8.27.2011 LFC vs Bolton 3:1 - Henderson & Adam opened their goal tally as new-look LFC impressed the home crowd!

Starting line-up: (4-4-2)

Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Enrique
Henderson Lucas Adam Downing
Kuyt Suarez

LFC Goal Scorers:

Henderson, Skrtel & Adam

LFC Man of the match:

Henderson - Henderson has been criticized for his performance during first 3 games <2 league games and 1 Carling Cup games> He has been over cautious and afraid of making mistakes, so he has passed the ball to the nearest teammates way too much without trying to create chances. Although Suarez, Adam and Lucas have all been brilliant in this game, Henderson deserved to be Man of the Match. Not only did he score a great goal, but also created scoring chances for Downing and Suarez. Henderson was still young but people have been expected too much from him too soon due to his 20M transfer fee. Henderson should have a good future, but he needs to keep improving.

Insight:
It seems King Kenny will prefer 4-4-2 at home and 4-5-1 in away game. This game has shown that Kuyt is a better complement for Suarez than Carroll. Suarez did not score in this game, but his movement and passing are top-class the whole game. Some of his splendid passes reminds me of passes from Gerrard in his glory days! Liverpool was just a different team with Luiz. He and Kuyt have created so much room and spaces for midfielders to attack. I am delighted both Henderson and Adam opened their scoring account for LFC. Adam and Lucas are sensational in MF and even Henderson was brilliant in RMF role. However, Bolton was playing without Holden and both Muamba and Reo-Coker are work-horse without ball control and playmaking ability. Therefore,I remain skeptical whether Lucas+Adam are sufficient defensively in CMF in 4-4-2. Could 4-4-2 work well without a natural right winger? Henderson played well on RMF in this game, but he is still young and can be inconsistent. I still hope LFC can get a natural right wing before the Aug.31 transfer deadline. Also, I would hope for a striker with speed and finishing. As brilliant as Luiz, as intelligent as Kuyt, as powerful and high-potential as Carroll, LFC still lack of a great finisher. However, defense could be strong now with the arrival of Coates. A new defensive line comprise Kelly, Johnson,Skrtel,Carragher,Coates,Agger,Enrique,Wilson,Auerlio are great in strength in depth! We can be top 2 defensive team in the league this season!

8.20.2011 Arsenal vs LFC 0:2 - Chaotic Gunners commit suicide as LFC won in Highbury first time in a decade!

Starting line-up: (4-2-3-1)

Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Enrique
Lucas Adam
Kuyt Henderson Downing

Carroll

LFC Goals:

Ramsey (ARS) OG '78, Suarez ‘90

LFC Man of the match:

Suarez - Once Luis and Meireles sub into the game in 71 minute, Liverpool has been a different team. His skills and movement completely frustrated the sorry Gunners defense and ultimately scored the winning goal. King had done right to rest Luis as sub to keep him fresh in this game as he had a tired summer with the Copa America runs. However, it has shown LFC still relied on the magic of Suarez too much.

Insight:

In this away game, King played with 5 MFs with Andy Carroll as the lone striker supported by Kuyt and Downing at the wings. Although Liverpool has shown promises and improvement throughout the game, especially in defense with Kelly and Enrique produced impressive performance in defending Arshavin and Walcott, their attacking plays surrounding Carroll limited to one-dimensional direct long-ball. Had Gunners played without defensive leader Vermaelen, this simple strategy could have still worked more effectively. The game could have been gone 0-0 until the appearance of Suarez and Meireles. Since their arrival, LFC completely changed their plays to pass-and-move. Gunners had no answer and their young gun Frimpong made a silly fouls on Lucas to get send-off. Right after, Gunners handed LFC a free-gift for a careless own goal. With a more balanced squad and greater fighting spirit, it's clear LFC has a decisive edge over Gunners in the race for 4th place this season.

8.13.2011 LFC vs Sunderland 1:1 - Promising 1st half following by a disappointing 2nd half as 4 new players making their debut in new-look LFC

Starting line-up: (4-4-2)

Reina
Flanagan Carragher Agger Enrique
Henderson Lucas Adam Downing
Suarez Carroll

LFC Goals:

Suarez ‘12

LFC Man of the match:

Agger – Agger is fit again and he is a quality and complete defender when he is fit. He has good read of the game, decent ball control and great shooting ability. The question is he is very injury prone! With Skrtel currently injured and Kyrgiakos not up to LFC standard, LFC will hopefully get a new CB before the transfer deadline.

Top 5 Insights:

1.It was a pity Suarez missed the penalty to open the score after sensationally earning a penalty for LFC in the opening minutes. (Suarez did make up for his mistake by opening the account with a tricky header.) However, Sunderland’s Richardson should have been send-off when he tripped down Suarez in the penalty claim. On the hindsight, had Richardson been send off in the early going, LFC could have dominated the game.

