Today we see the Reds bring out, essentially would be seen as their second team. With a team of players who have had few first team starts it was an interesting choice of players for Kenny but it we all knew why this team was picked.
With the FA Cup Final coming next, Kenny wanted to see who was really fighting for first team and I think today showed a little of who should and who shouldn't be.
OK so they lost, 0-1 to the first team of Fulham. Admittedly, it didn't seem as though they were pushing particularly hard but it there were a few chances for Dempsey and what a job Doni did!
A warm welcome return for John Arne Riise, but a not so emphatic one for Murphy. Riise being one of the influential fall-backs of his time while at Anfield returns to strike back. Making his trademark runs down the flank but his not so trademarked shots and crosses that didn't really go anywhere, almost to say he didn't want to score.
Team Line-Up
Doni, Kelly, Coates, Skrtel, Aurelio, Henderson, Shelvey, Spearing, Maxi, Carroll, Kuyt
A disappointing O.G. from Skrtel in the first 5mins didn't help things as this second team looked to strike back but a lot of miscommunication between players as to where the ball was being placed put a lot more unnecessary stress on all of them.
Best players I can say that didn't show any real flaws in the game, Doni, Coates, Kelly, Carroll (Yes I know, he did well *SHOCK* * HORROR*).
But lets see what needs fixing. Aurelio has been out of games and not really played much this season with his position taken up by Johnson and Enrique. Having been out of shape his abilities was a little lacking but he still had his keen eye to spot a player and a few decent through balls.
Skrtel didn't exactly have the best of starts but he still held down the defence and controlled the defence line.
Henderson played in centre midfield but lacked real movement, his crosses were a little optimistic if not blind-eyed crosses as they never really hit the targeted players. His attacking strength seems lacking as he still hesitates to push forward, with a lack of ball control, Henderson was a little disappointing.
Shelvey, did well in pushing forward making runs and did it with real accuracy but his passing accuracy was devastating as Fulham were countering well with each lost pass causing a need to fall back.
Spearings link up play with Carroll and Kuyt showed some flaws, defensively he did well and was strong but on the offence as he moved forward, he tend to lose the ball while trying to play it into Maxi and or Kuyt.
Kuyt's played well but unable to link up with any of the others as he has not really played a lot with any of them making it difficult to know how to play it in. His crosses were pin point accurate as always but with a few players in the box lacking in experience it was up to Carroll to sort it out.
As a whole, the defence was very strong, Skrtel and Coates did extremely well to hold everyone off while Doni made some amazing saves that were crucial to the game.
Sterling later came on and showed some extremely skilful footwork and a lovely cross that couldn't be converted. With just a few minutes, Sterling had really made some extremely crucial movements that forced the Fulham defence to really scramble.
Carroll, about time he showed his footwork capabilities once again as he was able to really push forward, hold off the defence and provide for the others, it is a shame the final shots did not convert. Simply put he will definitely feature in the final but.
Shots from Shelvey, Maxi and Carroll were all in vain as they were all off target and no crosses were able to be converted into goals.
Today's game showed our defensive strength but the lack of forward attacks which leaves Suarez and Gerrard is guaranteed a position while, although Kuyt's strong work ethic and hard chasing of the ball has always been affective and useful, his later form has shown to waiver. As disappointing as it seems, I would say he would be placed on the bench but maybe played as a game changer in the later third of the game as a shock-sub as his pace would really cause damage in the later stage, just as he once did.
Considering this was a mixed team of players who had never really played together in a PL game, it was admirable for them to hold off the first team of Fulham who have recently been in pretty good form except the game against an extremely in-form Everton.
Kenny will have more trouble picking who to have in defence as they have all shown real strength in the back but what lacked was anything in the attack. As well as they did push harder from midfield, there was still weakness upfront.
As far as I can see, the starting XI would be as follows.
Starting XI: Reina, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Kelly, Gerrard, Downing, Kuyt, Bellamy, Carroll, Suarez
Bench: Doni, Coates, Carragher, Maxi, Henderson, Spearing, Sterling
Reina has always been the reliable one to be in the back with a keen eye and experience, he has to be the real choice to be in goal.
Enrique has earned his rightful place over the season as the left-back while the return of Agger and Skrtel as the centre back has shown good partnership.
Kelly may seem an odd choice but his performance today has shown he is capable of keeping up with forward striking force as well as falling back to defend. His crosses still need a little improvement but with a little push and pressure, this final may just be the push he needs to provide.
Downing's ability, as Enrique, has shown he is capable of playing on both left and right but with Kuyt covering the right, I would have Downing working along side Enrique to provide crosses for Carroll and Suarez. In the centre I would put Gerrard in his rightful place.
Up front, Carroll centred with Bellamy and Suarez moving from left to right. With their abilities to play either side and provide for each other, Suarez and Bellamy would run riot in the defence.
The bench would consist mainly of defensive players as this game would need our full force of attacks to break the defence line of Chelsea.
Expected Starting XI: Reina, Enrique, Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson, Gerrard, Downing, Spearing, Kuyt, Suarez Carroll.
Experience would most likely be Kenny's choice of strength to use so Carragher would be more likely choice while his work along side Skrtel has been better than with Agger. He's happy with the way Spearing is capable of falling back to defend. Kuyt would be played but swapped out for Bellamy later on in the game as he is hoping on allowing Kuyt's work along side Suarez and Carroll to be worth the try. Kuyt's reputation on scoring crucial goals in cup games have been a show brilliance and a light of hope within the game.
This would be interesting how Kenny decides to play this game.
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