Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool: Reds lack width and why Sterling cannot be deployed up front

Should Raheem Sterling play up front for Liverpool?

I feel like two bombs have dropped on me in the last few weeks. My heart might not be able to take it anymore. I feel we must quickly move on from this debacle though unless we are really planning on ditching the Europa League completely and focusing on placing better in the league next season.

Liverpool need to go out and blow some money on another striker this summer, even if it comes at a cost of losing Raheem Sterling. Clearly when you have to play Sterling up front is showing that the money we’re paying Rickie Lambert isn’t worth it – now there’s where you have to evaluate why you’re paying Lambert that extra £40,000 a week rather than Raheem Sterling.

What should Liverpool do with Raheem Sterling?

In addition, it’s games like this that I think Sterling will be walking away pondering his future rather than going off to sign a new contract. The kid just wants to win, and he cuts a very forlorn figure up front when fielded as a lone striker.

Here’s why:

1. He lacks the height and/or the physicality to contest the long balls up front, and whilst he has good ball control, isn’t able to hold the ball long enough for his teammates to get in front of him
2. His lack of options to the left and right mean he has no choice but to take on the defender ahead of him by himself or risk going backwards. Again.
3. It is crowded in the opponents’ half, how do you get the ball to him in the first place?

And although I say that we need a striker, my answer to all those people questioning whether Raheem Sterling is worth it, is still ‘yes’. If we can keep him for under £140K a week, I think he’s worth it. I don’t mind Liverpool cutting loose a few players who aren’t going to make the team like Javier Manquillo and Jose Enrique in order to acquire the striker and secure Sterling’s new contract.

Whilst I feel he’s grossly inconsistent, I think he’s in that league of players that have that ‘it’ factor that doesn’t come along very often. He’s still really young, and tying him to a 5-year contract on those wages is still worth it for me. For me, he should be what the team should be built around. He’s not too injury prone (at present), and when not played as a sole striker, I feel he is a very efficient and explosive player on the ball.

Liverpool’s defence were a big letdown against Arsenal

The other area of discussion from this game will definitely be the Reds’ defence. There were more than a few times where I was screaming at the TV, questioning what they were doing. They were ridiculously sloppy at times on the ball (and for all intensive purposes, this includes Lucas Leiva).

Granted, apart from not keeping the ball for themselves and giving the attackers an inch too much space (which some may argue would be an inch too many), the goals were moments of brilliance carved out by the Arsenal players who took their chances. But Kolo Toure and Lucas Leiva just looked really out of it out on the Emirates turf.

The first 10 minutes was merely a tutorial from them on “How to Annoy your Goalkeeper for Dummies”. Sakho looked very nervous on the ball at times during the game as well, and Emre Can’s red card perhaps gave Brendan Rodgers an even bigger headache going forward.

But at least Liverpool fans can celebrate one thing: Sturridge is injury-free. (fanfare)