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Liverpool's Raheem Sterling sparkles in midfield diamond against Man City
Young midfielder's versatility in the No10 role brought with it a directness that Manuel Pellegrini's team could not live with
Michael Cox
The Guardian, Sunday 13 April 2014 12.51 EDT
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Liverpool's English midfielder Raheem St
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling's showed an excellent appreciation of space and timed his runs to perfection in the No10 role. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers turned to a midfield diamond late in this campaign but it could be the formation that helps Liverpool win their first Premier League title. Here, the home side's dominance of the centre, and in particular Raheem Sterling's role at the attacking point of the midfield quartet, meant Manchester City were completely unable to cope with Liverpool's directness in the first half.
The major reason for the diamond, at least initially, was to allow Rodgers to field Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge together in their favoured centre-forward roles but Liverpool's main area of strength in this match was not up front. It was in a deeper position. Sterling's versatility at just 19 years old is remarkable: having played successfully on either flank, his ability to play the central No10 role has been one of the most surprising aspects of an increasingly extraordinary Liverpool campaign.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...anchester-city
Young midfielder's versatility in the No10 role brought with it a directness that Manuel Pellegrini's team could not live with
Michael Cox
The Guardian, Sunday 13 April 2014 12.51 EDT
Jump to comments (35)
Liverpool's English midfielder Raheem St
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling's showed an excellent appreciation of space and timed his runs to perfection in the No10 role. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers turned to a midfield diamond late in this campaign but it could be the formation that helps Liverpool win their first Premier League title. Here, the home side's dominance of the centre, and in particular Raheem Sterling's role at the attacking point of the midfield quartet, meant Manchester City were completely unable to cope with Liverpool's directness in the first half.
The major reason for the diamond, at least initially, was to allow Rodgers to field Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge together in their favoured centre-forward roles but Liverpool's main area of strength in this match was not up front. It was in a deeper position. Sterling's versatility at just 19 years old is remarkable: having played successfully on either flank, his ability to play the central No10 role has been one of the most surprising aspects of an increasingly extraordinary Liverpool campaign.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...anchester-city