Assessing the Liverpool squad, potential transfers and Transfer targets: Part1
The Squad
Defence:
Pepe Reina
We all know Reina is not having the best of seasons. But his loss of form has been exaggerated. If you compare the no. of mistakes he has made for the past three seasons to that of Cech’s, then you’ll realize he is not that bad. Reina is still a commanding presence in the box but I have a nagging feeling he will leave for Barcelona in the summer to compete for the biggest prizes.
Rating: 6.5/10
Glen Johnson
Johnson is having a dream season! He has been the player of the season for Liverpool apart from Suarez. Defensively, he looks solid apart from one or two mistakes and attacking-wise he is a contributing a lot.
Rating: 8/10
Jose Enrique
His form has been rather patchy. But he is coming into his own as the season has progressed. Enrique was excellent against Swansea and Zenit. He is also offering a creative outlet up front with his long balls. His defending also looks to have improved.
Rating: 7/10
Daniel Agger
Agger committed two serious errors against Man City and West Brom, but apart from that he has been solid this season. He was a rock at the back against Zenit. More importantly, he looks to have put his injury problems behind him (touchwood). He is the best ball playing CB in the league.
Rating: 7/10
Martin Skrtel
Skrtel’s fall from grace has been dramatic. Since the performance against Oldham, he has been replaced by the soon-to-be-retiring Carragher in the team. Accused of lacking the proper attitude, commitment to the cause, it looks like the defender would be sold to make way for new signings.
Rating: 5/10
Jamie Carragher
He has been a warrior at the back whenever called upon. His error ultimately cost Liverpool the tie against Zenit, but even the greatest are spared one mistake! His leadership at the back has been one of the reasons for Liverpool’s recent upturn in form.
Rating: 7.5/10
Sebastian Coates
Coates has featured in only 10 games this season so far, with only three coming in the league. The performance against Oldham was his worst in a red shirt. He is still a great prospect though. Where will he fulfill that potential, I don’t know. Rodgers doesn’t seem to rate him. Instead of selling him, a loan move would do him a world of good. Juventus has been mentioned as a possible destination. Atleast if he comes good in the loan move, Liverpool can sell him for a sizeable sum.
Rating: 4.5/10
Andre Wisdom
The youngster has come on leaps and bounds in this season for Liverpool. He has made the most of his opportunity in the absence of Martin Kelly. He has excelled for Liverpool in the RB role despite his natural CB position. He will become even better as gains more experience. He looks to a first team player for Liverpool for years to come.
Rating: 7.5/10
Martin Kelly
It’s unfortunate that Martin Kelly got injured when he could have become a regular in the playing XI. He can play both as RB and CB. However, just like Carragher, I see him becoming a CB for Liverpool in the coming years due to his excellent reading of the game.
Rating: 5/10 (It’s just due to him being injured)
Jack Robinson
He needs to buckle down and start improving his game. Robinson still has time on his side though, as he is just 19 years old. The loan move to Wolves would give him game time and help his development.
Rating: 5/10
Midfield
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard has got better and better as the season has progressed. He has excelled in that deep lying playmaker role. The fact that he has played every minute of every league game this season is a testament to his fitness. Liverpool haven’t really had a deep lying playmaker since Xabi Alonso left, until Gerrard adjusted into this role this season. However, Gerrard is not getting any younger, he will turn 33 in the summer. Liverpool have to start finding a successor to him! Still, Gerrard will be in the team for atleast 2 more years.
Rating: 8/10
Jordan Henderson
Henderson is getting better and better as the season has progressed. Like Lucas, he has begun to prove his critics wrong. He offers tireless workrate, energy and dynamism to Liverpool in midfield. His improvement has been such that he is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Rating: 7/10
Joe Allen
At the start of the season, he was one of Liverpool’s best players. He was living up to his moniker of the Welsh Xavi. But the 2nd half of the season hasn’t quite panned out for him as he expected. A loss in form coupled with Henderson’s emergence has seen Allen lose his place in the playing XI. He was however excellent against Zenit and took his goal well. Hopefully, he has turned the corner with this performance.
Rating: 6.5/10
Lucas
An injury at the start of this season hampered his comeback, but his comeback at the start of this year has been good. Lucas is still not back to his best yet, but is getting ever closer. He was immense against Zenit. Liverpool look a much better team with him in the side as the pivot.
Rating: 7/10
Jonjo Shelvey
Shelvey started the season in great form but has petered out. His lack of technique and discipline isn’t doing him any favours. At the moment he looks too good for the Championship, but not good enough for Liverpool. A loan move to the likes of Norwich or West Brom next season would do him a world of good. Shelvey is still only 20, he does lack some amount of technique but he has good vision, is usually in the right places at the right times and has good movement. He is still a great prospect for Liverpool.
Rating: 6/10
Suso
Suso burst on to the scene along with Raheem Sterling, but has faded out as the season has progressed. He was used as the inside forward in the earlier games, but his talents make him suited for a much central role for Liverpool in the future. Suso already looks one of the most accomplished members of the Liverpool squad in terms of technique. He is very easy on the eye. A graceful footballer with lazy arrogance on the ball, we all know Brendan loves those type of players. If he is given games, he might just become the next big thing not just at Liverpool, but in football in general.
Rating: 6.5/10
Stewart Downing
Downing’s performances at the start of the season didn’t do him any favours. He was told in no uncertain terms that he was free to find a new club. Since then his performances have been markedly improved. His improvement has been such that he looks a completely different player.
Rating: 7/10
Raheem Sterling
Sterling broke through the first team and began to start every game. He was hailed as the next big thing in English football. He still is, but his performances have declined due to exhaustion and pressure. He has all the tools to become become a big star. He should add goals to his game.
Rating: 7/10
Oussama Assaidi
The winger was bought without much fanfare and expectations. He was bought likely as squad player. He has no real future in the first team, and most likely would be sold in the summer to make way for new signings.
Rating: 5.5/10
Forwards:
Luis Suarez
Suarez is having a phenomenal season. Having scored 25 goals in all competitions, he has been Liverpool’s best player this season. He is the one who has been single handedly carrying the team this season. His link up with Sturridge has been promising and the two of them complement each other.
Rating: 8.5/10
Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge has taken to Liverpool like a fish to water. With 5 goals (already!) in 7 games, he looks a shrewd buy. His link up with Suarez has been almost telepathic. Sturridge offers pace, holdup play, clever movement to Liverpool (something which they have lacked). He relieves the burden on Suarez.
Rating: 8/10
Fabio Borini
Borini hasn’t really had a chance to shine with two injuries effectively ending his season. He has only one goal to show, that too in the Europa League. Borini has however shown very clever movement off the ball in creating opportunities for others. He looks more like the next Dirk Kuyt than the next Torres.
Rating: 6/10
The Verdict
It’s clear that there has been progress this season. Brendan Rodgers has removed much of the deadwood and rejuvenated the careers of several under-performing players. Liverpool look good on the eye, though they still have to sort out their defence issues. This team has goals in them, they have already scored 1 goal more that the defending champions Manchester City and 2 goals more than the whole of last season combined (with 11 games still to go!).
Liverpool don’t have a trophy to play for, but can give a real go at the top-6 or possibly top-4 with 11 games to go. The equation is simple, Liverpool have to try to win every game from now on to have any outside chance for the top-4. It’s unlikely but still possible!
In Part 2 , I will assess the potential transfers and transfer targets for Liverpool who realistically fall in their range.