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If there was one concern to take from the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Saturday, it was the lack of pressing and the deep defensive line which Liverpool adopted, especially in the second half. Although Liverpool struggled to establish themselves on Sunderland in the second period, utilising at times some aimless long passing, a big reason why the Reds lost control of the match was because of the team shape.

Certainly a lack of control of the ball in the second half was a main contributory factor in the Reds not pushing on from their first half display, but what was strikingly evident was how deep the Reds back line was playing at times. It was not only the backline which withdrew deeper though, the Reds midfield also began to stand off Sunderland which inevitably meant less possession and less opportunities for the Reds to attack further up the pitch.

No pressure on the ball allowed Sunderland back into the game, and when Larsson scored, Liverpool failed to grab back the initiative. Instead they continued to play pretty deep. This defensive line led to some of the problems Liverpool had in the attacking half of the pitch in the second period.

Rather than having the ball in more advanced areas, the Reds more often than not had the ball in the back four, and with the Reds not pushing up in midfield, there were very few options for the backline to pick out. It all began to go a bit ragged as the second half went on with the Reds resorting to long ball tactics, trying to pick out an increasingly isolated Andy Carroll . This inevitably led to the ball being given away which became part of a vicious cycle where the back four gave possession away, leading the backline to go deeper and deeper.

So what may have led to such a deep backline and to a lack of pressing in midfield? Would this have been a planned tactic by Dalglish and Clarke? Although there were times under Dalglish last season where the Reds didn’t press the ball very well (e.g v Tottenham), in most matches it was noticeable that there was marked return to higher pressing than there was under previous manager Roy Hodgson. Against teams such as Manchester United and Manchester City, this was very evident indeed.

Against Sunderland however, there was one big difference: personnel. The Reds team is still gelling together, and in the second half especially, the lack of communication was evident as the Reds gave the ball away a lot more. The Reds looked good with possession in the first half and had a lot more of it, but still they did look unconvincing off the ball. In the second half, with less possession, this meant more problems and it is clear that the likes of Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson are not used to pressing as much without the ball.

Again, I must reiterate, this is only one match and things will take time to get right, and I hope that on the training ground this week, Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke take measures to address this lack of pressing, which led to the backline moving deeper and deeper.

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Read more of David Tully’s articles at Live4Liverpool

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Juventus boss Gigi Delneri returns to Sampdoria on Sunday for the first time since taking the reins at the Turin giants in May.

After leading Sampdoria to a fourth-placed finish last season and into the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, the 60-year-old was looking for a new challenge with Juventus, who finished a disappointing seventh in 2009/10.

When asked what type of reception he expected from the supporters at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Delneri was not sure how he would be received.

“What reaction do I expect from the fans? Recognition, the same as I feel for the supporters. I don’t think Sampdoria miss me or (former striker, now at AC Milan) Antonio Cassano and every season is its own story,” Delneri said.

“Besides, it is always exciting for them to take on Juve, regardless of who is on the bench. We had an extraordinary year together that culminated in the Champions League, thanks also to the fantastic atmosphere around the club.”

Delneri downplayed talks of a Serie A title challenge, with his side sitting in sixth position, seven points behind league leaders AC Milan.

“Let’s go easy on talk of the title. I think Juve must always fight to get the best and will improve when we get everyone back from injury,” he said.

Brazilian striker Amauri is back in the side after fracturing his nose, and Delneri has not ruled out a move for Sampdoria front man Giampaolo Pazzini.

“Both strikers are very talented. Pazzini has played more often than Amauri this year, which is why he has scored more goals,” he said.

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“As for other signings, for now we have brought in Luca Toni and will see what else happens. It is a tough moment for the club and we’re trying to improve the squad, but know it is not easy.”

“We’re keeping our eyes open to check out any bargains, but unfortunately at times we want players beyond our budget.”

Tottenham’s proposed bid to sign Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen is still in the offing, despite the exit of Harry Redknapp from the club.

The White Hart Lane outfit have made the Belgium international centre-half their number one transfer target this summer, but it was feared that the deal could be damaged by Redknapp’s dismissal.

However, the player’s agent Mustapha Nakhli has revealed that Redknapp’s exit will not change anything.

“Nothing has changed at all. He is coming to Tottenham for the club and not for the manager,” Sky Sports report Nakhli as saying.

“Managers come and go. Of course Jan is sorry that Harry Redknapp is no longer there but he is going for the club.

“We have a good relationship with Daniel Levy. He wants the deal to happen and there is a good atmosphere (between us).

“I don’t know when it will happen but the deal is close, very close,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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A hard fought draw was all that Liverpool could muster in their opening day of the season. It will take time for the new boys to gel and supporters should show the team great patience in Kenny’s new look team before it starts to turn out results.

