Thursday 31 December 2015 09:03, UK
There are plenty of creative players in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team but are they doing enough?
Christian Benteke got the goal within seconds of the restart that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night. The assist went to Adam Lallana but with the midfielder admitting it wasn't intended, questions remain over Liverpool's creativity.
Since scoring six goals at Southampton in the Capital One Cup, the next six matches have yielded only four goals. Speaking before kick-off, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp highlighted the role of Liverpool's attacking midfield trio of Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
"What frustrates me a little bit is that when we talk about Liverpool we say that they struggle to score goals, especially at Anfield," Carragher told Sky Sports. "So you'd imagine Brendan Rodgers or Jurgen Klopp were picking a more defensive team.
"But how many managers play with three No 10s in the team? Most are playing one or two at a push. He's getting three into the team and we're still talking about a lack of creativity? That shows these players have got to do more."
He’s getting three No 10s into the team and we’re still talking about a lack of creativity? That shows these players have got to do more.
The work rate was evident against Sunderland. Lallana covered more ground than any other player on the pitch - 12.15 kilometres - while Firmino made 91 high-intensity runs, also more than anyone else. But this is not yet translating into the sort of cutting edge that Klopp craves.
Both Lallana and Firmino trail Coutinho on most of the key indicators of performance for an attacking midfielder. Coutinho has five Premier League goals this season. His two team-mates have just one between them. He's also outperforming them in terms of chances created and dribbles.
There were plenty of examples before the break. Firmino was guilty of spurning a good chance early on when his control let him down after being put through by Coutinho. "You've got to do better there," said Carragher. "We spoke about the No 10s being more clinical."
Although Firmino hit a post with a long-range effort soon after, he then squandered another opening by heading straight at Vito Mannone from point-blank range. "One of them has to go in," added Carragher.
Firmino unselfishly set a chance up for Jordon Ibe late on and should have had his assist in stoppage time only for Benteke to be denied a second when one-on-one with Mannone. But for Redknapp, it's Lallana who is the greater concern anyway.
"The jury's out on Firmino but you've got to give him time," said Redknapp. "It's his first year in this league. I want a lot more from Lallana. If I'd paid £25m for him I'd want more goals and assists. He's so easy on the eye and does beautiful things with the ball but his end product isn't good enough.
"If you're given that opportunity as a player to play as a No 10 or out wide for Liverpool it should be a joy." Carragher agrees, adding: "I'm a fan of Lallana, he's got some nice touches. But he's too nice. He's not nasty enough. I don't mean tackling. I mean being in the box and finishing or assisting."
It seems that Jurgen Klopp might agree judging by Lallana's post-match interview. "The manager's tried to drum it into us that we've got to be a bit dirtier," the Liverpool man told Sky Sports. "We've got to fight a bit more and play teams at their own game."
Klopp's men have shown signs of doing just that in the last two games, picking up back-to-back 1-0 wins against direct teams with Benteke delivering both times. But Liverpool will need more goals - and assists of the intentional variety - from their trio of tens if they're to push on in 2016.
