Liverpool 0 West Ham 3 -Disastrous Home Performance - Total Hammering

Blog by David Douglas

After our battling draw away to Arsenal, we returned to what we deem to be our "Fortress" Anfield with three clean sheets in three games and 7 points from three games which was a very good start.

The manager made the decision to go with the same side which meant Can, Lucas and Milner were asked to shield to the defence and provide the control in midfield with Coutinho and Firmino both to support lone striker Benteke again.

The line-up to be fair (in hindsight) didn't look a bad one until the third minute of the game when Skrtel made a poor headed attempted clearance, allowing the Hammers to produce a speculative ball right into the right channel of the six yard box between Lovren and Gomez.

Lovren's disastrous afternoon began with him failing to clear the ball and gifting a chance for West Ham's Argentinian loanee Manuel Lanzini to punish us 0-1

Lanzini wheels away after giving West Ham a shock 0-1 lead

Former Croatian player and manager Slaven Bilic (newly appointed West Ham boss) seemed to set up his side to cause us as much havoc as possible down our very weak left hand side because he knew the playing style of Lovren meant he always has a mistake in his locker and must have noted that Gomez is a right footed player playing as a left back.

There were countless occasions when Lanzini along with their best player Dimitri Payet would look dangerous on well organised counterattacks focusing on our team's achilles heel (weakest point) - the Lovren/Gomez axis.

Straight after the first West Ham goal we created a chance out of nothing with Clyne and Firmino combining very well down the right before Firmino deciding to take on three West Ham defenders unleashed a fantastic scorching shot with his left foot which smashed against the post.

So far this season we have reverted to the old habit of hitting the woodwork rather than scoring - we need this to change or we will not get to achieve our targets.

Gomez continued to look increasingly nervous and this wasn't helped midway through the first half when Lovren tried to imitate Coutinho/Ronaldo/Cruyff by doing stepovers in midfield but then losing the ball causing another counter attack.

Less than 5 minutes later Lovren dithered on the ball too long instead of just kicking it out, lost the ball which culminated in a 12 yard side footed finish for Mark Noble to double West Ham's lead 0-2.

Noble slots home number two 0-2

The second goal totally knocked the life out of our side and we never looked capable of recovering from that.

Lovren then picked up a knock just before half time and the Anfield faithful must have been praying that he would put us out of our misery and just come off the field injured but to his credit but not to our benefit he stayed on.

Half time thoughts
Our manager's team selection was partly to blame as we didn't set up our team to attack West Ham but ultimately poor defensive decisions have cost us both goals - Coutinho and Firmino were trying their best to support the isolated Benteke but apart from the great Firmino shot we struggled to create enough going forward. Also Gomez whenever fed the ball on the left wing was unable to produce a left footed cross because he is predominantly right footed and West Ham were very much aware of this fact by the way they lined up defensively. This was a game where Moreno should have been trusted to play as left back pushing forward or play a left footed winger who could provide desperatly needed crosses for Benteke.

The change at half-time saw Moreno come on for Can with the defence changing to a back three with Gomez playing as the right sided of the three.

The tempo of the second half started well for us as we tried desperately to get back in the game but then the ref played his decisive part in finishing us off by harshly sending off our most creative player Coutinho only 5 minutes into the second half - Coutinho had been previously booked for dissent so was asked to leave the field of action. You could sense the air had been sucked out of the Anfield faithful after that sending off.

Firmino was then subbed after an hour for Danny Ings to make his debut at last and he provided brief hope with his energy and never give in attitude - it was a foul on Ings which resulted in ref Kevin Friend also harshly sending off West Ham's Mark Noble to make it a 10 vs 10 game.

We had one long range 30 yard effort late on from Lovren which was counted as our first shot on target despite Firmino hitting the woodwork, then a Milner corner was headed down by Benteke and fell to Lovren who to sum up his day frustratingly hits the ball over the bar.

With seconds to go to add salt in the wound another 2 counter attacks resulted in Sakho first hitting the inside of the post and then seconds later finishing us off to make it a comprehensive 0-3 and give the Hammers their first win at Anfield in 52 years.

Sakho seals the game with the third 0-3

Liverpool team
Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez (Ibe), Can (Moreno), Lucas, Milner, Firmino(Ings), Benteke, Coutinho.