At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of blogs that include Liverpool’s transfer pledge; King Kenny to finally deliver, while it is time for supporters to move on from Alonso.

We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.

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What to expect from Liverpool FC

Caption Competition: Newcastle’s loss is Liverpool’s gain

FOUR Liverpool players whose future lies away from Anfield?

Will this new transfer strategy see other Premier League clubs follow suit?

The perfect way to fast-track Liverpool’s development?

Liverpool’s trump card in Premier League title race

Will King Kenny finally deliver silverware to Anfield?

Time for Liverpool to move on

Liverpool chief’s transfer pledge

Liverpool lining up Dann swoop

A genuine cause for concern at Liverpool?

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Best of WEB

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Reality Check – This is Anfield

How Liverpool Can Win The League Title – Tomkins Times

Player-by-player 2011/12 Preview – This is Anfield

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Fan Focus: Getting The Lowdown On Liverpool From Paul Tomkins  –  Roker Report

SO WHAT WILL WE BE GETTING FOR £6MILLION? – Live4Liverpool

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Click on Miss Blasi below to see her in all her glory

Last week the International Football Federation of History & Statistics’ (IFFHS) released it’s ‘manager of the decade’ list.

All the familiar faces were there and there were no glaring omissions but the thing that did catch my eye was the order in which the managers were ranked. Now a list like this will all was be open to be questions but the IFFHS have a system in place to rank managers annually and at the end of the decade using these scores they were able to compile this list:

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1. Arsene Wenger (France) 156

2. Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland) 148

3. Jose Mourinho (Portugal) 135

4. Fabio Capello (Italy) 120

5. Guus Hiddink (Holland) 112

6. Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) 108

7. Luiz Scolari (Brazil) 101

8. Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina) 101

9. Rafael Benitez (Spain) 97

10. Marcello Lippi (Italy) 88

As I said they have a system in place to rank the managers but what system would allow a manager who hadn’t won a trophy in the later half of the decade to be named the best manager of the decade? I do not write to speak ill of Wenger, he is a good manager but from 2000 to 2010, I’m pretty sure there are managers, namely Sir Alex Ferguson, who could and should have ranked higher than him.

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If we look at the the decade and compare United’s results and achievements with Arsenal’s it becomes apparent that Wenger was actually the best manager in England over the past decade let alone the world.

United won the league in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009; the FA Cup in 2004; the league cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010 that’s just domestically if you add to that the Champions League in 2008 and the Club World Cup in 2008 the sum dwarfs Arsenal’s haul of the league titles in 2002 and 2004 and FA Cups in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Of course Arsenal’s unbeaten season has been taken into account as well as the times they have finished as runner up domestically and in Europe but in a competition to decipher who exactly has been the best manager over the past 10 years it kind of defeats the purpose to reward not actually winning!

I have only mentioned Sir Alex’s achievements in comparison, if  we were to then look at say Jose Mourinho’s too it would make for lugubrious reading from an Arsenal perspective considering Mourinho has did the treble twice in the time span being considered (albeit he spent the early part in Portugal, considered a weaker league in terms of European football).

I’m not 100% sure how exactly points are awarded by the IFFHS but I would imagine having to declare a manager who hasn’t won a trophy in nearly 6 years kind of harms their credibility.

Read more Manchester United articles at the excellent ‘The Busby Way’

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With Premier League teams clamouring for home grown talent, big spending Manchester City have snared their fair share of Britain’s best players but one man who appears to be heading toward the exit door is Adam Johnson.

The young winger has impressed during a relatively short spell at the Etihad Stadium but with question marks over his defensive motivation and bigger stars waiting in wings to replace him, manager Roberto Mancini has deemed him surplus to requirements this summer. The Englishman is attracting interest from Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland among others but at 24 years of age is still relatively unproven at the highest level. With that in mind is Johnson genuinely worth the £15 million being touted around?

Given the overinflated prices being paid for British stars, it would appear Johnson is a snip at £15 million. He’s a Premier League winner, a full International and possesses that sought after quality of being a left footed Englishman. Lesser players like Jordan Henderson have demanded undeservedly high transfer fees so teams should be jumping the queue in order to sign him but for some reason Johnson’s personality and mentality are tarnishing his obvious talent.

Fans have heard various whispers regarding his failings and apparently his rise to prominence has made him too arrogant at an early age. To make matters worse his lack of defensive motivation doesn’t serve his teammates very well when defending as a unit. It’s something a tactician like Mancini has been quick to point out. The Italian manager said:

“Sometimes he thinks, ‘OK, in this game I scored one goal, I did an assist, that is enough’

“He can play for England but if he wants to continue doing this he needs to play well in every game for us. Some dribbling or two crosses don’t make him a good player. He must keep his feet on the floor. It’s important all the players have good behaviour during the week. He’s a fantastic talent but he’s not a top player at this moment.”

