Liverpool FC: One Necessary Improvement for Each Projected Reds Starter

We are moving closer to the start of a new season of exciting Premier League football. Liverpool fans will once again be expectant. Although, after the debacle of the recent few seasons, they shall do well to curb and tone it down a bit. The Reds will not be challenging for the title and will have to play out of their skins to even achieve fourth.

Let us look at areas that the supposed starting lineup can improve upon to make achieving fourth a more realistic possibility. 

Pepe Reina

Reina has not been in the best of forms for the past two seasons. He needs to improve his shot stopping ability. You don’t all of a sudden become a bad keeper, but I think Reina can serve Liverpool better by improving his attitude. It is almost as if he sometimes does not want to try.

He has become a lot more vocal without the actions to back his words. It will be better if we can see the Reina of old this season.

Glen Johnson

Johnson likes to cut in from advanced positions. In Rodgers’ system I don’t think he will be instructed to do that. Not that it is a bad thing, but it may offset the balance with only three in midfield and the two wide forwards much higher up the pitch.

Johnson should concentrate more on improving his crossing while he still can run very fast. The England international should also work on getting behind the defense more while Rodgers concentrates on having more penetration in his side. 

Jose Enrique

The link-up play on the left-hand side of Liverpool’s attack last season was a joy to watch. The much-needed end product with Andy Carroll to target, however, was not very pleasing. Enrique can certainly improve on that.

Enrique was also caught out more than a few occasions in defense and his mistakes cost Liverpool dearly. None more so than the one he committed against Chelsea in the FA cup final.

Further, he loves to play football the right way, which is on the ground, but he must realize that at times, it is better just to knock the ball out of play. Park Ji-Sung scored due to one such mistake of his in the match against United in the FA Cup.   

Daniel Agger

Agger can definitely improve in the fitness department. He is a player that, when fit, justifies the cost of medical bills and expenses that the club incurs due to him. You certainly cannot do a lot when it comes to the body.

Still, I would like Agger to concentrate and take care of his physique and physical fitness a lot more than what he has for previous seasons. 

Martin Skrtel

Skrtel was certainly one of the best players for Liverpool last season. Agger often takes many plaudits, but last season, Skrtel was more accomplished in defense as well as attack while he scored a few goals. One of his strikes also helped Liverpool equalize in the final and then lift the Carling Cup.

With a new system under Rodgers, passing and retaining possession while maintaining fluidity from back to front is an aspect that Skrtel can work on. Skrtel is no mug, but if he improves in this department, it shall bode well for everyone associated with Liverpool.  

Steven Gerrard

Ball retention is key to Rodgers’ system, so Gerrard will have to find a good balance between launching Hollywood balls and keeping it simple. He is one of the players who makes things happen, so he cannot refrain himself from trying audacious through balls.

At the same time, if he makes too many mistakes in trying such balls and loses possession frequently, then he will put the team under unnecessary pressure. With a game plan that relies on pressing for long periods, the team will need to gather some breath and re-energize itself through good periods in which they have the ball.

For this, Gerrard will have to curb his natural instincts somewhat.

Jordan Henderson

Henderson needs to do the exact opposite of what will be required of Gerrard. Henderson needs to be more adventurous. He is good at retaining the ball and will fit in the system very well.

Rodgers’ Swansea created limited chances and scored even fewer goals than Liverpool last season. To ensure that the same problem does not persist, Henderson will need to exercise his first time passes to release the attackers that we saw limited glimpses of last season. He will also need to share the responsibility with Gerrard of making forward runs and scoring from midfield. 

Lucas Leiva

Lucas is almost perfect for the system that will be employed. In fact, it is hard to actually pinpoint an area where the Brazilian shall make any improvement.

One thing that the midfield anchor man can do is dictate play a bit more by perfecting his cross-field passes and over-the-top balls for runners such as Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini.

Lucas likes to keep it simple. If he were to improve on his offensive attributes and try assisting and scoring more, I don’t think anyone will be able to ask any more from him.

If some people still place him in the "good" bracket, they will surely be forced to move him in to the "great" group.  

Luis Suarez

The Uruguayan definitely needs to take the field wearing his scoring boots. Suarez has an incredible scoring record for his country. His record for Liverpool is not too bad either. However, he can do a lot better than last season, when he missed chance after chance.

He has just signed a new contract, and he should straight away try to improve his finishing.

Andy Carroll

Carroll needs to show more of what he displayed towards the end of last season. He needs to be more aggressive and try to win everything in the air. His hold-up play has also improved, but he needs to get it to a higher level still.

One more shortcoming of Carroll was his laziness. He shows very little movement at times. He needs to improve his concentration, agility, anticipating qualities and the will to make runs.

Fabio Borini

The jury is out on Fabio Borini, at least for now. However, on a less serious note, I would say the Italian needs to change his goal celebration. I mean, I would think twice before shaking his hand after he has scored a goal.

Thank you for reading. You can follow me on twitter at @shubbankar.