Opinion: 6 Reasons We Are 6th After 15 Games

In no particular order here are my 6 reasons we currently sit in 6th place after 15 games have been played.

1. Home Form

13 points from a possible 21 at Anfield isn't anything to write home about, but we aren't losing either. Not killing off teams has cost us at home with 5 of our 7 games finishing in a draw. If we want to improve wining our home games is a must.



2. No Cutting Edge But Hard To Break Down
 

 Liverpool have the lowest Goals for total in the top 7, but we also have the lowest goals against total in the top 7. what does all this mean? boring, boring Liverpool? i don't think so. As stated above we have just failed to finish off teams from a wining position for all our good points we need to start adding to the F tally.  I would like to see more goals coming from our Forwards, although we typically play with 1 main striker and one deeper "link"type forward. At the moment Carroll and Suarez aren't doing this. Kuyt is trying but is so use to playing out wide now re skilling his game might prove difficult.  Only Maxi has shown any real understanding of Suarez and should probably be starting more games than Kuyt if Kenny sticks with Suarez up front. Carroll hasn't blossomed yet simply cause of time, more on that later

Things look quiet pleasing in the GA column though only conceding 13 goals from 15 games is a testament to how hard our defenders have been working. That 4-0 thumping at the hands of Tottenham has proven to be a wake up call and everyone at the club has improved immensely in this area.  Special praise goes to Martin Skrtel, he's really turn his form around since that game and his relationship with Carra, Agger, Johnson, Kelly and Enrique. Agger staying fit has been important too especially with Carra out with injury.
  
3. Steven Gerrard

Do we miss our beloved Stevie G? i think so, at least I think we do. Stevie is one of those players that comes along only once in a lifetime that lives and breathes the club he plays for, any club would miss that. 

Making only 1 appearance from the start for Liverpool all season thanks to an infected groin muscle Stevie has been missed as the talisman, the to lift the team and to create or score goals when we really need it.

When you hear the name Gerrard you hear Liverpool Football Club, this on it's own is indispensable. I hope Stevie all the best with his recovery and hope to see him back on the pitch for us very soon!


4. Luis Suarez

 Luis has been the best addition to the squad since we signed Sami Hyypia all those years ago. This fiery little Uruguayan has been top of the class this season causing every one he plays against headaches.  If you have read my match reports you will see how many times he's won my MoM vote.

I picked him as one of the reasons we are sixth because with out his play on or off the ball we'd be lucky to score at all.  As our leading scorer on 5 goals in the league this season he is one of the reasons we are 6th. with out his goals we'd be in the bottom half of the league.

 

5.  Set Pieces

 I don't know if this is deliberate or not but set pieces both attacking and defending seem like an after thought for Kenny's men.

Attacking:
We have been very ineffective from attacking set plays, especially corners yet we have players like Adam that are suppose to be the best hitters of a dead ball in the country yet he can't hit a barn door with a banjo at the moment.  Our corners seem thoughtless and predictable and when you are low on goals like we are when need to squeeze every once out of every opportunity we get. Free kicks have had a little more imagination to them but often the result is the same. This needs to improve if were are to challenge for top 4 or even Europa league this season.

Defending:
Defending set pieces has been a little suspect too and i put this down to a lack of communication in defense and the wrong players marking the wrong players. There's no way a player like Dirk Kuyt should be given the marking job on the opposing teams tallest player. This has since been fixed which is good to see. Also Pepe Reina isn't totally blames here, although i consider him to be the best goalkeeper in the world right now he still has things in his game he can strengthen Those being  coming for crosses and corners and more command from of his area in a free kick situation. Improve these and he'll be unstoppable!

should our set piece play continue to be like it is i can see us only being around top 6, with Christmas around the corner it's going to be tough.

 6. Depth - A Work in Progress

King Kenny said it himself, this squad is a work in progress. With only 31 available players and at least half a dozen of them very little premier league experience the squad is thin.

Kenny will have to buy in January to cover Lucas' injury as well as another striker, and at least another left back if we hope to get back into Europe this season.

It's not all doom and gloom though as i think that the staff at Liverpool have done a great job getting the results we have with the squad we have, but i fear if we get a couple more injuries we might struggle.




















Overall i think that being 6th after 15 games is a good reflection on how we have played. As frustrating as it is to not beat Norwich, Swansea, Man u and Sunderland we aren't losing too and being hard to beat can be a habit a habit I'd like to see flourish as long as we can find a balance and playing wining football at the other end.

Pics: liverpoolfc.tv, espnsoccernet.com