Say to any Liverpool fan six months ago that their most beloved football team would be sitting in ninth place halfway through the season, their formation in its infancy and the man who single-handedly won more points for Liverpool than any manager has through virtue of tactics in recent times would be departing his boyhood shores at the end of the season: and you’d have been laughed at, mocked, and made to share your opinion across a rather large and rather packed open pub, full of delighted Liverpool supporters ready to hurl even more abuse in your general direction. Yet, as a bewildered and flustered fan-base consistently attempts to voice their knowledge of the World Game through social mediums, the one question that seems to be hurling around the place at this point in time is whether or not Liverpool were right to invest the money received from their mercurial Uruguayan in one go, or whether they, like most 12-year olds after a gratuitous helping from their grandparents, decide having money is fun and splurge it all in one go, only to regret the copious amount of ice-cream eaten in the space of a few hours.
Much akin to the now red-faced Liverpool supporters, whose high hopes for a continuation of last season’s attacking prowess has been quashed in major part due to the absence of their two main men, but also due to a system failure, and the question needs to be raised.
Is another transfer window really the right step for Liverpool to improve?
In the case of Xherdan Shaqiri, yes it is. The gifted Swiss attacker has spent 3 years in Munich, groomed to be a replacement for the ageing yet no less incredible duo on the flanks: Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the type of player Shaqiri is, then Bayern Munich’s insistence that he be kept in the summer gives some inclination towards his talent: earmarked by arguably the best team in Europe. His ability to drift past defenders is superb, his eye for goal pinpoint and his versatility excellent for a side constantly shifting and changing their system: one such as Liverpool. As a player, Shaqiri is nimble, has a low centre of gravity and displays his attacking verve with flair and a spark of overconfidence.
But the overriding question: in which such cases as the lack of goals, a dependable goalkeeper and a defensive shield in midfield are thoroughly explored, is Liverpool’s January bound to be spent navigating the transfer market, or in the backrooms? Is throwing more money at the problem any way to solve it, considering part of the problem stemmed from an overabundance of funds in the first place?
Once again, put simply and straight to the point. No.
Throwing more money at this problem is not the way to go. It’s like the infamous and wise saying goes: to improve, first you must look inwardly at yourself, rather than outwardly. I think. But the key facet of the argument is, in essence, that for Liverpool to improve upon an abysmal season: they must first look inwardly, attempt to replicate the attacking verve an swift fluidity in the games against Swansea and Tottenham, and eradicate defensive errors which have hindered their cause for so long this season.
Sure, improvements have already been made by an under-the-pump manager: backed into a corner it does seem as if Brendan has finally beckoned to the call of the supporters and given into his stubbornness: dropping the forever shaky Dejan Lovren and his lethargic partner in crime Glen Johnson, whilst implement a new system that seems to have breathed new life into the attacking movement showed in mere glimpses so far this season.
So what can we – or more to the point should we – expect from the Reds in January?
Well returning to where we started; with the dazzling attacker aptly nicknamed “The Shark”. Investigating his proficiency and ability is difficult when analysing per 90 metrics: considering most of his appearances came from the bench his season, but as a flat benchmark, in 2013/14 season, in which he played 17 games but only 782 minutes, he scored 6 times and assisted twice. Put into perspective: 782 minutes roughly equates to 9 full games: much more equivalent to Frank Ribery’s 11 games in the first half of this season.
Liverpool’s attempt to lure him away from Bavaria and to Merseyside was well documented in the summer: only for Bayern to pull the plug on any deal before the finer details were finalised. Fast forward to this January: and it seems the near-perfect time for Shaqiri to move. Sure, Liverpool: now with a stocked line-up of attackers would’ve preferred his change of scenery come in the summer: but Shaqiri’s immense talent and keen eye for goal is something Liverpool are in desperate need of: considering Mario Balotelli’s systemic woes, Daniel Sturridge’s persistent injury crises and Rickie Lambert’s inability to chase down a ball.
In essence, Shaqiri’s eye for goal (10 involvements in a goal in effectively 9 games of football), his ability to take on players (a take-on efficiency of 63%, compared to Raheem Sterling’s 53% in the first half of this season) and his undeniable ability all point towards a fantastic January deal for Liverpool, were it to come off. And judging by recent reports of Liverpool “pushing very hard for this deal to be done” and Bayern’s seeming acceptance of a transfer bid (per Sky Italy), it could very well be a deal that sparks Liverpool’s season.
However, to properly spark Liverpool’s season: they must strive to achieve what they can with what they’ve got. And when you’re sitting ninth, granted only 5 points from fourth yet not looking like achieving that goal anytime soon: that means things need to change. Talk of Brendan Rodgers’ job being in danger is very much justified: and it’ll be up to his ability to return to the ways of old: “old” referring to last season of course, that’ll determine his future at this football club.
That means dismissing those he feels surplus: Fabio Borini, Glen Johnson and Suso primarily; and focusing on getting the best out of those currently at his disposal. Whether or not he brings back Divock Origi is a matter of speculative debate: as is Daniel Sturridge’s impact when he finally returns from a long stint on the sidelines. But one thing is crystal clear: change is needed: and in one way, it has arrived.A new 3-at-the-back system has been welcomed through Liverpool’s domineering result over Swansea: yet its kinks are still being exploited.
Shaqiri aside: any transfer window activity from Liverpool should be restricted to necessity. Whether that means a defensive midfielder or a goalscorer arrives effective immediately or is postponed until the summer is up for debate.
What isn’t, is that January needs to be the month that makes Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool: not the month that finally breaks it.
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