Liverpool’s Starting Line-up Next Season?
Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market this summer and here’s my take on the best possible lineup for the Reds next season. I have gone for a standard 4-4-2 formation.
Last Season
Here’s how Liverpool FC’s last winning lineup from the 2010/11 season looked like. This is in fact the squad that defeated Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage. Rodriguez got a hat-trick but Luis Suarez was man-of-the-match in this game.
Kuyt allows for a bit of switching there between him and Rodriguez because he can also drop back and operate as a winger/attacking midfielder.
Luis Suarez’s speed was absolutely key in this game and he tormented the experienced centerback in Fulham’s Hangeland. Either when the ball was played behind the towering defender or one on one, Suarez managed to come out victorious in the several clashes between the duo during the game.
The Key Men
Here’s my list of indispensable players, players that help the team get better, and players who nearly always cause a blow to the side if they are out injured. Here’s who I think will be the key men next season.
7. Suarez
Not much surprise of Luis Suarez being on the list. He pretty much has to be in the Liverpool team week in, week out. Just see what he’s done with Uruguay in the Copa America! He’s the only player whom has scored for Uruguay in regulation time in their march to the final.
25. Reina
He brings confidence to the back four. He’s still fantastic with the acrobatic save, and he isn’t leaving Liverpool FC anytime soon.
23. Carragher
Jamie Carragher’s a key man at the back. Provides guidance to our young prospects, such as Robinson and Flanagan and he’s the man that we rely on when he’s the last man between the striker and the keeper. His sliding tackle, absolutely CRUNCHING.
(When Carroll is playing) 19. Stewart Downing
This one’s gonna have to wait for a while, but I think that Downing will be a success with the Liverpool faithful. The stats don’t lie, he’s got the best numbers in terms of crossing in the game. Bank on Carroll to be scoring tons with Downing’s crosses.
8. Steven Gerrard
Perhaps has lost a bit of his spark thanks to his injuries, but he’s still a talismatic captain and he always rescues us from the dead. Wonderful vision, a powerful shot, Liverpool FC’s disappointing last season was also partially due to the fact that Gerrard was missing for most of the time.
My Formation
There might be a few surprises here. Henderson is ahead of Kuyt and Rodriguez for the right midfield spot because of his crossing ability and because he can play “out-and-out”. If Liverpool’s left back signing ian’t good, I would shift Johnson to the left and play Martin Kelly on the right.
Click on the image to see it clearer 
Submitted by Two Liverpool Fans
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shaun
July 22, 2011 at 1:37 pm
ur forgetting charlie adam!
felderkirk
July 22, 2011 at 1:39 pm
I think you need to work on the layout of this article mate. Move the first picture beneath the block of text entitled ‘last Season’.
I’m no Einstein, granted, but it took me far too long to realise that the first image of your proposed teamsheet wasn’t what you hope to see us line up like this season.
charlie
July 22, 2011 at 6:32 pm
agreed!
james
July 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm
I will go for a 4-2-3-1
reina
kelly carra agger insua
henderson adam
suarez gerrard downing
carroll
what does everyone think?
Karlos
July 22, 2011 at 2:27 pm
4-4-2
Reina
Johnson Carra Agger New signing
Kuyt Adam Stevie Downing
Luis Andy
DY
July 22, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Reina
Kelly Agger Skrtel New LB
Lucas Adam
Kuyt Aquilani Downing
Suarez
tass
July 22, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Mine is simple for home game:
Reina
Johnson Cara Agger Insua
Gerrard Adam
Henderson Aqua downing
Suarez
suarez4ever
July 23, 2011 at 11:09 pm
this is the best one ive seen yet mte if this was played there would be a few more wins then last season ill tell u that
Naveed
July 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Rather have Lucas instead of Henderson in that position.
Lloyd
July 22, 2011 at 2:40 pm
my line up: Reina Johnson Carra Skrtel New lb hendo aqua adam downing gerrard suarez: subs: doni lucas kuyt maxi carroll agger flano.
M.
