Liverpool 4-0 Preston

Goals:
Coutinho 14' (pen)
Ibe 36'
Sterling 64'
Aspas 75'

We're back!

And it's almost a full day after the fact by now, but here are a few notes on facets I found interesting. Remember the usual caveats that it's preseason, can't always divine omens from these entrails, etc.

Formation/first half v second half:
The formations may have been different in the first and second halves – more a 4-2-3-1 in the first, a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 in the second – but the style remained the same. Both XIs featured excellent ball retention, controlled the tenor and tempo of the match, varied well between long and short passes, and pressed from the front.

Aside from a few experiments with three defenders and a couple of matches with both Suarez and Sturridge up top, Liverpool were rigidly 4-2-3-1 for almost all of last season. And even in those different formations, Liverpool's midfield shape usually remained the same: two holding midfielders with an attacker further forward, whether Coutinho, Henderson, Shelvey, Suarez, etc. Almost every time. Seeing a different midfield shape – Lucas as the sole holding midfielder and two slight attacking midfielders in Luis Alberto and Pacheco – but the same control and same "Rodgers style" was quite encouraging.

Coutinho:
The hub, the epicenter, the focal point, the polestar. Coutinho was absolutely central to everything in the attacking third – highlighted during Liverpool's first goal: winning the ball back then winning a penalty, then subsequently scoring said penalty as casually as possible – and it seems clear that most players' first thought was "where is Coutinho can I pass it to Coutinho" when building the attack. Which is both a very promising thing and a slightly worrying thing.

We've seen before *cough Suarez cough* that Liverpool can suffer when relying on a single player for its attack, but I don't necessarily think that was or will be the case here. It's more that Rodgers sees the Brazilian as an extremely important piece, and is more than happy to assemble his side around him, despite what Liverpool's pursuit of Mkhitaryan implies. That should do wonders for Coutinho's confidence and form, especially after his travails and set-backs at Inter.

Spearing at full-back:
Made very little sense. Yes, the fitness staff didn't seem comfortable playing Kelly for more than a few minutes. Without Coates, Wisdom was needed at center-back. Without Enrique, Flanagan was needed at left-back. It was still strange to see Liverpool's very own hobbit bombing up and down the touchline in the first half.

He didn't do badly, by any stretch, and set up a couple of good chances for Borini. But he's not a full-back: not at his height and not considering his usual troubles with positioning. And that he was played out of position in the first friendly of the season, with Liverpool slightly lacking bodies in central midfield anyway, bodes poorly for his Liverpool future.

The New Boys:
Both Mignolet and Toure had next to nothing to do; the Belgian made one good save on a shot from distance and commanded his box well the few times Preston managed to get the ball in the attacking third, while Toure won all of his few duels and had a crucial header to clear Humphrey's dangerous cross early on. And that was about it.

Luis Alberto and Aspas, on the other hand, were quite involved, and both played quite well. Alberto seemed slightly more restrained in this central role, but his head was always up, his ball control brilliant, his passing crisp and clever. He oozed potential. And Aspas was as advertised, constant running from a central position, capped off with a bamboozling goal from the top of the box that completely fooled Preston's keeper. More of both of those, please.

The Kids Are Still Alright:
That Liverpool's two other goals came from Ibe and Sterling might be the most heartening facet, outside of the obvious fascination with Liverpool's new toys: Ibe's was a typical cut-inside, roll it past the keeper strike, while Sterling beat the offside trap then rounded the keeper. The competition between those two teenagers is going to be amazing, and the two are going to keep pushing each other to make the squad/starting XI. Each should be excellent for the other's development, neither one will be able to take a day/week/match off with the other breathing down his neck. Survival of the fittest. And they both look pretty fit.

Welcome back, football. We missed you.

Liverpool 2-0 Preston North End

Cavalieri
Carragher Hyypia Agger Insua
Mascherano Alonso
Babel Gerrard Riera
Keane

Goals:
Riera 25’
Torres 90+3’

Liverpool, despite the strong line-up, certainly made hard work of that.

Outside of Cavalieri for Reina and Babel for Kuyt, this was as strong as team as Benitez could name. And it was one-way traffic in the first half after the 10th minute, but the away side only had a goal to show for it at the break. Wallace demonstrated Preston's intent in the 5th minute, forcing Cavalieri to push a free kick around the post (even though it looked to be going wide), but Liverpool soon looked likely to seal the game by halftime.

Keane, who had one of those games where little went right, mishit Liverpool’s first opportunity wide in the 12th, while Gerrard tested the keeper a couple of times before Riera opened the scoring in the 25th. Alonso’s corner ended up at the winger’s feet on the right, and he danced inside past defenders and unleashed a wicked shot which Longeran couldn't get to.

Liverpool continued to press, and both Babel and Gerrard spurned chances, but the rest of the half will be remembered for Keane’s misses. Both Alonso and Gerrard released the striker with gorgeous passes, but when his good control took him through in the 38th, he shot at the keeper, and when the captain’s cross found him open in the box in the 45th, he put it wide with the goal gaping. And with those chances affecting his confidence, he pulled it back for Riera in the first minute of injury time when the better option was to shoot. I don’t mean to harp on Keane – he’s getting in the right place and has always been a streaky scorer – but Liverpool should have been two or three up, and he was the main culprit. And to add injury to insult, Alonso was hurt following up the final chance, and ended the half getting treatment, with Lucas coming on for him in the second.

It’s little coincidence that Preston were able to come back into the game after Alonso was forced off. Liverpool had two opportunities early on, with Keane again misfiring and Agger putting a free header wide, but the home side looked better after the break. Longeran made a spectacular save on Gerrard on the hour mark, and Riera fizzed a shot across the face of goal two minutes later, but from then on, Preston looked the most likely to score. And sadly, as a Liverpool fan, it truly started when Stephen Elliot replaced former red Neil Mellor, giving the home side a different option up front.

Center back Sean St. Ledger had an equalizer in the net in the 64th, but it was rightfully ruled out for a silly Parkin foul on Carragher, holding him down as the ball came into the box even though Carra was probably unable to affect the result. So, thanks, Jon Parkin.

Fortunately, Preston’s increased possession led to few opportunities, with St. Ledger's touch wasting their best, from a corner in the 75th, and Torres’ entrance for Keane in the 73rd gave Liverpool some relief as an outlet. The striker soon demonstrated both his talent and rustiness three minutes after his introduction, when he deliciously turned Mawene, but could only fire wide from outside the box.

Aurelio came on for Mascherano in the 83th, with the Argentinean also picking up an injury, which saw Babel move up top and give Liverpool a relief valve on the break. Seeing out the final minutes, that relief valve came good as Babel flicked a long ball on for Gerrard, who raced towards goal, waiting for Torres to join the attack so he could square the ball to him for an easy goal. 2-0 flatters Preston’s first half performance and probably doesn’t do justice to their second half display.

I’m admittedly surprised that Benitez fielded a full-strength team – no Lucas, El Zhar, Skrtel or Aurelio in the starting line-up – but with a week in-between games (as well as the catcalls the manager faced after losing to Burnley at this stage in his first year), I probably shouldn’t be. And that full-strength team was needed as Preston made Liverpool work for it in the second half.

I truly hope Alonso’s injury isn’t too serious. The official site’s saying little so far, other than he had stitches, and we saw conflicting images on television. He came out midway through the second half in an air cast but was smiling, and soon after, we saw him signing autographs for fans. Obviously the air cast is frightening, but those glimpses of his mood don’t show a lot of seriousness.

Had Alonso played the full 90, I’ve little doubt he’d be my man of the match. Preston’s ascendancy in the second half tells the story in and of itself. He controlled play and was involved in all of Liverpool’s build-up. When he’s on song, as he’s usually been this season, he makes Liverpool tick. Time and time again, he’s shown his importance, and has made everyone speculating on the Barry transfer (me included) look like an idiot. And that’s why an extended spell on the sidelines worries me.

Lucas didn’t play badly – he’s often good in possession and the tackle, and plays those prodding passes (and then moves into the space!) Benitez loves so much. But he’s not Alonso, and when teams are pressing and pushing for a goal, Xabi’s steady head and range of passing are needed.

