Brendan Rodgers' fresh faces show Liverpool need to close quality gap

Nuri Sahin's impending arrival is key for a manager whose squad lack talent – as seen in Liverpool's narrow win at Hearts

Andy Hunter
Andy Hunter at Tynecastle

It was a risk worth taking and a point worth making. Brendan Rodgers was accused of an affront to Scottish football and the Europa League with his team selection against Heart of Midlothian but it also showed his employers at Liverpool the stretch on his resources to qualify for European football's poor relation, never mind the Champions League.

Tom Werner was present at Tynecastle to witness Rodgers' team secure a fortunate but valuable away win and the manager must hope the arrival of the Liverpool chairman on British soil signifies the start of a productive spell in the transfer market. Better late than never. The early indications suggest this is the case, with Nuri Sahin on the brink of a season-long loan move to Anfield from Real Madrid despite Arsenal's prolonged pursuit of the Turkey international. Sahin may undergo a medical on Merseyside as Rodgers desperately seeks to improve the technical ability of the Liverpool midfield.

For the first leg of the Europa League play-off Rodgers' favoured a three-man central midfield featuring players who could be elsewhere when the transfer window closes at the end of the month, or would be if the manager could afford to reduce the squad further and those players were prepared to leave. Jonjo Shelvey was offered to Swansea City in Liverpool's first offer for Joe Allen, Bolton Wanderers want Jay Spearing and Liverpool are open to £5m bids for Charlie Adam. Rodgers had hoped to start with Andy Carroll in attack for the first time this season but the centre-forward, another who Rodgers had hoped to sell to swell his transfer budget, was unavailable after suffering a hamstring problem on the eve of the game.

As a former Rangers midfielder, Adam received a predictably hostile reception from the Hearts supporters every time he touched the ball. There must have been occasions when Rodgers was tempted to join in. His demand for possession football and intelligent passing, evident in spells at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday prior to the second-half collapse, was again lost on many of those charged with the responsibility.

Adam was by no means the worst offender. Shelvey sprayed some dreadful, long-range passes out of play, dangerously across his own defence or straight to a Hearts player when a shorter and simpler option was available. Spearing was also careless on occasion in front of the Liverpool defence, Jordan Henderson remained on the periphery and the instruction to play out of defence even under pressure caused similar problems to those experienced at The Hawthorns.

As Rodgers has said repeatedly, the development of a team structure and style will take time. He is also aware that time is a commodity managers rarely receive, particularly in a demanding environment such as Liverpool, but at least there was no added burden in the Europa League thanks to Andy Webster's own goal.

The work-rate could not be faulted and there was satisfaction on offer to Rodgers in the contributions of Raheem Sterling and Jack Robinson on the left. Fabio Borini's link-up play, though not his finishing, with the Italian striker hitting the post when sent clean through by Sterling, also impressed in the central role vacated by Carroll.

Liverpool need young players to emerge more than ever this season as senior players leave to reduce the wage bill. The performance from Sterling, who gained in confidence and composure as his full debut wore on, provided hope in that regard.

Given the problems in Scottish football and the paucity of the resources available to the Hearts manager, John McGlynn, it may sound rich of Rodgers to publicly wish for further signings or to question Liverpool's spending after a £120m outlay in 2011. As the banner in the Liverpool end lamented: "Against Mod£rn Football". But this is a manager and a club under pressure to return to the Champions League and aiming to change its recent direction, style and personnel for £20m, plus monies raised from player sales. It is some ask.

Rodgers can only hope for rapid development on and off the pitch in the coming days. On Sunday he faces Manchester City in his first Premier League game at Anfield as the Liverpool manager and on the back of the 3-0 defeat at Albion. Hence the decision to leave Luis Suárez, Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson behind and to start with a team containing four players likely to start on Sunday: Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Kelly and Borini.

Whether the impending arrival of Sahin prompts a flurry of signings is likely to depend on off-loading others but there has been an absence of suitable offers for Carroll, Adam and Daniel Agger. It was striking that, when speaking of his confidence that Agger will stay despite Manchester City's advances, Rodgers should say: "Like every player in the group, if someone comes in with a big offer then that might be out of my hands in relation to the club and where it is at with finances."

It was only a few months ago that Werner proclaimed Liverpool had the resources to compete with any club in the world. There is a clear need to prove it in the final week of the window.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer