Liverpool 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Goals:
Sterling 3'
Lucas 30'
Carroll 65'
Sam 75'

That was more like it, a much more reassuring friendly than the three in the USA. Which may have had something to do with the stronger XI, not all that different from the one which faced Gomel on Thursday. It was far stronger than expected, with Gerrard, Suarez, and Lucas all surprise starters. Those left out were those who'll play in international fixtures during the week, most notably Skrtel and Agger (along with Reina, Adam, Carroll, and Coates); only Borini and Johnson didn't feature despite no international duty.

And Liverpool reaped the benefits immediately, with Sterling scoring his first senior goal – if only in a friendly – after just 128 seconds. Liverpool had kept possession since the opening whistle, on the right flank and in its own half before Shelvey spread play wide to Enrique, whose through ball was perfectly weighted for Sterling, bum-rushing past Schwaab to pick up possession and cut inside, unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the far corner. That's his game-changing potential aptly demonstrated and a concrete indication as to why we'll probably see a fair bit of him over the course of the season.

To be fair, Leverkusen responded well, taking the game to Liverpool for the next 20 minutes. Kadlec, Schürrle, and Kießling all had strikes at goal, but all failed to find the target as Liverpool's defense bent but never broke. Leverkusen are the best opponents Liverpool have faced so far under Rodgers, with a starting XI as close to full-strength as Liverpool's, and a response was always coming. But after 30 minutes, Liverpool added a second, somewhat against the run of play and from a well-worked set play. Suarez broke down the field following a Leverkusen corner, winning a free kick just outside the box. Rather than going for goal, Gerrard touched it off to Downing, who cleverly fed Suarez on the penalty spot rather than blasting into the wall. Suarez's first touch made it look an opportunity lost, but Kadlec's rushed clearance fell straight to an otherwise-offside Lucas for a tap-in. Matches where Lucas scored are simply better than other matches. Look it up. It's science.

From there, Liverpool were able to control proceedings, keeping possession, poking and prodding at Leverkusen's defense, albeit with little success. Still, the increased confidence following the second goal – and resulting drop in confidence for the opposition – was clearly evident. Goals do change games after all, and Liverpool desperately needs to improve on last season's scoring totals. Nonetheless, Leverkusen had its best chance of the half just before the interval, a intricate passing move between Rolfes, Kießling, and Schürrle that ended with yet another Kießling shot off target from ten yards out.

The tempo unsurprisingly dropped in the second half, partly due to the established lead, partly due to the half-time changes. Liverpool made all five of its substitutions during the interval, as much to experiment as to rest the likes of Gerrard, Suarez, Lucas, Downing, and Enrique. Most notably, Shelvey went to the right flank, the same position he played on loan at Blackpool, while Adam was the most-advanced of the midfield three. Andy Carroll also received his best chance to impress, getting 45 minutes after just 20 at the end of the dismal Tottenham friendly.

And Carroll made the most of it, scoring Liverpool's third in the 65th. Carragher intercepted Kießling's pass, quickly spreading play to Shelvey on the flank. After taking the air out of the ball, with Adam, Henderson, and Kelly interchanging passes, Spearing fed Adam, whose clever, quick, one-touch back-heel opened up space for Carroll. With defenders backing off, the striker took a fierce shot from the top of the box, one which probably should have been saved but squirmed under the unfortunate Leno. Maybe we can credit the power of the strike rather than an egregious goalkeeper blunder.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool did change its style of play after Carroll's introduction, far more content to cross towards the gargantuan striker, but Carroll didn't look wholly out of place either. His movement was better than expected – although expectations are admittedly low, especially in a friendly – pressing encouragingly, chasing back to defend, and holding up possession well to involve Sterling and Shelvey in the attack. Adam also did better than expected in a more advanced role; the move further forward required him to play quicker passes than he'd prefer, evidenced by his assist on Carroll's goal. It's when he's given time and space in a deep-lying role that he can kill Liverpool's momentum, even if that's also when he has a better chance of playing those jaw-dropping, sometimes successful Hollywood passes.

Leverkusen pulled one back 15 minutes from time, an unbelievable screamer from substitute Sidney Sam after the winger received possession 30 yards from goal, bounced off of Carragher's tame tackle all too easily, and blasted past Reina from the top of the box. I also doubt Rodgers will fail to notice that the attack started when Carroll sloppily lost possession just inside the opposition half, allowing Leverkusen to counter at pace with Liverpool players out of position. Liverpool nearly conceded a second soon after when Coates lost his mind, dwelling in possession deep in Liverpool's half before blasting an insane over-hit back pass just wide of the near post, but those were the only two moments of madness in Liverpool's defense. Otherwise, the tandem of Carragher and Coates played well, with Carragher notably at left-sided center-back, as he has been with Skrtel in previous friendlies, in contrast to how he and Coates played when paired last season.

As against Gomel, other than conceding the late consolation, it was what we'd hoped for from a Liverpool match, miles different than the three matches on the American tour. Those three preseason fixtures (as well as the first leg against Gomel) prompted a concern over Liverpool's competence in front of goal, which hasn't looked anywhere near a concern since Gerrard and Suarez returned to the XI. Liverpool have been far more threatening and far more clinical with those two on the pitch, and that the goals came from unlikely scorers such as Lucas and Sterling is definitely reassuring. However, I still think Liverpool will go as far as Gerrard and Suarez – the only two attacking game-changers on the books – can carry them.

Gerrard reveled in an attacking role yet again, and I can't describe how reassuring it is to see him back in that position. Suarez was less influential than on Thursday, but there was nowhere to go but down after that performance and, yes, today was a friendly. I'd be hard-pressed to pick three players I'm happier to see on the score-sheet; the goal will do both Sterling and Carroll's confidence a world of good, while Lucas deserves it for his continued all-around brilliance and importance. Both Kelly and Reina clearly benefited from the playing time, the two who've needed it most. Shelvey and Sterling also both looked increasingly comfortable the longer they've played.

More importantly, Liverpool again looked capable of implementing Rodgers' playing style, impressively in the first half but even in the second with the likes of Carroll and Adam heavily involved. There will undoubtedly be growing pains, most likely sooner rather than later, but almost every player looks more confident in the last two matches than they did at almost any point last season.

Six days until the season truly starts against West Brom.

On Joe Allen

Well, that took long enough. All that haggling, only to eventually, finally, reportedly meet Joe Allen's £15m release clause. Well done, Ian Ayre, you shrewd so and so.

Now then. I truly hate the "if he wasn't British…" or "if he were Brazilian/Spanish/nationality du jour…" aphorisms that frequently fly around whenever Liverpool – or some other club – buy a British player. It's facile, and it's often simply incorrect. Most British players (read: English) have very British (read: English) talents, tendencies, and faults. But not in this case.

Admittedly, it's hard to look past nationality after the utter flaming failures that were Liverpool's purchases last summer. However, forget last summer, as hard as that is. Joe Allen is not your typical British signing.

• EPL Index: Joe Allen – Statistically Compared to Rivals
• The Liverpool Word: Joe Allen – What would he bring to Liverpool FC?

For one, Allen was one of the best passers in the league last season: in volume, accuracy, and effectiveness.

The above articles comb through his stats effectively, but a look at his passing wheels (previous examples – for Lucas, Adam, Henderson, and Gerrard – here) helps clarify. Here are two of his best matches: against Arsenal, when he was ostensibly an attacking midfielder and tallied one of his two assists, and against Blackburn, when he was ostensibly a defensive midfielder and tallied the other.




Here are the StatsZone chalkboards for Arsenal and Blackburn.

An incredible volume and accuracy, especially when used as a deeper-lying midfielder, but predominantly short sideways and backwards knitting passes, with comparatively few forward passes. He is a link player, a player who keeps possession and keeps play moving. Which is the type of player and type of passer that Liverpool needs.

In these two matches, Allen was a defensive midfielder who joined in the attack against weaker opposition, and an attacking midfielder with a fairly extensive defensive brief against one of the best sides in the league. Allen made four tackles (six attempted) and two interceptions against Blackburn. He was five for five on tackles with one interception against Arsenal. Which was slightly ahead of his 3.1 tackles-per-game average (110 total), slightly behind his 2.1 interceptions-per-game (74 total).

While the tackles total is impressive, especially for a player not known as an out-and-out defensive shield, I'm more interested in the interceptions. This is a composite of all 36 of his matches, via Stats Zone.



That's a fairly effective defensive shield. Not to mention that 23 of Allen's 74 interceptions came in the opposition's half.