Subs not used: Sakho, Origi, Bogdan, Rossiter

Booked: Lucas, Ings, Clyne

Sent off: Coutinho 52 mins

Man of the match: James Milner

In the chaotic madness around him Milner has shown the experience and passion very much needed since the loss of our great captain, making tough challenges that others are not brave to make and in this game he was the only midfielder that had a purpose to keep going for 90 minutes. He has been our manager's best signing of this summer so far. Despite the loss vs West Ham - he deserves credit for his never say die attitude even in a losing cause.

Match summary 
We were simply not good enough all over the pitch - defensively we were shockingly poor, midfield we had no control, with both Lucas and Can performing very poorly, Coutinho and Firmino were bright sparks until the former got sent off and the latter got subbed. Benteke was starved of service and to get the very best out of him our manager needs to work on different tactics to get the ball to him earlier. He failed with a big man before with Balotelli who in fairness didn't operate well as a sole striker but Benteke is renowned for being able to work by himself and also with strike partners up front. In a home game there should be more support for him with Ings or Origi being brought into the team to assist until Sturridge's long awaited return.

A formation change to 4-4-2 would be the change that I would make for the home games with the pace of Ibe to be used in the home games but we need Ibe to now start showing what he can do in games that matter rather than just doing it in pre season.

For me, Lovren is not the long term answer as our centre back and needs to be pulled out of the firing line as he is always liable to give the opposition a chance that leads to a goal against us - I have every faith that Sakho is the better option when fit and would also prefer to see Tiago Ilori being given a chance ahead of Lovren who is just a liability in my opinion.

Unless we are playing a side in the top 4 it is simply not acceptable to have to score 3 or 4 goals to win a home game - that has been a major problem throughout our manager's reign - conceding too many goals to sides that are meant to be inferior to us. He has never addressed this and will ultimately lose his job if this continues.

We now have the international break to get over this disastrous result and then we face our notoriously hated rivals Man Utd away at Old Trafford without our most creative player Coutinho but we should have our captain Jordan Henderson back - we now need a win there and even better a winning performance to get back on track - lose to them and the season takes a seriously dramatic twist with only 7 points being gained from 5 games - our manager will then be under serious pressure with away games at Everton, Spurs and Chelsea still to come before the end of October 2015.

Manager's post match comments

Dejected boss reflects on our poor display

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We were disappointing today,”

“We arrived into the game with confidence high but when you give away a goal so early in the game, it gave West Ham the boost and the lift that they needed, because they have shown in their two games away from home now that they can sit in and defend in a low block well. That seemed to set us back a bit.

“We obviously then conceded a second goal, which was difficult to take. All of a sudden we were right up against it.

“Coutinho getting sent off, which I thought was extremely harsh, set us back. From that first period in the game, we never really got going.

“It was the overall performance. I felt we disappointed right from the off, really.

“Once we conceded that early goal, we just couldn't get back into the game again. Our overall performance with and without the ball will be much better in the future.”

The manager continued: “Up until today, the morale and confidence has been really high and we've been developing and improving.

“We know today a lot of it was self-inflicted in relation to the result. We gave poor goals away and that was the biggest disappointment.

“I'm lucky that I work with a very honest group who work very hard on the training field. There's a lot of analysis behind that as well and we'll now get ready for the next game.

“At this level, you have to be able to bounce back – and that'll be the job in the next game.”

For me the next game will show us where we really are - beat or draw with Man Utd and we are serious contenders for a top 4 spot, lose and we are going to have to make a major decision this season that in hindsight should have been made in the summer if things go disastrous wrong results-wise.

Honours even as battling spirit earns Liverpool great credit

Blog by David Douglas

Pre- match team news
With our captain Henderson and Lallana both out injured our manager was forced into changes and brought in Emre Can, forgotten midfielder Lucas Leiva and give a first start to Roberto Firmino as we decided to play a very exciting 4-3-3 formation with both Coutinho and Firmino supporting our Big Ben (Benteke) up front

We made a very positive start with Benteke dragging an early half chance wide which was closely followed by the magical Coutinho hitting the bar with a scorching shot.

