So often Liverpool’s most potent attacking weapon, Luis Suarez strikes again. Latching onto a weighed chip from Enrique, he surged forward with menacing hunger. And as all seemed lost with Berra back on time, he turned, twisted, and left him for dead before crashing a supreme drive past helpless Hennessey. Suarez wheeled off, embracing his teammates. It was 2-0 against Wolves, and Liverpool were cruising.
Yet critics lurk, reminiscent to those prevalent back in the 2008/09 season. They claim that Liverpool rely too heavily on the likes of Suarez, for inspiration, creativity, and above all, goals. Parallels were drawn, as previously, it was the Gerrard-Torres axis which supplied the firepower.
While there is truth in saying that Liverpool do rely heavily on these players, it is vital to also consider our options, and why unpredictability will be Liverpool’s most potent weapon this season. Not Luis Suarez.
You may argue he is the focal point of Liverpool’s new-look attack. Having seemingly woven seamlessly into the art of Liverpool’s play, he has conjured up magic with his feet, dancing, toying, and waltzing through defences, scaring the living daylight out of established Premier League defenders. He has captured the imagination of all Liverpool supporters, and even attracted not ire, but utmost respect, from rival fans. Jamie Carragher was commenting just a few days ago about how he wouldn’t swap Suarez for any other player on Earth.
I agree. But Suarez is merely one player on the pitch. He won’t change every game. He won’t be our main asset. Something else will.
Unpredictability.
Unpredictability is something subjective, open to intepration, and debatable. It can also lay towards two extremes. Liverpool’s volatile future during the Hicks-Gillett era was something which bordered us on the brink. That was unpredictable. Thankfully, it didn’t happen, and the unpredictability we’re looking forward to today is a very mouth-watering prospect. It’s on the pitch.
With Liverpool’s flurry of summer activity, Dalglish’s team do look well stocked in every department. Strength in depth, they say. Two genuine contestants for every starting berth on the pitch. True. From the owner, to the journalists in the press box, to the fans, there is a fresh wave of optimism that Liverpool will stake a strong claim for a finish amongst the top four spots this season.
But something rarely discussed about the current side is the unique ability of many to play in a multitude of positions. Undeniably, this inevitably wrecks havoc on the opposition’s plans for the game, as they can never be certain and predict the side Dalglish will name.
For instance, Stewart Downing is left footed. He has started primarily as a left winger in most of Liverpool’s games. Yet, when asked to, he is able to integrate himself to play on the right, and is as equally effective as an inverted winger. He can also play in the ‘hole’, albeit not called into that role by Dalglish thus far.
The same goes for many Liverpool players, including the likes of Johnson, Henderson, Gerrard, Bellamy and Suarez.
All these create an unpredictable nature about Liverpool’s play. The rigidity of positions is reduced, the fluidity and the anticipation of play is emphasized. The ability of all these players to basically ‘swap’ positions promotes an interchangable style, harnessing the creative might and allowing the freedom of expression for the players while on the pitch.
Moreover, what one offers can differ from various positions. Downing might be superb with his distribution of pinpoint crosses from the left. However, he offers something uniquely different down the right, with ability to dribble, cut in and probe, amongst the key elements of his play down that flank.
All these, in layman’s terms, just means that you might witness Gerrard coming back from a 6 month lay-off, starring in the centre. And 20 minutes later, you realise he’s on the right, then suddenly, he’s on the left. And then he’s down the centre unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive into the roof of the net.
The scary, frightening thought that opposition managers have to embrace is that there is often a ‘spill-over’ effect. The ability of these players to interchange comfortably also means Liverpool can play a variety of formations, from the traditional 4-4-2, right up to the unorthodox 3-5-2, which was sparingly used by Dalglish to devastating effect last season.
Which rational being managing in the Premier League will remain sane trying to predict the starting XI, then the formation Dalglish decides to adopt? It is virtually impossible; with the array of options available, the unpredictability of this side has exponentially increased.
It is this nature inherent within the current crop which will stand out, not like a sore thumb, but like a shining light. It is this which will make up for whatever shortcomings that might plague the current side. And it is this – the unpredictability, which will be utilised to maximal effect this season.
And it is this, which will be Liverpool’s main asset. Not Luis Suarez.
This article also appeared on my Liverpool blog, which you can view here.
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WE NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL IN FRONT OF GOAL THOUGH. IT’S COST US 7 POINTS SO FAR IF WE WERE TO BE HYPER CRITICAL. WE HAVE OPTIONS NOW THOUGH WHICH IS COOL.
While it is well to argue that unpredictibility( players playing in multi-positions) is an asset n citing Downing D an example, Downing has faded away for me after the 1st few games. So right or left, he doesn’t influence the game much. N unfortunately, we do depend on Suarez alone for goals. Leave aside Gerrard, noone has looked like threatening the oppositionz goal, a slick unpredictable midfield with a ineffectual final product. We require a proper right winger this Jan, someone who can cross, dribble n shoot! Kuyt n Lucas giving away the ball far too cheaply this season
Downing has done everything possible to score or get an assist Kuyt and Henderson had chances from Downings crosses on Saturday,he is also combining well with Enrique who also is getting crosses in.
Lucas has started this season where he left off from last season winning the ball and getting moves going.
Suarez in the Sunderland(Penalty),Stoke(Poke wide last minute),Everton(header straight at keeper) and Man U(one on one with keeper)games had chances you would expect him to score and a certain Spainsh forward was buring when he first arrived.
I love Suarez but he and the others need to start taking their chances.
Suarez missed a one on one against Sunderland too.
He just needs to be clinical and we’ll be fine.
The sentiment is fine, but I believe, based on the premise that the team is bigger than any one individual at Liverpool. I have for a long time believed that this in fact was true. If you look at the knock out stages of the Champion’s League in 2005 when we beat Barcelona without Gerrard .. how we won a major European Trophy without a key player, and even if you look at Newcastle and why they are still above us in the league.. It all points to a team which gels and can accommodate your theory. My only problem is that this theory only wins us glory in cup competitions. We are only galvanised temporarily. Suarez is but an addition to the plan, but make no mistake about it, he is a galvanising force who aspires to a league title. We won the 2005 Champions League title against the form book, we won the 2006 FA Cup with a lot of luck.. we won may cup trophies because we can perform as an asset.. but we are not ‘winning’. The likes of Suarez gives us something more than Torres ever did. He provides a second or 3rd Heartbeat in the side. We haven’t managed a title with just two (Carragher & Gerrard) ..so maybe a 3rd is needed.. if we are to challenge for a title. I think Suarez is our main asset currently. An asset and a catalyst, as long as we recognise it.