Employ An Attack Minded Formation

Roy Hodgson is very famous for his defensive tactics. That's the last thing Liverpool needed when Rafa Benitez left. Right now there is no real attack in the Liverpool's game play. How many times have we seen Torres wandering frustrated in the opposition's box waiting for the hope to see the ball? In the Premier League more and more teams are attacking with more bodies in the box to get more scoring opportunities. Simple as that.

If Liverpool happens to buy some decent wingers and get rid of Lucas and Poulsen they have to change the defensive formation. Torres alone up front is not damaging anymore for the opposition. Any team can shut down the goal threat by deploying two markers for Torres. Gerrard is often busy defending the ball thanks to Lucas and Poulsen. Cole is on the wings. Ngog is not good enough. Roy doesn't want to play with two strikers. So, I just don't see from where the next goal will come!!

Johnson is an OK right back. His defensive abilities are often questioned. Carragher is past his best, although he provides the eye for the upcoming threat. Agger must be preferred to Skrtel.

Liverpool needs to remove Lucas and Poulsen first. Play only one better and decent younger holding midfielder, whoever they buy. Next step would be to play with genuine wingers like Turan/Mata. Babel, if not sold, should be played on the wings on a regular basis. This leaves Gerrard and Cole/Meireles to dictate the play in central midfield.

Finally Torres could get a striking partner. A new striker, Kuyt and Jovanovic can be rotated if needed.

This will add a two phased wing attack to the central midfield. Suddenly the team looks much more attacking and threatening. Torres can expect a three dimensional supply, more importantly, with better quality then now.

TWO OVER-HYPED, OVER-PAID FORWARDS – GOING BACKWARDS

This season rooney and nando torres have undergone a transformation from being forwards who strike fear into the hearts of opposition defence, to misfiring flops that defences relish playing against.

Both players look like a shadows of their former selves and there has yet to be any sign of a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Some thought the reds change of ownership might resurrect the Torres of old, but the Torres who took to the field against Everton on Sunday was a far cry from the player who took Premier League by storm just a short few years back.

It is now becoming increasingly evident that all is not well for Rooney at Old Trafford, with his relationship with Sir Alex seemingly on the rocks.

Though he is solely responsible for the misdemeanors in his private life, the intense glare and magnifying effect of the British media can be adjudged to have had a negative effect on his psychological state of mind and his form on the pitch.

With every passing match the confidence issues and pressure continues to mount for both players.

For me, judging from their current circumstances it is getting to the stage where the best option for both players would be a change of club and perhaps even a change of country.

£6M IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR LIVERPOOL’S PLAN B

We may not be a two man team that our critics love to point out, however our over reliance on Fernando Torres to put the ball in the back of the net has been highlighted on numerous occasions this season. We haven’t got a Plan B upfront and subsequently we have struggled as a result.

It has been a problem for a couple of years now and RH failure to improve the attack in the summer certainly caused a little confusion. Whether Hodgson believed that Milan Jovanovic would produce more of an attacking threat may have swayed his thinking, but it was a huge error on his part, given it was a lack of potency in the final third that cost Rafa dear last season.

David N’Gog has certainly improved this season, but is he really the answer long term? Hodgson, like Rafa, clearly doesn’t believe that Ryan Babel should be given the opportunity to stake a claim for a striking role, therefore we are rather stuck and subsequently short of options. The longer Fernando Torres continues to fire blanks, the longer our pain will go on.

Is Liverpool crisis way off the mark?

Liverpool are the media's whipping boys at the moment and they are doing their level best to make it seem a crisis is ensuing at Anfield. While it is well documented about the financial troubles off the pitch, is it really that desperate on it? Doesn't Roy Hodgson and his new boys need time to settle before any criticism is thrown at them?

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