Coutinho early shot hits bar

Our defence then provided some anxious moments for the travelling away fans by failing to clear an Arsenal attack from this motion of play the home side scored a goal which was incorrectly judged to be offside - the Arsenal captain for the night Cazorla playing an excellent ball through to the on rushing Ramsey to finish well - luckily for us this was ruled out.

Benteke then has another shot saved by Cech and our captain for the night Milner hits a deflected shot wide - Arsenal were now looking distinctively shaky at the back with both their centre halves missing.

It was very clear that we were trying to play effectively on the counter attack with the excellent Benteke providing the hold up play and Coutinho and Firmino pressuring the Arsenal defence in their own half with the defensive pairing of Chambers and Gabriel spreading nervousness throughout their whole team.

We were pushing for a goal and it should have came about when a misplaced pass by Arsenal full back Bellerin gave Coutinho a chance to play a delightful slide rule cross for Benteke who should have scored but credit must also go to under fire Arsenal keeper Cech who produced a brilliant reaction save and pushed it wide. Fantastic opportunity missed there!

We then had one more piece of magic from Coutinho who produced a curling shot which Cech finger tipped onto the post - now that was a world class save and showed why he is still one of the best keeper in world football.

Great finger tip save by Cech from Coutinho curler

Thoughts at the half time whistle
Arsenal fans will be unhappy about not being given the goal ruled offside but we as LFC fans will rightly be disappointed not to be at least 3-1 up at halftime with their keeper producing saves to keep them in the game. 11 shots on target away from home at the Emirates in the first half tells the tale of how well we had threatened the Arsenal goal. Our main concern now was that Arsenal would not be as poor in the second half and so they could make us rue the missed opportunities. Overall though we had performed well so far and looked a solid compact outfit throughout the first half and if this was a sign of things to come we could be optimistic about our future.

Arsenal needed a reaction and in the opening five minutes of the second half it looked like there wasn't going to be one with our team starting to display more control and possession with Lucas, Can and Milner playing very well as a midfield three.

Arsenal then proceeded to take control of the game with our team dropping too deep after 20 minutes of the second half Alexis Sanchez slices a great chance wide.

Jordon Ibe then came on for the tiring Firmino to try and inject some more energy on the break but disappointed the Liverpool fans by giving the ball away cheaply constantly putting our team under further pressure which meant that Arsenal were virtually camped in our half.

With our team tiring, a fantastic run by our young heroic full back Joe Gomez offered Milner a chance on the counter but he hit his shot straight at Cech. 

Arsenal's Ramsey then had a curling shot saved by Mignolet, Benteke hit a long range shot over at the other end.

Then a potentially poignant wave goodbye to the travelling away fans as a tired Lucas Leiva came off for a first league appearance by Jordan Rossiter.

Rossiter replacing Lucas

A tiring Gomez then makes it three bookings from three starts but this is to be expected from an 18 year old thrown in the deep end to swim at the very top level of the British game.

The pace of Arsenal's Walcott and Chamberlain were brought on late in the second half but our defence remained resolute.

Coutinho then had one final shot parried by Cech before he came off for Moreno, Ramsey then had a deflected shot saved and then Skrtel produced a great diving interception to divert a cross away for a corner when on another day it would end up in the back of the net as a calamitous own goal.

The final two chances of the game both fell to Arsenal with Chamberlain's shot being pushed over and Gabriel heading over from the resulting corner.

With the final whistle bringing an end to an entertaining game - we could safely say we produced a very good team performance with now three clean sheets to show for our start to the season - with 7 points from a possible 9 points. Very encouraging start so far.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren,  Skrtel, Gomez; Can, Milner,  Lucas, (Rossiter 76); Coutinho(Moreno 88), Firmino(Ibe 63), Benteke

Subs not used: Bogdan, Sakho, Origi, Ings

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 60,080

Man of the match - Petr Cech - single-handedly stopped us from coming away with three points - special mention to our defence as a whole for fantastic organisation throughout, our defensive midfielder Lucas who may have played his final game for us but performed admirably despite not having any games for us so far this season. Coutinho was again a joy to watch and his understanding with Benteke and Firmino will get better with more games together.

Our manager's views 

Our manager reflecting on the game - post match

“We definitely could have had all three points,” the boss reflected afterwards. “Certainly performance-wise, I was very happy with how we worked.

