Liverpool take on bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow in a game that Brendan Rodgers must win to restore some confidence amongst his players.
Andy Gray and Richard Keys who front beIN Sports’ EPL coverage discuss Rodgers’ management and whether he can get a result to put Liverpool on track.
Andy Gray: Brendan Rodgers is finding out what life as a Premier League manager is all about when you don’t have marquee performers. Liverpool are no different from last year in that the vast majority of that team is made up of average players.
Last season he had four outstanding performers in Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. They made the difference.
Suarez has gone, Gerrard is a shadow of his former self, Sturridge has been injured and Sterling hasn’t played that well. This game is not all about managers, it’s about players. If you’ve got outstanding players you can be a great manager. If you haven’t got good players then you will never make it as a manager, it’s as simple as that.
However, the manager has to carry the can and if he doesn’t start getting it right he could very well be fired in the not too distant future. The one thing that concerns me about him is team selection. I don’t think he picked the right side last Tuesday when he needed a victory against Basle. He left talented players like Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho sitting on their backsides on the bench and played people like Joe Allen and Lucas. Sorry, but I didn’t get that.
You can look at last year and say he did brilliantly, falling just short of winning the title, but I could have managed Liverpool last year and so could most of you.
They didn’t have the worry of the Champions League so he could pick a team every week with Suarez and Sturridge at the top end of the pitch playing out of their skin, assisted by Raheem Sterling. This year he does not have that luxury so he has to decide what his best side is and get on with it. Instead, he keeps shuffling the pack and for me he is trying to be too clever. I don’t think he knows what his best team is and that’s the problem.
I don’t really know how he is going to handle this game against United. He will hope that the history of this fixture and the great rivalry that exists between Liverpool and Manchester United will motivate his players but I can’t see it. This Liverpool side is a far cry from the great teams I used to watch; it’s an ordinary side and I can’t see them getting anything at Old Trafford.
United aren’t playing great but they are winning games. They are getting the job done without being that good and that’s the difference between these two sides. United have a big advantage with the talent they have up front with the likes of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney who are playing well at the moment and that will be decisive. 2-0 United.
Richard Keys: I think Brendan Rodgers started to believe the publicity he was creating for himself. There are two episodes as coach of Liverpool that stand out for me. The first was the signing of Mario Balotelli.
I can’t remember anyone saying what a steal that deal was. He backed off Loic Remy to buy this guy in the misguided belief that he could educate him. Well, he hasn’t done that. Secondly, he arrogantly, in my opinion, and stupidly made those seven changes against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
At the time I said that was the night he would be confirmed as a football genius or we would look back on as a watershed in his career. I am not saying it’s too late because if he wises up a bit and gets back to the basics he can turn this around but Liverpool, as Andy says, have saddled themselves with an awful lot of ordinary players.
The minimum requirement for Rodgers this year is to deliver Champions League football for the club next season. If he doesn’t then he should go and so far this season he has yet to convince me that he is the finished article. The game at Old Trafford is a huge test but I don’t think he is going to get anything from it. United aren’t that good but they have the confidence that Liverpool lack. 2-0 home win.
Chelsea v Hull
AG: Nobody, apart from the most biased Hull fans, will see anything other than a Chelsea win here. Steve Bruce’s side is struggling and it’s not about to get any better. 3-0.
RK: Chelsea were disappointing at Newcastle, but Hull at home is a totally different proposition. I’ll say 2-0 because Jose Mourinho likes Bruce and he’ll call the dogs off once they are 2-0 up.
Leicester v Man City
AG: City have had five fantastic results and have closed the gap at the top of the EPL to three points but the danger now is that they get complacent against teams like Leicester. If they take their foot off the gas they could be in for a surprise but I think they’re better than that and they’ll win this 3-1.
RK: Against Roma, City displayed all the characteristics I have been looking for from that dressing room. My only fear is that they put so much into that game that they might get caught.
However, Leicester look totally flat and devoid of any motivation. If City stay sharp they will win this 3-0.
Arsenal v Newcastle
AG: Newcastle’s winning run shuddered to a halt but they are a much better side than people give them credit for. However, at the Emirates, Arsenal, with Alexis Sanchez back, will be too good for them. 2-0.
RK: Arsenal are a bit of a faltering machine. The best they can hope for this season is a top four finish and I am convinced it’s time for Arsene Wenger to step aside. Newcastle believe in themselves and they can get something out of this. 2-2
Burnley v Southampton
AG: The Saints have got to stop the rot. Three games, no points, they have dropped out of the top four and everybody is saying they’ve been found out. I don’t think so. They are a good side and although it will be tough at Burnley they can get a draw here. 2-2.
RK: Ronald Koeman will have made it more than clear to his players that they need a result after three defeats. It’s never easy to go to Burnley but Southampton can win this 2-1.
Crystal Palace v Stoke
AG: If the Palace that played at Tottenham last week turns up they could get a result but Stoke had a great win against Arsenal and they aren’t bad away from home. 0-1.
RK: No love lost between the two managers here but this is a difficult one to call. If Palace are at their best they can win this. 1-0.
Sunderland v West Ham
AG: The Hammers are flying with nine points from three games which will boost their confidence but Sunderland need to win and because it’s at home I think they will beat Sam Allardyce’s side. 2-1.
RK: Sunderland did well at Anfield last week and there is a gutsy goal in them so I’m going 1-1.
West Brom v Aston Villa
AG: Villa will fancy this but the Baggies desperately need a victory and home advantage will be decisive. 1-1.
RK: I can’t really get my head around what’s happening at West Brom; it’s a bit of a mess so I can’t agree with Andy. 2-1 to Villa.
Swansea v Tottenham
AG: You never know what Spurs are going to be like and that must be frustrating for their fans. It’s hard to call this one but I think Swansea will nick it 1-0.
RK: Tottenham’s post-Europe record is awful and I can’t see anything changing at Swansea, a team that is neat and tidy and can get the job done, particularly at home. 3-1.
Everton v QPR
AG: I haven’t been that impressed with my old team this season and I wonder if the Europa League is proving to be a bit of a distraction. However, QPR’s away form is abysmal so Everton should win this easily. 3-1.
RK: QPR will dig in and they are due a point away from home but the truth is they really are not good enough. Easy 2-0 home win.