July 22, 2011 at 2:53 pm
As long as we are getting a quality LB, I would go for 3-2-3-1-1 (With every one fit)
Starting from left
Agger, Skartel, Carra
Adam, Lucas
Downing, Acqualani/Henderson, Suarez
SG
Carroll
We ‘ll have to play a target man’s game to justify 35mn & 20mn. Also, I think Suarez is perfect in right flank. SG ‘ll play a free role behind Carroll. Lucas ‘ll be cover for over-lapping defense & a game breaker. Adam ‘ll play as a Basketball’s point guard role.
I think Acqua or Henderson can play as the central attacking midfielder (Don’t think Henderson is a good idea at right flank. Jhonson can be a better right midfielder)
Jerra
July 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Reina
Kelly Carra Skrtel Jonhson
Lucas
Gerrard Adam
Suarez Downing
Carrol
DanielLFC
July 22, 2011 at 3:05 pm
No Kelly, no Gerrard and Spearing on the wing? hahahahahaahah you must be mad or thick..
tom
July 22, 2011 at 3:44 pm
That formation was the formation they used when they beat fulham 5-2 last season, which he highlighted. Gerrard and Kelly were both out injured at that time. Who’s mad and thick now?
Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Johnson
Lucas Adam
Suarez Gerrard Downing
Carroll
Depending on injuries and availability, I’d happily put Meireles/Aquilani anywhere in the attacking 3, preferably central. I’d also happily slot Kuyt anywhere there, and move Suarez about. Wouldn’t mind spearing playing as one of the two centre defensive mids. I guess I wouldn’t mind Henderson in the attacking 3 somewhere… but I don’t agree with the signing of him for 20 fucking million.
IMO, liverpool should try do everything to sign Mata. They need potentially world class players to help build a world class team.
nicholas lumbwa
July 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm
starting line up reina,johnson,new signing,skratel,jimmie,steve,adam,jordan,suarez,downing,dik
Manase
July 22, 2011 at 3:46 pm
U guys r nt mentionin mereiles
A-whizie
July 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I’ll prefer a 4-1-2-3 formation.defenders;johnson,carragher,skrtl,new lb defensive mf;lucas attacking mf;gerrard,adam forwards;downing,carrol,suarez
getaun
July 22, 2011 at 6:02 pm
i think king Kenny will use 4-2-3-1
Rena
Defenders-
Johnson Carragher Skrtl new lb
defensive mf-
Lucas Adam
Downing Gerrard Suarez
Carrol
Abdirizak
July 22, 2011 at 6:41 pm
mine is so simple quite happy for every player i could have played this formation
25 REINA
2JONHSON 5 AGGER 23 CARRAGA NEW LB
26 ADAM 21 LUCAS
7 SUAREZ 8 GERRARD 19 DOWNING
9 CARROL
charlie
July 22, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Reina
kelly carragher agger (A. Cissokho)
Johnson Lucas Gerrard Downing
Kuyt Suarez
This is how we should begin the season. Pace down the flanks at both right and left back as well as wingers. Carroll has yet to have done enough to justify dropping Kuyt, same goes for adam/gerrard and henderson/lucas, not to mention Aqualani, Meireles and Spearing (surely we have to sell 2 of these midfielders?!). We can evolve this throughout the season to cope with fatigue and injuries and Carroll may well be more involved, but i was pleased to see how Suarez and Kuyt linked up last season. The important thing is that now we have options.
aaron barnes
July 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm
i think there should definately be an inclusion of gerrard and meireles in the midfield, although meireles’ passing ability isn’t as good as xabi’s, he seems a good partner for gerrard and is imo, the best cm to play alongside gerrard since xabi left. then defensively, if we don’t get a LB, then johnson, with kelly as full backs and carragher, and either agger or skrtel depending. suarez and kuyt up front, kuyt has a good header and brilliant work rate, and along with suarez’s good finish and team play, a dominant forward set. downing and maxi on wings, although maxi lacks pace and a possible change for henderson if he leaves. and of course reina in goal.
ian
July 22, 2011 at 9:49 pm
i would put charlie adam at left back and see wat his like
LFC4LIFER......
July 22, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Reina
Johnson Carra Agger New signing
Kuyt. Raul Lucas Downing
Gerrard
Suarez.