“The first half in particular we created chances and should have been in front. Second half, you expect some pressure in the game, but we defended that very well and always looked a threat going forward.

“Our performance level is growing all the time, you see our defensive organisation was very good against a top-class team. The overriding feeling is we get a point, a clean sheet and we move to the next game.”

On his pleasure with another shut-out, the boss continued: “With my teams the focus is always very much on the football element.

“But anyone who has followed my career as a youth coach through into senior management, it's very much about the intensity of how we press and that cohesion as a team.

“That was something that drifted last season, for sure, so it was very important, especially with a number of new players coming in, that our defensive organisation was super organised. That'll be the platform for us with all our creative talent.”

Final thoughts
We are showing intestinal fortitude and the fight for the cause which has made us a different proposition this season. There's more direct play but also more organisation within the side. An excellent point and now home to West Ham next. Let's see if we can continue this very good start to our season.

Liverpool 1 Bournemouth 0 - Controversial home debut winner for Benteke beats the Cherries 1-0

After successfully hurdling over the first obstacle in our season away to Stoke there was a slight surprise move in store when our manager went with the same starting eleven that struggled to do much against Stoke. 

Then, there had been a case for defensive solidity on the road against a side that beat us 6-1 in the final match of last season. At home against Bournemouth, leaving Can and Firmino on the bench—two players who improved Liverpool immensely when they came on in the second half last week—seemed a brave and strange call.

Bournemouth came out firing, constantly harrying and pressing our players at every moment, and rightfully earned three corners in the first four minutes through constant pressure. 

We were lucky not to be down in the fifth minute when Tommy Elphick headed in off a corner. The referee whistled the play dead, ruling he’d tugged Dejan Lovren’s shirt, but if it had been the other way Reds fans would have been incensed at the borderline call. Lovren was doubly lucky as the corner came after he was too easily beaten by his man. On viewing the replay it was hard to fathom whether or not Lovren had feigned being fouled to get a vital first goal disallowed.

After that controversial disallowed goal we started to settle into our game a little with our little magician Coutinho being at the hub of all our good moves. Our side looking more balanced than it did at the Britannia stadium the previous weekend.

Even though credit must be given for the work and industrious nature of the Bournemouth midfield who were always in the game.

None of that mattered to us or our home fans, though—nor did the fact that a clearly offside Coutinho was involved in the play which led to the only goal of the game—when Benteke got his toe on a deep cross off a short corner routine to put the us up against the run of play.

Only minutes later, a cleverly orchestrated set piece from Milner led to Jordan Henderson sending a dipping, swerving shot off the top of the crossbar from 20 yards out. 

The captain Henderson and impressive vice captain Milner combined again on another set piece where Anfield cried out for a penalty, but Henderson slid back to his feet and kept playing, and rightly so, as going down would've likely been grounds for a booking for simulation.

Just before half time, Coutinho missed a glorious opportunity after a rebounded pass fell to him, but his left footed curler slid yards wide.

Despite the initial hustle and disallowed goal, Liverpool were relatively comfortable, Bournemouth only registering a single shot in the first half.

Thoughts at halftime

I felt that Benteke was a constant positive threat up front, Coutinho was causing havoc to the Bournemouth defenders, just was very disappointed in the performances of Lallana and Ibe both our best players in pre season, they were both not stamping their authority on the game and needed to do so in the second half or we would have to bring on our other Brazilian star Firmino.

If we felt fortunate to be up at the half, we were less fortunate when our captain Jordan Henderson came off five minutes into the second half with an ankle injury to be replaced by Emre Can.

Milner missed a good opportunity after some great pressing from Benteke. The formation changed to a 4-3-3 on offense, with Can in the deeper role and Lallana in central midfield, and morphed into a 4-4-1-1 once Bournemouth got past midfield, as Coutinho would stay high up the pitch and Milner would cover the right side.

What followed was a spell of dominance from the away side, recording a shot off the post from Matt Ritchie and one in the side netting after Lovren was nutmegged in the box.

