3 Things Liverpool need to do on Gerard Houllier’s return to Anfield
Liverpool welcome back former manager Gerard Houllier to Anfield on Monday night. He returns to Anfield with a mission to heap more misery on his former team. Houllier has Gary McAllister as his assistant, the man he bought for Liverpool at the turn of century
who eventually turned Liverpool’s fortune.
However, there is more to it than the return of Houllier. Liverpool desperately need to get three points at home. Roy Hodgson is still under tremendous pressure to get things right for Liverpool and anything other than a win for Liverpool could result in
the sacking of last season’s ‘Manager of the Year’.
Without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Liverpool would need a leader and an inspiration tonight. Pepe Riena is expected to retain the armband in the absence of the duo. However, the inspiration needs to come from one of the forward players. Torres has
looked off pace for most of the season and although he has shown glimpses of his class, it’s now time for him to step up to the plate and deliver it for Liverpool.
Raul Meireles has impressed since he has been moved back to central midfield and Dirk Kuyt is now back to full fitness and as senior members of the team, they need to deliver as well. No matter what we ask from the players, it will all come down to Roy Hodgson’s
approach to this game. He changed his defensive attitude in their last away game against Tottenham and had it not been for a defensive fragility of Paul Konchesky, Liverpool would have come away with at least a point.
Bettor.com has listed 3 things which Roy Hodgson needs to do in order to stop Gerard Houllier from piling more misery on Liverpool, on his return to the club:
1) Keep the Attacking mentality
Liverpool looked a breath of fresh air especially in the first half against Tottenham last weekend. If only Maxi had taken his chance before half time, the result could have been a totally different one as Liverpool would have lead 2-0 at half time. We know
how Aston Villa play. They will use the pace of Agbonlahor and Ashley Young to break at every possible opportunity and play their usual counter attacking football.
If Liverpool can get at them and start the game at a high tempo, they might just take the game away from Villa by the end of first half, whose defending has been far from satisfactory this season.
2) Play Joe Cole behind Fernando Torres
So much has been said about Joe Cole’s poor form since his summer move. However, the truth is that the diminutive midfielder has hardly had a run of games together. He has often been asked to play on the left flank and he has failed to deliver from that
side. His best game to date was in the Europa League when he played behind a quick striker, Ryan Babel. With Maxi doing reasonably well on the left flank and Steven Gerrard out injured, it is the ideal time to give Joe Cole a chance to play behind Torres.
With all due respect, David Ngog does not have enough class about him to start for Liverpool in the Premier League. Joe Cole needs time and needs to play in his favoured position to get back in form.
3) Play Fabio Aurelio instead of Paul Konchesky
The first two points mentioned are crucial but this one can give Liverpool more stability at the back. Konchesky is error prone and has looked uncomfortable against wingers who run at him. Fabio Aurelio is now fit and without a doubt a better player than
Konchesky. The only question mark remains over his fitness, but having got some game time under his belt and a rest of 3 full days, it’s about time to start with him in the league matches as well.
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