Reds’ midfield options offer variation
Liverpool doesn’t want for much in its midfield.
Liverpool first-team coach Gary McAllister told LiverpoolFC.com on Tuesday that the Reds’ well-stocked midfield will allow manager Brendan Rodgers to vary their playing style both in games and over the course of 2015-16.
"I think we tick most of the boxes," McAllister said. "You’ve got people who are specialists at sitting in front of a back four, we’ve got players with great running power, players with skill and guile, people who can run beyond strikers.
"You can’t just be pinpointed as players playing in little slots, the fact that we can change things and there’s loads of various little shapes that the manager can use will work well for us I think."
Rodgers has swung games in Liverpool’s favor to great effect in past campaigns by changing shapes, personnel and combinations in midfield. He likely will continue seeking to gain advantages by doing so, as he did Sunday in the win over Stoke City.
Emre Can’s second-half introduction pushed Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Philippe Coutinho further forward, while Roberto Firmino added speed and unpredictability in his 11-plus minutes of action.
Rodgers’ changes helped Liverpool attack with greater speed and press Stoke City with more intensity in the closing stages of the game, and the Reds ultimately scored the game-winning goal, albeit with a little magic from Coutinho.
Source: NESN
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