We struggled to hold on to the ball for more than a few passes at a time, even after Firmino was brought on for Ibe. Benteke had a great run and pass for Coutinho, whose shot was sensationally blocked over. Bournemouth started to run out of energy, and Liverpool had a big chance late, as Clyne was expertly played into space on the right by Can, and his inch-perfect cross was scuffed off the crossbar by Benteke when it looked easier for him to notch a deserved second for his excellent performance.

Bournemouth were probably the better side as the clock ticked down, and at times it felt more like Liverpool were set up to just try and survive rather than to take the game to their opponents. We held out for the win 1-0.

Result aside, it made for at times difficult viewing we have more questions than answers after this team performance.

Questions will rightly be asked of Brendan Rodgers' decision to leave Sakho and Lucas out of the squad entirely, as well as the attacking play continuing to stutter despite the vast amountof money spent trying to improve that side of our game.

The fact of the matter is that we were dependent on an offside goal and a soft foul to avoid a home defeat to a newly promoted side, balance of play notwithstanding. Both Lallana and Ibe had poor games, with the former trying to do too much and the latter hardly getting involveat all. 

The way the team lost coherence without its captain was disconcerting, and Can again showed that he hasn't quite figured out the holding midfield role yet, losing his man and getting skinned on several occasions but there is some potential there to work with.

On the plus side, Bournemouth were kept from creating any chances of note, the formation looked more balanced than last week, and Benteke was more involved and better supported. The new striker getting off the mark and looking dangerous is undoubtedly a positive. Henderson was absolutely dominant for the 50 minutes he played, and is clearly relishing the role of captain. Mignolet did what he had to do very well. Moreno looked energetic and dangerous when he came on, and the back four in general had a solid game, with Clyne absolutely locking down the right side. 

Football is a results industry so all that matters is that we won and gain another 3 points and another clean sheet will look good at the end of the season.

Yet based on the tactics and overall performance, it’s difficult to feel especially confident heading into Monday's showdown match against Arsenal. We will have to perform better to get a result in that game.

Man of the match - Benteke - feels good having him as part of our strike force this  season rather than against us and his home debut goal is the first repayment from the player for the large fee paid by the club. With Sturridge getting closer each day to coming back its good to have our other main striker scoring important winners! Hold up play, his intelligent runs and his all round game was a massive plus on the night.

Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Henderson (Can 52,)Coutinho (Moreno 81), Milner,  Lallana,  Ibe (Firmino 70); Benteke.

Subs not used: Bogdan, Toure, Origi, Ings.

Scorer: Benteke 26.

Referee: Craig Pawson 

Attendance: 44,102

Stoke City O Liverpool 1: Coutinho's stunning winner gives Liverpool revenge

Another season of hope and blood pressure steadily rising in anticipation after League Champions Chelsea hung on for a draw against Swansea and Arsenal’s two-nil loss at home to Slaven Bilic’s West Ham proving football is a “funny old game” as the great Jimmy Greaves used to say.

After the six-one thumping in the final game of last season we had to exorcise the ghost of St Mary’s which had haunted us ever since, ignominiously closing the Steven Gerrard era. With only four members of that team starting Brendan Rodgers hoped any psychological damage would be minimal, especially with the imposing Benteke now leading the line.

Interestingly, 18 year old Joe Gomez after his move from Charlton made his Premier League debut ahead of Alberto Moreno starting from the bench seated alongside marquee signing Roberto Firmino.   Another new incumbent Nathaniel Clyne started in the right-back position vacated by Stoke’s new recruit Glen Johnson.

Liverpool started well pressing high up the pitch and through Henderson and Lallana fired in early if unsuccessful crosses for Benteke.   The young full-back Gomez refused to be unbowed against the imposing Walters and on 25 minutes put in a thunderous tackle.

The game was competitive affair with both teams cancelling each out in the middle of the pitch.  Although Stoke began to impose themselves in the final 15 minutes of the half without any real glaring chances being created.

A minute into the second-half Lallana burst down the right before clipping in across on the right aimed at Benteke, unfortunately the ex-Villa hitman air kicked on the half-volley, but it showed the intent to feed the attributes of their new striker.

In a game where Liverpool began to dominate possession it looked as if a dead ball situation would be the only way to break the deadlock.  Charlie Adam came close curling in a free-kick which Mignolet pushed round the post.

There were sporadic moments where Liverpool’s quality led primarily by the mercurial Coutinho filtered through the workmanlike nature of the game. 

