---
title: "Trouble on Merseyside?"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/first-team/trouble-on-merseyside/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Fraray"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-09-13T10:07:04Z"
modified: "2015-09-13T10:15:02Z"
---

# Trouble on Merseyside?

After this weekend’s performance at Old Trafford, a lot of fans are calling time on Brendan Rodgers’ job at Liverpool. Many questionable decisions by the Northern Irishman over the past few months from signings, to selections. The Liverpool boss has come under great scrutiny and he must be worrying for his job now.

The game at Old Trafford on Saturday was a very important game for Liverpool after being low on confidence following their 3-0 defeat by West Ham at Anfield. They were without their captain Jordan Henderson through injury along with Adam Lallana, and they also had one of their star players of recent weeks out through suspension in the shape of Philippe Coutinho, after he was sent off during their previous game.

![Clive Mason/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readliverpoolfc.com/readliverpoolfc/2015/09/4859053661.jpg)

After the XIs were announced, it suggested that they would line up with the three midfielders being Lucas, Milner and Can, with one sitting as a holding midfielder. This would leave Firmino to play behind Benteke and Ings who’d pair up as the two strikers. However, 10 minutes into the game we came to realise that Can was playing behind Benteke as a central attacking midfielder. But then you look at Ings’ positioning, where is he playing? It seemed that he was playing as a left midfielder and when Liverpool were on the back foot he was playing at a left-wing-back. It was boggling me all game why Ings wasn’t playing alongside Benteke to provide him the support he seems to have lacked since the start of the season.

Now let me get this straight: Emre Can is a very good young player and has played well for Liverpool since arriving in Merseyside, but he did not have a good day at the office on Saturday. Can has come out and said he does want to play in more an attacking role, he got his chance today and played the full game although I do not know how. There were a number of times where he lost the ball and just didn’t know how to hold the ball up and feed the striker like someone in an attacking midfield role should. He did make a few powerful runs as he does week-to-week, but he is not meant to play in that position and he could have easily been taken off for a more attacking player.

Firmino, I thought, had a good game. He defended well and attacked well, creating a couple of chances and maybe should have been on the score sheet. But again he wasn’t played in a central attacking role which he is used to and plays so well in. He was again pushed out wide where he couldn’t really show his full potential.

![Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readliverpoolfc.com/readliverpoolfc/2015/09/487886638.jpg)

Looking at the results and changes he made it really has made me question Brendan Rodgers’ decisions; the Can positioning really made me wonder and angered me as to why he would risk this in a game, never mind against one of, if not the biggest rivals. The only consolation we can take from the game was the brilliance of the Benteke goal, that was the only thing throughout the game that put a smile on my face. The next few months should be interesting, but first we must focus on the next game.