Aston Villa defeat casts doubt over Liverpool's ability to mount title challenge
Does Brendan Rodgers have the strength in depth to mount a challenge on dual fronts?
Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday was more than an early season setback – it raised the question of whether they have the strength in depth to cope with the dual challenge ahead of them this term.
For the first time in four years Liverpool are back in the Champions League and much of the focus of their transfer market strategy has been based around creating a squad big enough and good enough to be able to fight on two fronts.
With a home game against Bulgarians Ludogorets to come at Anfield on Tuesday, manager Brendan Rodgers decided to introduce his first squad rotation of the season – albeit a modest one.
With Daniel Sturridge being injured on England duty, Rodgers decided to leave Raheem Sterling on the bench and hand Adam Lallana his debut to provide support for lone striker Mario Balotelli, with Serb Lazar Markovic given his first Premier League start in midfield.
Rodgers has options especially in attack. Even without Sturridge he could afford to put England international Rickie Lambert and Italian Fabio Borini on the bench and both were introduced late in the game as Liverpool desperately sought a goal.