While many fans were surprised when Stewart Downing was chosen ahead of Johnson in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad, having seen the defensive manner of the England setup during the tournament, it’s clear that Hodgson agrees with Mancini’s concerns over the winger’s willingness to defend in unison. That very same lack of work rate seems to have held him back when breaking into the City first team and meant he played a bit part role in their title run in. Edging out the likes of Samir Nasri is no mean feat but Johnson is the same age as the Frenchman and he knows Mancini is strict because he rates him so highly. He said:

“He can criticise as well as praise you and I’ve never had a problem with that. I’m not the type to let those things bother me. I take it on board and continue to work hard in training every day so there’s no problems there.”

Johnson’s comments appear to be fairly level headed but his omission from the England squad and the City first team tells a different story. If a controversial personality like Mario Balotelli can earn Mancini’s trust then Johnson must be doing something wrong and now less establish stars like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have leapfrogged him into the national side. The youngster may be able to talk the talk but clearly he hasn’t walked the walk enough to persuade either his domestic manager or his national team coach to select him. If he’s not trusted to put a shift in then why are other Premier League teams so desperate to sign him?

Of the clubs being linked only Sunderland have any prior history having come close to signing Johnson when he was at Middlesbrough. In the end City’s finances blew the Black Cats out of the water but they’ve monitored his progress and retain an interest in bringing him to the Stadium of Light. Few Sunderland fans would refuse his signature but in reality the contract extension he earned last year has priced them out of a permanent transfer. Now on higher wages and with the experience of European and International football, the Easington born star is unlikely to return to the North East anytime soon unless it’s on loan. That leaves clubs like Tottenham and Liverpool at the head of queue but should these teams be spending £15 million on a potential flight risk?

Liverpool could certainly use another skilful winner with only Downing currently on their books but, as another former Middlesbrough winger, Johnson is of a similar mould to his fellow countryman. Tottenham’s quest for UEFA Champions League football could lead them to splashing the cash but they already own Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon so do they really need another first choice winger? Johnson prefers to cut inside from right midfield so could find a place in the side but would Spurs fans prefer him or Lennon on their right wing?

For such an obvious talent, it’s a shame Johnson’s personality has led to his stock falling so far. Since he’s no longer first choice for club or country it’s vital he finds a suitable transfer this summer in order to guarantee regular football. Whether or not prospective teams are willing to risk their hard earned pennies remains to be seen but if Henderson’s reportedly worth £16 million and Downing £20m then Johnson must have enough on his CV to warrant another Premier League team investing in his services.

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Do you think Johnson is worth £15m? Would you be happy if your team signed the winger?

Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

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New Sunderland signing Sebastian Larsson has revealed that working with Steve Bruce again was the key factor in the Swede’s decision to move to Wearside, amid interest from other clubs.

The Scandinavian was available on a free transfer following Birmingham’s relegation, and despite interest from Newcastle and Arsenal, he was eager to link up with his old Blues boss again.

“The gaffer showed an interest in me quite early, a lot of interest, which is obviously nice. I have worked with him before and it is a big club, a massive club,” he is stated as saying in The Telegraph.

“I wanted to take the next step and I really feel I have done that by coming here. It has a huge fan base, great stadium and facilities and that is what you want when you play football. The club are trying to push forward. There have been quite a few new signings which, hopefully, will make the squad better,” he stated.

The midfielder is one of nine additions to the Black Cats squad in the transfer window, and the 26-year-old is impressed by the outfit’s ambitions of spending money whilst they can.

“That is what they told me before I signed – that they were really going to try and have a go. How far that goes, we will have to wait and see,” he concluded.

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Sunderland open their 2011/12 Premier League campaign against Liverpool at Anfield on August 13th.

Late wins may be the stuff of champions but a so-so central midfield and a decidedly suspect backline most certainly are not.

Harry Redknapp has been talking up his team at every opportunity and though they can be one of the more exciting and dynamic sides in the league going forward, they won’t be winning anything until they get some central defenders who are as good as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate but can actually stay fit for more than a game at a time. A quick glance the goal difference says all we need to know.

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Birmingham are a little closer to the relegation zone then Alec McLeish would like but they’ve started to improve with just one defeat in their last seven games which has included an away draw against Man City and a home win over Chelsea.

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The 23/10 on a home win is a good price when you consider that Spurs have lost two of their last three on the road and a scoreline of 1-0 at 9/1 or 2-1 at 10/1 for the home side are the more likely outcomes.

It’s more difficult to motivate players to play against Birmingham and after three straight win, Spurs are due a dud performance.

