Does Rodgers need to review his front five?

Brendan Rodgers is a manager who has tried to freshen up Liverpool with a fluid style of play focussed on passing and flexibility in attack.

Liverpool have Sterling, Borini, Suso, Sturridge and Suarez at their disposal. They are all strikers who can fulfil a role as a main attacker or as an auxiliary forward. This should be a trump card for the Anfield outfit.

Despite the array of options the Merseyside club have they again struggled to get going last night against West Brom.  It was not through a lack of fashioning chances either as they managed 19 attempts on target it was about having the incision to put the game to bed.

Steven Gerrard’s penalty miss may have been the turning point but in a home fixture against a team around them Liverpool need to find a way to unlock tough defences.

The Baggies failed to fashion a single attempt on goal before the Gerrard penalty secured a smash and grab from a corner which followed their first shot on target.

If Liverpool are to be anywhere near the top four contenders they want to be they may need to strengthen further up top yet still, rather than passing sides to death.

The reason for this being that neither Downing nor Henderson appear up to the task of providing enough attacking flair. Sterling and Suso need time to develop and mature whilst few are convinced Borini was up to the challenge in the first place. This leaves far too much dependence on Sturridge and Suarez.

Sturridge had been pivotal in Liverpool’s mini revival at Man City and Arsenal both away from home, but he is not enough when delivering by himself.

If Rodgers is to remain he needs to find his best attacking complement and ways to make them compete against each other and have a thriving up front or he will have his contract cut short sooner rather than later. There is one thing having a project another having abject performances like yesterday’s Monday night “special”. The only ones with a unique experience were those sat in the away end.

Follow @GrantMilesFF

Comments

[Mike]

Aslong as Sterling doen't play I am happy.

[QuantRed]

Its not his front 5 but his Back 5 this season that is the problem!

[Dean jones]

We have finally seen Rodgers in his true light,a coach who hasn't a clue ? His team selection lastnight was pathetic,he can't get the team up for a fight against a team who parks the bus ? Villa was on a shocking run,yet came too anfield and Embarassed us,as did west Brom ( I'm thinking Rodgers needs that midfield general ASAP ) because these players don't seem too care about the club,and more about looking good & picking up there astronomical wages ;-(

[AQ]

Sterling is never going to mature to be a quality player. People will have to face the fact that he just isnt good enough. Borini was a poor signing for sure and its time to let him go. Liverpool could do with another striker but they have to be of the sturridge and Suarez standard. Suso isnt a striker but rather a number 10 type player that has a long way to go before he can be considered for that role. Henderson is maturing nicely and he isnt in the team to be a creative force. Liverpool cant have Downing , Borini and sterling on the field at the same time and I would argue that they shouldnt be at the club period. A little harsh on Downing but for liverpool to move forward we must improve on these players. That said, what is going on with our defense.. it looked like our fullbacks had a few beers at lunch and Agger is getting exposed time and again for his lack of desire to defend set pieces. The squad is very thin and its going to take some time to get this right.