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MIDDLESBROUGH v LIVERPOOL TACTICS TALK 18-11-06
Stuart Ward
Wardy's Tactical column returns after a couple of weeks off, looking at the upcoming match with Liverpool at the Riverside. As always, we start with Boro's opponents, Liverpool.
Key Players
Steven Gerrard - The Liverpool skipper has been out of form recently. Playing in a right wing position he has struggled to influence matches like he did last season.
However all indications are that he will be reinstated to the centre of midfield owing to Momo Sissoko's dislocated shoulder. This will allow him to influence the match with his forward runs and ridiculously good long range shots.
That being said, I STILL think he is over hyped most of the time in the media, but then you aren't allowed to slag off Stevie Me are you?
Jose Reina - The Liverpool keeper has not looked his best this season. He has become rather error prone after a solid first season in England.
This is something that Boro need to look to exploit. If his confidence is fragile then it is imperative that we pepper his goal with shots early doors to try and force another mistake and get Liverpool on the back foot.
Xabi Alonso - The Spaniard is now recognised as one of the finest central midfielders in world football.
He has a fantastic range of passing, his vision is superb and he is another one with an awesome long shot who is also good at free kicks.
If he gets time and space in the centre of midfield (which he probably will) then he will be able to cause havoc for Boro.
The Manager
Rafael Benitez - The former Valencia manager annoys the daylights out of me!
He is a decent enough manager, as proven by winning the Champions League. However the guy CANNOT stop messing about with his side although he recently fielded an unchanged side for the first time in ninety-nine games.
This is directly leading to the sort of form that Liverpool have demonstrated this season in the League. This, coupled with Liverpool's away form SHOULD give Boro a chance, but we will come to that later!
Likely Lineup
Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Risse
Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzales
Bellamy Crouch
Liverpool WILL make changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Arsenal last week.
Uber-Midfielder Momo Sissoko dislocated his shoulder, so is out for the foreseeable future. Jermaine Pennant will come into the side in the place of former Boro man Bolo Zenden.
I also think that Benitez is likely to mess about with his front two again, so expect to see Crouch accompany Craig Bellamy.
The Liverpool defence looks solid enough on paper. Jamie Carragher is hailed as one of the best centre halves in the country and Hyypia is a guy who has been performing at the top of the English game for what seems like forever. Yakubu will have to work a damned sight harder than he likes to in order to get ANYTHING out of them.
Finnan is a solid if unspectacular right-back, he does his job quietly, and rarely makes mistakes. Risse on the other hand is a decidedly spectacular left back. He LOVES to get forward - I actually think he is more of a left winger really.
Boro need to look out for his cannon of a left foot. He has the ability to score from just about any part of the pitch.
In midfield it will be all change for Liverpool. Gerrard SHOULD be moved back into centre midfield, with Pennant coming in on the right.
The centre of the pitch will be key today. If Alonso and Gerrard get the time to start smacking the ball about, Boro are in deep trouble. Boateng, Rochembach, Cattermole and whoever else Southgate chooses to fill the middle of the park with need to get stuck in.
Mark Gonzales on the left looks like an exciting young player. He has the speed and skill to take people on and I get the feeling that Abel Xavier will be snuck back into the team so here's hoping he's not short of match practice.
On the other wing, Pennant has yet to prove himself for Liverpool. The youngster is good on the ball, quick and can cross. Pog will have to resist the urge to deposit him into the front row of the stand and stay on his feet, or he will be in trouble.
Up front, I expect to see Bellamy partner Crouch. The tactics will be obvious, kick it at lankies head and hope Bellamy can use his blistering pace to get on the end of it.
Now with that out of the way, lets try and make some sense of Boro.
Key Players
Robert Huth - The giant German will have to have a good game today.
He will probably be asked to try and make it difficult for Crouch to win all the headers, something that I think he could do quite well.
He needs to cut out some of the more.rash, shall we say, challenges that he is making. Whilst fun to watch, he is giving away a few silly free kicks that are harming us.
James Morrison - The youngster has been in and out of the team this season.
I for one hope he is IN for the match. He is good on the ball, and gets the crowd going with his forward runs.
Granted he needs to add some consistency to his game, and a better final ball at times wouldn't go amiss. He is our best player on the right wing though. Who else would you rather put there? Mendi?!
Massimo Maccarone - The bald Italian hero is being given a concerted run in the side at the minute in what could be a career defining period for him.
He bagged the winning goal against West Ham, again securing his place in the Boro fans' hearts.
He IS a good player. He works his socks off, chases balls down, has a decent touch and looks like our most likely goal outlet at the minute, despite what some people may say.
The Manager
Gareth Southgate - The manager has put together one of the most inconsistent teams ever.
We battled to a win over West Ham last week. Gareth realised that, and said as much in the Press. That is what I like about him. He actually sees the match the way most fans do. Its rather refreshing really, a complete contrast to the whinging Spaniard that is gonna be next to him in the dugouts!
Likely Lineup
Schwarzer
Xavier Woodgate Huth Pogatetz
Morrison Boateng Rochembach Downing
Yakubu Maccarone
I really think that Southgate will sneak Abel Xavier into the side today.
The defence looks as solid as always in my opinion. It should be very difficult for Liverpool to score against - in theory.
Xavier will return today, and he is a decent right back, but his lack of games will be a worry when having to deal with the electric pace of Mark Gonzales.
Pogatetz will be asked to play left back, and hopefully his good form will continue and he will keep Pennant in his pocket all match.
Woodgate and Huth will be given another chance to further establish their fledgling partnership in the middle, with Huth most likely being asked to challenge Peter Crouch in the air when the ball is played long. Woody will be left to marshal the quicker Bellamy.
The midfield continues to be a worry, especially if Downing doesn't come through his late fitness test.
In the middle, Gareth will continue to back his captain blindly, unfortunately he will be well and truly found out playing against players of the quality of Alonso and Gerrard.
Fabio seems to play better against the bigger teams, so hopefully he can weave some of his magic today, he needs a good game desperately.
Up front, man of the moment Massimo Maccarone will continue alongside out of sorts Yakubu. This raises a point, when does an "out of sorts" striker become one who is simply not as good as we all hoped he was. Yakubu needs goals badly.
Maccarone will also probably be asked to drop back and make a midfield five at times today, occupying the right wing.
How it will go
Liverpool have not won away from home all season. Liverpool have not scored a goal from open play away all season. Middlesbrough have won three on the bounce at home.
All of the above leads me to say Liverpool will win 2-0.
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