2. King Kenny started all 4 new players: Adam, Downing, Henderson and Enrique. Although Adam, Downing and Enrique have all shown their quality in the game, it’s clear they need more playing time and training to gel together. People have criticized King Kenny for starting all 4 of them together, but King is clearly concerning more about long-term. He’d rather lost points in the early season by starting all of them at once than taking more time for the new players to develop their understandings by restricting their playing time. Had King care more about instant success, he could have started Kuyt, Meireles and Maxi alongside Suarez. On the other hand, although Sunderland had bought about 7-8 new players, they have only started 2 new players so it’s obvious they have the edge in terms of understandings and teamwork.

3. 4-4-2 was used in the game for the objective of developing the striker partnership of Andy Carroll + Luiz Suarez instead of the more successful 4-2-3-1 adopted in their winning runs in the 2nd half of last season. However, Henderson as the right winger doesn’t seem working so far as he doesn’t have the skills and speed to operate in the wing effectively and he looks for passes too often when he received the ball. Clearly, he is more effective in the CMF role. Also, the partnership of Adam and Lucas in the 2 CMF has shown clear weakness. Adam has shown decent passing and shooting ability, but his defending ability is poor. Thus, Lucas has to take on too much responsibility in defensive duty in the CMF. I think 4-4-2 may not work for LFC and 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 may still work better with one more CMF such as Meireles and Henderson to help out Lucas and Adam. Suarez may need to play in the wing forward role but I still think a 3 CMF formation suits LFC more.

4. I always like to have a target man like Crouch and Carroll in the squad. It gives the team another dimension in attack as they can attack opponents through the ground or up in the air. However, the single most disappointing area of LFC display in this game is there were simply too much mindless long-balls to Carroll in the 2nd half. LFC should have tried to pass the ball around more to have a better mix of pass-and-move to complement with decent crossing for Carroll like they did in the 1st half. With players like Suarez, Adam, Downing and Meireles, LFC is much more quality than having to rely on 40-50 yard long crossing to Carroll. King Kenny really needs to correct this big tactical mistake from now on!

5. There are concerns that Aquilani didn’t even make the bench and it could be a signal King may sell him before the transfer deadline. I still hope King will give Aquilani serious chances in the coming few games to prove his worth as he is a skillful playmaker with scoring and playmaking ability. I believe Aquilani and Suarez can play well together with their passing skills and ball control. As King said he will give fair chances to everyone in the squad and I hope he will keep his promise!

2011/2012 Premiership Prediction

1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Liverpool
4 Manchester City
5 Tottenham
6 Arsenal
7 Everton
8 Sunderland
9 Fulham
10 Aston Villa
11 West Brom
12 Stoke City
13 QPR
14 Newcastle United
15 Bolton
16 Wolverhampton
17 Blackburn
18 Norwich
19 Wigan
20 Swansea

2011/2012 Liverpool FC Squad

GK

25 Pepe Reina – Spain
- One of the top GK in the premiership will certainly continue to start for the Reds. His overall performance has kept improving, but seems to have lost his ability in saving penalty last season. Had/Will hernia problem affect his performance?

32 Doni - Brazil
- Former Brazilian national team GK and starting GK for Roma joined in the summer. Definitely a higher-profiled GK than any of Liverpool back-up GK in the recent years. Should provide a more reliable back-up for Reina. My concern is will LFC sign him to start more than we anticipated due to recovery concern of Reina for his hernia operation in the summer?

RB

2 Glen Johnson - England
- Efficient in attack but unreliable in defense, Johnson had been one of the weak links in LFC defense until King Kenny returned and inspired him. Since the return of the King, Johnson had started as left-back and improved his defensive performance. Should move back to right back role if LFC can successfully acquire a new left back. With the emergence of young Kelly and Flanagan, I wonder if Johnson should finally be pushed forward as right wing to display his talent in attack.

34 Martin Kelly - England
- A natural CB who can also play anywhere across the defensive line. His strong performance in the right back has even pushed England regular Johnson to the left-back role. Unfortunately, he has been troubled by injury in his young career so far. The most defensive solid RB among the 3 right back choices, but should eventually returned to his natural CB role as many has tipped him to be new Jamie Carragher.

38 John Flanagan - England
- Made a couple of surprising starts for the first team near the end of last season due to the team's injury problem. The 18 year-old has surprised many for his mature and calm performance for playing without fear. Selected as LFC best player in reserve team last season and could make the right back role his own in the near future.

LB

3 Jose Enrique - Spain

6 Fabio Aurelio - Brazil

- The most injury prone player in the team. The Brazilian LB can hardly stay fit for more than 1/3 of a season. When he is fit, he is an intelligent LB with good passing/free-kick skills and positioning. He can only be a back-up due to his fragility and is basically on pay-as-he-play contract.

49 Jack Robinson - England
- Made his senior debut two seasons ago when he was 16! Received a few first team chance during the close of last season due to injury problem in LB and did not disappoint. LB of the future but was still too young and raw to be a starter. Definitely can be a reliable back-up LB.

CB

23 Jamie Carragher - England

5 Daniel Agger - Denmark

37 Martin Skrtel - Slovakia

16 Sebastian Coates - Uruguay

22 Danny Wilson - Scotland

DMF

21 Lucas Levia - Brazil

20 Jay Spearing - England

CMF

26 Charlie Adam - Scotland

33 Jonjo Shelvey - England

AMF

8 Steven Gerrard - England

14 Jordan Henderson - England

LW/LFW

19 Stewart Downing - England

11 Maxi Rodriquez - Argentina

RW/RFW

7 Luiz Suarez - Uruguay

39 Craig Bellamy - Wales

CF

9 Andy Carroll - England

18 Dirk Kuyt - Holland

2011/2012 Season Liverpool New Arrival: No.19 Stewart Downing

Position: LW/RW

Age: 26

Previous Club: Aston Villa

2010/2011 stats: 38 games 7 goals 7 assists

International Caps: England- 27 caps

Transfer fee: 20M

Liverpool has been lacking of a single natural winger in the team. Kuyt, Maxi, Joe Cole and even Meireles were used in the winger position since the come-back of King Kenny, but none of them are natural winger. One of the most important focuses in this year summer transfer for Liverpool is to look for a natural winger with speed and crossing ability who can supply crosses for Andy Carroll. While initial target Aston Villa winger Ashley Young chose to join Manchester United, King Kenny has quickly identified Stewart Downing as his no.1 winger target. Downing's 20M transfer fee was considered to be over-valued but Liverpool was in desperate need for a proven and established winger in the league who can provide pin-point crosses into the penalty box to maximize the ability of Carroll to justify his 35M transfer fee in January. In fact, many football insiders could see Downing as the perfect complement for Carroll, a traditional British big central forward who needs crossing from the flank to fully display his scoring/heading ability.

Some fans believe an internationl class winger like Spanish Mata should prove to be better money-for-value than Downing. However, not only foreign wingers may need time to adapt to the physical English league, but also most foreign wingers prefer to use their speed and dribble skills in the wing than making crosses into the box. I am not saying Liverpool should never sign a skillful international winger who can take on defenders on the wing, but I do believe Liverpool needs a winger who can cross as much as a winger who can dribble. In the ideal world, I really hope Liverpool can also sign someone like Mata on the opposite wing of Downing.

Downing has been one of the league's top youngsters since his early career with Middlesbrough. He was selected by England national team 27 times as of today. He has helped Middlesbrough to earn runners-up in UEFA Cup. He may not be very skillful or full-of-tricks, but he is quick and intelligent. He is a great team player who helps out in defending. He has also improved his right foot to the point which earned him more assists with his right foot than his left last season! He has been very impressive for Aston Villa last season and was chosen as the Club's Player of the Season. Last season, Downing has put in 137 crosses into the box which was the highest amounts provided by any single player in the league! Many fans doubted him because Downing is not fancy and eye-catching; however, many managers love Downing for the similar reason-Unspectacular but Efficient.

His ability to play as both wings will be a great assets for Liverpool. Chances are Downing will likely be featured in any formation: 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 3-4-1-2 or 4-3-3. Along with Adam, Downing can be the X-factor for Liverpool this coming season.

Has Liverpool over-paid for him at 20M? Probably! However, I would rather Liverpool over-spend in getting the right player than getting some disappointing players at a bargain!

2011/2012 Season Liverpool New Arrival: No.26 Charlie Adam

Position: CMF

Age: 25

Previous Club: Blackpool FC

2010/2011 stats: 34 games 12 goals 8 assists

International Cap: Scotland- 11 Caps

Transfer fee: 9M

Although Blackpool FC only spend one season in the premiership before they quickly relegated to the Champship Division, many fans had been impressed with Blackpool's entertaining exciting attacking football. Their captain Charlie Adam has been particularly impressive for his leadership in the heart of the midfield as Adam has been sensationally nominated as top 6 candidates for the 2010/2011 Premiership Player of the Season by PFA!

Before 2010/2011 season, Adam was a unheard Scottish midfield who has spend majority of his young career with Scottish premiership giant Rangers and Blackpool FC in the England Championship Division. However, 2010/2011 premiership season has provided a perfect platform for Adam to display his quality as the midfield general in the top level. Adam has great long-range pass, dangerous free-kicks, accurate corner-kicks/penalty kicks and powerful long-range shot.

In fact, Adam can be a perfect replacement for Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, whose departure 2 seasons ago was never a coincidence for the start of the club's downfall. Without Xabi to direct traffic in the central midfield, Gerrard was forced to drop deep and reduced his chance to play in the advanced AMF role which has gradually proved to be his most ideal position. Now, with the arrival of Adam, Gerrard can be featured in AMF position again.

To me, Adam can be the difference maker for Liverpool FC in the new season. His playmaking ability and set-piece skills can open up an extra dimension in attack. However, due to Adam's lack of speed, he can be vulnerable in defending if he has to be used as a DMF. Like Alonso, Adam probably needs a more defensive minded midfield like Lucas to play alongside with. 4-2-3-1 five midfield formation could be most suitable to fit both Adam and Gerrard in the same starting 11, which could ironically restrict King Kenny from starting 2 strikers in his starting 11.