RISING FROM THE ASHES : 10 ways to save Liverpool's season

I actually think Liverpool can still put in a title challenge, but only if certain changes are made and previous mistakes are not repeated.

What follows is merely my opinion. Actually, that's not completely true - I am sure there are tens of thousands of Liverpool fans who think the same way as me. My views on this issue are not unique; it's just common sense really.

1. Play 'aces in their places'
No more square pegs in round holes: That means no more left backs playing in central midfield and no more attacking midfielders playing in defensive-midfield roles (i.e. Lucas). Play the best available team for every game and use the players in their best/most effective positions.

2. Move Gerrard to central-midfield whilst Aquilani settles in.
Whilst Alberto Aquilani is settling-into the side and finding his feet, Gerrard should be moved into central-midfield to play alongside Javier Mascherano. I've explained why Gerrard should move to CM in previous articles so no need to repeat myself here.

Given Aquilani's injury history, plunging him into the hustle and bustle of midfield - a position where injuries are prevalent - may not be the best idea in the short-term. Let him play further ahead for a few games and protect him a little.

And we shouldn't forget that this is the Premiership, home of hackers and 'physical' football. I have no doubt there will be hatchet-men on certain teams just waiting to have a go at Aquilani, knowing that if he gets injured again, Liverpool will be plunged into further problems.

Another thing to take into consideration is Gerrard and Mascherano are used to each other; Aquilani/Mascherano is an untested partnership. Given the team's current predicament, perhaps it is best to play fmailair partnerships in a bid to halt the current slide.

Aquilani is renowned for his passing ability and ling-range shooting prowess - playing slightly ahead of Gerrard could allow him to utilise his skills in an area of the pitch that is arguably less pressurises than central midfield.

What we (surely) don't want to see is Aquilani being forced into a defensive tackling game right at the start of his Liverpool career, especially upon a return from a long-term injury.

So - I see the best team/formation for Liverpool over the next few weeks as:

--------------------------------- Reina

Johnson --------------- Carra ------ Skrtel/Agger ------------ Aurelio

---------------------------- Mascherano

----------------------------------------------- Gerrard

Kuyt -------------- ----------- Aquilani ------------------- Benayoun

-------------------------------- Torres

And once Aquilani has settled-in, Liverpool's starting formation line-up for most games should - injuries permitting - be:

--------------------------------- Reina

Johnson --------------- Carra ------ Skrtel/Agger ------------ Aurelio

---------------------------- Mascherano

----------------------------------------------- Aquilani

Kuyt ------------------------- Gerrard ------------------- Benayoun

-------------------------------- Torres

This leads on to the next point:

3. Allow Gerrard and Aquilani to alternate.
Once Aquilani is settled in the Premiership, he would move back into midfield, but in the short term, there's nothing stopping Gerrard and Aquilani alternating positions, is there? This would add a level of unpredictability to Liverpool's currently predictable pattern of play.

4. Use Lucas...differently.
Lucas is not a defensive/holding midfielder, and playing him as one is a waste of his talents. Ideally, he should be playing further up the field where he can creatively influence play.

With Aquilani and Gerrard in the team, this will be a little more difficult. As promising as Lucas is, I just don't see room for him as a starter in the team if Aquilani stays fit. if it was down to me, I would do the following:

Against the best defences:

i) Aquilani + Gerrard.
ii) If Aquilani doesn't start - Gerrard in CM. Benayoun behind Torres.
iii) WHAT BENITEZ WOULD DO - Aquilani/Lucas in CM. Gerrard behind Torres. Benyoun/Riera on the left.

Against weaker defences:

i) Aquilani + Gerrard.
ii) If Aquilani is rested/doesn't start - Gerrard in CM. Benayoun behind Torres.
iii) WHAT BENITEZ WOULD DO - Lucas in CM. Gerrard behind Torres. Benayoun on the left.

Liverpool have to always start their available best TEAM, which for me is:

--------------------------------- Reina

Johnson --------------- Carra ------ Agger ------------ Aurelio

---------------------------- Mascherano

----------------------------------------------- Aquilani

Kuyt -------------- ----------- Gerrard ------------------- Benayoun

-------------------------------- Torres

Having said that, I would not mind seeing the following team either:

--------------------------------- Reina

Johnson --------------- Carra ------ Agger ------------ Aurelio

---------------------------- Gerrard

----------------------------------------------- Aquilani

Kuyt -------------- ----------- Benayoun ------------------- Riera

-------------------------------- Torres

Lucas has to become a squad player.