His silky maze surging deep into the Stoke area almost expedited a break through, before seeing both his and Benteke’s attempts brilliantly blocked by solid Stoke defending.  Skrtel got his head to the resultant corner which Butland plucked out the air with a flashy dive.

Can, who replaced Lallana just after the hour, almost released Benteke with a slide rule pass only to see the impressive Geoff Cameron excelerate in Usain Bolt style to snuff out the threat.

Johnson in turn, as Liverpool fans know so well cut in from the left to deliver a ball which begged to be headed in by Diouf at the far post only to see Clyne appear in the nick of time to head behind.

On 86 minutes came the moment which decided the game.

Liverpool keeping the ball from a free-kick from the centre funnelled the ball out to Gomez on the left.  The ex-Charlton defender passed the ball into Coutinho who cleverly rolled Steve Sidwell before taking the ball on and drilling home a 25 yard which powered though the despairing hands of Butland.

It was a goal fit to win any game and it did.

Man of the Match:  Coutinho looked short of fitness after only recently re-joining the squad from his stint at the Copa America.  His first touch often let him down in the first half, but as the game progressed he began to slowly show his effectiveness in patches resulting in a fabulous winner which stamped his class all-over a match which had been heading for a draw.

Critical eye:  It was type of game last season where Liverpool would have under the incessant physical challenge led by Diouf and Walters.

The defence deserve praise and played as a unit to shut down any real chances for Diouf who had so tormented them on their last visit.  Lovren, much denigrated, produced arguably his strongest performance since arriving at the club.

In his first Premier League appearance Joe Gomez did remarkably well up against seasoned campaigner Jon Walters and remained undeterred against the wily campaigner looking to throw his game off kilter.

Clyne on also his first appearance for the club was hardly out of position and made some vital interventions.

Liverpool struggled to support Benteke in their willingness to launch long balls up to him and with the running power and the strategy for Henderson and Milner to provide protection to the back four it falls to Coutinho more than ever to deliver the invention. Jordan Ibe also did well holding the ball and linking up with midfield colleagues without gaining the penetration, but he did well working back the other way to help Clyne.

All in all, there’s enough to work on in terms of the support and running off Benteke, and finding creativity outside of Coutinho.  But we defended well, kept our shape particularly when Stoke were trying to build attacks.

In a game where we knew it would be a fierce struggle physically and a battle to get past the psychological scars from 77 days ago we came out on top and didn’t concede which is all one can ask for.

Teams:

Stoke City: 1 Jack Butland, 8 Glen Johnson, 20 Geoff Cameron, 5 Marc Mumiesa, 3 Erik Pieters (45 mins - Phillippe Wollschied), 15 Marco van Ginkel, 6 Glenn Whelan, 19 Jon Walters, 16 Charlie Adam (78 mins – Steve Sidwell), 14 Ibrahim Afellay (78 mins – Peter Odemwingie), 18 Mame Biram Diouf

Subs:  7 Stephen Ireland, 9 Peter Odemwingie, 11 Joselu, 21 Steve Sidwell, 24 Shay Given, 25 Peter Crouch, 26 Phillipp Wollschied

Liverpool: 22 Simon Mignolet, 2 Nathaniel Clyne, 37 Martin Skrtel, 6 Dejan Lovren 8 Joe Gomez, 7 James Milner, 14 Jordan Henderson, 33 Jordon Ibe (78 mins – Roberto Firmino), Philippe Coutinho, 20 Adam Lallana (63 mins - Emre Can), 9 Christian Benteke

Subs: 4 Kolo Toue, 11 Roberto Firmino, 18 Alberto Moreno, 23 Emre Can, 27 Divock Origi, 28 Danny Ings, 34 Adam Bogdan

Possession: 47% Stoke 53% Liverpool

Shots: Stoke 7 (1 on target) Liverpool 8 (3 on target)

Corners: Stoke 3 Liverpool 7

Fouls: Stoke 9 Liverpool 16

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 27,654

The wait is almost over…

Where are we now?  Is a top four finish a possibility?

Manquillo’s loan agreement extinguished. Sebastian Coates finally getting his move to Sunderland.  Raheem Sterling’s wanderlust granted and Rickie Lambert respectfully put out of his misery with a move to West Brom.