Allen may not be billed as an out-and-out defensive midfielder, but he was Swansea's more often than not. As much as Swansea used one in Rodgers' system. Only two players made more tackles over the course of the season: Cabaye and Dembele. Only nine midfielders made more interceptions: Mulumbu, Petrov, Gamst Pedersen, Parker, Cabaye, Modric, Reo-Coker, Cattermole and Jason Lowe. There's only two players on that list I'd rather have than Allen, and both are four years older and would cost even more. Had Lucas – a far more specialized defensive midfielder – completed the season, he'd have dwarfed those tallies, with 5.7 tackles-per-game and 2.8 interceptions when injured after 12 matches, but few others did. Spearing averaged 2.8 tackles and 1.1 interceptions, if you're curious. Enrique led Liverpool with 69 tackles, Agger with 59 interceptions.

Allen also completed 90 minutes in 29 of the 31 league matches he started, taken off after 75 minutes in his first start of the season against Arsenal and red carded in the 80th minute at Blackburn. Which is no small feat for a central midfielder, especially a 21 or 22-year-old. Comparatively, Adam completed 19 of his 27 league starts, Henderson 21 of his 31, and Lucas 10 of his 12.

Gerrard-Allen-Lucas would be an outstanding midfield, – my first choice, and arguably better than any except Manchester City and Chelsea's – but Gerrard-Henderson-Allen also appears outstanding, and would lose little steel were Lucas as unavailable this season as he was in the last (*knocks furiously on wood*). And then there's the future – Henderson-Lucas-Allen. Lucas is 25, Henderson and Allen 22. Not to mention that Jonjo Shelvey is just 20. Those five are Liverpool's top five central midfielders, the ones who'll see the most playing time. And their average age is 24.2, which includes a 32-year-old Steven Gerrard. The average age of Henderson-Allen-Lucas-Shelvey is just 22.25. Since the summer of 2010, Liverpool have spent around £58m on central midfielders (and recouped around £37m in sales). This purchase should mean that position is set for a good long while.

There's also something to be said for players who have worked with the manager before, who know his system, beliefs, personality, and desires. Sure, it's one thing if that manager is Roy Hodgson (wave to Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky, everyone), but it's another if that manager is Rafa Benitez (Luis Garcia, Momo Sissoko), and hopefully another if it's Brendan Rodgers. There has to be a reason Rodgers is willing to splurge for Allen, in fee if not in wages, where he wasn't for Sigurðsson.

Were he not British, not subject to parallels with Liverpool's previous purchases or England's (and Wales', and Scotland's…) repeated, hilarious failings, this would be far less controversial. There's also the similarity in fee, seemingly well over the odds, but that concerns me far less. It's a bargain if he succeeds, it's frightful if he fails. Same as it ever was. Rather than paying over the odds for nationality, Liverpool's paying over the odds because of Allen's age– especially for a central midfielder – and because Swansea really didn't want to sell.

So what worries me? After writing all of the above… the similarities with last summer's transfer business. Less Allen's nationality, more that Liverpool again are prioritizing central midfield while there are clear, glaring, gaping holes elsewhere in the squad.

Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Adam, Shelvey, and Spearing. That's six central midfielders already on Liverpool's books.

Suarez, Borini, Downing, Sterling, and Cole. Those are Liverpool's wide forwards, a problem position before losing Kuyt, Maxi, and Bellamy, as written about earlier today. And either Suarez or Borini will start as Liverpool's central striker in most matches.

Whatever their faults – and each player has at least one – of that central midfield group, I wouldn't have complained (much) had Liverpool gone into the season with that unit. Yes, Liverpool would have had no one who can truly replace Lucas, as the club learned, at great pains, last season, but Liverpool could cope, and probably would have coped even better in Rodgers' preferred 4-3-3 formation. However, I cannot say the same about the wide forwards. Especially considering Rodgers' preferred formation.

At the same time, it's seemingly another example of Liverpool getting on the train at one of the last stations rather than early in the trip. Yes, it's a completely different manager and a completely different system, but I can't help but wonder had Liverpool bought Allen instead of Henderson or Adam last season. They'd certainly have paid far less than £15m. Or, to compare to Newcastle, who have been very good at getting value for money, Yohan Cabaye – a very similar player, albeit four years older – cost around £9m. And would cost nearly twice as much today

Liverpool have picked up a nasty, costly habit of buying players at the peak of their price, and once again seem to be paying maximum value. As said above, I'm not incredibly worried about the fee, especially if Allen progresses as last season suggested he's capable of, but Liverpool certainly aren't maximizing value either, something which FSG supposedly wanted and promised to do.

