In a season where Liverpool have made giant strides forward, it may seem perverse to pinpoint a reverse as a pivotal point in their advance. Yet it was.
They return to the scene of a setback in the knowledge that it has brought them a benefit. Arsenal deservedly defeated the Merseysiders at the Emirates Stadium in November. Arsene Wenger took the points, Brendan Rodgers the message that he should not pair his prolific forwards up front against elite opponents.
Last week’s rematch illustrated that lessons were learnt.
In winning 5-1, Liverpool overwhelmed Arsenal in an attacking display that Steven Gerrard, rarely one to get carried away, branded “explosive”. Yet they did so with a solitary central striker.
While Daniel Sturridge led the line, Luis Suarez, the most prolific marksman in England, began on the right wing. He roved energetically and intelligently, but from a different starting position.
Collectively, Liverpool eviscerated Arsenal just as they exposed the flaws in the simplistic theory that selecting twin centre-forwards in attack produces more goals. Rodgers’s men are prolific but, when they face the best, they do so with the insurance of a third man in the centre of midfield. The SAS are separated.
Sturridge missed the December losses to Chelsea and Manchester City. He began on the bench when Liverpool crossed Stanley Park to visit Everton in November, emerging to score an equaliser.
Come the season’s second derby, he was the striker masquerading as a winger, starting on the left so Suarez could lead the line at Anfield. It did not dim his predatory instincts: Sturridge scored twice in a 4-0 rout.
The skill is accommodating a finisher, and getting him into positions where he can deploy his prime skills, without compromising the team in other respects. It has been especially significant in a time when Rodgers has been without his first-choice full-backs, with both Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique sidelined.
From a defensive perspective, the combination of an out-of-position striker and a reserve full-back – Aly Cissokho – on the same flank suggests a weakness opponents ought to be able to exploit. That they have not owes much to two factors: Liverpool’s blistering start has meant Everton and Arsenal were beaten before they had opportunity to manipulate either out of position; and the adaptability and endurance of Jordan Henderson.
Anfield’s resident marathon runner has operated as everything from a right wing-back to a No 10 as he has maintained his ever-present record this season. Recently, however, while he has been restored to his preferred position in the centre of midfield, his duties have differed from most of his counterparts at other clubs.
When Suarez starts on the right wing, Henderson begins on that side of the trio in the middle, ready to use his considerable lungpower to assist right-back Jon Flanagan. When Sturridge begins on the left, he swaps with Philippe Coutinho, enabling him to cover left-back Cissokho. His position is dictated by others, his role pivotal to the team.
The overall configuration of the team remains very attack-minded; the duo on the other side of the midfield are Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, men whose initial thought is to create, not track back. The defence can be stretched and Liverpool have conceded 21 goals in their last 10 away games against top-flight opposition.
Yet with Suarez and Sturridge given different briefs, Liverpool’s is a particularly potent midfield. Gerrard and Coutinho struck in Wednesday’s 3-2 win at Fulham, Sterling scored twice against Arsenal last week and Sturridge, despite shuttling between the flank and the forward line, has found the net in each of his last eight games. He has 19 goals for the season. Suarez has 23.
There is an obvious temptation to describe them as a 42-goal strike partnership. Except, of course, they are two strikers alternating as the spearhead, following a tactical rethink. They have Arsenal to thank for that and Arsenal, more than most, have suffered because of it.
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