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Liverpool’s line-up in Madrid: why Brendan Rodgers was spot on Liverpool’s lineup in Madrid: why Brendan Rodgers was spot on
(35 minutes later)
First, on Monday night, came the reports that Brendan Rodgers may rest Steven Gerrard for the tricky away tie against Real Madrid. Then, on Tuesday afternoon, came the suggestions that he could also leave Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson and Mario Balotelli out of the starting XI. First, on Monday night, came the reports that Brendan Rodgers may rest Steven Gerrard for the tricky Champions League away tie against Real Madrid. Then, on Tuesday afternoon, came the suggestions that he could also leave Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson and Mario Balotelli out of the starting XI.
Finally, an hour before the match, came confirmation of the players the manager had chosen to play against a side that had scored 54 goals in their 17 games this season. It made for uncomfortable reading: Mignolet; Manquillo, Touré, Skrtel, Moreno; Lucas, Can, Allen; Lallana, Borini and Markovic.Finally, an hour before the match, came confirmation of the players the manager had chosen to play against a side that had scored 54 goals in their 17 games this season. It made for uncomfortable reading: Mignolet; Manquillo, Touré, Skrtel, Moreno; Lucas, Can, Allen; Lallana, Borini and Markovic.
Of all the changes it was, perhaps, Kolo Touré’s name that induced the most trepidation (or mirth, depending on who you support). The Ivorian defender had not started a Premier League game since February 2014, against Fulham away, when he scored a hapless own goal. Of all the changes it was, perhaps, Kolo Touré’s name that induced the most trepidation (or mirth, depending on who you support). The Ivorian defender had not started a Premier League game since February, against Fulham away, when he scored a hapless own goal.
Most football fans these days seem to think that Kolo Touré is, for a lack of a better word, rubbish. Let’s get one thing clear: he is not rubbish. You don’t play more than 300 Premier League games and win two league titles while earning more than a 100 caps over 14 years for your country if you are a poor or even an average player. He is a good footballer; a very good footballer.Most football fans these days seem to think that Kolo Touré is, for a lack of a better word, rubbish. Let’s get one thing clear: he is not rubbish. You don’t play more than 300 Premier League games and win two league titles while earning more than a 100 caps over 14 years for your country if you are a poor or even an average player. He is a good footballer; a very good footballer.
How good do you think you have to be to turn up at the Bernabéu without much match practice and produce a performance like that? True, he lost Karim Benzema for Real’s only goal of the night but he also made numerous blocks and timely interceptions. In fact Touré’s performance was a joy to behold and I challenge anyone to say that Liverpool’s defensive display was worse on Tuesday night than at any other point this season.How good do you think you have to be to turn up at the Bernabéu without much match practice and produce a performance like that? True, he lost Karim Benzema for Real’s only goal of the night but he also made numerous blocks and timely interceptions. In fact Touré’s performance was a joy to behold and I challenge anyone to say that Liverpool’s defensive display was worse on Tuesday night than at any other point this season.
And like Rodgers pointed out, it was not as if the team had been firing on all cylinders and that he had broken the rhythm of a team that was doing very well. “We do not have a team with a consistent run of form winning five or six games consecutively so the changes were to get a performance and result,” Rodgers said. “That is what happens. As the manager you are open to criticism whether it is deserved or not – and I do not worry what people think or say, I worry about my players.” As Rodgers pointed out, it was not as if the team had been firing on all cylinders and that he had broken the rhythm of a team that was doing very well. “We do not have a team with a consistent run of form winning five or six games consecutively so the changes were to get a performance and result,” Rodgers said. “That is what happens. As the manager you are open to criticism whether it is deserved or not – and I do not worry what people think or say – I worry about my players.”
So in order to attempt to establish whether Rodgers was right to rest players let’s try our very own “Liverpool v Real Madrid team selection test™: Simply answer yes or no to these three questions:So in order to attempt to establish whether Rodgers was right to rest players let’s try our very own “Liverpool v Real Madrid team selection test™: Simply answer yes or no to these three questions:
1. Are Liverpool likely to have improved their chances of getting a result against Chelsea on Saturday with that team selection?2. Do you think Real Madrid would have beaten the team Rodgers sent out against Newcastle (or Basel or West Ham for that matter)?3. Is Brendan Rodgers likely to have a better understanding of the state and shape of his players than an armchair supporter or any pundit?
If your answer is yes to those three questions then we probably agree that the Liverpool manager knew what he was doing. If your answer is no to any of the questions then we clearly disagree. Fine.If your answer is yes to those three questions then we probably agree that the Liverpool manager knew what he was doing. If your answer is no to any of the questions then we clearly disagree. Fine.
Another –different – matter is the suggestion that Rodgers, if he indeed was resting the players, should have left them at home rather than make them travel and warm-up and play 20 minutes. As Lee Dixon said on ITV before the game: “Rodgers is trying to find the right balance between giving a performance and getting a result but it could be a risky prospect. If I’m a player I want to rest at home and rest properly rather than travelling.” Another –different – matter is the suggestion that Rodgers, if he indeed was resting the players, should have left them at home rather than make them travel and warm up and play 20 minutes. As Lee Dixon said on ITV before the game: “Rodgers is trying to find the right balance between giving a performance and getting a result but it could be a risky prospect. If I’m a player I want to rest at home and rest properly rather than travelling.”
In the end we just have to wait and see what happens on Saturday as it is pretty much impossible to properly judge Rodgers’ team selection at the Bernabéu until the final whistle against Chelsea in three days’ time. But, in my opinion, even if Liverpool lose against the unbeaten league leaders, the manager made the right decision to rest some tired and out of form players for a game they were extremely likely to lose anyway. In the end we just have to wait and see what happens on Saturday as it is pretty much impossible to judge Rodgers’ team selection at the Bernabéu properly until the final whistle against Chelsea in three days’ time. But, in my opinion, even if Liverpool lose against the unbeaten league leaders, the manager made the right decision to rest some tired and out-of-form players for a game they were extremely likely to lose anyway.