TIME FOR A STRIKING CHANGE AT ANFIELD?
With Heskey virtually an automatic selection this season, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jari Litmanen have been competing for the other place, but should Heskey still be in the side? Owen started the season on fire and is set to return from injury, while Fowler's hat-trick at Leicester has indicated that he is nearing full match-fitness again and only the myopic would discount the sublime skills of Litmanen.
With just one goal in the Premiership this season, the former Leicester striker has not been as prolific as he was last year and it is worth noting that he has only attempted eight shots this term - one every 57 minutes on average. Fowler has attempted a shot ever 28 minutes and Owen every 32.
Assistant manager Phil Thompson said: 'Emile is not being rewarded for some great displays - that's all. I know some people say it's down to goals but there is more to it than that.'
Heskey's role - as perfectly illustrated by his performance in Kiev - has often been to act as a target man and hold up the ball. But Litmanen has been Liverpool's most creative forward with eight key passes leading to scoring opportunities and Heskey has not been working too well as a foil for his strike partner.
The £11m striker has attempted 35 flick-ons - the 10th most of any Premiership player - but has only found a team-mate with a meagre four of them. That has seen his pass completion rate fall to a below standard 63%. Owen (72%) and Litmanen (83%) can better that, although Fowler has only managed a to find a red shirt with 58% of his distribution. Fowler can claim, however, to have fired off the most shots (17) at the club.
One thing that has pleased fans is that Heskey now appears less willing to go to ground. He has won 13 free-kicks this season, although he has committed the same number of fouls and - seemingly at last - he has begun to use his size to shield the ball as opposed to falling to the ground.
His ability to go past players is still in question though. He has only attempted four dribbles in the league this season and has failed to beat his man an any of those occasions. Litmanen has retained possession on every one of his dribbles while Owen (22 dribbles) and Fowler (13 dribbles) are far more prolific when it comes to attacking the opposition.
Overall, it appears that Owen, Fowler and Litmanen all have more to offer the Liverpool side in terms of attacking and creative attributes but Heskey still gets picked ahead of all of them.
The reason seems to be that he offers something different to the other trio. Owen and Fowler are both out-and-out strikers, while Litmanen is more creative and plays in a deeper role. Despite not playing anywhere near his best, Heskey can lead from the front and use his size and power in the air to better effect than the relatively diminutive Owen and Fowler. Although critics will point out that the latter duo have had more headed attempts on goal.
The imminent arrival of Czech striker Milan Baros will add another name to the equation and add further competition for places. Many feel that Heskey should not be guaranteed a place in the side ahead of other forwards at the club and the statistics appear to back that up.
