Liverpool FC - Optimism is in the air

Pessimism was never in our DNA and it perhaps will never be. Winning is an art and every Liverpudlian who flaunts his red will tell you that it’s an art that needs practice, something they have been short of for just over the past two and a half seasons. Here are a few things that will be recurrent features in the season to follow.

Until March last season, Liverpool had conceded the second lowest number of goals all season, second only to eventual title winners, Manchester City. One year older in togetherness, you can expect the back line to be only have become better in terms of co-ordination. Glen Johnson’s inclusion on the left hand side of defense has been a subject of great worry, Glen Johnson being a right footer has had to on many occasions, run onto the byline and whip the ball in with his left foot, which is his weaker foot, consequentially the delivery looked out of order. Every time Johnson has to drive one in with his favored right foot, he has needed an extra touch to turn his body goal-ward in order to bring it onto the right foot, and the opportunity perishes. Rejoice. Jose Enrique will be the obvious option down the left hand side of the Liverpool pitch. There can be no way Martin Kelly is going to keep him out. Fatigue and a few knocks in Spain’s international friendly has kept him out, but now that he is back, the problem should be resolved. One other positive from the game against Manchester City has to be the brilliant way in which young Seb Coates adapted himself to the central role, in the absence of the ever reliable of Danish centre half Daniel Agger. A lot of work has to be done with the zonal system during set-plays.

Liverpool’s midfield has been a section of the pitch that has worried most Liverpool fans. With a deserving Man of the Match performance sitting in front of the back four and driving the Liverpool engine, Joe Allen already seems to be a decent signing. Very composed on the ball, and a great range and diversity of the passes he has in store, young Joe Allen, has nearly in no time endeared himself to the Anfield faithful. The Welshman also possesses an absolutely amazing engine and is a tough player to beat on floor. Nuri Sahin will add even more charisma to that midfield, which will surely function on the rotation policy. Gerrard will sit just in front of Allen and Lucas who will play as the destroyer breaking the play up and passing square and back. Raheem Sterlings impetus on the game that just passed us was immense; fabulous first touch, excellent acceleration and a top class final ball delivery sums up the talented Jamaica born Englishman. Also, the addition of Assaidi on the wider section on the pitch is calling Stewart Downing to up his game by a huge margin if he intends to break back into the starting eleven this season. The midfield problem seems a problem resolved, from where I see it.

The forward department is the one that spells concern. Suarez is an absolutely fabulous talent, one you can never stop admiring as an onlooker. Some of the little backheels, the little flicks and chips, the elegant nutmegs and the scintillating runs he makes are a joy to watch, but that all comes to nothing and is totally nullified if you don’t put the ball in the back of the net. He is the creator in chief, but what Liverpool lack at this moment in time is a proven goalscorer. If Brendan Rodgers feels Andy Carroll is not fitting into his line up, then so be it; sell him off, and move on, though I still love the diversity Andy Carroll can add to this team, how well he can convert the team from Plan A to Plan B, is really amazing. But if Rodgers is consistent, then Andy has to go, and Liverpool has to move on. Liverpool needs a striker who can bang in goals week in week out 18-20 times a season, if they have to stand a chance to even give the likes of Chelsea, City , United or Arsenal, a run for their money. It looks a clear necessity, 7 days that will make or break, an absolutely important season for Liverpool. Mistakes are what have to be learnt from, not repeated. Liverpool made a gamble that did not pay off and resulted in the sacking of Kenny Dalglish, when they entered last season with Carroll and Suarez alone, none of whom managed scoring as often as we hoped, but that should have taught Rodgers a lesson. It’s high time we invest in a striker, or a recurrence of last season, can be in store.

The transfer window always pops up with surprises, and we are clearly into the business end of the transfer period, one striker whom we can rely upon, and we will be in for a really enjoyable season.