Was lucky enough to get away to Amsterdam for a few days so haven't had a chance to read much of the post-match debate on here since the Arsenal game. Have had a quick flick and see the 'Should Rafa Go' thread is a popular one again plus a peek at the match thread where the opinion is more mixed. I was encouraged by what i saw yesterday. Yes we were largely out-played for large spells of the game by a tremendous Arsenal side at the top of their game but i didn't expect much else considering the recent form and confidence levels of the two sides. What i did see was a liverpool side playing with passion, guts and determination, real backs to the wall stuff at times but that is what you have to rely on when confidence is so low. I see a couple of idiots have suggested that we should have gone at Arsenal full-steam ahead and played in the same attacking manner as they do but it NEVER works like that unless you have a bit of form behind you (which we clearly don't) We would have been lucky to win the game but let's not forget Arsenal had to rely on Almunia to pull off a few stops of his own.
First thing for me was the formation. Rafa might just have stumbled on something that could (and should) suit us well over the coming games and i hope to hell he sticks with it home and away. It was essentially a 4-5-1 but i'd envisage more of a 4-3-3 against lesser sides. Gerrard had by far his best game of the season, in fact that was about as well as you will see him play, a BIG BIG plus for the manager and it was good to see him acknowledge the Captain's performance to the press (take note all you posters who complain Rafa doesn't love or a..s...s kiss his players enough) 80% of this board screamed for Gerrard to move back inside last season and while i liked him on the right i also felt the time was right for him to step back into the hub but face facts, Gerrard is often hamstrung playing in a central pairing. Yesterday the shackles were off, he was running at players, playing one-twos, bursting forward, getting in shots, winning 2nd balls and still he marked, tracked and tackled. There is no better sight in football than Steven Gerrard in full flight, doing what he does best in the FINAL THIRD of the pitch. PLEASE stick with this formation Rafa!!!
Next up, our strikers. I quite like Voronin and Kuyt, they're tireless workers, they do a lot of good work outside the box, both work the channels and they can be clever on the ball (more so Voronin) BUT they should not play together as a front two. By far our weakest combination, no focal point to our attack with these two together. A lot of posters feel we have outgrown Peter Crouch, our tactics have changed, we've got Torres now, Crouch is not at our level etc BUT surely it's time to give the lad a run now that Torres is missing in action? A couple of season back Crouch was very effective, i see no reason why he can't be again. Stick with that formation, play Crouch as the focal point, either of Kuyt, Voronin or Babel can play wide in support, have Masch and Lucas play deep and allow Gerrard to join up with the attack through the middle. Gerrard and Crouch have an excellent understanding, it was evident two seasons back and you could see it again at the death yesterday when Stevie ran onto a Crouch chest-down and nearly stole it at the end. Gerrard is at his best laying a ball into feet and running onto or beyond to receive the return ball at pace. We'll never see that happen with Kuyt/Voronin playing together up top and we're unlikely to see it with Gerrard playing in a central two either.
PLEASE STICK WITH THAT FORMATION RAFA!!! IT'S THE WAY FORWARD!!!