In lieu of Alonso, I’m probably going with Riera for star performer. It was a wonderfully taken goal – his fourth of the season, which is the kind of goal return Liverpool needs from the left flank. He and Babel switched flanks throughout the second before the Dutchman went up top, and was less influential on the right, but constantly looked for an opening and tried to get at defenders, providing a few clever mazy runs.

In addition, I thought the backline played well, especially in the face of pressure. Hyypia again proved needed against a striker as burly as Parkin, and Agger mopped up well throughout. Both Carragher (he’s done well at right back in every game he’s played there) and Insua supplemented the attack, and both were challenged by Preston on the flanks, especially by Wallace down Liverpool’s right.

And at the end of the day, while the wastefulness’s still worrying and until we know more, Alonso’s injury is downright frightening, Liverpool’s through to the next round after a tricky away cup tie. It’s another win to keep momentum, and a return to the field and the scoresheet for Torres.

Stoke City in a week.

Liverpool at Preston North End 01.03.08

12:25pm, live in the US on FSC

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 5-1 Newcastle (a); 3-0 Bolton (h); 1-1 Arsenal (a)
PNE: 1-1 Barnsley (a); 2-0 Derby (h); 2-3 QPR (a)

Goalscorers (all competitions):
Liverpool: Gerrard 12; Keane, Kuyt 7; Torres 5; Alonso, Babel, Riera 3; Hyypia 2; Agger, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Carragher, Lucas, Ngog, Plessis 1
PNE: Mellor 8; Brown, Chaplow, Elliott, Nicholson, Parkin, St. Ledger, Wallace 3; Davidson, Jones 2; Mawene, McKenna, Sedgwick, Whaley 1

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Guess at a squad:
Cavalieri
Darby Skrtel Agger Aurelio
El Zhar Gerrard Lucas Babel
Keane Ngog

The cup runs always bring changes to the team, but it seems like Benitez is going to pick a stronger side than lost to Spurs in the 4th round of the Carling Cup two months back, according to comments today.

Gerrard will start, Torres will be available (and almost certainly will begin on the bench), and Aurelio and Skrtel are in contention as well.

Playing Gerrard is the right thing to do. As Benitez says in the article, he hasn’t played a ton of games this season – unlike players such as Kuyt and Carra – and getting right back on the pitch should help him focus on football instead of the impending court case. I suspect Lucas, who’s played very well in his last two appearances, will partner the captain in midfield, giving Alonso and Mascherano a game off, but it is worth noting that Alonso didn’t start in the last match against Newcastle.

Hopefully, both Skrtel and Aurelio will return in defense. As Carra’s played nearly every game, either at center-back or right-back, this should be one he misses. And Hyypia’s played a fair few as well. Which would give Benitez the opportunity to start both Agger and Skrtel – arguably Liverpool’s center-back pairing of the future.

As Insua’s started the last three, if Aurelio’s ready to go, he should be back as well. And to be honest, since I’m expecting Darby on the right with Carra rested and Arbeloa still out, I’m hopeful Dossena won’t start. I haven’t given up on the Italian, but two untested fullbacks in a game where Liverpool will be challenged by a side with little to lose seems like too much change in the backline.

Yes, it’s an away game, but I’d still like to see Liverpool line up in the 4-4-2. The extra midfielder shouldn’t be as necessary against a Championship side, and it’d allow both Ngog and Keane to start up top. Robbie will assuredly play after sitting out the Newcastle match, and an early round FA Cup match seems like another good opportunity to blood the young Frenchman. And, whether or not Liverpool's ahead, behind, or even, I’d like to see Torres replace either of those strikers for some of the second half.

Make no mistake; Preston won’t be pushovers. 7th in the Championship, and only out of the playoff places on goal difference, Alan Irvine (Moyes’ former right-hand man) has his team playing well. That the game’s on their ground benefits them, and at the least, their top scorer, Neil Mellor – the former Liverpool trainee – will certainly be up for it.

Liverpool ended the year in perfect fashion: a 5-1 win away from home to finish 2008 top of the league. Now, let’s see them start the new one in the same manner.