Still, once again, Rodgers gets his man, one of his transfer priorities, despite the fee and despite Swansea's unwillingness to sell and supposed clause about Rodgers not poaching players. If we're buying the Rodgers system, it's nice to see all the chips pushed into the middle of the table. Despite Liverpool's logjam in the middle, Allen should improve the side. Imagine yesterday's side with Allen in place of Shelvey; no offense to the youngster, who played well, but Allen would have been an even better fit in that swirling, swarming Liverpool tidal wave.

Yes, there are still holes, and yes, it's a risk. But it seems a risk well worth taking. Welcome to Liverpool, Joe.

On Craig Bellamy and Squad Turnover

With the summer departures of Bellamy, Kuyt, and Aurelio (as well as Maxi and Aquilani), Liverpool now have just six players who have been on the books since the 2007-08 season: Carragher, Gerrard, Reina, Agger, Lucas, and Skrtel. Just six of the 27 players who have made at least first team appearance for Liverpool.

59% of the above players have joined since August 2010. 11 of the 27 – 41% – made their debuts after FSG bought the club in October of that year. Only six Benitez signings remain on the books, seven if you count Jonjo Shelvey – who made his debut under Hodgson.

The above is an update on this graphic, done following the 2010-11 campaign. It is not quite as striking – 12 of the 29 players on that chart joined that season – but still sufficiently demonstrates how heavy Liverpool's squad turnover has been in the last three years. And a handful of players on the above chart may well have little time left at club: Doni, Eccleston, Pacheco seem the most likely, but Cole, Carroll, and even Agger could well join them.

It's sad to see Craig Bellamy depart when there was still a clear role for him in the squad. It's hard to begrudge him a move back to Cardiff at this stage of his career, for family and personal reasons, but I also rue never seeing him line up with Suarez and Borini, a buzzing beehive front line that would torment any defense in the world. I can't help but prefer snarling, win-at-all-costs players, and Bellamy was an archetypal one in both of his Liverpool stints, the sort you love to have on your team and absolutely hate when they line up for the opposition.

With Bellamy's exit, Liverpool have now sold 25% of last season's goals. 79 were scored; Bellamy tallied nine (which was joint-second along with Gerrard and Carroll), Maxi six, and Kuyt five. If Liverpool find someone who'll pay anywhere in the region of £20m for Andy Carroll, that number will jump to 37% when including Carroll's nine goals. Bellamy also contributed seven assists last season – third-most in the squad – while Maxi had four (if you include the penalty won against Oldham), and Kuyt two. Combined, Maxi, Kuyt, and Bellamy played 5688 minutes last season, and Fabio Borini can't cover all those minutes by himself.

Liverpool's lack of depth at wide forward seemingly remains the biggest hole in the squad. Supposedly, Joe Allen will join the club sooner rather than later, maybe even later today. While he'd be an excellent, welcome addition to the squad, central midfield is far less of a problem area than the flanks. Right now, Suarez, Borini, Downing, Sterling, and Cole are Liverpool's only wide forwards, with one of Suarez or Borini more likely to play as the central striker more often than not. That's far too few; it was one of Liverpool's weakest areas last season, even before the exits of Kuyt, Maxi, and Bellamy.

Cult heroes, fan favorites, and scorned wastes of space have all left the club in the last 12 months, in the last two months. More are likely to follow. Hopefully, they'll be replaced by younger, faster, stronger, better. That's always the hope, but never a certainty in the transfer market. Every manager, good and bad, has both hits and misses.

But this turnover further reinforces the notion that it truly is Year Zero. By design. Yesterday's wondrous, gratifying thrashing of FC Gomel demonstrated the potential this new era has, but Craig Bellamy's departure today reminds that this potentially wondrous squad remains painfully shallow.

Liverpool 3-0 Gomel

Goals:
Borini 21'
Gerrard 41'
Johnson 71'

Maybe we shouldn't get carried away after beating the third-best Belorussian team in the qualifying stage of the Europa League, but it's hard to avoid getting carried away when Liverpool look light years better than last week or in any of the previous preseason matches. Or at almost any stage last season.

Liverpool were dominant from the opening whistle, perpetually in Gomel's half, pressing furiously and winning the ball back within seconds of losing it, dicing through the opposition with clever, quick movement and passes from every angle, seemingly as if they've been doing this forever.

That might have had something to do with the starting line-up. This line-up featured Reina, Suarez, Agger, and Lucas where – no offense meant – last week's had Jones, Cole, Carragher, and Spearing. It's not surprising that it led to an immensely improved performance. Notably, we saw Suarez, Gerrard, Agger, and Lucas all in the starting XI, something that didn't happen in any of last season's 51 matches.

