18Feb

Lack of creativity a major problem at Anfield

by Alex Hess

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For a side who have made – and squandered – the number of opportunities they have this season, blaming Liverpool’s relative woes on a dearth of creativity may at first appear misplaced. However, there’s a legitimate argument to be made that the current squad is lacking in artistry. Or perhaps not artistry per se, but more the brand of creativity that will unlock the most stubborn defences; that can loosen the tightest of games.

With the exception of the defensive skirmish that resulted in Suarez’s goal, the defeat at Old Trafford last weekend came and went without the team creating a single clear-cut chance, while the draw with Spurs at Anfield told a similar tale. Despite the home side enjoying a healthy portion of possession, the King-Dawson barricade was never encroached, and never seemed in danger of being.

Neither of these examples are particularly disconcerting ones: the opposition, on both occasions, were among the finest in the country. For Liverpool to regain parity with such sides, though, the ability to trouble their defences is fundamental.

For all the attack-minded players competing for midfield places, Steven Gerrard is perhaps the lone member who irrefutably possesses the vision, nous and technique to pose a problem to the division’s meanest back lines. Having only recently become available for selection (and indeed currently being deployed in a slightly deeper role than he is used to) the onus has been relocated to those closer to the squad’s fringes – principally Adam, Henderson, Downing and Bellamy – to provide for the centre forwards. Of these, only the latter can be counted as an unqualified success. Henderson has shown sufficient energy and promise, but too little attacking end product, while Adam’s form, though not his self-belief, has fluctuated wildly. Stewart Downing, meanwhile, has come up painfully short in terms of both output and character; in this sense Bellamy has been his complete antithesis.

Form aside, though, none of these players – Gerrard included – are truly visionary; he and Bellamy are the side’s most effective creators more due to dynamism rather than imagination. No member of the current squad could lay claim to being a true craftsman of the game. By this, I don’t necessarily mean ‘world-class playmaker’, but simply someone who appreciates the value of subtlety. It’s not just the likes of Modric and Silva that don’t have an equivalent an Anfield, but also players such as Cabaye and Cleverley. The art of prompting play, as opposed to commanding it, is something that is only really practiced an Anfield by Lucas, who’s primary responsibility lies in stopping attacks, not starting them. There’s plenty of raking 40-yard passes in Liveprool’s midfield, but too few perfectly-weighted 10-yard ones.

Ironically, the one Liverpool player who is inclined to such finesse is currently playing in the red and black of AC Milan. If I were to be cynical, I’d say that the club’s appreciation of true creativity was lost when Aquilani was replaced with Charlie Adam. To be slightly more optimistic, it’s clear to me that the management need to address this shortcoming in their squad in the coming summer – perhaps abandoning their unhealthily Brit-centric trandsfer policy to do so.

Posted by Liverpool fan Alex Hess

Follow Alex on Twitter @A_Hess

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