Should Aurelio and Arbeloa be first-choice Liverpool fullbacks?
Fabio Aurelio, Alvaro Arbeloa, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise. Four contrasting full backs who offer something a little bit different to the Liverpool team.
Having watched the Liverpool v Besiktas massacre, it was noted by the commentator that some of Liverpool’s most impressive wins have come when Aurelio and Arbeloa have played together; this was evidenced in the games against Arsenal last season, Reading and Besiktas this season.
I have felt for quite some time that both these players should be our first choice full backs on a permanent basis. I have never been a John Arne Riise fan and how he has lasted this long at LFC is beyond comprehension. A very limited player and to quote Paul Tomkins when he rightly says that Riise is….. “jack of all trades, master of none“. The upshot…. solid, dependable, the odd spectacular goal and thats about it. The downshot….no pace and ‘probably the most one left-footed player in the history of the game‘, to coin our sponsor’s phrase.
Our attacking play suffers when he plays at left-back because he doesn’t offer much by way of overlap and thus penetration. For example, witness Patrice Evra’s involvement in Man U’s second goal against Arsenal last weekend. When can you honestly say Riise has done something similar, let alone regularly, for Liverpool?
Whether this is down to tactics or not is a matter open for debate, but it seems almost certain that having watched him play for so long he does not take enough responsibility when going forward. Fabio had been extremely unlucky with injuries throughout his career and so far that trend has only just abated, but for how long who knows?
What is most impressive about Aurelio is not only his passing, (according to Rafa, Fabio is a better passer than Alonso) but his ability on the ball and his willingness to overlap (outside or inside) the winger in front of him, be it Kewell, Babel or Riise. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of Riise. Furthermore, Aurelio nearly always makes himself available to receive the ball by making triangles. He also does not have Riise’s extremely annoying propensity to “hoof” the ball even when there is clearly time and space to do something a little more constructive, be it to carry the ball forward, play a one two with his winger as he advances up the field or simply pass the ball infield. If Fabio can stay fit and get a run of games than his critiques will see that he is without a shadow of a doubt our most accomplished left-back.
Concerning the right-back position, Steve Finnan has been fantastic for Liverpool over the last few years. However he is now 31 and his best years I feel are behind him. His form has been patchy this season and because Arbeloa has been a revelation since he joined us in January it may be time for ol’ Stevie Finnan to make way. Alvaro is by no means the finished article, but at 24 he can only improve and thus his peak years are crucially still ‘in front’ of him, whereas as aforementioned, Finnan’s are behind him.
In comparison to Krompkamp and Josemi, Arebloa is Javier Zanetti. Mobile, very comfortable on the ball, intelligent passer and hungry for success, Arbeloa has the necessary ingredients to be our mainstay right-back for years to come, all things being equal of course. Where he needs improvement is in his defending. Prone to the odd mistakes he does not have Finnan’s near 100% reliability, but it should come with time.
A versatile player he may be, but Alvaro is not a defensive midfielder in any shape or form. His failure to track Fabregas’s run in what turned out to be Arsenal’s equalising goal should not blotch his growing reputation amongst knowledgeable Liverpool fans. Asking him to play that position against the caliber of Arsenal was a mistake on Benitez’ part, and his part alone, even if it was for the last 15 minutes or so of the game.
In the same way Aurelio operates at left-back, Arbeloa usually makes himself available to receive the ball without being under pressure. The one twos and the triangles are also part and parcel of his game. Hugging the touchline in much the way Aurelio does, Arbeloa helps to stretch the opposition by giving the team extra width. Given his footballing education at R.Madrid Castilla its not surprising.
It will be interesting to see whether or not Benitez will employ Aurelio and Arbeloa as his two orthodox full backs despite the rotation. Only time will tell, but what are your thoughts and if you were the Liverpool manager, who would you play at left and right back?
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definately aurelio and arbeloa… thier performances just did the talking… aurelio crosses early to let crouch be a more dangerous threat and he defended well.. while arbeloa is sort or a libero.. gets forward and into the opponent’s penalty box… another reason is because finnan is aging and doesn’t seem like he can do it when he was in his prime.
Spot on with the selection, but I wouldn’t give up on Finnan just yet. Also we have the option to buy Barragan back for a few Euro’s, so right back is looking OK for us.
I was worried about the left back until I saw Insua for the reserves in the last few games. If we can get Heinze to support Aurelio for a couple of years, then Insua looks very capable of filling that slot permanently.
being irish, i prefer finnan at right back, hes a great crosser of the ball and a very solid defender
Agree with this article:) But Finnan aint past his best yet, maybe 2 years to offer, he has experience that is a great asset. Hyppia is a example of someone past his best.
Against weaker teams, yes they should. Their service and overlapping runs make our attack more dynamic. I’d rather see Finnan and Riise back there against the top competition.