5. Stick with a settled formation.
No more 343 formations! Stick to formations the team is comfortable with, i.e. 4231 or 442. Rightly or wrongly, those are two formations played most under Benitez. The team is used to them and functions better within those formations. So stop changing them! If injuries occurr, we have the players to keep those formations going.

6. Stick with a settled defence.
Liverpool's defensive problems are well documented this season, but nothing is going to improve unless there is stability at the heart of defence. Choose a first choice partnership and stick with it. If that's going to be Carra - Agger then let them play together every game and build up a rapport/understanding. Don't change it unless there is a serious drop of form/someone needs to be rested.

The same principle applies to the full-backs: Choose a left back and stick with it! Give the chosen defensive unit time to gel and grow together without constant changes. Of course, form dictates selection, but showing confidence in the defence will, in my view, lead to increasingly confident performances.

7. Stop making substitutions too late
If something isn't working, adapt earlier. Don't wait until the 70th/80th minute to try and change things. Also, stop making defensive/illogical substitutions. Example: Gerrard went off against Lyon; Benitez brought on Aurelio. Why not bring on Riera or Babel? Why not make a positive change instead of a defensive one? It was a home game - what did Liverpool have to fear?! Another example: benyoun being take off against Lyon with 5 minutes to go. WHY? Completely unnecessary.

8. Use Ryan Babel on the right
Whenever Babel plays, he should play on the right wing. How many times do we have to endure Babel on the left wing before Benitez realises it is not his position?! Babel has played well on the right on the rare occasions he's played there, so play to his STRENGTHS not his WEAKNESSES.

Dirk Kut should not be undroppable; if he is having a bad game, replace him with Babel.

9. Start displaying a winning mentality
Players and the manager should stop talking about 'lack of confidence' in the press. This is not a positive thing for anyone and is not conducive to a winning mentality. Examples:

Benitez after Sunderland:

"I think at times we lacked shape and the confidence of the players in these new positions wasn’t great".

Fabio Aurelio:

"Football is mostly confidence. If the team is winning you have lots and players try different things and you know that things will happen in your favour. At the moment, that's not happening."

As Bill Shankly said:

"A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are".

That doesn't mean going around and boasting that you're the best - it means cultivating a steely determination and unshakeable self-belief, both individually and collectively. Are Liverpool players displaying this on and off the pitch at the moment? I would argue no.

10. No more criticising players in public
This is self-explanatory. Keep criticism behind closed doors and present a united front.

If Liverpool beat United on Sunday it could be the launch pad for a positive run that could take the club close to the title again. I'll admit, it seems unlikely, but as I argued earlier in the week, it has been done before. And going on the club's previous history, the title is definitely still a possibility.

EXAMPLE:

Current points total: 15
Current number of games won: 5
No of games won per season under Benitez:

04-05: 17
05-06: 25
06-07: 20
07-08: 21
08-09: 25

Average: 22

Games left to play: 29
Winning PL points totals over the last 10 years:

00-01: 80
01-02: 87
02-03: 83
03-04: 90
04-05: 92
05-06: 91
06-07: 89
07-08: 87
08-09: 90

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR REMAINING 29 GAMES
* Win 20/draw 6/lose 3 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 81
* Win 20/draw 8/lose 1 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 83
* Win 20/draw 9 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 84
* Win 22/draw 5/lose 2 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 86
* Win 22/draw 7 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 88
* Win 23/draw 6 - FINAL POINTS TOTAL: 90

Liverpool finished on 86 points last season, thus none of the above eventualities are beyond the realm of possibility. We should see the season as a whole: It's mostly the case that top teams lose games at different points in the season. Perhaps Liverpool have just lost all their games in one block instead of having the losses spread out over 9 months...?
if the simple things are done correctly and mistakes are no longer made, I can see Liverpool going on a long, positive run.

If the same mistakes continue to be made, this season will be over sooner rather than later.