How Liverpool should lineup against Stoke City – Part 2

Gerrard – Liverpool’s man for all seasons

Part One of the article analysed the defensive attributes for Liverpool against Stoke City. Rodgers will not have to worry too much over starting Mignolet, Agger, Enrique, Johnson and Lucas but might still ponder over picking Kolo Toure over Martin Skrtel.

The articles also evaluated the key matchups in defense for Liverpool. The home team will need to watch out for the aerial presence of Peter Crouch who will go up against Daniel Agger while Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique will need to mark the tandem of Jermaine Pennant and Marc Muniesa.

Part 2 of “How Liverpool should lineup against Stoke City” looks at the attacking aspects of the game, and what matchups will prove decisive in final third of the pitch for the Reds. It also offers an insight into possible changes that Rodgers might use to tinker with the lineup, and the substitutions that the fans might see in the second half of the game.

Central Midfielders/Wingers

Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson

Brendan Rodgers will not have a shred of doubt in starting the captain in the heart of Liverpool’s attack but the question for the manager is who is he going to partner Gerrard with? Joe Allen started in almost every preseason game as Jordan Henderson resorted to coming off the bench.

But in spite of his starting place in the preseason tour, Allen’s runs often prevailed for nothing except a solitary goal in Steven Gerrard’s testimonial. He also sparked off very few possessions that steered Liverpool’s attack, which often relied upon the brilliance of Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho. What works against the Welsh midfielder the most is his size – something Stoke might exploit with.

Jordan Henderson, on the other hand, is coming off a brilliant end to the 2012-13 campaign. He also earned fruitful summer experience by captaining England in the U-21 Euros and wore the armband against Valerenga in Norway.

While Allen plays a complimentary game of holding midfielder to Gerrard’s attacking mindset, Henderson can be used a makeshift winger in the 4-3-3 role. He is also versatile in playing a holding midfielder role or a defensive role which will benefit Rodgers in the Stoke game.

In order to account to balance in the lineup, Liverpool will need Henderson and Gerrard to flourish on the wings of the midfield with Lucas at centre. It also lets Rodgers adjust to a 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2 game during the course of the game if Henderson and Gerrard were partnered, instead of allowing Allen in the starting lineup as a make-shift winger.

Left Forward

Stewart Downing

Raheem Sterling might be the consensus choice to start at the wings for Liverpool in 2013-14 ahead of Stewart Downing. But against a tangible Stoke City, Sterling will find it extremely hard to win back possession or dribble across a beanstalk defensive set-up.

Sterling might be quicker than Downing but against a physically superior Stoke City lineup, Liverpool might need to be on the ascendancy for both strength and experience. Downing can also be rotated with Coutinho, who will be other person in the forward role and can be pushed back to left wing, to enable Gerrard in taking over the forward role.

Last season showed glimpses of Stewart Downing’s ability and reminisces of his glory days in Middlesborough and Aston Villa. This year will further be crucial to see if the winger has any role to play in Brendan Rodgers’ revolution at Anfield.

The manager will indeed want to give his bench a run about in the game, so why not start Downing and tire out Stoke which can then be exploited with a pulsating Raheem Sterling or a revelation in Jordan Ibe after the hour’s mark?

Right Forward

Philippe Coutinho

Since Liverpool signed Xabi Alonso from Real Sociedad in a bargain transfer, no other signing has been as revolutionary in the team as Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian has made the No. 10 role his own, with his presence commanding the attack similar to Gerrard’s influence a few years ago. He has also raised eyes to earning a call-up from the Brazilian National Team.

Coutinho’s dexterity is boundless as he can envelop attacks on his own with his crafty feet. More importantly, he will tantalize the Stoke City’s defence with his through balls and run-ins into the penalty box.

The Kop called for the manager to sign a player to relieve the pressure off Gerrard’s shoulders in soldering the club’s attacking prowess, and finally, Liverpool have found the player in Coutinho. As the game progresses into the second third, Coutinho could be brought inside into a central role with Gerrard – another reason as to start Henderson since he can occupy the position of right/ left forward better than Joe Allen.

A thing to worry for Philippe Coutinho is the man marking shelled onto him by Mark Hughes but it will not be a surprise to see the Brazilian envisage himself out of it, to setup Liverpool’s goals. If Stoke need to guard a player with as much vigor as they will be around Steven Gerrard, it is undoubtedly Philippe Coutinho.

Centre Forward/ Lone Striker

Iago Aspas

The Spaniard’s knack to tease the opponent with his feet was well visible against Olympiakos. With a move that made jaws drop, and nearly set-up Liverpool’s first goal in the Steven Gerrard testimonial, Iago Aspas has proven to have amicably settled into the Liverpool lineup.

As Daniel Sturridge recovers from the injury that he sustained on international duty, Aspas will want to profitably use the starts handed out to him to secure his role as the centre forward. It is not certain who Rodgers will want to start as his centre forward when his entire strike force is fit and running, but against Stoke, it will have to be Iago Aspas.

