Lovren must have nightmares about: he ensures that the centre backs will be pulled out of position. The decision to start the season with Gomez at left back was certainly designed to help the centre backs, but may have had the added benefit of giving young Alberto a kick up the backside. He looked incredibly motivated against Norwich, and created more chances than anybody. He is a natural wing-back, and will no doubt be praying for the retention of the 3-5-2. If the manager reverts to a back four, he will have to choose between Moreno's defensive deficiencies, and Gomez's inability to go forward on the outside. Neither is the kind of option you expect a top-four club to have. Moreno as a wing back, if the Norwich performance is anything to go by, can be just that.

Emre Can

Surely no-one can doubt Can's potential. In a few years he will be a genuinely world-class player. Brendan Rodgers took a lot of stick last season for refusing to play Can in a central midfield role, but his performances there this season surely explain the thinking behind this. He has looked constantly positionally unsure both with and without the ball, not knowing when to press and when to hold his position, or when to make a forward run or when to drop off for a short pass to feet. Last season, like Skrtel, he was brilliant in the back three, before being exposed when deployed as a right back in a back four. His ability to carry the ball out of defence gives us an extra dimension, and he seems much more comfortable when he can see the whole game ahead of him. I remain of the opinion that this could be a long-term position for him, replicating the sort of job David Alaba does for Bayern Munich. Like Alaba, of course he has the tools to play in central midfield too. But for now let's continue to play him in the one role he has truly excelled in.

Conclusion

Last season was going completely tits-up before the switch to a back three. We suddenly started playing the high-tempo football that had characterised 2013/14, but with more defensive solidity. For 15 games, we were outstanding. Not just Brendan Rodgers post-match interview outstanding, but actually outstanding. The reversion to a back four after the defeat to United was baffling and took us backwards. While the recruitment of Nathaniel Clyne made a back four slightly more sensible this season, it still seemed the only way we could keep a clean sheet in this formation was by throwing numbers at the problem. Let's face it, a team in any formation has a good chance of a clean sheet if they sacrifice attacking intent and keep ten men behind the ball.

Clearly the change in formation will not solve all of our problems overnight. James Milner's form, Phillipe Coutinho's consistency, and Simon Mignolet's command of his area, for example, are equally issues which could define our season. But playing three at the back is the way to restore defensive solidity without sacrificing our attacking intent, and this could breed the confidence which solves other problems too. It's disappointing that it has taken this long for Rodgers to bring back the system which saved our season last year. If it can bring the best out of Skrtel, Sturridge, Moreno and Can, it may just save his job too.'

By @KieranGarrard

Brendan Rodgers and my inner turmoil

You hear the phrases "his head's gone" or "he's mentally scrambled" a lot in sport and when it comes to Liverpool and specifically Brendan Rodgers... my head's gone. I don't know what to think.

In truth I've probably been suffering an inner turmoil when it comes to the manager since we started last season so poorly and somehow ended up having to play Rickie Lambert or Balotelli upfront on their own.

Since then I've had a near daily mental struggle with myself over whether I have faith in Rodgers... whether I genuinely think we are going to improve... whether or not the players we've bought are actually any good. It's tiring. I wish I could just relax and enjoy it. 

But let's face it, so far this season it's not been enjoyable. Supporting Liverpool seems to have become engulfed in tension, negativity and worry. A constant, painful yearning to be successful again, a bitter jealousy at seeing the likes of Man City gracing the biggest stages in Europe and an ongoing sadness about not being able to compete with Chelsea. A horrible fear that Man Utd will pull away from us again.

The start to this season was unspectacular but there was some hope. We were grinding out results... "players would take time to gel" was a sensible observation. Only two defeats later and that hope appears to have completely evaporated. Is that just the idiotically knee jerk nature of modern football? Should we be patient? In a few games time when we've won 5 on the bounce it'll all be smiles again? Or are the underlying concerns about Rodgers and our future founded?

It's not just morons on twitter who want Rodgers gone... genuinely passionate and intelligent supporters are starting to lose faith. I still don't know if I'm one of them. I'm worried I might be.

I think my desire to back Rodgers, be patient and give things time to develop comes more from my nature as a fan. I love Liverpool FC and I've always found it difficult to criticise any manager or player who is doing their best for the club (apart from Hodgson obviously.) I never wanted Houllier gone, I certainly didn't want Rafa out and I think I genuinely want Rodgers to succeed, but only because I want Liverpool to succeed...  not because I have any particular loyalty to Rodgers.