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You can picture it now: Michel Platini taking a few practise swings with his new Thor-like hammer; the letters “FFP” emblazoned across the side of it.

Does this summer represent the last chance for clubs to indulge in the heavy spending that has become part of football over the past decade? Or will Platini be forced to keep his hammer from seeing the light of day by forceful club owners?

It’s hard to imagine football without reckless spending. Even if Uefa do follow through with their plans for Financial Fair Play, you’d still expect there to be a few big signings flying about. But on the other hand, Michel Platini’s reputation is on the line here. He and Uefa have been heavily persistent that this new model will be implemented and enforced with an iron fist.

A level playing field and the opportunity for every club at some stage to really have a crack at a league title is a good idea. The American leagues thrive off that sort of rotation in competition. In the past five years there have been five different winners of the World Series, four different Super Bowl champions, and five different Stanley Cup winners. Salary caps are in place to enforce a similar ruling to what Uefa are advocating, and teams are forced, for the most part, to build their squads through draft systems.

Sure there’s money flying around in the form of monster contracts, but the transfer fees that are involved in football, coupled with the contracts, help to create a greater disparity between those at the top and bottom.

With the new rulings in place, would we see less outside investment in football teams? Probably. After all, most investors don’t pick up football teams to sit around waiting years for a team to slowly, patiently, and according to the rules, build their potential title winning squads. They speed up the process through the strength of their chequebook.

For the most part, none of them are fans of their football club. They either buy into the club to make a profit somewhere down the line, or, in the case of one or two in the minority, have so much money that the club is their own real life Football Manager.

But that’s the point, isn’t it? You build an empire or a footballing dynasty through investment in the transfer market. Clubs like Ajax, who make excellent use of their youth academy, aren’t going to be super powers in European football any time soon. And even Barcelona, who follow a similar ideals, have splashed big in the market.

In many ways it would be great to have a more level playing field across European football, but isn’t it still a bit of a romantic idea? How long will it take teams at the bottom of the food chain to catch up with those at the top?

The Bundesliga is an excellent benchmark where clubs look to balance their books more efficiently. They don’t indulge in big spending like the rest of their European counterparts do. For the most part, clubs are owned by fans who take up 51 per cent of the club and, in turn, block investors from taking over the way they do elsewhere.

A fee paid of around £15 million for Marco Reus by Borussia Dortmund is seen as one of the larger fees from a German perspective. In countries such as England and Spain, it’s the norm for a fee like that to exchange hands.

Germany is a good example of where FFP is in effect to a degree. The league have shown that there is a possibility to remain competitive across the board instead of limiting it to a few clubs, and the national team have been able to thrive off the success of clubs’ youth academies.

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The thing about this Financial Fair Play is that you’d like to see it in practice before you can definitively say how much of an impact it will have. The idea is great, but there’s still too much in football weighing it down.

The big-money transfer, for example, could still be sanctioned without much fear of Uefa coming down on clubs. The spreading out of the transfer fee has always been the norm with clubs, so where a club pays £30 million for a player, that fee is split over the duration of the player’s contract. Coupled with the wages of that player, the total expense for that one transfer still totals to less than £30 million in one year.

It’s perhaps more a case of reckless spending which will see it’s final days. There will continue to be big spending because there are clubs who can legitimately afford it. But the case of spending £100 million for three or four players may be a little harder to disguise.

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Liverpool’s Luis Suarez has stated that he knows he harbours a sizeable bulk of the side’s goalscoring responsibilities in 2011/12, but that he will try to remain calm amid heightened expectations.

The former Ajax forward was signed along with Andy Carroll to replace outgoing Fernando Torres in January, and made a good start to his career on Merseyside with impressive performances and four goals in 2010/11. Despite this, the weight of his £22.8million transfer has not gone unnoticed.

“There are so many people watching you. You feel the pressure of what the club has paid for you, but I tried to live as calmly as I could, not to think about the people watching me,” the 24-year-old told Don Balon.

He also revealed his predecessor gave him some words of wisdom before moving to Chelsea for £50 million.

“He told me to be the same player I always was, not to try to change, that Liverpool were a great team and that they would help me to grow a lot. The truth is that his advice was a great help and he was not wrong, he was exactly right,” the Uruguayan continued.

Suarez is represented by Pere Guardiola, brother of Barcelona coach Pep, and he stated an admiration for the current European champions.

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“Before knowing Pere, I had that dream of having the chance to play for Barcelona. Obviously he is connected to Barcelona through his brother, but these are work issues, totally different to personal ones. If [Pep] Guardiola wants me, he will want me totally independently of who represents me,” he concluded.

The Liverpool frontman is currently in Argentina on international for Uruguay in the Copa America.