Left Side Of Defence Is Liverpool's Weak Link

The purchase of Paul Konchesky was meant to plug a glaring weakness at left back for Roy Hodgson's Liverpool side. The signing of free agent Fabio Aurelio was also designed to do so. Hoping Daniel Agger to be an adequate left back is plainly tomfoolery. Agger has a great left foot but he does not have the tools to play on the left.

Konchesky was replaced by Agger on the 82nd minute of the English "Superclassico" with the score at 2-2. Daniel Agger could not get into the game and his concentration affected by Nani's diving antics, he promptly conceded space for John O'Shea to provide the assist for Berbatov's hattrick. Paul Konchesky may yet prove himself worthy of the leftback position but for now, left back is a problem area for Liverpool.

Debates are rife about whether O'Shea should have been sent off and that decision turned out to be a pivotal moment for both clubs. Steven Gerrard scored from the ensuing freekick while O'Shea made amends when he provided that cross for Berbatov's winner. Jamie Carragher looked past his best and Berbatov's winning header is testament of how aged Carragher has been since last season. Danny Wilson's Liverpool  Premier League debut may be coming sooner than we think.

Manchester United have been leaking late goals lately and when Liverpool scored two quick goals to tie the match, it looked like it could be Everton all over again. In the end, it was a fair result and United deserved the three points. Dimitar Berbatov finally stamped his mark as a player at Old Trafford with a virtuoso performance, becoming the first Devils player in 64 years to score a hattrick against their fiercest rivals.

Once again Maxi was disappointing and Dirk Kuyt's absence was clearly felt. I still believe that pushing Glen Johnson into right midfield and promoting Martin Kelly to rightback is beneficial to Liverpool. Cole had a decent game, his through ball to Torres set the scene for a commendable comeback which fell short at the final whistle. Gerrard's kiss on the Sky Sports camera brought memories and hope of an unlikely victory but it wouldn't have been right as apart from the two Torres-created chances, Liverpool did not have a sniff of United goal.

Already five matches into the new season, Liverpool are looking blunt and short of options in attack. Roy Hodgson has yet to figure out his best XI. The team is trying to get used to a man marking  system after years of zonal marking. Meireles and Cole need time to integrate into the team, Torres and Gerrard must start reigniting their famed telepathic understanding again and left back need to be sorted out. The Reds have Sunderland, Blackpool, Everton, Blackburn and Bolton to build a winning run before facing the rampaging Blue Champions in November.

Can Roy and Liverpool finally find their winning formula in the next five matches? We shall soon find out.