Liverpool's Corner: Has Kenny Dalglish Finally Woken Up To The Fantastic Four?

If you’re a red, then hold your frustrations and calm yourselves down. Don’t let Liverpool’s performance on Saturday become like Ryan Babel’s late cameo at Lyon in 2009 – a performance that deserved a lot of credit, but was forgotten in the bigger scheme of a disappointing result.

That night in France, Babel scored a stunning long-range goal that looked to have rescued not only Liverpool’s Champions League campaign but the player’s career at the club, only to be pegged back in the last minute. Who remembers that goal now?

On Saturday afternoon, we witnessed one of Liverpool’s best performances this season and a performance worthy of winning any football match. But for Robin van Persie’s lethal finishing and Carragher’s ageing legs, Liverpool would have done so. The striker, who was initially signed for a mereAi??A?2.75 million and must now be worth well in excess ofAi??A?40 million, showed the Anfield faithful how a Robbie Fowler or a Michael Owen today could virtually guarantee them a place in the top four. The Dutchman has scored 25 League goals this season and Liverpool have scored 30.

To out-pass, out-manoeuvre and dominate an Arsenal side that thrives on possession and were coming off a hammering of 3rd-placed Tottenham, Kenny Dalglish deserves a lot of credit. But attached to that appreciation should be a bit of anger, as well.

For a football writer, it is always good to be vindicated and the writer of this article is no different. The following is an excerpt from an earlier article by the same writer in November,Ai??analyzing Jordan Henderson’sAi??time at Sunderland and Liverpool:

Due to Suarez and Kuytai??i??s sharp movement, Henderson could afford the freedom to drift into the centre (against Bolton) registering 3 shots on goal, including his first Liverpool goal. This is something he canai??i??t afford when Andy Carroll is in the team due to the big manai??i??s lack of mobility. Quite bizarrely ai??i?? and inexplicably ai??i?? these four players have only started two games together for Liverpool this season.

The ‘four players’ in the above quote are Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. When these four players are on the field in the correct formation, they take Liverpool’s mobility to a whole new level and usually succeed in running the opposition ragged.

Liverpool’s 3-1 triumph over Bolton Wanderers was the best example of this, when these players put on a stunning showAi??orchestratedAi??by Luis Suarez, especially in the first half. The very next game with the same quartet was a dominant performance at the Britannia Stadium without any success and luck. And Saturday’s performance against Arsenal – a much stronger opponent – was the clincher in this argument.

However, for some reason, Kenny Dalglish is reluctant to play the four of these more often. The quartet have only started 6 games together this season for Liverpool (of course, Suarez’s ban didn’t help), out of which three were not in the most effective formation.

Let’s take a look at the individual movements of Kuyt and Henderson on Saturday against Arsenal, to indicate how energetic, flexible and dominant Liverpool’s attacking line-up was. Henderson started on the right side of midfield, while Kuyt lined up with Suarez up front.

*Dots indicate touches and darker the dots, more the time on the ball

From the above heat map, one can see why Dirk Kuyt’s movement was a major factor in Liverpool’s link-up play throughout the match. Not only does Kuyt’s movement help in attack, but he also intelligently covers for Henderson, or Downing. The Dutchman’s work-rate is exceptional and although his attacking ability has declined over the years, there is hardly a better attacker on the bench for Liverpool. There is no doubt that Dalglish has underutilized Kuyt this season and is perhaps, regretting it today.

Now, moving on to the much-maligned Jordan Henderson. ‘Hendo’ has hardly been a revelation at Anfield and he hasn’t produced enough to suggest he is going to take giant strides at his current club. However, one thing Henderson does have in abundance is energy; to compensate for the other things he does not have – like confidence.

Ai??The above heat map shows how involved Henderson was when playing in a set-up that gives him the freedom to move around and pop up in different parts of the pitch. When Liverpool ripped apart Bolton at Anfield at the beginning of the season, Henderson was touted for greater things but hasn’t quite bonded with his new role near the touch-line. He is much happier to roam around in the centre like he did at Sunderland for most of his time.

Now, take a look at Henderson’s movement when Carroll instead of Kuyt is in the attacking four. The following is his heat map from Liverpool’s nervy 2-1 win at Anfield against Wolverhampton when he had Carroll up front with Suarez.

Henderson was restricted to the right hand side, where he started the game. He had no freedom whatsoever, even against a Wolves side visiting Anfield. Contrast this to the freedom he had on Saturday against a much better and dangerous opponent in Arsenal. The only difference was the faith he – and perhaps, Dalglish – had in Kuyt providing intelligent cover due to his sharpness, whereas Carroll wouldn’t have. Andy Carroll isn’t a sharp football player, which is something he is criticized for, but the big man will never be as sharp as Liverpool wants him to be. It just isn’t his natural game.

Apart from the synchronized and dynamic movement, Liverpool’s ballAi??retentionAi??also increases when Suarez, Kuyt, Downing and Henderson start. Liverpool have averaged 55% possession this season, which increases to 59% in their presence. These include 56% possession against the billionaires of City at Anfield and 53% possession at Old Trafford.

It is a mystery why Kenny Dalglish has been reluctant to play this formation. If one assembles these four names on paper and tries to replace them from somebody on the bench, only Bellamy might merit an inclusion over Downing (on the left) or Kuyt (as Suarez’s strike partner). Andy Carroll hasn’t done nearly enough to suggest selection over Dirk Kuyt.

The only explanation could perhaps be found in Liverpool’s (much talked about) ‘long-term objectives’. Had Carroll started instead of Kuyt on Saturday, the front six including the likes of Adam and Spearing would have symbolically represented building towards Liverpool’s future on the field.

The likes of the ageing Dirk Kuyt certainly aren’t in Dalglish’s future plans, but it will be wise on part of King Kenny to let players like him play a big part in sorting out the mess in the present, first.

Liverpool’s Corner: Has Kenny Dalglish Finally Woken Up To The Fantastic Four?

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