It also might have had something to do with Gerrard playing further forward, returning to the position which helped lead Liverpool to its best season in the last decade. Over the last two years, often playing as a deep-lying playmaker when fit, we've somewhat forgotten just how influential he can be in an advanced position, cleverly linking midfield and attack, crucial to the divine interplay between Suarez and Borini.

And that man Suarez was at his tyrannical, bomb-throwing best, the architect of the two first half goals which killed the tie. The first was a archetypal ankle-breaking byline run after Shelvey intercepted an attempted Gomel clearance and Lucas immediately fed Suarez with a perfectly-placed through ball. Suarez's attempted cross was deflected away after he danced past Kuzmanok, but fell kindly for Borini, thrashing a shot under Bushma for a goal on his Anfield debut. Twenty minutes later, after continued Liverpool command despite two Gomel chances – the only two they had all match, both saved by Reina – Suarez single-handedly destroyed Gomel's center-back pairing, through Kashevski then around Kuzmanok, before centering for a Gerrard tap into an empty net, once again proving the importance of midfield runners following the ball into the box.

Liverpool maintained its dominance after the interval, able to do pretty much whatever they wanted, with Gerrard hitting post within eight minutes of the restart. Even considering this vast improvement, it still wouldn't be a Liverpool match without a strike off the woodwork. Suarez forced a couple more saves from Bushma before Johnson's brilliant individual third, intercepting an attempted clearing header after another Liverpool assault, one touch with his chest, then lashing an unstoppable half-volley with his "weaker" foot. It was the pick of the bunch, and for the second-straight week, a goal that probably would have made my top ten from last season. I'm assuming that's a good omen.

From there, cruise control. Carragher and Adam replaced Skrtel and Shelvey before Spearing came on for Lucas, and we saw the passive, controlling possession that was more expected than the rampage in the first 75 minutes.

Again, all the caveats about the quality of the opposition are both expected and understandable. Still, it's hard not to be overjoyed with Liverpool's style of play. Of course a three-nil win is encouraging, but how that three-nil win came about was even more so. Free-flowing passing and movement; non-stop pressing, winning the ball back in Gomel's half countless times; Gerrard in his best position; Suarez at his best – both in attacking creativity and in defending from the front. Borini scored in his first match, Johnson was another contender for man of the match, Shelvey rarely looked out of place, Liverpool's central defense was almost never threatened, and Lucas again demonstrated his overwhelming importance. Not to bring last season's prejudices into this one, but even Downing looked a wholly different player: providing dangerous crosses with his left and right foot, combining excellently with the superlative Glen Johnson, and moving off the ball – which has been the biggest criticism of his Liverpool performances to date.

This was what we needed to see prior to next Saturday's league opener against West Brom. That, and many other matches, almost assuredly won't go so smoothly, but we got a concrete glimpse of this side's potential under its new manager.

Liverpool v FC Gomel 08.09.12

3:05pm ET, live in the US on FSC

Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 1-0 Gomel (a)
Gomel: 0-1 Liverpool (h); 0-1 Renova (h), 2-0 Renova (a); 4-0 Víkingur (h), 6-0 Víkingur (a)

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 Gomel (a)
Gomel: 0-1 Liverpool (h); 0-1 Renova (h); 1-1 Polotsk [7-6 pens] (a)

Goalscorers (Europa League):
Liverpool: Downing 1
Gomel: Demidovich 3; Hleb, Kashevski 2; Aleksiyevich, Nowak, Timoshekno, Voronkov 1

Referee: Kenn Hansen (DEN)

Guess at a line-up
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Carragher Enrique
Lucas Gerrard
Henderson
Downing Suarez Borini

1) Is Suarez ready to start after returning from the Olympics on Monday?

2) Is Reina ready to start after returning from his post-Euros vacation on Friday?

3) Is Lucas ready to start after being handled with kid gloves during preseason because of his long-term injury?

4) How badly did Joe Cole hurt himself last Thursday?

5) And what's the deal with Daniel Agger?

Even with an aggregate lead from the last leg, however slight, I expect to see as strong a line-up as possible. The youngsters and reserves will start Sunday's final preseason friendly against Bayer Leverkusen; this match will be crucial preparation for the first league fixture in 10 days time. Plus, there's still the small matter of assuring qualification for the next round.

