Premier League SOS: Using Gerrard wisely Liverpool’s priority

Gravely wounded after missing out on the Premier League title by a whisker last season, Liverpool have struggled in all areas of the pitch in 2014/15, meaning emergency surgery must be undertaken to prevent further bleeding.

The problems Brendan Rodgers faces this season are mounting. His shaky defence are still haemorrhaging goals, his midfield lack cohesion and creativity and his strikers cannot put away the limited amount of chances which come their way.

The net result; Liverpool haven’t a prayer at catching Chelsea in the title race, Champions League Armageddon looms, and they’re already facing a massive scrap to retain top-four status – at odds of 19/10 going into November’s international break.

Here are three things Rodgers must address in the coming months to help rescue this torrid season.

Get more out of Steven Gerrard with less minutes

Until his well-publisiced omission from Liverpool’s starting line up at Real Madrid, Gerrard had played every minute of his club’s Premier League and Champions League assignments so far this season.

At 34, and with a plethora of midfield options available to him, this is a naive strategy by Rodgers, who must learn to conserve his captain’s energies from time-to-time.

Given the dire lack of goals in the team so far, bringing Gerrard on in a more advanced role in some games is an option which also needs exploring.

Bring back Tiago Ilori from his loan spell

Tiago Ilori is displaying all the defensive acumen Liverpool need right now, only for Bordeaux instead.

The London-born Portuguese centre-back is yet to make a senior Reds appearance since his £8m move form Sporting CP in 2013, but the 21-year-old has quickly become a fixture in Ligue 1.

Everyone of the current first-choice options at Liverpool of Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure have mistakes in them and Ilori can sure things up.

Wrap Daniel Sturridge in bubble wrap between games

Last seen in Liverpool red when summertime was still official, the England striker is finally due for a return after his Three Lions teammates take on Slovenia.

Without Sturridge, provider of 21 Premier League goals last season, the Reds are about as sharp as a Farley’s Rusk up front and they simply must keep him fit from now on.

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