Unlike the fast paced La Liga game that Iago Aspas thrived in, he will have to muscle out of Stoke’s stranglehold in centre defence against the likes of Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross. It will be interesting to see if Aspas revolves around dribbling into the six yard box or taking shorts from outside the penalty box.

Liverpool will need to be smart and use Aspas’ agility wisely in the game by constantly setting up through ball runs. In the beginning of the encounter, the team will have to function with a passing game through the centre of the park, than ply around trying to grip the opposition with dribbles or crosses from the wings.

Formations

Liverpool’s initial setup:

4-3-3

Mignolet

Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique

Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard

Coutinho, Aspas, Downing

Liverpool setup in the last thirty minutes:

4-3-2-1

Mignolet

Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique

Henderson/ Allen, Lucas, Downing/ Sterling

Gerrard, Coutinho

Aspas/ Alberto

As the game moves into the end of the first half, Rodgers might revert into a 4-4-1-1. This will result in Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson occupying the wings, covered by Coutinho in the second striker role ahead of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva. With Aspas occupying the lone forward role and a conformity that Liverpool will hold onto possession, it should beset the Stoke defence into spreading out and opening up gaps that the Reds will exploit to their advantage.

The second half could be a different story for both teams should either of the two chose to go all guns blazing and close out the game. Liverpool will flock into a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-2-1 formation with either Gerrard or Coutinho being handed out free roles.

I expect Stoke to constantly switch between 4-3-3, 4-5-1 and 4-3-2-1 depending upon the score line – the latter towards the end should they need to salvage a draw.

Key match-ups in Liverpool’s attack

Steven Gerrard versus Wilson Palacios

The Englishman’s authority in Liverpool’s attack is renowned but he should not expect it to be plain sailing against the thrifty mindset of Wilson Palacios. Gerrard will go up against a player who will do anything it takes to stop him, and win back the possession. Mark Hughes will particularly be watching this contest to ensure Stoke halt the bolt of Liverpool’s production in attack. The Stoke manager might mix and match a couple of players (Charlie Adam/ Glen Whelan) against Steven Gerrard but in the beginning, Wilson Palacios should be his first choice man marker.

Philippe Coutinho versus Erik Pieters/ Geoff Cameron

Cameron has the size and long legs while Pieters has the pace – both of whom that can go up against Philippe Coutinho. This battle will be crucial in the entire outcome of the game should Hughes decide who he wants to start as his left back.

Would he prefer a lanky midfielder that won’t be shy in lunging into tackles or would he want a player of the same velocity as Philippe Coutinho to be guarding him? Whatever it is, Mark Hughes will need to be ascertain as to what will eventuate into a battle that he hopes for his team not to lose.

His counterpart Brendan Rodgers will hope for Coutinho to badger either of Stoke’s fullbacks with assistance from Iago Aspas or Stewart Downing. Liverpool’s proneness to rotate the lineup throughout the game around Coutinho as the focal point could prove to be the game changer.

Possible changes

Two possibilities could evolve around the uncertainties of Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing in the starting lineup. If Rodgers decides to submit a team sheet seldom focused on dispatching Stoke with quickness, Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen could get the nod ahead.

But I expect the Ulsterman to be more pertinent towards a balanced lineup. Should this falter, Liverpool can make changes in the second half to demolish Stoke’s lackadaisical game of football.

However, it is safe to go with a team with enough physical power than one with hardly any of it. In a game of probability, proceeding with the latter will probably result in Stoke taking a first half lead than the former.

Analysis of the opponent’s defence

Stoke City’s back four is revered for its aerial superiority. To counter that, Liverpool’s have showcased its under-reliance on crosses towards the later part of last season that will help them tackle this problem with short-range passes to unlock the opponent’s defense.

If both Jermaine Pennant and Marc Muniesa were to start, Liverpool might be helped by the pair’s fluctuation in running back to defend. This might be the key element that the Reds will want to use as the weapon in overpowering a Stoke City defense slow on its feet in retrospect to Liverpool’s fast-paced mode of attack.

Stoke will be looking to clear the ball as often as possible instead of keeping possession which they will lose eventually. Going up against a team ancillary on set pieces and long balls, Brendan Rodgers and his Liverpool contingent will need to win the possession back and be careful before dispelling into conceding unnecessary free kicks.

Possible substitutions

Brendan Rodgers will switch between Joe Allen, Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. It remains to be seen if he will hand out a chance to Fabio Borini before Luis Alberto, given the possibility that Iago Aspas plays a similar game to the latter.

Should the game be even heading into the 70^th minute, I would bet on Rodgers slotting in a couple of wingers (Ibe and Sterling) for Downing and Henderson, and bringing on Allen towards the end to keep the ball in Liverpool’s feet.

Prediction

Liverpool 2 – Stoke 0

As Anfield will be roaring to an unfathomable decibel and in continuance with its pre-season momentum, Liverpool might be hard to stop against Stoke. Simon Mignolet might also enjoy an easy first game at the helm of his first Premier League appearance for the club.