Time for Liverpool to go with two strikers

Liverpool FC needs to go with two strikers.  Now.  Brendan Rodgers proved last season he was more than capable of molding and forming his squads to fit the needs to defeat the opponent on the day.  While he has tried this again this season, to varying forms of success, he has seemed more stubborn in sticking with the lone striker at the top.  Some of the blame can be shouldered by an under-performing Mario Balotelli, but not as much as many fans want to heap upon him.

The Italian enigma has not proven to be the goal scorer he once was with City or even with Milan, but he still has talent in him.  Too many fans see his poor form as the only or at least the main reason for Liverpool's poor start to the Premier League season.  False.  Raheem Sterling has been less than stellar.  While he is still extremely talented and deserving of the first team minutes, he has been less than top notch on the ball in many moments during key games.  He has dribbled into many defenders and many first touches prior to this last international break went too far off foot or even off knees.

Many of the new signees have not lived up to expectations either.  Blame is planted squarely on Balotelli because he is an easy target, but Rickie Lambert has done nothing to show he should be a lone striker.  He was given an opportunity against West Brom and did little to inspire any hope he would do any better than Balotelli.  The argument that he was cheaper than Balo is weak at best, as well.

Fabio Borini has done even less to figure into a starting role as a lone striker.  While many still want to believe he has the talent to be a quality player, he has not shown the quality on the pitch yet in terms of being a featured player.  So with so few options to replace Balotelli, barring a move in January, what are Liverpool left to do?

They cannot continue to slog along at the current pace, despite the fact they have managed to jump up to fifth place in the leage after a disheartening win over QPR.  Daniel Sturridge is still two weeks away from a return, if the Reds are lucky.  Chances are they won't be.  So again, what are the options.  I feel we've seen enough of the lone striker formation to know it's not really going to work with anyone alone up top right now.  Not with Raheem, Mario, Borini or Lambert.

Some will argue that the two striker formation was used and did not work as well, but I don't think one game where nobody was in good form is a good example.  BR can try whatever midfield formation he sees fit, but I think the team currently needs two up top.  I think Mario needs to keep starting the league games.  He can be paired with any of the attacking options.  You can have Borini or Lambert play evenly up top with him or use Sterling in a purely advanced role with the option to use the entire field as well.  I think this will give more space to Balotelli, who currently is trying too hard to take on the several defenders who surround him.

I think LFC will be better off once they regain more health throughout the team as they will be given the options everyone thought they would have at the beginning of the year.  Jon Flanagan's return means you can use a nice rotation at the wingback position that would not necessarily demand using Manquillo and Moreno at the same time to the potential defensive detriment of the club.  Allen gives the team more options in the midfield.  Players just need to start stepping up.  While I understand the modern footballer needs to be comfortable to be at his best, there simply are not enough central midfield spots for everyone to play and be in their preferred spot.

Sterling and Coutinho have the pace and skill where they need to be utilized as the wings of the midfield.  My preferred starting lineup would be Balotelli and Borini starting up top.  If Rodgers wants to employ the diamond, then Henderson or Coutinho can play the tip, Sterling and Henderson/Coutinho would be the wings and Steven Gerrard would be the holding midfielder in front of the back four.  I could do a whole different blog about the defense, so I'll leave those choices to Rodgers and the readers.

Yet the bigger question, regardless of who we contend should be up top, is why there is such a rush to judgement over everything regarding football.  Yes, you need good starts to seasons so more work is not needed later in the year.  However, the grass is not always greener.  Some already say Balotelli should be dealt.  Really?  Even if Liverpool bring in one striker during the January period, why not keep the depth?  Sturridge seems injury prone now and Borini/Lambert aren't any more reliable yet.  Too many people are quick to jump the gun.  As an American supporter, I have more examples than I care to name where teams and/or Universities I support thought they were better off dropping a player or coach only to be proven completely wrong.  Give things time to grow.  After all, even in the footballing world, the juggernaut of Manchester United has proven that knee-jerk reactions don't always yield immediate results.