If you offered me Klopp tomorrow I'd probably bite your hand off and I suppose that says it all.

There is no guarantee Klopp would do any better, but it's hard to resist his allure, he feels like he'd fit.

Rodgers is starting to feel like an unwelcome guest at an already crap party. 

But I'm the sort of guy who still talks to them, out of pity. I don't want to have to pity the manager of Liverpool FC.

While Rodgers is manager I will get behind him and more importantly the team. But oh please, please for the love of God let's win a few games and score a few goals. Then everything will feel better. 

I can't take much more of this.

Liverpool 4 Swansea 1 - Reaction

God that was good wasn't it?

It's only after a great performance and 3 points like we saw against Swansea last night that you realise just how difficult the last few months have been. I don't think anyone predicted the drastic swing in Liverpool's fortunes that saw us nearly win the league 10 months ago to sitting 10th in the league at Christmas.

After back to back wins and perhaps more importantly an impressive display and four goals last night Liverpool FC end 2014 if not on a high, certainly on an assent.

I'm not going to go in for a big review of the year as there will be hundreds of those around, plus I can barely remember last week let alone 6 months ago, but I do want to make a few observations about last night...

Coutinho is class - I thought he was absolutely majestic last night, full of running, clever and his deft touch for Lallana's goal was sublime. He is still very young and I just hope he can develop into the world class player that he has the potential to be. Our only problem will be keeping hold of him if he does.

Lallana looking the part - He was one of the signings I was most happy with and despite not exactly setting the world alight I felt Lallana had been one of our better performers this season. He has undoubted ability and class and last night that began to show through more comprehensively. Now I just hope he kicks on and starts to gamble a bit more in the final third and has more shots and looks to slip those clever balls in... as opposed to always checking back the way he seems to love to do. Definitely he best performance in a red shirt so far.

Can, can - It's puzzled me why Can has not featured more so far this season, but his introduction into the back three has a been a revelation. I know we didn't buy him as a defender but he has experience at CB for the German U21 and at Leverkusen and on the evidence so far he could have a future there for Liverpool. He looked utterly composed and extremely calm - exactly what we've been crying out for at the back.

Henderson is better in the centre - I don't think there was any doubt about this really. but I enjoyed seeing Henderson back in the middle and he looked much more comfortable himself. He was able to sit in with Lucas when needed, but with Lucas doing the dirty stuff he was also able to join in with the front three and make those bursting runs that we enjoy so much.

Mignolet is better than Jones - again, I don't think there was any doubt about that really. Mignolet does not look like the long term answer for us, not in the slightest and we desperately need to buy a keeper in January but I feel happier with Mignolet in goal than I do Brad Jones.

Sterling Finish - Sterling has looked fantastic playing as a makeshift centre forward his movement and intelligence is way beyond his years and he can just start to add better finishing to his game he will become unstoppable.

I also think Manquillo and Moreno should get a mention, they performed well in those wing back positions. Manquillo will never be as attacking as Moreno, but he does a decent job. Lucas as ever did all the simple stuff really well, I'm so glad to see him back in the side regularly. Sakho as well deserves a mention, their goal was as much Skrtel and Henderson's fault as it was his.

Let's just really hope we can continue this sort of form into the Leicester game and 2015 might just start to look a little rosier again.

Stick or Twist

This morning I was thinking back to the last game of last season... we'd just beaten Newcastle but narrowly missed out on our first title for over 20 years. Stood on the Kop I was applauding and saluting an incredibly exciting group of young players... who had been fearless in one of the most exciting seasons I had ever experienced. Deep down I knew I was probably waving goodbye to Suarez... but I still had faith. I had faith in the man who was saluting us, small... determined... passionate. Shankly like. Brendan Rodgers.

Less than 6 months later and that optimism and excitement has drained faster than Chelsea fans take to start singing about Gerrard. 

Suarez is sunning himself in Spain and we've been without Sturridge for most of the season. Our dodgy defence has been exposed by our lack of fire power and over 100 million's worth of new talent is taking it's time to fire. Many are doubting its quality in the first place. Rodgers' claims that any side spending that sort of money should be challenging for the title are starting to look very foolish.

