BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL
Former Nigeria captain, Sunday Oliseh takes a look at Liverpool success this season.
What is Liverpool's secret to success?
Liverpool have never won the Premier
League in its current format and name. It
was in the 1989/1990 season, 24 years ago,
that Liverpool last earned the coronation as
English champions. The Premier League as
it’s known today was founded on 20
February 1992.
There was every reason to suggest at the
onset of this season that Liverpool were set
to have a "nightmarish" season. But today,
with a handful of games to go, they are
witnessing one of their best seasons ever
and playing world-class quality football
that’s not been seen at Anfield for a long
Time.
Unsettled superstar Luis Suarez ushered in
the 2013/2014 season with a series of league
matches off thanks to the ban after the
Ivanovic biting episode. Legendary defender
Jamie Carragher retired, and out-of-favour
defenders Sakho from Paris St Germain and
Kolo Touré from Man. City were drafted in.
In addition, the club was rumoured to have
dire financial difficulties while captain Steven
Gerrard was supposed to have passed his
prime, nursing injuries. Some naysayers felt
maybe coach Brendan Rodgers was not the
right one after succeeding club legend, Kenny
Dalglish.
Should they win the championship this year
they would definitely go down in history as
one of the most entertaining Liverpool sides
ever.
So what has been their secret and what have
been the reasons for their success so far?
Brendan Rodgers (Manager of Liverpool)
For those who are unaware, prior to
Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers was manager at
Swansea (2010 -2012) and under him they
played top class quality football – full of
mobility, ball passing and constructed play,
as opposed to typical British kick and follow
football.
Liverpool under Rodgers don't speculate by
long thrusts forward and follow to force
results, but play their way from the back
through the sections of the pitch, ridicule
opponents with constructive moves and
mobility that unlock defences. A beauty to
watch.
By standing his ground and refusing to give
in to star player, Luis Suarez's wishes to
leave the club in the summer of 2013, he
showed great foresight – from which the club
is reaping mega rewards today.
He smartly knew that quality world class
strikers like Suarez, who has proven his
worth in the English Premier league and
assures you over 20 goals in a season, are
not many in the market nor affordable. So he
held on to him. Recently Liverpool extended
Suarez's stay and wages by a contract
extension.
The game plan and tactical schemes that he
puts up in every game not only neutralise the
opponents’ strong points, but allows the best
qualities of his players to be put on show eg.
the way he tactically outplayed Manchester
United and Arsenal speaks volumes.
Take note of the player changes he effects:
not only are they effective but the timing of
the player changes he makes shows great
thinking on the feet under match pressure.
You know what they say: good kids are the
products of good parents.
Luis Suarez and the attack line
This is one player non-Liverpool fans love to
hate but would love to have on their team
line-up. Like him or loathe him, he is one of
the best players in the world and wow, how
he has matured in a short period.
This player was on the way out of Liverpool
but his forced retention and his world class
performances have pushed Liverpool to the
top of the EPL table. He scores loads of goals
(nearing a seasonal 30-goal mark as we
speak), and produces loads of assists for co-
strikers Sturridge and Sterling who just love
playing beside him in a year prior to the
World Cup.
Midfield strength
This is where Liverpool orchestrates its
victories .The ability of Stephen Gerrard to
adapt his game from being a forward-
running player with the ball at his feet, to
being a holding midfielder who dictates the
tempo of the game and holds the fort, has
given so much balance to this team.
This is a really smart conversion by the
manager, Rodgers, judging from Gerrard's
age. Henderson is a working force. Coupled
with Coutinho's creativity, it's been a delight
to watch and effective.
New acquisitions and defence line
Liverpool does not only score loads of goals,
they don't concede enormously. Sakho,
Flanagan, Johnson and Skrtel are so
complementary and solid it is worth
commendation.
As if that was not enough, Skrtel is one of the
leading goal scorers of his team. Great to
have a defender who not only defends well
but helps you win games with his goals.
Five more victories and they are champions
Should Liverpool win their next five games,
no matter what their rivals (Chelsea, Arsenal,
Manchester City) do or say, they will be
crowned champions. This comes about due
to the fact that Man. City and Chelsea figure
in the list of their next five matches.
Liverpool are definitely likely winners, and it
will be refreshing to have them at the top to
spice up the list of champions.
I must confess, in October 2013, it was quite
unforeseeable – Liverpool being crowned as
champions, but their results since December
2013 I can only marvel at.
Five final games to go:
Apr 13 - Liverpool v Manchester City,
Apr 20 - Norwich City v Liverpool,
Apr 27 - Liverpool v Chelsea,
May 5 - Crystal Palace v Liverpool,
May 11 - Liverpool v Newcastle United
This is definitely turning out to be the most
intriguing English Premier League in over 20
years with a likely new champion.
