As most would agree, this Liverpool side play some free flowing football. With attractive attacking football fundamental, players are encourage to find space to hurt opposition. This is the result of BR unshackling the attacking part of the team. Our approach under Houllier and Rafa were always measured, control and possession based.

With BR, there is a lax in control and in don't mean it in a negative way, instead, players are encouraged to make runs and creative passes to unlock defences. Unfortunately, this unshackling and creative freedom comes at a cost, a shakier defense - as players took risk and run into empty space which created a void in return, that can be exploited.

As such, like it or not, SG is still the figure head in midfield, being the more measured player. He took calculated risk as oppose to all out attack, and he understand that tracking back is crucial to prevent the defense from being exposed. AS such, the flow of yesterday's game was affected with SG in the side. Not blaming SG in any shape or form, but a lot of fine tuning is needed for this team to mature. I'd say it is still work in progress unless the right personnel can come in. Skrtle, altho is not world class defender, but I think is the best available option, given his balance in both aggression and pace. As such I cant see BR dropping Skrtle, and also part reason we go for Sakho, for his pace, off the ball and aggression. Without a pacey defender, we wont be able to attack as free flow as we possibly can.

Ideally, if we can get someone that fit the profile of Mark Van Bommel or Philipe Cocu, or Hamann, then I'd think we have sufficiently strengthen the squad. Again it is not easy to find the right CM. Manure been searching highlow for the right person to operate from the middle, but no avail, the reason scoles was recalled last season....and did their recent acquisition felaini solve their issue? I am sure not...all in all, January might not be the right time to get the right sort of player to fill the CM position altho I wouldn't mind Kevin DeBruyne, but how I wish...

Gerrard has the capabilities to be a dm.In fact he can be one of the best dm around.The only problem is whether he can curb his instincts to go forward at times which will leave the defence exposed.

The criticism on Gerrard is not justified.

The squad is thin, if not playing Gerrard at DM or CM, who should be the starting XI?

Even I viewed Gerrard had a sub-par game against Stoke (number of miss-passes), there is no other better candidate to fill up the boot.
Gerrard can still quite good is spraying diagonal passes around, that lead to assist on goal.

You can't expect an energetic run, box to box from a 33 years old midfielder, scoring screamer 20~30 yards goal like last time out, carry the team single handed.

The criticism on Gerrard is not justified.

The squad is thin, if not playing Gerrard at DM or CM, who should be the starting XI?

Even I viewed Gerrard had a sub-par game against Stoke (number of miss-passes), there is no other better candidate to fill up the boot.
Gerrard can still quite good is spraying diagonal passes around, that lead to assist on goal.

You can't expect an energetic run, box to box from a 33 years old midfielder, scoring screamer 20~30 yards goal like last time out, carry the team single handed.

If I review SG as a player, I can hardly find any fault both technically and physically. He is at the right height, strong physical strength, great ability with his feet...not to mention 2 footed packed with power. A player that excel in open play as well as set pieces, ohh and nearly miss out - a decent header of the ball too....

I must admit that since SG return in the match vs Stoke, our midfield is less fluent, with some dynamic movement curtailed to a certain degree...but as I said earlier, there will be a lot of fine tuning and education from BR's part to make it work...the switch from attack to defend and vice versa is not as easy as a flip of the switch...I am sure SG can play the role of the DM or even Sweeper if needed, he is after all a marvelous tackler of the ball....I am just glad that BR sent out the message that SG will play a deep lying midfield..it is also a message to prospective players that the position is vacant and that we need strengthening. You'll never know whether the name SG will scare away good prospects, and how SG will affect them, just look at Hendo and Aquaman...

No, we are not expecting him to be 10 years younger, but we do expect him to not give possession away unnecessary and draw pressure back to us, which he did many times on Saturday. You yourself mentioned in your previous post that the DM is part of the fault for the goals. Gerrard WAS the deepest midfielder.

Contrary to what you have said, we do have options. We could have started Henderson and Lucas in the middle, why not? I rather take safe passes than what Gerrard offered on Saturday.

All I was saying is Gerrard had an off game. The difference between Gerrard having an off game today than 10 years ago is that, with the lack of pace and legs, he will be a bigger burden to the team. I'm sure when he returns to his usual sharpness, he would spray those long, early passes. But that doesn't mean he was above criticism on Saturday.

honestly unlike most fans.. I am not a fan of gerrard.. due to his inconsistency and don't think he is vocal enuff as a captain..

however.. his below par performance is still better than lucas n allen..and he has admitted that he need abit of time to adapt to the defensive role..

Been wanting to see Gerrard play a deeper role from the start of the season despite numerous suggestions from fans and pundits that he should take up a spot behind the forwards.  Why don't I think this will work?

Simple. We play a high pressing game as does a number of Premiership sides. Thus, we need players serving on our front line to be quick and mobile, not giving defenders time to dally on the ball. Just as how the big man - small man combination has been phased out, supporting strikers that do not have pace are a dying breed - think Bergkamp, Sheringham or Litmanen. Thus it makes sense that Stevie drop further back in the same fashion Ruud Gullit did. He should reinvent himself to be a Xabi Alonso, interchanging with Lucas and allow Hendo to take up his former role. This is if we do field Gerrard.

You have the point, I also had the same view about Gerrard sub-par performance.
I don't say Gerrard had a good game. 

Lack of fast closing down, mobility and miss-passes were valid criticism.

Just prior before the match, if you are the manager, you need to draft starting XI, if put Henderson and Lucas in the middle, means Gerrard on the bench, who to slot in?
Sturridge (just return from injury, don't think so), it just means drop Gerrard and put Aspas or Alberto?

The point I highlighted is that prior before the match start, we do not know Gerrard will deliver a sub-par performance or not.
Just like below review mentioned. 

I'm assuming you are referring to the current Gerrard and not the one man task force of old? I've watched Stevie G grow as a player and mature into a captain from when he was a 17 year old looking to break through into the first team. He has been consistent over the years and has single handedly brought the club back from the brink of defeat. Currently however, he is a pale shadow of his former self which is to be expected. Still, he has a massive influence over the other players at the club. Suarez himself said that Stevie played a big part in him staying and younger lads always talk about what an honour it is to train beside him. He still has a role to play at the club albeit more so off the pitch.

He isn't a vocal lad, this I agree but he's not that sort of captain. He leads by example. If he were a civil war officer, he'd be leading the Calvary from the front. Look back to Istanbul and see how he rallied the players and crowd after he scored our first goal. Jamie Carragher was the perfect foil for him. The soul to LFC's heart. The lad who never stopped barking instructions. The Roberto Ayala of English football. Without Carra, Anfield is a quieter place.

Fernando Torres was club captain as a teenager but he's usually as quiet as a mouse in the pitch. However, he was Atletico's best player. Some lead by example and the rest follow. Some bark instructions for others to follow like Bryan Robson.

But you just said the criticism for Gerrard is not justified yet you outlined some criticisms? I personally thought he should have started the game as there was no other alternatives and i think he did well for most part of the game. But he was also sloppy at times and were involved in at least 2 of the goals we conceded.

why johnson stil able to be in the starting line-up was beyond me. i think the half fit kelly should be better than him.

so whats up with the transfer news now?

It still a misery for me. Also, gerrard. No matter how poor he is, he will be automatic starter..no one has ball to drop him and some even afraid to criticize him..imagine if allen play poor like gerrard yesterday..