- Anfield Index

This article is a follow up post to our first Striker Comparison: "Strikers: Value for Money? (Suarez, Bent & Torres)" and will be updated every two weeks (weekly if possible) with the latest stats on the five expensive strikers bought in the January transfer window. So we've updated the stats after a two week break (was away on vacation) and there are some changes as both Edin Dzeko and Fernando Torres opened their accounts with their first Premiership goals for their respective clubs …

  We could sit here all day, and debate what areas of our current squad needs strengthening. We could also discuss potential targets, and how realistic a chance of a certain team accepting a bid, and a certain player joining.   In fact, I have read many a debate on the the forums here (Anfield Index Forum), I've had many a discussion over a beer, and hear various shouts on the terraces at match days. In these discussions, I think …

The first part of this two part series concentrated on defending and some shooting stats. In this second instalment we're going to be concentrating on the creative aspects of Glen Johson and Martin Kelly's play. We'll be covering passing, chances created, crossing and successful dribbles …

Liverpool's defense has suffered some serious injury blows in the last few days. Daniel Agger has been ruled out for the rest of the season whilst both Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly will miss the majority of it as they're facing another three to four weeks out. We thought it was a good time to compare our fullbacks but this time with a twist. So in this two part series we're going to compare Glen Johnson with Martin Kelly and... Glen Johnson. Yes, you read that right. We'll be comparing Glen Johnson the left back to see how he's performed in this position since Kenny Dalglish arrived at the club against his performances at right back. Martin Kelly's introductory season in the Premier League which was bolstered by Kenny's arrival …

The third, and final, instalment of our nostalgic look at the midfield trio of the 2008/2009 season will concentrate on their performance in the attacking third of the pitch. We'd expect Xabi Alonso to be ahead in the race for most creative central midfielder out of the three. Xabi's passing, whether it be a simple pass or a long ball, was always of the highest quality. We'll look at how much of his passing helped in creating chances for Liverpool FC in the season 2008/2009 and how his midfield partners did in comparison …

In this instalment we're going to discuss tackling, possession duels, interceptions, blocks and fouls conceded or won. As you know this is going to fit right into Javier Mascherano's. You'd not expect this one to be close at all and expect Mascherano to be far and away the better tackler out of the three …

"We've got the best midfield in the world!" is what reverberated in Anfield and mainly on the Kop in the heights of Rafael Benitez's reign at Anfield. The song mentioned Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko, Gerrard and Mascheranoooooooooo! We loved that song, we loved that midfield quartet. Since then we've undergone a total transformation in midfield, no longer does it have the passing range of Alonso or the terrier like tackling of Mascherano or Sissoko …

Since Alonso's big money departure to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, we have never quite come to terms with his loss. Many actually believe this has caused our decline over the last few seasons …

Last updated: 5th April 2011 Another update to this article for you all as it's received such good feedback. A week makes a massive difference in football and as you can see, from the stats below. Darren Bent has been the main beneficiary thanks to his two goals, against the bitter blues of Merseyside, this weekend. He further improved his stats because the two goals were his only shots in the game therefore improving his accuracy as well as minutes per goal ratio …

I think it’s fair to say that Raul Meireles is the only positive that can be taken from Roy Hodgson’s disastrous tenure as Liverpool manager.  It’s taken Raul Meireles half a season and a manager who immediately recognised his best position to get him firing on all cylinders, but did we really need him?  Should he have been the priority over reinforcing the front line and providing competition to Torres? Hodgson shipped out Alberto Aquilani for a deal that if made …