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29th November 2014
12:16pm GMT

I think Liverpool have to be quite pleased with their midweek 2-2 draw with Ludogorets in the Champions League considering their form going into the game.
If it was last season it would have been considered a poor result but with Brendan Rodgers under increased pressure, and coming off the back of four straight defeats, I think the club and players can be quite happy to go away from home to a hostile environment and come away with a draw.
I liked that Brendan made some big calls with the team dropping Lovren, moving Stevie Gerrard to a more advanced area and playing Rickie Lambert up front. He’s got two-in-two now and he’s showing Mario Balotelli how it’s done .
It looked like there was more character in the team, especially conceding the early goal the way they did, it almost rubbed more salt in the wounds.
Gerrard’s move further up the pitch should benefit the whole team. He’s more of a quarterback than a holding midfielder. He’s not a player to break up attacks and protect a back four. That’s not what he does.
Stevie playing a holding role wasn’t working because the movement wasn’t great and the full backs are growing into the Rodgers style of play.
He has more to offer closer to the opposition goal. He can see a pass, he can shoot from 25-30 yards and he is great from set plays.
So, I think there is a place for him in the team but he needs a rest in certain games but there is no need to drop him yet.
A worry for me is Simon Mignolet, and I think because he has no competition for his place it’s affected him and the team.
You need someone to compete for your place and Rodgers has been vocal in trying to get Mignolet to improve his performance.
The frailties were there last season but now, with with Lucas as the defensive midfielder, that should help the Belgian because at times he does get exposed.
His decision making isn’t great and coming for crosses and his passing lets him down at times.
If you go out and don’t have full confidence in a goalkeeper then it can affect the team. If you think the goalie is under pressure you worry whether he’s going to come or what he’s going to do at corners or free kicks and when a ‘keeper is in good confidence you do feel more secure.
Mignolet’s lack of confidence is affecting the team but then that comes back to not having a No 2 to challenge and be able to bring someone else to take his place and that might be addressed in January.
Liverpool are facing Stoke but this isn’t the old Stoke ‘kick-em-up-in-the-air’ side. Bojan has brought a bit of glamour to the side and that’s not something I thought I’d ever say about Stoke! It is a big game for Liverpool and a big game for Stoke and they haven’t been great in the last few weeks either and last week’s loss to Burnley will have hurt Mark Hughes
Liverpool could feel a backlash and there is a lot of players that could cause Liverpool a few problems like Peter Crouch. The ball will have to be fought for and Liverpool have to learn a big lesson from last year; be clinical in front of goal and hopefully Lambert can go three-in-three.
Fourth is the aim and Liverpool are only five away from that even if they are just four away from relegation. They have to put points on the board and they need results quickly to ease the pressure.Explore more on these topics: