QPR V Liverpool – Match Preview
Liverpool travel down to west London this afternoon to take on Harry Redknapp’s struggling QPR side. Brendan Rodgers’ side need all three points in order to stay in touch with the leading pack. With the top four – including dark horses Southampton and West Ham all winning, the pressure is on. Not least in the light of recent news.
Daniel Sturridge has been ruled out for the next six weeks and so the task of scoring goes to summer signing Mario Balotelli. The Italian said last week he prefers to play with a partner rather than a lone striker. There were glimpses of this against West Bromwich Albion a fortnight ago. We saw some good link up play between he and Steven Gerrard. These words, Rodgers needs to pay heed to.
We’ve said before on The LFC File that Rodgers has to start playing to the strengths of his players. If he wants to fulfill a certain philosophy then Balotelli perhaps, doesn’t fit into the mobile, versatile and fast player mould like Sturridge or Luis Suarez. So perhaps he shouldn’t have bought the ex-Man City forward in that case. The formula was a winning one and he doesn’t have the player to make the equation work. My mum always used to say “cut your suit according to your clothe young man…!” And maybe this is good advice for the manager.
Emre Can is fit again and in contention. I’d like to see him play in Gerrard’s role in front of the defence or alongside Jordan Henderson. The captain playing further forward. In between Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana. That would make for the best use of Balotelli. Either that or partner him with Lallana or Fabio Borini in a front pair. The permutations are endless and it’s vital the right one is chosen. More likely I think we’ll see Gerrard in front of the back four. Joe Allen recalled beside Henderson with Sterling, Lallana and the No. 45 up front. For that reason, a draw seems likely to me unless Rodgers takes my mother’s advice!
Defence should see Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren in the centre with Alberto Moreno at left back. Right back? Glen Johnson would be a good choice as he needs a new contract and played pretty well when he came on against West Brom.
Rodgers is having to answer some questions now. He still is an exceptional man manager but his tactics and team selection will be put to the test. Especially with Sturridge being out for what will now be a third of the season.
Much rides on the next sequence of games beginning with this afternoon’s trip to the London. Can Liverpool capitalise on a poor side propping up the division? Or will there be a capitulation in the capital? Come teatime, Rodgers will have found streets paved with gold… Or egg on his face!
Follow me on Twitter: @Mrbengreen
Photo: Olly Greenwood/AFP