Liverpool have never won the Premier
League in its current format and name. It
was in the 1989/1990 season, 24 years ago,
that Liverpool last earned the coronation as
English champions. The Premier League as
it’s known today was founded on 20
February 1992.
There was every reason to suggest at the
onset of this season that Liverpool were set
to have a "nightmarish" season. But today,
with a handful of games to go, they are
witnessing one of their best seasons ever
and playing world-class quality football
that’s not been seen at Anfield for a long
Time.
Unsettled superstar Luis Suarez ushered in
the 2013/2014 season with a series of league
matches off thanks to the ban after the
Ivanovic biting episode. Legendary defender
Jamie Carragher retired, and out-of-favour
defenders Sakho from Paris St Germain and
Kolo Touré from Man. City were drafted in.
In addition, the club was rumoured to have
dire financial difficulties while captain Steven
Gerrard was supposed to have passed his
prime, nursing injuries. Some naysayers felt
maybe coach Brendan Rodgers was not the
right one after succeeding club legend, Kenny
Dalglish.
Should they win the championship this year
they would definitely go down in history as
one of the most entertaining Liverpool sides
ever.
So what has been their secret and what have
been the reasons for their success so far?
Brendan Rodgers (Manager of Liverpool)
For those who are unaware, prior to
Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers was manager at
Swansea (2010 -2012) and under him they
played top class quality football – full of
mobility, ball passing and constructed play,
as opposed to typical British kick and follow
football.
Liverpool under Rodgers don't speculate by
long thrusts forward and follow to force
results, but play their way from the back
through the sections of the pitch, ridicule
opponents with constructive moves and
mobility that unlock defences. A beauty to
watch.
By standing his ground and refusing to give
in to star player, Luis Suarez's wishes to
leave the club in the summer of 2013, he
showed great foresight – from which the club
is reaping mega rewards today.
He smartly knew that quality world class
strikers like Suarez, who has proven his
worth in the English Premier league and
assures you over 20 goals in a season, are
not many in the market nor affordable. So he
held on to him. Recently Liverpool extended
Suarez's stay and wages by a contract
extension.
The game plan and tactical schemes that he
puts up in every game not only neutralise the
opponents’ strong points, but allows the best
qualities of his players to be put on show eg.
the way he tactically outplayed Manchester
United and Arsenal speaks volumes.
Take note of the player changes he effects:
not only are they effective but the timing of
the player changes he makes shows great
thinking on the feet under match pressure.
You know what they say: good kids are the
products of good parents.
Luis Suarez and the attack line
This is one player non-Liverpool fans love to
hate but would love to have on their team
line-up. Like him or loathe him, he is one of
the best players in the world and wow, how
he has matured in a short period.
This player was on the way out of Liverpool
but his forced retention and his world class
performances have pushed Liverpool to the
top of the EPL table. He scores loads of goals
(nearing a seasonal 30-goal mark as we
speak), and produces loads of assists for co-
strikers Sturridge and Sterling who just love
playing beside him in a year prior to the
World Cup.
Midfield strength
This is where Liverpool orchestrates its
victories .The ability of Stephen Gerrard to
adapt his game from being a forward-
running player with the ball at his feet, to
being a holding midfielder who dictates the
tempo of the game and holds the fort, has
given so much balance to this team.
This is a really smart conversion by the
manager, Rodgers, judging from Gerrard's
age. Henderson is a working force. Coupled
with Coutinho's creativity, it's been a delight
to watch and effective.
New acquisitions and defence line
Liverpool does not only score loads of goals,
they don't concede enormously. Sakho,
Flanagan, Johnson and Skrtel are so
complementary and solid it is worth
commendation.
As if that was not enough, Skrtel is one of the
leading goal scorers of his team. Great to
have a defender who not only defends well
but helps you win games with his goals.
Five more victories and they are champions
Should Liverpool win their next five games,
no matter what their rivals (Chelsea, Arsenal,
Manchester City) do or say, they will be
crowned champions. This comes about due
to the fact that Man. City and Chelsea figure
in the list of their next five matches.
Liverpool are definitely likely winners, and it
will be refreshing to have them at the top to
spice up the list of champions.
I must confess, in October 2013, it was quite
unforeseeable – Liverpool being crowned as
champions, but their results since December
2013 I can only marvel at.
Five final games to go:
Apr 13 - Liverpool v Manchester City,
Apr 20 - Norwich City v Liverpool,
Apr 27 - Liverpool v Chelsea,
May 5 - Crystal Palace v Liverpool,
May 11 - Liverpool v Newcastle United
This is definitely turning out to be the most
intriguing English Premier League in over 20
years with a likely new champion.
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