Central Midfielders:
First Choice: James Milner & Jordan Henderson
Back-Up: Joe Allen
Analysis: The Milner-Henderson partnership has been looking excellent in pre-season. Milner has scored twice in his first four appearances, while Henderson has not looked at all concerned at the presence of the captain’s armband around his bicep – his unbelievable rabona to set up Lallana in Thailand the clear highlight.
It leaves Joe Allen in a very tenuous position on the fringes of the first-team. With Gerrard having only been used in a bit-part role last season, the Welshman got plenty of chances, but with Milner having now arrived those opportunities are going to become less frequent. It will be interesting to see how he responds next month.
Conclusion: You can’t help but feel that we’re a body short in midfield. Can could no doubt push further forward, while the likes of Lallana and Coutinho have proven in the past that they’re capable of dropping back. But we’re arguably missing that deep-lying midfield playmaker, a Xabi Alonso type, now Steven Gerrard’s gone.
