Sometimes when a player like Daniel Sturridge gets injured, the problem isn’t filling in for him with someone who can produce at the same level. Liverpool need a forward for Luis Suarez to play off of, but not necessarily someone who is going to score a goal almost every match. Despite his disappointing start to life in the Premier League, Iago Aspas can be this solution.
The decision made by Brendan Rodgers in the loss to Hull weren’t the first time he completely botched up a gameplan and found it difficult to climb out of the problem he created. Philippe Coutinho, when fit, should be in the lineup ahead of Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling. Leaving Luis Suarez alone against three centre backs or defenders at all times is simply a waste. At home, against Norwich, and for the rest of this season while Sturridge is out, such an approach cannot repeat itself.
But what about Aspas, someone who has struggled with an injury recently and hasn’t been quite fit to play against Hull? He has only six Premier League matches under his belt with one assist, not looking very impressive no matter where he played. He had a decent connection with Suarez in the preseason, so that alone might be a good enough reason to bring back the two-forward scheme, just so Suarez doesn’t feel too lonely up front and has someone to try defense splitting 1-2’s with.
Aspas hasn’t really adapted to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, but he hasn’t been really given a chance in his natural position of a striker who players with another forward next to him. Attacking midfielder, Left Winger. Rodgers doesn’t mind experimenting, but at some point he has to realize that playing someone out of his position doesn’t work.
Giving Martin Skrtel more minutes in the starting lineup is another issue Liverpool must address. Yes, bad luck had something to do with his 1.5 own goals against Hull City, but the Slovak centre back has proven time after time that good form doesn’t sustain for too long with him. Kolo Toure is injured, and it’s time for Liverpool to start playing with the best two central defenders they have – Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Agger, who should be the pair Rodgers uses every match, hopefully for more than just this season.