After weeks of nightmares about that embarrassing 6-1 thrashing by Stoke on the last day of the season, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers can finally breathe a sign of relief after Sunday’s result against Stoke City.
In what was rather a dull game for the neutrals – Liverpool managed to scrape a 1-0 win thanks to a moment of pure brilliance from the magician Philippe Coutinho.
Perhaps the best thing Rodgers can take from the match is that his defence looked a hell of a lot more solid than it did last year. There is confidence that previously wasn’t there and although it is only one game into the season, you can see the club has take an important step forward.
Simon Mignolet has come on leaps and bounds since he was dropped for a short spell last season. He was composed and confident between the sticks, probably due to the effect of those in front of him.
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Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez add a lot more ability to the flanks for the Reds, too. Youngster Gomez looks like he’s been around for years, which is incredible when you consider he is just 18-years-old and was making his Premier League debut.
Martin Skrtel was his usual solid self, and perhaps most surprisingly Dejan Lovren looked more like the player he was in his Southampton days. Fans shouldn’t get carried away, but it was definitely an improvement.
However, if Liverpool really want to nail down a Champions League spot this season the then they really do need to sign another quality centre-back to partner Skrtel.
Selling Daniel Agger was one of the worst things Rodgers ever did because the pair worked brilliantly together in defence.
The side have still not replaced Jamie Carragher at the back and if the Slovakian gets any kind of injury, then Liverpool are left with just Sakho, Lovren and Kolo Toure. It might just be time to panic.
Lovren has played only one good game since he moved to the club last summer and it looked like he was involved in football’s version of Space Jam. His talent had vanished.
With more confidence he will hopefully get better, but it is way too much of a risk to use him as the first choice centre back.
Sakho is currently his main rival, but unfortunately the player is in more of a battle with himself, between inconsistent form and constantly niggling injuries, the Frenchman spends as much time in the team as he does out.
He has the ability to be a brilliant defender, but something just always seems to get in the way and knock him a step backwards.
As for the final member of the trio, Kolo Toure, it is very surprising to see him still playing at such a high level. The Ivorian’s role surely has to be more off the field than on it.
He has bags of invaluable experience that can work wonders for some of Rodgers’ younger players. Unfortunately his legs appear to have gone and the veteran defender can’t be considered as a reliable back up any longer.
There are a number of suitable players out there across Europe. Liverpool are still a big club and should be able to attract top quality players.
Names like Stephan De Vrij, Ezequial Garay and Jose Fonte are just some of the many candidates that could come in and help solidify Rodgers’ defence.
They are players who would help fill the rest of the side with confidence, and can be relied upon to step up when needed to take control if the Reds are in trouble.
In such a make-or-break season for Rodgers, he should want to cover every base possible. And once he adds a centre back, he will have all he needs to ensure his side can make a swift return to the top four.
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