Wingers could put Reds through wringer

24 August 2010 11:25
TEAMtalk's Jon Holmes believes Roy Hodgson must solve Liverpool's left-back conundrum quickly, or risk a month of misery at the Anfield helm.[LNB] The Javier Mascherano affair is undoubtedly Hodgson's most pressing dilemma at the moment, but there is more than one selection headache for the Reds boss.[LNB]In the season opener at home to Arsenal, Daniel Agger filled in competently at left-back but was never seriously tested by Emmanuel Eboue. His replacement Theo Walcott was then fielded more centrally when he came on in the second half and, in any case, the concussion that Agger suffered in the closing stages resulted in Maxi Rodriguez seeing out the match in that position.[LNB]Agger still looked dazed against Manchester City on Monday night. The Dane was given the runaround by Adam Johnson, who was on top form and particularly effective when cutting inside on his left foot.[LNB]At home to Trabzonspor last week, Fabio Aurelio - jettisoned by the Reds in the close season, only to be reinstated to the squad shortly before the new campaign began - was handed the role. The Brazilian struggled at times, but was not tested too severely by the Turks.[LNB]However, Thursday night at the 20,000-capacity Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium promises to be a different proposition for whoever is tasked to play left-back for the Reds.[LNB]In the first leg at Anfield, Trabzonspor skipper Ibrahima Yattara - a dangerous right winger, tracked by several top Italian clubs - only played for the last few minutes. But while Liverpool were being humbled by City on Monday night, the Guinea international was warming up for the Europa League play-off second leg with an impressive display in a 3-2 Super Lig win over Fenerbahce.[LNB]Yattara grabbed the hosts' second goal, lobbing the ball home after cantering into the box from the right, and he also claimed an assist for the third goal with a well-executed free-kick from a wide right position.[LNB]A European exit so early in the season would be an embarrassment for Liverpool and particularly Hodgson, so admired in UEFA circles and with his reputation enhanced by Fulham's run to the final in Hamburg in May. Yattara must be shackled by his opposing man if the Reds are to avoid defeat in Trabzon, where they lost 1-0 on their last visit 34 years ago.[LNB]Following the trip to Turkey, the Reds return to Premier League action at home to West Brom - for whom right winger Chris Brunt (like Johnson, a left footer inverted) put in a man-of-the-match display in the 1-0 win over Sunderland at The Hawthorns last weekend.[LNB]Birmingham's Seb Larsson is no slouch either, and will be relishing a run at the Reds' problem position in the St Andrew's meeting on September 12. But the stiffest test of all comes the following weekend - away to Manchester United, and a head-to-head with Antonio Valencia.[LNB]Agger is an above-average centre-back and his attitude cannot be questioned, but he is out of his depth at left-back and the Reds cannot risk another defensive disaster there in their forthcoming fixtures.[LNB]If Aurelio was deemed useful enough to be re-signed by Hodgson, he should be given the chance to make the left-back slot his own - or an alternative should be found.[LNB]The future of Emiliano Insua remains uncertain after his move to Fiorentina broke down over personal terms, while young Martin Kelly could deputise there. However, the 20-year-old is better suited to the right-back role where he played against Trabzonspor.[LNB]Hodgson remains in the market for a left-back of course, but has so far been knocked back in his pursuit of Fulham's Paul Konchesky and there also appears to have been little progress with PSV Eindhoven over a possible deal for Mexico international Carlos Salcido.[LNB]Whatever Hodgson chooses to do, time is pressing with a series of quality right wingers lining up to do damage to the Reds in forthcoming fixtures.

Source: Team_Talk