Reina, Johnson, Agger, Lucas, and Carroll (along with Kelly, Robinson, Adam, Shelvey, Eccleston, and Pacheco) played a 50-or-so-minute behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday. Which would support the belief that the above players are fit enough to start tomorrow if need be.

It's harder to guess how Suarez will be handled. He had his summer vacation prior to the Olympics, returning to Melwood almost immediately after Uruguay's exit. And Suarez is a player who is rarely rested, or rarely wants to be rested. He started Liverpool's first match last season after returning from his post-Copa America vacation less than a week before, having made zero preseason appearances. I'm tempted to think the same will be the case tomorrow.

And if Suarez starts, it doesn't really matter if Joe Cole's available, because Suarez would start over Cole every single time, with Joey back to human victory cigar bench duty. I am interested to see how Suarez and Borini line up if both feature: who will begin as the central striker, who will begin on the flanks? Admittedly, we'd see a fair bit of switching between the two, but it'll be a strong indication as to who Rodgers sees as his primary striker. I suspect it'll be Suarez – as he was mostly used by Dalglish, as he usually plays for Uruguay – but both he and Borini are capable of lining up in any of the forward positions.

Finally, I truly don't want to contemplate Agger's potential sale, but here we are, after a rumor-filled last few days. Rodgers' press conference this morning did little to put an end to the questions. Agger's participation tomorrow would ensure nothing; players aren't cup-tied by playing in the qualifying rounds anymore. Not that it makes him (or Andy Carroll, for that matter) any likelier to start. Let's just move on before I say or do something I'll regret.

Gomel will have to attack in this leg – not that they didn't in the last leg – but it'll have to be proactive attacking rather than playing on the counter, as they did for nearly 70 minutes in Belarus. They won't be able to pack their own half and rely on Alumona's one-on-one ability. Otherwise, Liverpool should be able to smother the match with passive possession, something that a Rodgers side should always be capable of, even in this very early stage of evolution.

Once again, I expect Gomel to play something like a 4-2-3-1, very similar to last week, with Alumona up front, Nowak and Platonov on the flanks, and Kazeka and Voronkov in the midfield. Both Kazeka and Voronkov played well in the previous match, out-muscling and controlling Liverpool's midfield for long stretches, shutting off angles and quickly transitioning to attack. Which is a large reason why I think Lucas' participation is rather crucial, although I'm also well aware the Brazilian needs to be protected after such a long injury. That I would prefer Spearing doesn't start may also factor into the equation.

I still suspect Vyacheslav Hleb will be absent, but once again, I haven't been able to find any reason for his absence for the last month. The two players involved in Belarus' Olympics squad – attacking midfielder Illya Aleksiyevich and central defender Ihar Kuzmyanok – may well return, exiting the competition at the same stage as Suarez's Uruguay; both were near-constant starters prior to leaving for international duty. Aleksiyevich would likely play in place of Lyavitski, Kuzmyanok either in place of Kirylchyk or with Kashevski shifting into midfield.

Now at Anfield, with a difficult, competitive match in the books, evolution is essential. No matter how early it is, we need to see some progress from last week's laborious, slightly lucky victory. That Liverpool are ahead on aggregate and on familiar ground should lead to an "easier" match: keeping possession and setting the tempo should come more naturally, especially as Gomel will become increasingly desperate the longer than Liverpool maintain its advantage. Still, by now, players, manager, and fans should all be more than aware that nothing ever comes all that easy.

Liverpool 1-0 Gomel

Goals:
Downing 67'

When Liverpool win with a brilliant, unfathomable goal after creating very little from open play, when Liverpool's opponent hit the woodwork and miss chance after chance, we probably shouldn't complain. I doubt it need remind it was the absolute opposite last season, all season long.

It'd be a lot easier to look at this like another preseason match, and forgive its sins, if there weren't so much riding on Liverpool qualifying for the Europa League. Because that's pretty much what it was. A preseason match against wholly unfamiliar, currently in the middle of their season, opposition. Liverpool started more first-team regulars than during the US tour, but most of those regulars have hardly if ever played under Rodgers. It may as well still be preseason for the likes of Gerrard, Borini, Henderson, Johnson, Downing, Kelly, and Lucas.

Still, it was hard to be forgiving until Downing's thunderbolt in the 67th minute. Goals have a tendency to do that. Both sides started tentatively, with Liverpool looking marginally competent and threatening on two set play chances from Borini and Johnson, but between those two chances Joe Cole managed to injure his hamstring just 14 minutes into the match, replaced by Raheem Sterling. Which surprisingly marked the beginning of Gomel's ascendancy, whether due to the home side settling into the match or the substitution unsettling Liverpool's plan.