LB: 1st choice Cissokho 2nd Choice Enrique ?
That’s as near perfect team as we can expect!
purify
July 22, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Some people have the right idea:
– There must be 2 holding mids, Lucas and then presumably Adam to take Spearing’s spot
– Meireles and Aquilani cannot tackle well enough to play there, Gerrard can when fit and motivated (i.e., vs top 4 opponent)
– Carroll is not in our best 11 but don’t tell Kenny that
– at home 4-4-2, away 4-2-3-1
– Skrtel played every minute last year
– best eleven right now is
Reina
Johnson – Skrtel – Agger – Aurelio
Lucas – Adam
Kuyt – Gerrard – Downing
Suarez
– second team is
Doni
Kelly – Carra – Wilson – Insua
Poulsen – Spearing
Henderson – Meireles/Aquilani – Maxi
Carroll
– never, ever play Kyrgiakos under any circumstances
– needs right now are LB-CB-S-HM
ian
July 22, 2011 at 10:17 pm
your all forgetin kuyt and suarez up fornt they out played man u
purify
July 22, 2011 at 10:17 pm
woop, 2nd LB should be Flanno…
deric
July 22, 2011 at 10:42 pm
i think the 1st 11 should b; reina; kelly-carra-agger-aurelio; downing-adams-meireles-gerrard-kuyt; suarez: for 4-5-1 next season
dsds
July 22, 2011 at 11:31 pm
REINA
Johson-carragher-agger-aurelio/insua
adam lucas
kuyt gerrard suarez
caroll
Kory
July 23, 2011 at 12:58 am
No way on earth Lucas starts ahead of Adam
LFC4LIFER......
July 23, 2011 at 3:55 am
Whatever team KK puts out I’m just glad we have the options that RAFA never did…
So let’s hope KK can go one step further and win the bloody league!!
chrysler
July 23, 2011 at 4:44 am
here tha line up.
reina
glen,cara,agger,nw l.b
gerard,lucas
suarez,adam,stewie
carroll.
or mayb carol can b replaced by suarez then kuyt on tha right
Simon
July 23, 2011 at 6:39 am
I believe our starting lineups will match whichever formation Dalglish wishes to deploy for each match. Adam and Henderson are clearly bought to be somewhat on the flanks of a 3 wide central midfield like a 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 diamond.
If we are indeed going for a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, then our most central player has to be an all round midfielder and that would be Gerrard, followed by Meireles.
Lucas and Aquilani are shoe-ins for the holding and trequartista roles respectively. You would expect them to feature in a 4-4-2 diamond with Adam and Henderson, and definitely in a 4-2-3-1 with Meireles perhaps the best partner for Lucas in front of our back 4.
For a flat 4-4-2, we have more options as we could use the Lucas/Meireles pairing once again, Meireles/Gerrard to make the most efficient use of a 2 man midfield or Adam/Gerrard for lateral balance.
purify
July 23, 2011 at 7:16 am
If you watched last season at all, you’ll know that Meireles can only play attacking mid, defensive winger or 2nd striker. He can’t tackle well enough to play as a Prem center mid.
We went on a hot streak last season when Spearing came into the side next to Lucas. You need that double holding pair in front of the back four, like Alonso & Mascherano used to do. Adam can probably do that, but Meireles & Aquilani can’t.
Tommy
July 23, 2011 at 7:39 am
Leave out Lucas? He made the most tackles last year and out Carroll? He costed 35 mil and we are not real madrid
4-3-3
Reina
Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, New Signing
Adam, Lucas, Gerrard
Suarez, Carroll, Downing
Or 4-4-2
Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, New signing
Gerrard, Lucas, Adam, Downing
Suarez, Carroll
azaaz
July 24, 2011 at 4:11 pm
4.5.1
reina
johnson skrtel agger new lb
henderson aquilani gerrard adam downing
suarez
Ben Curtis
July 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I’d be inclined to play a formation with 3 defenders so there’s more room for playmaking in the central midfield.
Reina,
Kelly, Skrtel, Agger
Lucas
Meireles, Gerrard, Adam
Suarez, Carrol, Downing