What Liverpool Needs To Do To Qualify For The Champions League

Is Liverpool's lack of goals a threatening factor for the qualification for next year's Champions League? Here is what Dalglish could possibly do to end the goal drought.

Liverpool have been the best defensive side so far, conceding only 13 goals. But they have also only managed to score 18 goals. The Reds have dominated most of the matches in nearly every plausible statistical category, at times more than doubling their opponents’ tallies as they dominated the numbers from possession to passing to shots on target.


Still, they manage either to draw a match or win with a contemptible score like that of 1-0 against Queen Park Rangers. Once again they were able to be kept quiet in the game by a comparatively mediocre opponent. This has been a continuing source of frustration for this year’s squad, management and the fans 

Here is a list of options for Kenny Dalglish to fix this problem:

Why Not Start With Maxi Every Game?

START WITH MAXI

Maxi Rodriguez arrived on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid in Rafa Benitez’s last season as manager. Liverpool struggled to qualify for Champions League that season. But by the end of the campaign Maxi had a pass completion rate of 82% and had created 21 chances.


He was one of the few to impress during Roy Hodgson’s forgettable tenure. Maxi is one of those players seemingly born to play ‘pass and move’ football. Comfortable and creative on the ball, he has a wonderful habit of creating space for his team mates.


It wasn't surprising when Maxi began to work his way into Dalglish’s team, and hit his all time high during a three game spell which saw him score seven goals and complete 89.33% of his passes.


Now that a creative midfielder in Raul Meireles is gone,we have all been able to see Maxi’s magic more evidently. Prominent from the last match against QPR, he truly flourishes alongside Luis Suarez. It seems preposterous that a man who made such an impact on the side and fitted so perfectly into the way that the club play has been cast aside so easily, and even more so when one considers the formation that Liverpool are using.


He faces competition from Stewart Downing in the side and was used by Dalglish last season when Carroll was injured. However, seeing his impressive statistics, one can easily conclude that he should get more starts. If Maxi gets more starts, maybe Liverpool don’t need to get another striker.

Is Jadson The Solution To Liverpool's Problems?

GET A CREATIVE MIDFIELDER

Having already listed the first option, and having Stewart Downing in the squad, this idea may seem ridiculous to many, but the fact remains that even after having Maxi and Downing, Liverpool have not been able to get goals convincingly.


Thus getting a creative midfielder might be an option. Jadson will be our pick. Linked with Arsenal in the summer transfer window, the 28 year old Brazilian seems like an ideal solution to Liverpool’s present problems.


Arsene Wenger was spot on in declaring Jadson as someone who will be able to do exactly what Cesc Fabregas did. The Brazilian plays in a central role and is renowned for his technical skills. He will definitely thrive alongside Suarez giving him the assists he needs and will have a shot at the goal himself.

Do You Need A Partner, Suarez?

GET ANOTHER STRIKER

Suarez is great, but Liverpool miss a solid goal rustler. The Reds need a striker for two things, to finish off the chances that the team is creating, and also to sniff out a goal from the half-chances that come along during matches.


Dalglish has been quick to praise his team for creating chances, but one thing that is clear for all to see is that Liverpool requires a striker that can consistently convert these chances into goals. If Liverpool don't want a repeat of what happened with Fernando Torres which left millions of hearts broken, their star striker leave the club because of ‘doubting the ambitions of the club’, they must sign a top-class partner for Suarez because as great as Suarez may be, he can’t carry the burden of scoring all goals alone.


Suarez is the only player for Liverpool to have scored more than 2 goals this season.

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QPR Game Interesting Facts..

Which Liverpool player had over 100 touches of the ball during Saturday's 1-0 win over QPR? Discover the answer to this and a selection of other interesting statistics from the game courtesy of Opta.

Liverpool enjoyed 62 per cent of the possession and had 25 shots on goal, compared to QPR's seven.

Of those attempts, eight were on target while Pepe Reina had just one effort to deal with from the visitors.

Luis Suarez had seven attempts on goal during the game, all of which came from inside the box. Three were on target, and he scored with one in the 47^th minute.

Dirk Kuyt provided the most shot assists of all the players on the pitch (six). Stewart Downing was next with five, while Luis Suarez created four.

The Reds forced 17 corners, while QPR had just five.

Overall, Liverpool made 529 passes - 81.9 per cent of which reached their intended target.

QPR completed 70.7 per cent of their 328 passes.

Maxi Rodriguez was Liverpool's most accurate passer, completing 93.2 per cent of them.

Birthday boy Charlie Adam had more touches of the ball more than any other player on the pitch - 101.

The Reds played 30 crosses into their opponent's penalty area. However, only 13.3 per cent of them were successful. QPR made 14 centres, with a 14.3 per cent success rate.

QPR made more tackles than Liverpool (22 compared to six), but the home side were more successful completing 83.3 per cent of them as opposed to 72.7 per cent from the Hoops. Martin Skrtel made two of those tackles and won them both.

The Londoners also led in the clearance stakes - making 60 to the Reds' 21.

Liverpool gave away twice as many fouls as QPR - 14 to seven.

QPR won more of their duels than Liverpool, coming out on top 58.1 per cent of the time to the Reds' 41.9 per cent.

However, Liverpool were more successful aerially, winning 63 per cent of their battles in the air. QPR won 37 per cent.

Out of the strikers, Jay Bothroyd won more duels than anyone else at Anfield - 52.9 per cent.

Of the players who played the entire 90 minutes, Joey Barton was most successful in winning his duels. The visitors' skipper came out on top 87.5 per cent of the time.

Overall, Daniel Gabbidon made the most number of clearances on the pitch with the QPR man tallying 14 of them. Martin Skrtel made 10 for Liverpool.

 The statistics show Anton Ferdinand attempted the most number of ambitious passes, playing it long 55.6 per cent of the time from nine passes.

Gabbidon and Ferdinand both made four interceptions each - more than anyone else on the field.

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Liverpool V QPR (Match Stats)

• These sides last met in the Premier League 15 years ago, with Liverpool claiming all three points at Anfield and Loftus Road.

• QPR last won at Anfield in March 1991 when a Les Ferdinand goal helped them to a 3-1 win just weeks after Kenny Dalglish (pictured right) had left his role as Reds' manager.

• Neil Warnock previously travelled to Anfield as Sheffield United manager in February 2007, seeing his side lose 4-0.

• Despite being in 12th position, QPR possess the worst goal difference outside of the Premier League bottom three.

• QPR have just one win in their last five Premier League outings.

• Liverpool have lost one of their last 12 fixtures in all competitions, but have drawn four of those matches.

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