From there, it was increasingly Gomel, all Gomel. The home side took 12 shots in the first half – twelve! – compared to Liverpool's two, but only tested Jones a couple of times. Gomel's complete inability to find the target – usually lone striker Alumona, who caused Skrtel all sorts of problems – was the only thing that kept Liverpool in the match. Liverpool unsurprisingly had more possession, but it was mostly tame possession in their own half: starting with Spearing dawdling on the ball, allowing Gomel to diligently retreat into position, ending with a hit-and-hope long range pass towards Sterling. Neither Sterling nor Downing gave Borini any support, and Liverpool's lack of competence on the flanks made it necessary for both Enrique and Johnson to take risks in order to bolster the attack. Which led to Gomel counter-attack breakaways when Liverpool inevitably lost possession. Alumona was a burly, impressive handful on the counter, but thankfully hopeless in front of goal.

Liverpool were marginally better after the interval, but again reliant on set plays for creating chances; Gerrard's blistered free kick nearly ended with an own goal, followed by Skrtel heading wide from the resulting corner. But soon after, Gomel again had an unbelievable opportunity – three opportunities, in fact – to open the scoring. Spearing passed directly to a Gomel player after Liverpool won possession, then overplayed his man trying to get the ball back, allowing holding midfielder Kazeka to stride forward and unleash a cannonball that fortunately found only the post. Alumona shanked the rebound, which fortuitously fell to Platonov, who could just shoot wide from 10 yards with the goal gaping and four Liverpool defenders standing with hands on head or hips wondering how the hell that all just happened.

Lucas immediately replaced Henderson, a substitution already in the works before Gomel's fruitless flurry. And that was the turning point. Instantaneously, Liverpool's back four were more secure. As during the run-in for the 2010-11 season, Spearing looked far more comfortable when paired with the Brazilian safety net, not relied upon to make all the tackles and keep his position.

Sure, Lucas had nothing to do with the goal scored just two minutes later, but I'll credit that to his entrance as well just because. Gerrard's long-range cross-field pass, another attempt to catch Gomel out of position before they locked the door, didn't find its mark, but the clearing header fell directly to an open Downing, who took one stride inside, switched the ball onto his favored left-foot, and unleashed a swerving missile which gave Bushma absolutely no chance. The sort of shot he frequently smacked against the woodwork last season, and after he had been unconscionably dire for 67 minutes. Football, eh?

From there, Gomel had to chase to get back into the game, and Liverpool were able to stick fingers in the dike and pack the defense, another facet aided by Lucas' entrance. Now Gerrard, further forward, was more of a threat. Now Sterling found more space against Gomel's right back. Now Liverpool's full-backs could focus on defending. The home side had just one chance in the last 25 minutes, hopeful from distance from Alumona, again wide of goal. Liverpool nearly added a second on the counter in injury time when Kelly's through ball sprung an onside Borini, but Bushma did well to push him wide and block the shot-slash-cross.

Yes, today's match laid some of Liverpool's failings incredibly bare. The flanks, so crucial in the 4-3-3 and whether manned by Downing, Sterling, or Cole, were especially terrible, leading to Borini isolated all too often. Liverpool's almost lazy possession play allowed an organized side to get back into position, forcing far too many long balls from Gerrard, Henderson, or Spearing in the hopes of finding an opening. And there were gaps in Liverpool's defense when Gomel countered at pace. But Rodgers' style of play was never going to sink in overnight; this was and remains a long-term project, to our eminent frustration. Also, Liverpool still won.

Individually, Lucas undoubtedly made a drastic difference. No matter the lack of service, Borini's movement and work-rate were excellent in both attack and defense. Despite a couple of frightening moments, Jones made every save he needed to, and Carragher, in his 700th appearance, was easily Liverpool's best starter. The central midfield was another worry, but Henderson and Gerrard have hardly played so far and I'm fairly sure it'll look better with different combinations, whether because of Lucas or because Joe Allen signs or simply because Henderson and Gerrard become more familiar with each other's movement.

Liverpool assuredly need to improve tactically and in personnel – both with returning players and new purchases. But, as hard as it is to remember, it is still August 2. It may have been an unlikely goal from an unlikely scorer, but we didn't see either of those things anywhere near enough last season. And that Liverpool got the win and needed away goal no matter the lack of preseason matches, no matter the key players missing, is all that truly matters.

