Reds' Forecast Post-Alonso Failings Don't Bear Out

True, the early games, especially Spurs, were hardly pretty. But the root cause was Torres and especially Gerrard's struggles for touch and fitness much more than Alonso's absence. The manager said as much.

This all begs a question: if we can easily see the effects of Alonso's absence, how is it we are still finding the net with regularity?

The manager rightly pointed out yesterday the structure is essentially the same as before. But I believe a subtle yet significant shift in balance of personnel is clear to see. We've shed some passing, but gained movement.

Some of the greater movement comes from Alonso's direct replacements. Lucas gets into the box much more regularly than Alonso, as does Gerrard when he plays in central midfield.

But it also stems from Glen Johnson, both in what he does with the ball at feet, and the space he creates for others.

Some of it is also due to Torres. His very effective hold up play and spatial awareness around the box has been very noticeable at times. While we have had two superb seasons from him so far, anyone familiar with his Atletico days would appreciate this is one aspect where he can give more. That lovely pass for Benayoun at West Ham might be just the start.

This subtle shift in balance from passing towards movement has probably served the team well overall, at least in league games. While good distribution can be important to breaking down set defences, good movement and interchange is probably more effective still. And there's little doubt more emphasis on movement and interchange benefits some of our key second-tier players.

Benayoun and Kuyt in particular are very intelligent with their off-ball movement and reading of the game. It even better suits a player like Voronin, who has a good eye for a pass, whatever his faults. Down the line, some younger players (like say Pacheco), may also benefit.

This is on top of the fact it gives Gerrard and Torres extra bodies to pick out or use as decoys in the final third. Some of the interchange at the business end of the pitch this season has been simply fantastic.

[Myself, I'm quietly giddy at the thought of playing this way with Agger and Aquilani in the lineup. Whisper it, but with their mobility, awareness and ability to carry the ball forward, things might really take off on a consistent basis ...]

And there's an irony in all this. For many, myself included, Alonso's arrival was the hallmark of Benitez's departure from Houllier's relatively direct football back towards our club's pass-and-move roots. It may be we will come to look at Alonso's going as the final push towards our heritage.

Of course, the Liverpool defence has been a problem.

Many have noted the goals conceded have come through set pieces. This supposed "vulnerability" is well overstated. Much of this is simple bad luck, unfortunate deflections and breaks of the ball. Some is harsh refereeing. Some is due to a relatively unsettled central defensive pairing. Admittedly, stupidly conceded fouls have played a role too.

And we should also acknowledge this is in part the flipside of more movement in attack. All else equal, more movement in attack means greater potential for players to be caught out of position more regularly, which may force them to concede free kicks in dangerous areas.

To my eyes, there are more gaps on our right flank and especially in central midfield than we are used to. This isn't a reflection on individuals as defenders, but rather imbalances in the structure of the team as a whole. Over time, they can get the balance right.

But right now, there may be a second irony in all this: for all his silky passing, we could be missing Alonso's presence in defence more than we do in attack! Not at all what the punditry would have had us believe.

On the face of it, the loss of Alonso will be keenest not the league, but in the big euro games from February onwards. The big teams of Europe usually mercilessly punish any defensive frailties they might find on the counter and at set pieces.

Further, teams in the latter stages of Europe tend to press the ball much more intelligently than premier league teams, so controlling possession and dictating tempo as Alonso could is often at its most valuable at that point.

Alberto Aquilani may in time prove good enough to replace Alonso on the big European Stages as a conductor of possession and tempo, but limiting defensive exposure to counterattacks and set pieces on the counter will ultimately prove a task for the team as a whole. Striking a balance is key.

Next week's trip to Chelsea will be our defence's first big test of the season against a Euro heavyweight. Indeed, Chelsea exposed us very effectively at set pieces and on the counter in Europe last season in knocking us out, making it a great measuring stick. Hopefully today's game will see the Reds strike the sort of balance necessary to succeed next week.