Kindred

Possibly. Though maybe not in an advanced midfield role. Either would have led to starting 4 out of 6 in their usual positions rather than just 2 though.

Only on the basis that in the first half very few were at their normal match level. That may have been partly due to only 2 of the usual front 6 being in their usual positions. If Gruijic could have done a job for an hour it could have led to the front 3 and hendo being in their usual positions maybe leading to a little more fluency in our game, which only came after the Lallana sub which led to more players being in their usual positions. Gruijic was the option on the bench so presumably the closest to making it than anyone else.

We seemed to start the game with only 2 of our form front 6 in their regular positions (Hendo & Mane). Easy in hindsight but perhaps it may have been better to give Gruijic the game instead of Sturridge, even if just for an hour prior to Lallana coming on. That could have given us 4 of that 6 in their regular positions from the start. Obviously our game changed when Lallana came on, but that moved the players from the 2 out of 6 to 5 out of 6, with Countinho & Firmino moving as well and our fluency began to emerge. Arguing against myself slightly now I was surprised that Can didn't take the central more holding midfield role and hendo pushed further forward. I think that may have helped more in the first half as Lallana leads the press and I think Hendo is better equiped to play that role than Can, as he doesn't seem to quite have the same mobility and speed.

He spoke about that in the PC after the game. He asked for his name to not be sung whilst the game is ongoing. He thinks it's akin to celebrating a win before the game is over. He'd rather the team gets all the support. Think it's partly on the back of the Arsenal game when he was over exuberant in his celebrations when we got the fourth goal which he admonished himself for afterwards.

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I would imagine that Lovren came up for discussion during the summer 'review' and the question was asked why we've spent so much money on him for him to not play and then perform as expected. Rodgers was possibly told he couldn't sell him and replace him so had to 'rehabilitate' him. Keeping that in mind and also the fact that we were always going to need a bare minimum of 3-4 central defenders throughout the season, he took the decision to back him from the start to try to boost his confidence. He wasn't too bad during the first three games, but has fallen back today. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

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On the assumption that we actually sign those we seem most heavily linked with and looking at the potential squad next season, I've been wondering whether we may see more of 3-4-3 going forward and the dalliance with it in the first half at Fulham was something of a testing ground for some of the current players. Admittedly the first half wasn't so great, so it obviously would need work! If no one is sold/loaned out (bound to be one or two on loan at least), we could have up to 7/8 central defenders and something of a paucity of fullbacks with only really Johnson & Enrique as genuine established players (with non heavily linked so far). If it's more of a midfield position, there are perhaps other options there as back up (Downing left, Henderson right, for example). It's perhaps a little easier to ease in the younger central defenders too with more cover. The potential benefits could be a little less pressure on the defence, particularly in possession and also maybe on Lucas in midfield in covering them. It encourages more width and attacking play from Johnson & Enrique playing a more wide midfield role. It also may lead to encouraging more interplay amongst the front three (who could be a little closer together, not having to provide so much width) with Gerrard more able to join in from midfield as well. Anyway, just a thought!

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Ahead of Sunday's home date with West Brom, Dalglish said: "I was asked to come back here and it was an honour and a privilege to do so. There was no hesitation in my decision, and if I was asked again tomorrow, I would do exactly the same thing. "For me, the aim was to move the club forward and that is what we're all trying to do to the best of our ability. "But if the progress stops, then something else needs to be looked at. "Where the line is going to be drawn, I don't know. I am sure that everyone will have set different targets that they would see as being progress. "But the most important people here are the people who own the football club, and the people who support the football club. "I think they will be better judges than anyone else." Dalglish added: "I don't know whether winning the Carling Cup and reaching the FA Cup final means we have been successful. "People have to judge for themselves and if they still want to batter me that's also up to them. "It doesn't matter what happens to Kenny Dalglish. All that matters is Liverpool Football Club. As long as this club doesn't suffer, then that's okay with me. I'll just come into work every day, work as hard as I can and live up to my responsibilities, and we will see what happens from there." My link

Assuming they both develop, I think shelvey could become a more dynamic player, grabbing the headlines with goals, but Henderson will in time become as influential and appreciated as Lucas has now become, as he seems a proper intelligent pass and move player.

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It's meant to be on lfc.tv if you pay for it.

Think Pacheco said he's going to it though after the malaysia trip

I think lining up like that, any of the 3 advanced midfielders could interchange and indeed Gerrard could also interchange with them too. There's just the nagging concern whether Gerrard has the stamina to play the wider position permanently now - maybe see after the injuries have properly cleared up. The main point being though, that we had a player of Aquilanis quality here that would help make that system work and someone chose to let him go!

...........................Carroll ......Suarez.........Aquilani........Meireles ..................Lucas..........Gerrard We could have been seeing this about now (minus Gerrard's injury). Might have been interesting. Ho hum.

Agree with this. It's not whether it's kenny, or rafa or even hodgson (though he didn't help!). It's the lingering malaise of the previous regime and their underinvestment in the squad. Because they didn't get out in the summer and the fact we've had just one transfer window since, getting them out wasn't 'the end of the end'; merely the begining of the end. This whole season has been the bottom of the trough. With investment, this summer should see 'the end of the end' and the start of a new begining and we can hopefully, finally start climbing back up to the peaks of previous years.

Was that Golovko your thinking of? Though he was more of a central defender if I recall.

1-0 wins help breed confidence and I don't think we've had one since Bolton which was a late goal anyway. That was nearly 3 months ago. They've got used to conceding so that result will help. Everything's not rosy yet but we're certainly heading in the right direction. The intention is clearly to try to play football. There was a 15 min spell in the first half which was really good to watch and if Torres' goal had stood (which it should) we might well have gone on to get another in the first half. That intention was still evident throughout but the confidence slipped and we stopped committing men forward at times, making it harder to keep the ball further up the pitch. That's 2 good results in a row though. Another against Stoke and maybe snatch a draw away to Chelsea, then its Wigan at home and hopefully the confidence will start to come back more and more.

Whilst if rafa came back, I wouldn't be unhappy, I'm not sure it's the decision I would make if it was me. Partly because my instinct has always been 'you should never go back' - things are never quite the same. But also because I think what the players need to help turn them around is to feel inspired again. They need a fresh approach, new ideas, something new to believe in and work towards together. (maybe we do too) We need a new rafa - someone young (ish), full of confidence, drive & determination to build a new team and start a new era. There's been some names bandied around here by others, one of whom may turn out to be the long term answer. The short term answer though is definitely to relieve the current incumbant asap.