Kindred

I think thats the key for me. For example we could have a fairly mediocre first half of the season and then embark on a 15 game unbeaten run which just nicks us 3rd place by 1 point on the last day of the season, but still leave us 6-7 points adrift of the title. - Were we ever really challenging for the title? OR we could go throughout the season consistently picking up points, without any major poor runs of games, but lose out in a couple of '6 pointer' games in the closing weeks of the season and still end up with the same points scenario as above. So for me, its not just the points total, its how consistently those points were won throughout the season, which is probably what we should be looking for as an improvement this season.

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I've been calling for this system for a few months now, but I've always envisaged Gerrard being the one on the right rather than central. Partly because it makes the best use of the players within the squad (I would try Benayoun central) and would place all the players in their most productive area of the pitch -(IMO), but partly because I think Gerrard is more suited to the right hand side of the 3 attacking players, with both his ability to run directly towards the box and play a quick one-two and his abilty to put in an outstanding cross into dangerous areas. I think it would give us a better balance to the attack, as currently most of the direct attacking running with the ball comes from the left (Babel) with noticably less from the right (Kuyt). Whilst long term I would replace Benayoun (Aimar?) his greatest strength is playing centrally and is perhaps a little more 'cute' with his passing than Gerrard tends to be. All three could interchange their positions anyway throughout the game. I also think, as was evident last night, certainly in the first half, that this system needs the team to keep possession rather than play the longer ball. Gerrards strength is facing and running at the goal not playing with his back to it.

hERE Tom Hicks ‘set to move on Dubai’ Mar 6 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo A DEAL for Dubai International Capital to buy George Gillett’s Liverpool stake is imminent, it has been claimed. Sources close to DIC today revealed Tom Hicks is ready to drop his resistance to George Gillett selling his stake in Liverpool Football Club to DIC. An offer from DIC for Gillett’s shares remains on the table and should the American accept he would walk away from Anfield with a profit of around £40m. Gillett is believed to want more and DIC remain insistent they will not be raising their offer but with talks still going on between the two parties it is thought a deal could be reached within days. Hicks’ reluctance to enter into any sort of partnership with DIC is well known and on several occasions he has spoken of his willingness to use a veto to block any such deal. But he has been in touch with DIC in the last 24 hours to tell them he will not stand in their way if they can agree a price with Gillett. He has also told DIC he is willing to enter into talks with them at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss the future of the club. DIC’s growing confidence that a deal can and will be done saw them dispatch a representative to Anfield for last night’s Premier League game against West Ham. The representative met with members of various fans group in a bid to gauge their opinion about the club and the best way forward for it. He also witnessed first hand the latest protest by fans against the current owners with a demonstration which lasted the full 15 minutes of the half-time interval. The Spirit of Shankly has already indicated it is ready to offer DIC a cautious welcome and would be prepared to enter into a dialogue with them.

Hicks in on Sportsweek tomorrow morning (5live from 9am) - (haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere - apologies in advance!)

Sir Alex Ferguson has invited the squad to train at Manchester United's training ground before the game and the players will all be VIP guests at United's game against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday. (!) here...

Would be quite happy with that as well. (Babel for Kewell that is!)

For me, a large part of failure to break teams down is due to poor, unintelligent off the ball movement. Tonights goal came about due to good intelligent movement, from Finnan continuing a run inside into the box, with Gerrard pulling out wide, confusing the defenders, followed by Torres reading what was about to happen and making the run forward to arrive at the right moment in the box. But, as far as I can remember that was the one and only time anything like that happened, where we actually broke them down rather than shooting from range or waiting for a mistake. I'm wondering if part of that problem is the makeup of the squad. We have 4 strikers (Torres, Crouch, Voronin & Kuyt) all with completely different skills & styles of play. We have 4 'wide' players (Benayoun, Babel, Pennant, Kewell) all with different syles of play. We have 4 central midifielders (Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko) all with a different style of play. Now, with the rotation system which Rafa uses, where most games have 3,4 or 5 changes from the previous game, the entire makeup of our team is completely different to the previous one. There is little possiblilty of maintaining any kind of team pattern of play from one game to the next. So it takes a very long time for players to build confidence in each other, in order for them to have the confidence to make the run forward knowing that the ball will be controlled and delivered to them by the player they are passing to, without leaving a massive gap behind them if the ball doesn't get forward to them. (hope that makes sense!) I can obviously see the sense in having one or two players in the squad like Crouch or Babel who can come on from the bench and change a game but it seems the entire squad is made up of players suited to completely different styles of play. Surely, as one of the top clubs around we should be going out onto the field (particularly at home) with the attitude - 'stop us if you can!' and forcing our style of play onto the opposition and not changing the make up of our team to suit the opposition to our detriment. By all means, make small tactical adjustments within our team to help combat any potential threat, but not by ripping our team apart week after week. Reading that back ,it sounds a little too negative of my general feelings towards Rafa. I generally feel that the quality of our football this season has improved from previous years and also feel that because of the change of ownership, rafa has gained an extra year, so to speak, in that last summer was largely spent undoing some of his previous work (i.e. selling the likes of Bellamby) and improving on them with a new higher level of financial backing i.e. Torres; to the point where last season can effectively be written off as the 'playing field' has now moved up a notch. Whilst I'm waffling (I'm sure very few will have made it this far!), I'll just throw in the team that I would love to see us employ with our current players. ................Alonso...........Mascherano ...Gerrard..........Benayoun...........Kewell ........................Torres Personally feel that that places all our best players in their best positions and also most of the other squad members would also play well in the formation with one or two exceptions. (Apologies, didn't mean to go on so much)

Thats largely my thinking as well. For me he is most effective picking up the ball and making surging runs in the final third with the odd one two thrown in. Hes also got one hell of a cross on him, so from that position he can either go out wide or drive into the box. Also feel that Benayoun is perhaps a little more 'cute' with his vision and passing, which the more central role would enable him fulfil. Babel/Voronin/Kuyt could all also do well in this formation, I think, but the original three I chose our probably the best suited to it (along with Babel).

..........Lucas.......Mascherano Gerrard.....Benayoun.....Kewell ..................Torres Would love to see that some time - maybe tonight!? (obviously Alonso for Lucas when fit)

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is losing his race to be fit for the Barclays Premier League visit to Reading this Saturday. The centre-back has bruised ribs following a collision with goalkeeper Pepe Reina during the 4-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, and Benitez is unlikely to risk the centre-back with vital games against Marseille in the Champions League and Manchester United to come the following week. Jack Hobbs is on standby for his first league start, although Alvaro Arbeloa may be moved across to centre-back should Steve Finnan recover from a calf injury. here

Domestic cup winners will not get to play in the Champions League after a proposal from Uefa chief Michel Platini was rejected, BBC Sport understands. But the team finishing third in the Premier League will now go straight into the group stages and the fourth team will face two qualifying rounds. here

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