Liverpool at FC Gomel 08.02.12

2:00pm ET, live in the US on FSC (I know, right!)

Previous rounds:
Gomel: 0-1 Renova (h), 2-0 Renova (a); 4-0 Víkingur (h), 6-0 Víkingur (a)

Last three matches:
Gomel: 0-1 Renova (h); 1-1 Polotsk [7-6 pens] (a); 2-0 Renova (a)

Goalscorers (Europa League):
Gomel: Demidovich 3; Hleb, Kashevski 2; Aleksiyevich, Nowak, Timoshekno, Voronkov 1

Guess at a line-up
Jones
Flanagan Skrtel Carragher Enrique
Henderson Lucas Shelvey
Downing Borini Sterling

It's been almost 18 whole months. I've forgotten what European football feels like.

Rodgers' first competitive line-up will go one of two ways. Either we'll see most if not all of the first-team regulars who have traveled, or the starting XI will look a lot like the three preseason friendlies.

I've gone for the above guess because I just don't see the point of bringing Lucas, Borini, Henderson, etc. without starting them. Borini may be a special case, because he's unfamiliar with both the club and pan-European competition, but the rest have played in fixtures like this before. Gerrard's also an exception – I'd be surprised if he were given more than a substitute cameo because of his summer workload and injury history – but otherwise, there's little point in bringing the heavy hitters if they're going to sit on the bench in 'break glass if needed' cases. This isn't a friendly; you aren't allowed to make wholesale changes at halftime if the side's more toothless than an old crone. If you think you'll need them, start them, especially those who had little or nothing to do at the Euros. Still, I wouldn't be incredibly surprised if Liverpool's front six was Shelvey, Spearing, Adam; Cole, Morgan, Sterling instead. The above should be the back five regardless of who starts in the front six.

Two who haven't traveled despite being named in the UEFA squad list are Andy Carroll and Daniel Pacheco. The former has a slight groin strain (wink wink, nudge nudge) while the latter played in today's reserve friendly against Huddersfield (along with Suso, Sama, Adorjan, and Wisdom). I may well be reading too much into it, but it doesn't bode well for either, especially Carroll: yet another sign that he isn't wanted, on his way out as soon as he agrees to go to West Ham or Newcastle make a large enough offer. Alas. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, probably sooner rather than later. Eccleston also hasn't been included in the squad list, which means that it has to be 18-year-old Adam Morgan up front if Borini doesn't start.

I admittedly can't tell you much about FC Gomel. They're currently third in the Belorussian Premier League, which began in March, four points behind second place Shakhtyor Soligorsk, but with three games in hand. They've lost just one of their last eight matches, the 0-1 defeat to Renova in the last round of this competition, content to see out a 2-0 advantage from the first leg. They've lost just two league matches since the start of the season, to first-place BATE Borisov and at Torpedo Zhodino, in mid-May and mid-June respectively.

This match report, of the 2-0 win against Renova from Football-Lineups, should give you a decent idea of how Gomel will line up. They'll play 4-2-3-1, and Demidovich – Gomel's top scorer through the first two qualifying rounds – and Nowak will be the biggest threats cutting in from the flanks. The only change in line-up for the second leg against Renova was Bushma, the more-frequent starter, in goal rather than Ostojić.

The one Gomel name you might recognize is Vyacheslav Hleb, Alexander Hleb's younger brother, who hasn't featured since the first qualifying round. I believe he's injured, going off against Víkingur after an 18-minute substitute appearance, but I (read: Google) honestly don't know for sure. Gomel will also be without two usual starters due to the Olympics: attacking midfielder Illya Aleksiyevich and central defender Ihar Kuzmyanok.

I'm tempted to say that Liverpool just need to hold on (which is why I was tempted to guess a weaker line-up), just survive and get back to the more-important second leg at Anfield, where more of first-team players will have trained for a week longer. But that isn't really the case. It's Rodgers first competitive match and first match in European competition. Liverpool need to put last season's failures behind them as quickly as possible; as depressing as it is to write, there's little room for error. Already. Starting the season so soon has its benefits, especially with the devilish start to the Premiership campaign upcoming, with more to gain and more to lose than in the previous half-hearted friendlies. But lose and the knives come out. Already. Lose and heads will drop, with rebuilding the side's shattered confidence already a clear priority.

So just win. Anything less would be uncivilized.