1. Don't Let Him Ruin A Great Pre-season
So far in pre-season, Liverpool have played six games and won the lot. They've scored seventeen goals and conceded just the one - against Valarenga of Norway who are in the middle of their domestic season and therefore much further ahead of Liverpool in terms of match fitness and sharpness. They've also played some great football and the players seem to have taken Brendan's philosophy to the next level. Up until Christmas last year there were some teething problems. Then came the switch from a "death by football" style to a very effective counter attacking style which saw Liverpool attain top four level form after the Christmas period. In pre-season so far we've seen the Reds assert themselves with possession and build attacks slowly by stretching opponents one way and the other. If a move breaks down then the players rally to get the ball back before the opponents complete a few passes and get themselves to safety. If the opposition does attain good possession of the ball then the midfield drops and the forwards take control of the ball chasing aspect of Brendan's ideology. Hard work is a key characteristic that Rodgers looks for in a player and this is reflected in his signings - especially Aspas who has worked tirelessly upfront without the ball. Now, what we've also seen is Liverpool mixing their two 2012/13 styles together during the same game. If the opposition gains good possession and moulds a decent attack from it, Liverpool have switched to counter attacking mode and blitzed their opposition with the pace of Ibe, Sterling, Assaidi and Aspas. Now I am a realist and I know that pre-season is all about fitness and sharpness. But I know that there are a lot of excited Liverpool fans out there who have made their feelings known through Twitter and various fanzines and blogs. And they are right to be excited because I truly believe Rodgers is a Liverpool manager now, not the ex-manager of Swansea but a proper Liverpool manager who can talk the talk and walk the walk. His signings are encouraging and his handling of Suarez has been exemplary. The team is playing good football and they all look ready to burst to defend the shirt. There's also the continued excitement surrounding many of Liverpool's youngest prospects. Sterling and Ibe have been outstanding during pre-season and Allen has flourished in the more advanced role that Rodgers has been telling us about all this time. Roll on Stoke City. Under that Anfield sun.
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