The mighty Steven Gerrard leaving for pastures new in the US with LA Galaxy and Glen Johnson finding his way to Stoke after the end of their respective contracts.  Brad Jones was himself released.  In addition, Kevin Stewart, Danny Ward and surprisingly Andre Wisdom (for £1.25 million to Norwich) were sent out on loan.

Now for Fabio Borini the end is near and hopefully the soporific pair of Mario Balotelli and José Enrique with their tendencies to want to monopolise social networking sites will join him.

Brendan Rodgers under tremendous pressure following last season’s debacle dismissed coaches Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe in ruthless fashion, promoting Pep Ljinders (first team development coach) from within and bringing in Anfield favourite Gary McAllister (first team coach) and Sean O’Driscoll (assistant manager) as replacements and Rodgers comments in Thailand added substance to the change.

Rodgers said, 'I decided to make a change.  I had two fantastic guys, both Colin and Mike are great professionals and were very supportive. 'I just felt the need to move in a different direction and the decision was purely made by myself. Still under Rodgers spell, FSG approved funds for another summer splurge.  Even though Rodgers is still a part of the inner sanctum of the transfer committee, there no doubts whose hand is on the tiller this time around. Adam Bogdan, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings and Christian Benteke are now part of the Rodgers-FSG Anfield revolution.  The question is whether the amalgam with last season’s remainder of Can, Markovic, Lovren and Lallana will make us competitive.

Do we possess the necessary quality for an assault on the top four?

In my opinion we’re missing a midfield controller and of those on offer only Emre Can has the potential to be that creative force after impressing for Germany in the Euro under-21s in the summer.  Whether he has the experience to carry it off over a season is another matter?

Milner and Henderson are Liverpool’s legs, but what we require is an experience schemer and whether Illarramendi and Kovavic or someone of that quality can be persuaded to join before the close of the window will test the mettle of Liverpool's pulling power and ambition.

The change of coaches and the acquisition of Benteke says Rodgers is looking to bring in some steel to a team that lacked the stomach for the fight last season.  If we are to move in to the top four with squad as it is now, it’s not just going to be through the brilliance of the Brazilians Coutinho and Firmino, but moreover through the industry of Milner and Henderson in support of the workmanlike, but potentially explosive Benteke.

There are questions still being asked as to whether Danny Ings and Divock Origi possess the quality to provide the support in the striking department.  Personally, I don’t have a problem with Ings as the third striker and it’s obvious that Benteke was bought to provide a more robust option than the brilliant, but delicate Sturridge.

There has to be a feeling that Daniel Sturridge will break down again and if Rodgers were to go out on a limb and buy Lacazette, it would certainly bolster the striking options and propel Liverpool forward.

In essence, we look a potentially more solid outfit, but ultimately unless Coutinho continues his rise from world class talent to world class and Firmino proves to be the marquee signing we so desperately needed, it could be a bridge too far for Rodgers.

Rodgers seems to have blind faith in certain players like Joe Allen and while the player has his obvious qualities, one doesn’t see him being the difference and the last ditched attempt to move for Diaby suggest that Rodgers knows that there is something missing.

It’s obvious that Liverpool are buying lower down the ladder than the top four clubs, but one wonders if Liverpool had spent £40-50 million on a top class striker and midfielder respectively with the addition of Clyne and Milner, just how better off we would be in terms of challenging for the top three.

If the defence along with Can, Henderson and Milner provide the stability then they may just provide the platform for the creative players to perform and in turn supply the ammunition for Benteke to be the devastating powerhouse we hope he will be.

Brendan Rodgers may feel that his all-out attacking philosophy was flawed and needed rewiring with the battling qualities he now has at his disposal.  His teams were constantly out battled last season and the modus operandi now seems to be to adopt an overpowering psyche and that’s where although Jordan Henderson is the captain, James Milner could just be a clever piece of business providing experience and a winning mentality to an inexperience outfit.

The wait is almost over and the first game against Stoke takes on huge significance.  Should we lose, then having lost back to back games will be massive psychologically with the outlay from last season to this and as such the pressure will ramped up unceremoniously.

I guess it’s a case of wait and see.   Nervous…? I am.