This week was heralded (as they often are) as the week which would make or break our season. After two wins on the bounce, and what looked like a small resurgence we suffered a disappointing draw against Sunderland at home. Now we face 90 minutes against Basle to save our season and then a tricky away game at The Theatre of Wet Dreams against a Utd side who look to be ominously getting back on track. They feared us last season... and who can blame them? You fancy they aren't quaking in their luminous boots this week.

Rodgers despite recently being backed by FSG is under intense pressure. Some say a Champion's League exit and loss at Utd could lose him his job. Despite the so called support there are clear whisperings in the press that FSG are assessing their options... bizarrely one of whom is a man who oversaw another huge overspend and then subsequent disappointment,  one AVB.

These sort of mumourings do nothing to help the situation. FSG, the club and the fans have to decide if they are going to stick or twist with Rodgers. He deserves more than to have a sacking constantly looming over his head during this crucial period. Liverpool, FSG... fans... players... collectively need to decide to back Rodgers now regardless of what happens in the next week. Otherwise he may as well go now for whatever happens this week, when the next bad patch comes around... it will start all over again. That is not how to build stability at a club.

The problem Rodgers and FSG have is that modern football is an unforgiving world. You need instant success to survive and instant success starts with regular Champion's League football.

FSG aren't blameless in any of this however... if they are seriously questioning Rodgers credentials as the man to achieve prolonged success at Liverpool I would question their judgement. If it is instant success you want, I would question a policy of investing in youth and potential... not just in terms of players but the manager too. Appointing a young and exciting coach, but one with no European experience is not an approach guaranteed to bring you instant and European success. It is a policy which requires a huge amount of patience and an ability to hold your nerve and stick by your convictions. If FSG do oust Rodgers by Christmas I would suggest that they don't really know what their policy is.

Amongst all of this, I think we do need to keep a sense of perspective. Our season has been hugely disappointing so far, but I believe Rodgers deserves time to turn things around. However I would also suggest that the Basle game is largely irrelevant... aside from the financial boost of the next round,  a win will only prolong the wait we have to be dismissed from the competition by superior opposition. That may seem incredibly pessimistic and there is no doubt of the confidence that a win would breed, but for me more important is a win at Utd and a sustained and march into the top four places. A disappointing first campaign in the CL is not the end of the world.... not being in it again next year is a disaster.

If we can get through Christmas still in touch with the top 4 I will be happy. Sturridge will be returning, Rodgers and 'the transfer committee' can make a honest assessment of the squad and make some difficult decisions on who to stick with and where we need to strengthen again.

Rodgers appears to learn from his mistakes quite quickly,  despite a perceived stubbornness around his 'philosophy.' He has taken a lot of the new signings out of the equation over the last few games and gone with players who if not considered the most talented (Lucas, Enrique, Toure) he knows he can trust and who have experience. It's a wise move, the new players can have the pressure taken off them a bit and continue to settle in and acclimatise. Meanwhile hopefully we can grind out some results and stay in the hunt.

I have had my doubts about Rodgers, I think anyone would have had... but at this stage I feel that we as fans and FSG as owners have to hold our nerve and back him. It might backfire... but personally I see absolutely no value in bringing in someone like AVB who would want to impart his 'philosophy' and bring his players in... after all, worked for him in the past hasn't it?

Palace Reaction

After the Hull game I wrote about the need to back Brendan Rodgers. There was no doubt that we were in tough spot, but there was a series of games in which we could turn things around. I’m sat here writing this after we’ve just been bullied and beaten by Crystal Palace and it’s palpable that we are still waiting for the green shoots of a turnaround to our season… let alone a full blown fucking tree. We have now lost four games in a row; our worst league start for over 20 years and we’ve lost more league games already than during the whole of last season. I am the last one for knee jerk reactions, but as Carragher said in the aftermath of the Palace game… this is more than a poor start, something is seriously wrong. 

We now have Ludogorets in a few days’ time in which a win is absolute crucial to us staying in the Champion’s League and I think it’s fair to say no one would have great confidence in us winning it. We’re running out of games to ‘turn our season around.’

Carragher is right, something is seriously wrong… the difficult question is, what?

