Liverpool Working On Creativity, Organization Ahead Of Blackburn Meeting

Part of Brendan Rodgers’ job as Liverpool manager is to identify and solve his team’s problems and help his players do the same when they’re on the field.

Rodgers and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet named attacking creativity and defensive organization as two key areas in which Liverpool must improve ahead of Wednesday’s FA Cup quarterfinal replay against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Liverpool must reverse its recent dip in form in order to defeat a Blackburn team whose goal-less draw on March 8 at Anfield marked the end of the Reds’ revival and start of their current struggles.

Liverpool has scored just four goals in its last four games, as the attacking verve which fueled its mid-season revival went missing at a key point in the season.

“In the last four games that we’ve played, we haven’t created as much, and that’s more on ourselves,” Rodgers said Monday at his pregame press conference, according to LiverpoolFC.com. “That’s something that we want to reinforce — the creativity for chances and hopefully taking those chances.”

Rodgers expanded on the topic Tuesday, saying Liverpool must increase the speed of its attacking play.

“When we play the game quickly, that allows us to get into position,” Rodgers said, according to LiverpoolFC.com “And the key for us is that when you’re in position, you can press better as well because if the ball breaks down you’re there.

Liverpool also had defended historically well before recent losses to Manchester United and Arsenal. Mignolet said the Reds must stay organized — especially while defenders Emre Can and Martin Skrtel serve suspensions — in order to restore their solidity at the back.

“You always look for certain things you can do better and what went wrong,” Mignolet told LiverpoolFC.com on Tuesday. “I always speak to the defence, and on the way back from Arsenal, we talked through a couple of things. You always look for what you can do better when the next game comes around.

“Organizing the defense is something that is very important, and I try to do my best every single day in training to make sure the lads get the information they need.”

A win over Blackburn will put Liverpool into the FA Cup semifinals, giving the Reds a chance to earn a measure of success from this season’s hard work.

Rodgers and Mignolet have pointed out the way to a FA Cup semifinal meeting with Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium. The other Reds now must follow their lead.