Liverpool FC Forum

[matrix]

Gerrard to take centre stage
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has revealed he will revert to his preferred position of central midfield following Mohamed Sissoko's shoulder injury.


Sissoko has been ruled out until February and, following talks with Reds boss Rafael Benitez, Gerrard is set to take his place in the middle of the park having spent most of the season on either the right or left flank.


"I spoke to [Rafa] Benitez and he said I will get a lot more time in the middle now Sissoko is out injured," Gerrard told Sky Sports News.


While the England international has refused to criticise Benitez's controversial refusal to give him centre stage, Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Arsenal appears to have been the final straw.


Gerrard, once again selected on the right, was a peripheral figure, while Boudewijn Zenden failed to impress despite partnering Xabi Alonso in Sissoko's absence.


The line-up is unlikely to feature again this weekend when the Merseysiders travel to Middlesbrough seeking their first away win of the campaign.

this is long over due, believe me...  the arsenal game was the final straw...

what does the rest of you think will you be happy to see gerrard in the middle...  i will be...   stevie...   

[SouthCoastShankly]

About time not only because obviously Gerrard talents lie as a central midfielder but I feel we will start to see Pennant play more regularly and hopefully begin to show what he is really capable of.

[matrix]

i think rafa now knows  we need stevie's driving force in the middle now more than ever
   only yesterday rafa was saying that he had to pay top dollor for pennant, so maybe it made him think why buy a right winger and hardly play him...

im getting that good feeling again about the club i love...  its like we have a new central midfielder again...  im not getting carried away,  dirk kuyt said recently gerrard is the best player he has ever worked with...  make no mistake gerrard will deliver in the middle...   

[ConnO'var]

I definitely will be happy to see Gerrard back in the middle. There may be some rustiness and a lack of understanding of each other's play with Alonso but should be able to be ironed out quickly methinks.....

I'm not a big fan of Pennant but I think it's about time that the boy be given a proper run to prove himself..... If it doesn't work out, we could always play Lil' Luis out on the right and Aurelio/Riise on the left or switch to a 5-3-2 formation..... at least until we get Kewell back and a proper right midfielder..... coz right now, we don't have the required quality wingers to play well in a 4-4-2 in my opinion.

[jkop]

Glad to hear that Stevie will be in the centre, i know he scored 20 odd goals from the wing last season but so far he has'nt looked happy. So lets hope he cheers up a bit and the whole team get a lift and a well deserved away win.

[lfc-all-my-life]

the multiplus neutrons

[matrix]

the multiplus neutrons

ye wat..........         

[red37]

Glad to hear that Stevie will be in the centre, i know he scored 20 odd goals from the wing last season but so far he has'nt looked happy. So lets hope he cheers up a bit and the whole team get a lift and a well deserved away win.

'ere 'ere   it could be his wake up call.

[lfc-all-my-life]

multicate,multicate,the multiplus of the catabulous= the neutrons of the cytoplasm

[tubby]

Is this the story which is also going under the heading "Gerrard hints at switch" The SSN link is dead?

There arnt Chelsea rumors circling again are there?

[Cool Hand Luke]

Just to add a little something to the mix:


BENITEZ'S RIGHT DECISION

According to the Actim Index, Steven Gerrard’s performances on the right side of midfield are going some way to explaining Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez’s decision to play his captain on the wing.

Liverpool take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside this weekend and Gerrard and his team-mates will be looking to cure their travel sickness which has seen them notch up only one point from six away fixtures in the league this term.
 
With the tough tackling Momo Sissoko out injured, many people have been calling for Benitez to play Gerrard in the centre where he would have more of an opportunity to get involved in the thick of the action. However, with an abundance of midfielders in his squad, the Spaniard feels that Gerrard can play an important role for the side in a wide position.
 
Central midfielder Xabi Alonso, ranked 61st in the Index overall, has proved to be no slouch when it comes to sticking his foot in. The Spanish international has won 45 tackles this term and made 263 passes – the third and fourth highest totals in the Premier League respectively so far. He has also made eight clearances, put in 10 crosses, had seven shots on target and scored one goal – from his own half against Newcastle United.
 
With Alonso in the centre, Actim stats also show that despite playing out wide, Gerrard can still be a massive influence on the team.
 
In his 12 league appearances this season for the FA Cup holders, the 26-year-old, ranked 169th overall in the Index, has had more shots on goal, 34, and more dribbles, 12, than any of his team-mates.
 
Being on the right has not stopped the England international’s hard work in defence either. He has made the second highest number of clearances, 9, and won the third highest amount of tackles, 26, in the Liverpool squad.
 
Gerrard has also put in 54 crosses - the second highest in the Premiership, and made 285 passes – the third best in the league.
 
The Actim Index ranks players using Actim Stats according to their performance, both by position and overall.
 
Liverpool's highest ranking player in each position is: Steve Finnan (13th highest defender in the Premiership); Xabi Alonso (17th midfielder); Dirk Kuyt (19th striker); Jose Reina (11th Highest goalkeeper).

...........................................................
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/features/stats/FS10781061116-1616.htm

[Cool Hand Luke]

Since Sissoko is injured I think Gerrard has to move in alongside Alonso in the centre if we are to continue playing a 4-4-2.

The Sissoko and Alonso partnership is an excellent one and if they were both fit I would fully support keeping them together with Gerrard playing on the right.

[stmichael]

I am consistently amazed by the furore around the whole Gerrard on the right/middle issue, especially given the number of intelligent posters on here. Regardless of whether you think Gerrard is our best central midfielder, one of our best, or appalling there, surely there can't be anyone that doesn't recognise that in the current squad, he is the best right sided player? That's why he plays there, plain and simple.

With a fully fit squad, Rafa seems to feel that the team loses more quality overall by having Pennant or Garcia on the right than we would by having Momo and Xabi in the middle. I mean, is anyone honestly trying to suggest that say, Kewell, Xabi, Momo and Gerrard is a worse midfield than Kewell, Gerrard Momo and Pennant? Or than Kewell, Gerrard, Xabi and Garcia? OK, we'll play matches this year that any of those midfields should be able to dominate, but generally speaking the first option gives you the best balance of quality in each position.

Even if you think Gerrard may be our best central midfielder, there's no doubt that he's the best player we've got that can play right midfield and there's a bigger quality gap between Gerrard and the next choice on the right than there is between Gerrard and the next choice in the middle. As such, the best option for the strength of the team overall is Gerrard on the right abd will remain so until we sign a truly exceptional right midfielder.

[67-1161385641]

Lets see if Gerrard playing the centre improves the team as much as everyone says it will, I watch with great interest, like a game of I spy with my little eye.

You swines!

[lfc-all-my-life]

multicate