Riise should be sold and we should ask real about heinze if not we should part exchange sissoko and maxwell him and aurellio could be used as emergency left wingers Finnan has come to the end of the line as a top flight full back arbeloa should have alves to supplement him if he cannot be signed then there are lots of full backs in spain ,italy, germany and france and portugal hoever i feel the need for quality at centre back is more pressing as sami is nearing the end of his career and carragher is only two years away
Riise the most one-footed leftie ever??? Have you even seen Fábio Aurélio play then?? He NEVER uses his right to anything else than stand on. Riise uses his right to an occasional pass or shot, but you will neber see Aurélio do the same.
Riise is poor (not only economicly), but Fábio Aurélio is far worse. The only thing he can do is shoot and pass the ball when it’s lying still. If you watch the games he always stops the ball before passing it to someone else or try to make a cross. When the ball is moving his passes are terrible. The man can’t defend and especially when playing english teams he is to week. His tactical knowledge is awful. Just look at the Everton (A) and Galatasaray (H)games last year. All goals came from his area.
With that in mind, Riise is the man for the left back position, but only because there are no alternatives yet. Both Insúa and Threlfall may be good enough in the future, but they aren’t quite there yet.
At right back there are a different tune. Two very good players compete for that position. At the moment I think Arbeloa is the better of them, but it also depends on who plays in front of them. For example if Gerrard plays RW, then it must be Finnan, but if it is Pennant or Benayoun then Arbeloa is a better choice. It also depends on who we play against.
I’d say play Arbeloa on the left and Finnan on the right. At least until we can find a new really good left back. And I’m not talking about Gabriel Heinze.
Against attacking teams, I would tend to agree with you. Against a team with great attacking credentials, playing Aurélio can be tantamount to suicide. He is so prone to defensive errors it is ridiculous.
I meant against weaker teams, I would agree with you. The rest of the comment stands as it is.
How does Aurelio make triangles?? bizarre comment!
Riise doesnt play left full so stop raggin on him, he has been one of our most consistent players since we signed him..
john arne riise
oooh aaaah
i wanna know-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh how u scored that goal
Finnan is rested for a couple of games and suddenly he is old and ageing?? FINNAN IS QUALITY, AS IS ARBELOA, AND AAURELIO
u lot read 2 many tabloids..
havent u noticed with agger,carra,finnan,fabio,arbeloa,hobbs,hyppia,insua we have some seriously accomplished defenders and a healthy selection headache for rafa
Riise has been poor this season (so far) he is one of my faviourite players but until he gets back on his game i reckon Finnan to the right and Arbeloa to the left.
Just to pick up on one comment from “Rafa the Gaffer” - we don’t have the option to bring back Barragan from Deportivo la Coruna anymore - part of the deal to bring Arbeloa to Anfield (from Deportivo) was that we waived (cancelled) the Barragan clause. I remember this clearly being said at the time we brought Arbeloa in.
ah, now i know this must be a joke article…
Grosso,!?clichy?, evra?
WHO??
Riise has won more silverware than those 3 put together!!
RAFA IS USING HIM IN MIDFIELD ANYWAY,,,,
Arvin, you are beginning to sound like Andy Gray. I’m sure your opinion will change in a week or 2 once Riise scores another belter and your flash in the pan/this months hero, Clichy throws in a few stinky perfomances.
Wayne Bridge???
don’t make me laugh Andy…..
i mean Arvin
Andy/Arvin
I’m not sure if you supported Liverpool before the 2005 Champs Lgue final or not. Frankly, i don’t care..
But highlights of the game are widely available. Where would we, Rafa and LFC in general be without Riise’s quick thinking in dashing out to the left wing when 3-0 down.
His cross to Gerrard was pinpoint…. bang its 3-1, suddenly there’s hope..Then he wins the throw in which sets up Smicers goal (3-2). So as far as i’m concerned, without riise, there would be no Aurelio, no Arbelo, no new stadium and probably no Rafa.
Now tell me this… what has gael clichy ever achieved?
wayne bridge? Evra and clichy are smart answers yeh but wayne bridge? that is really insulting to riise
I can’ t understand why so many are against Riise! After what I’ ve seen of Liverpool this season he has contributed far more than Aurelio and Arbeloa. He’ s also starring for Norways national team. Those who says Riise is crap doesn’ t understand a thing about football!
Arbeloa is not a bad player but onnestly it’s not for LIVERPOOL. Let’s face it: Finnan is much much better than him.Riise and Aurelio can play in the same match on the left side.Both are good on deffence and good on the attack.
This should be our team: Reina -finnan, carragher, agger, aurelio- banayoun, xabi alonso ,stevie g, riise-torres, crouch(kuyt)