The most intriguing pre-season in years

It was interesting to see Milner, Henderson, Clyne and others playing the full ninety minutes against Brisbane this morning. I can’t be bothered checking, but I don’t think we’ve seen that from Rodgers before this early into pre-season and I feel it represents a welcome - and necessary - shift in approach. It feels as though for once we’re actually taking pre-season seriously with the aim of being fully prepared for the opening game instead of just messing about and giving every Tom, Dick and Fabio a game.

This pre-season I was hoping to see less experimentation in terms of systems and players, and more of a focus on setting the team up to play a specific way and getting the players who are most likely to be a part of the main rotation as much game time as possible. So far that appears to be happening, although Rodgers has still managed to find minutes for some of the younger players too which is also important. So far he’s struck a nice balance I’d say. I loved seeing Milner and Henderson playing the full game today, it tells me Rodgers wants them to gel as quickly as possible as that is more important than giving playing time to everyone in the squad.

Results are not especially important but that being said, you don’t want to be losing these kind of games (especially coming off the season we just had and with the fans’ trust in the manager so low) so two wins from two is nice. In terms of fitness, having some players get a full game under their belts is surely more beneficial than them playing two separate halves in different games, but it’s also useful when some of those players need to build up an understanding with each other. I mentioned Milner and Henderson in the middle, but there was also Clyne and Skrtel on the right of the back four. The more they all play together the better in terms of preparation for the new season, and on that note it’s also been encouraging how quickly the club has got their business done, culminating with the latest ongoing deal for Christian Benteke. 

Perhaps in time Villa might have relented on their refusal to sell unless forced to (probably not though) and in the past we’d have dragged it out in order to try and save a million or two. Not this summer though, for once the club have been decisive in everything they’ve done and instead of waiting until late August to either finally get Benteke or panic and sign someone else the manager doesn’t want, they just paid what it took to do the deal now. As a result, Rodgers has plenty of time to get Benteke settled in and integrated into the framework of the team.

The Brisbane game was a useful run out as they were much sterner opposition than the Thai All Stars or whoever the hell those jabronis were we laid a beat down on the other day. It was a good run out and we didn’t have it all our own way, but by the end it was fairly comfortable and only some great saves by their keeper kept the scoreline close.

What I’ve taken so far from this week is that Rodgers seems to have cleared his head now after the complete clusterfuck of last season and is looking to re-establish a system and way of playing. It looks like we’ll see a lot of 4-3-3 with the option of perhaps going to a midfield diamond, especially if and when Sturridge comes back. The pressing game should hopefully return too as all the players that have been brought in will help with that. 

At this early stage it’s unclear exactly where everyone is going to fit in but there are some things we already know. Benteke is obviously going straight into the team as we’re clearly light up front. Neither Divock Origi nor Danny Ings are ready to lead the line for a team chasing a top four spot and that’s why Rodgers has shelled out so much to activate Benteke’s release clause.

Coutinho is obviously going to start somewhere, while Milner and Henderson will definitely occupy two of the three midfield spots. The other two spots in the midfield and forward six are up for grabs and a lot will depend on what system and approach Rodgers goes for and also just how quickly Roberto Firmino settles. If the Brazilian looks good immediately then he’ll be straight in the side and there’ll only be one other spot remaining. Pre-season will determine that though.

We may occasionally see Coutinho in the midfield three with Milner and Henderson and no holding player, especially in the easier looking games. Away from home it will probably be Lucas (provided he doesn’t leave), Joe Allen or Emre Can playing behind Milner and Henderson, with Coutinho as one of the front three. Where it gets interesting is who then takes up the third attacking spot, and will it be 4-3-3 or the diamond with a front two?

There are a lot of players looking to get into the side in attacking positions now, but Adam Lallana has laid down an early marker with well taken goals in both games. He’s taken advantage of the extended holidays of Coutinho and Firmino and can hopefully stay injury free this year. I’m one of his biggest fans but he left me a little disappointed last season. He showed flashes but I definitely expected him to be better than he was. Maybe this will be his year, fitness permitting.

Jordon Ibe has looked in great nick too and as soon as he starts finding the net regularly I’m convinced he’ll go on to become not just a good player, but a genuine superstar. He just makes it look so easy and the Aussies just couldn’t cope with him. 

Lazar Markovic showed up well in Thailand but did not get on against Brisbane and his future remains unclear. I haven’t written him off yet as there’s definitely a good player in there somewhere, but looking at the competition for places you have to wonder just how he’ll even get a sniff of the team unless there’s an injury crisis. I’d probably loan him out unless we were able to get somewhere near what we paid for him, which seems unlikely. A successful loan would at least protect his value and who knows, if he were to tear it up somewhere he could always come back as he’s still only 21. He could be the replacement for Coutinho or Ibe when they leave for Chelsea or City next summer!

Origi and Ings look like they’ll be competing with each other for whatever minutes are going from the subs bench or as an occasional partner for Benteke until Sturridge returns. Origi was good in Thailand but was outshone by Ings against Brisbane. I can tell already that Ings is going to be the new “Captain Tryhard”. No-one will ever be able to talk about him without mentioning how hard he works. That’s no bad thing, but I’d rather we were talking about his goals too.

Things are really going to hot up for those attacking places when the rest of the squad return to training and Benteke also joins up. The last few pre-season games will take on an added importance because places are up for grabs but Rodgers can’t really afford to experiment too much as he looks to get some continuity in the team heading into the opener at Stoke.

As a result of that I’m more invested in this pre-season than any I can remember in a long time, as there are so many little sub plots going on. Who wins the battle to partner Skrtel? Will we get a glimpse of the rare lesser spotted Tiago Illori before he’s loaned out to some bang average European side again? Will Emre Can be able to nail down the defensive midfield spot? How awesome are Firmino are Coutinho going to be together? Will Ings get off the mark soon or is he going to go through what Lambert did last year? Is the impressive Joe Gomez going to establish himself at left back or will we bring someone else in to compete with Moreno?

Most of all though I’m looking forward to seeing Benteke. I have to say I’m intrigued by him. I’m not convinced he’ll be the answer, but I’m sure as hell not convinced he won’t be either. It’s all well and good the likes of me and you talking about how he doesn’t seem to suit Rodgers’ style, but it’s Rodgers himself that was desperate for this transfer to happen and you’d like to think he knows a bit more about what he needs in a striker than we do. 

For whatever reason he thinks Benteke is a perfect fit for what he wants to do so I’m fascinated to see how he uses him and what - if any - tweaks will be made in the style of play to accommodate him. Hopefully they can get the deal all wrapped up so he can play in the game in Malaysia next week and then the final pre-season warm up game in Helsinki the week before he single handedly destroys Stoke…

Dave Usher

@theliverpoolway