As a squad Liverpool are covered in most positions. If Skrtel can’t play, in comes Agger. If Riera’s sidelined, up steps MC Babel. Kuyt injured playing internationally, we welcome the under-rated Benayoun. 3 left backs fighting for their place. But what happens to the Rafalution without our #9?
As we saw earlier in the season, despite how well we did considering, Liverpool looked limp, flacid, like a wet fish, without our goldern boy leading the line. We made many chances, we put enough of them away in most games (excluding the likes of Stoke et al). But nobody stepped up to be considered the natural understudy, never mind compete for the crown. To make Torres worry for his place.
What if on the eve of the first game of the next season (hopefully the Community Shield) Torres DID trip up walking his dog? Such injuries are not uncommon. Former Liverpool reserve ‘Keeper Michael Stensgaard’s Anfield career was brought to an untimely end after he managed to dislocate his shoulder while erecting an ironing board. Or in a, admittedly more likely, conventional injury. Im sure he’s sick of the sight of the Liverpool physio team this season. Where would we look?
There has been talk, rumours, recently of Liverpool targetting Samuel Eto’o. If there was any truth to us wanting to sign Eto’o (which is unlikely as neither he nor Torres will accept bench warming, and two dont go into the one striker position we have up for grabs) he has seemingly priced his way out of a move. Another perenial rumour, or misplaced hope, is David Villa. Yes Villa and Torres are believed to be good friends. Yes they play together for Spain. But no they do not play together well. The only game of the Euro’s that Torres played remotely like his Liverpool form was, not suprisingly, a game where he was upfront alone, in the Final. These types of players, the topclass big name strikers, will not be moving to Anfield soon, nor would it be a good idea for them too. So if Liverpool were to lose Torres for a long period next season, we would not be able to turn to a topclass new signing to take his place as the focus of our attacks.
Who do we have now? David N’Gog, has played well in his most recent of matches for Liverpool, even showing us a few tricks in the Sunderland match, but he has not shown, as of yet, a natural goalscoring ability. 2 goals from 28 career league appearances is not good enough for him to deserve to be an automatic replacement. Despite his promise, in the event of a life without Torres, would you bet on him leading the line on our way to glory? Maybe its just his youth, nerves, lack of experiance or something else, but his first touch doesnt seem good enough, for now.
Who else? Kuyt has played well when returned to the central strikers position this season, in the absense of Torres, but he also didnt light up the goalscoring charts. With the formation we are playing at the moment Kuyt doesnt really fit as the strikers, he has neither the speed or the finishing for the job. He has the role of right winger (along with Benayoun) and he is doing well enough there to leave him to it.
Babel? He has, in my opinion, shown alot more determination playing up front (in the position he coverts) than he has playing on the left. But 5 minutes here and there in the position is not enough to book him his place in the frontline. He is incredibley inconsistant. Sometimes saviour, sometimes seemingly playing for the opposition. He has not shown that he is a capable understudy for a title challenging side. He still has to prove he can live up to the promise he showed at the 2007 U-21 European Championship.
Where would we look if Torres wasnt there? What would we do? Who would step up? Would anybody?
Lets hope we never find out…