I’m getting more and more sucked in to Twitter these days (@anfieldshrine) and after Palace there was the usual idiotic overreactions, calls for Rodgers to be sacked and the sort of idiocy associated with both modern society and modern football. I will not get sucked in to the calls for Rodgers to be sacked. We have to give him time to get it right… but in the modern game, that time is running out. If we don’t get back into the Top 4 and drop out of the Champion’s League at the group stage… our great progress of last season will have completely vanished and we’ll have been set back years.

In my heart, I can’t help but look at Rafa and his comments about wanting to move back to his family in Liverpool and long for him to return triumphantly to Anfield. But my head tells me that I should discount that and get behind Rodgers. He deserves more time and he deserves another full season to be judged on.

At the moment, things are so bad that there are more questions than answers… 

• Is Rodgers to blame or should the players shoulder most of the responsibility? 

•  How much control does Rodgers have over transfers? Who should be held accountable for poor buys?

• Where is the Lovren that we bought from Southampton? 

• What has happened to the form of Sterling… Coutinho… Henderson… 

• As painful as it is to admit… can Gerrard handle the deep lying role and offer out back four enough protection? Has he got one eye on a move abroad to play out his years… ? 

• Did Suarez and Sturidge make Rodgers look like a great manager last season? Has he got a Plan B… or more importantly s Plan C, D and E. 

I just hope to God that we begin to see some answers on Wednesday… another defeat and Rodgers position will become even more uncomfortable, whether we think that is fair or not.

We have to keep the faith

This is a snippet from a full article that will be appearing in Issue 206 of Red All Over The Land which will be on sale at the Chelsea game...

My immediate thought is that we HAVE to keep the faith. With Brendan Rodgers, with Balotelli, with everything. I wasn’t able to get to the Hull game, and a mate of mine went in my place. We exchanged a few texts after the game and he said one of the most frustrating things was how quickly fans got on the back of the players. We know there has always been the moaning contingent, for as far back as you want to go. But the horrible immediacy of modern football peddled by Sky Sports, social media and online gambling; breeds short sightedness, idiotic knee jerk reactions and uneducated bile of a level that I don’t think we have had to endure before. With ticket prices increasing and the modern game being gentrified more and more, Anfield is becoming a diluted theme park of itself.

 To read the full article, pick up a copy of RAOTL at Chelsea or subscribe for only £28 for 13 issues.

GUEST POST - Legacy - by Paul Grant

One of the new generation of Kopites leading the way these days with intelligent comment and loyal, passionate support, Paul Grant writes a guest post for The Anfield Shrine looking at what legacy our current side could leave behind... whatever happens this season..

As we our currently facing our biggest title challenge for 24 years, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on just how far we have come, not only in the past few months, but since Brendan Rodgers took to the throne in summer 2012. Without commenting my opinion on whether I think we will eventually win it or not I will take a look into the possibly legacy that Rodgers and our current squad can leave.

Despite having the wonderful presence of Kenny Dalglish leading us to our first trophy in 6 years and taking us to a FA cup final there was no denying that we finished in our worst league position for 50 years. Deep down I believe we all knew that it was time for a change in the hot seat, even if it meant sinking possibly lower. The owners were left with the daunting task finding us that man who would reshape our team from top to bottom in order to lead us success in years to come, that man was Brendan Rodgers.

Looking at Brendan’s previous track record there was certainly a sense of doubt, admittedly from myself also. Sacked after 22 games in charge of Reading, and despite leading Swansea to promotion to the Premier League there was whispers of him just simply inheriting Roberto Martinez’s side. We heard in the very first few weeks about how Brendan is going to take us not only back into the Champions League elite but hopefully lead us to a title challenge and by how we would do it playing an attractive possession style game, somewhat similar to his Swansea side who he lead to 11^th in his debut Premier League season.

In the early days, although it didn’t seem the results were going our way, we could certainly see the managers imprint on the team, shown through signings like Joe Allen, and despite only finishing 7^th in our first year with the new boss we knew that things would certainly be a lot brighter in years to come.

Fast forward 12 months, a lot has happened, on and off the pitch. We currently sit 4 games away from our first league title in 24 years, and whether we manage to pull it off or not, there is certainly no doubt that not only Liverpool fans, but football fans in general are amazed at the job Rodgers has done with Liverpool. Despite missing out on numerous transfers since his arrival he has managed to get 110% out of every single player on the pitch. Even one of the few tactical criticisms of Rodgers football about being too predictable has certainly been blown out the water. 5-3-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 diamond; we have seen it all this season and there is no doubt that it has worked well to our advantage, one perfect example of Rodgers influence on players is to look at Steven Gerrard.

“He’s over”, “His legs are gone”, “He’s a shade of the player he once was”, just a few comments I recall from the past few seasons about Steven Gerrard. Now sitting in his deeper, playmaker role for us leading us to an impeding 19^th title there is no doubt that Rodgers has not only improved him as a player overall but has probably extended his career for another 3 or so years.

Being of the younger generation of Kopites, I have grown up with Gerrard, in fact I attended my first Liverpool game not too long after his debut. There is no doubt for me that he is the greatest Liverpool player, admittedly it is hard to say this as I never grew up with the greats of Rush, Dalglish, Barnes, Souness, Keegan, Liddell etc. but I think most will agree it will certainly be hard to deny him of that title if he leads us to the championship.

Another example of Brendan’s terrific man management is his handling of the Luis Suarez situation. Around a year ago, I remember getting outside Anfield to read this confusion on my phone that Suarez had disgraced the club by biting Branislav Ivanovic’s arm. I was horrified, not only by the incident but the seemingly certain departure of the player. Again, fast forward 12 months, he has transformed his game and is now widely regarded as one of the best in the world, 29 league goals, despite missing the first 5 games through suspension and with 4 games still to play he has certainly sent shockwaves around the world, mainly to certain Premier League defenders.

There is always arguments about the legacy of players, who is determined as the greats, no doubt if Michael Owen and/or Fernando Torres would have stayed with us that they were certainly destined for legacy at the club but their departures have somewhat of a sour taste in our mouths, that is one reason why I really would love for us to win this league title. Not only would one of the greatest strikers in the world almost certainly be staying with us for at least another season but he would be propelled into Anfield greatness; and despite all his negatives there is no doubt that he brings many smiles around Merseyside and we hope it continues for years to come.

But regardless of how these next 4 games end up, there is no doubting the great job that Brendan Rodgers has done for our team over a relatively short time period, and hopefully continues to do. No doubting that Gerrard is one of the greatest players to wear the famous red shirt. No doubting that Suarez is one of the greatest strikers to play for us and is possibly one of the best in the world. We must not forget that, no matter how this season ends, but there are also no doubts that not only those 3, but the other players who have all chipped in with their bit this season will earn a place in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Tweet Paul @PaulGrant94

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Rodgers continues to talk a good game...

I am now wholeheartedly ashamed of my initial doubts about Brendan Rodgers considering the season we are having. If he brings us our first ever Premier League title and first league title for 24 years, I won't just eat my words, I'll write them on myself and run down Bold Street naked*.

With Liverpool fans not only starting to dream, but actually believe, Rodgers continues to impress me with the way he is handling the situation and talking up, and down, our chances. He is managing to keep everyone's feet on the ground while also instilling the confidence and belief in the players that has got us to where we are with 6 games to go.

A story that emerged today have particularly impressed me. Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas are two players that have been in the virtual Anfield wilderness this season, with no starts for Alberto and very little action for Aspas they are two players who most of us won't have given a thought to over the last few months. I'm sure many would expect them to depart in the summer. However, at this crucial time of the season Rodgers has decided to discuss them... their good attitudes, their attributes and their ability to contribute.

Why? Well I think it's a master-stroke.

Firstly, he is showing the man management skills that we hear so about and installing some confidence in two players who must be struggling with the fact they have offered so little in such an incredible season.

Secondly he is underlining the team and group mentality, in that we are all in this together... we win as a group and we lose as group, everyone has something to contribute, from the fans, to the starting eleven, to the fringe players.

Finally, as we enter the crucial final phase of the season, he is reminding two fringe players that their chance may yet come, in whatever guise. He is readying them to potentially make an impact and become heroes. Imagine... not that we want to, that Suarez or Sturridge get injured on Sunday against West Ham? Or we suffer injuries in midfield. Football is a cruel mistress, if by some strange occurrence either of these two players get thrown into the mix of a title challenge... Rodgers wants them to be ready to seize their moment. And so do we.

*I won't do that. No one would want to see that.

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