Moving Target – Steven Caulker

How will Remy fit in at Liverpool?

Remy is nearing completion for his £8.5million (rising to £10.5million) move to Liverpool, with only personal terms to be agreed. It is believed he will be getting a salary of £80,000 per week, which would suggest that he has not been bought to sit on the bench, nor to be an impact sub, like Lambert, who is currently on £40,000 a week.
One factor in Remy’s game time will be of course, other attacking players. I will list them below and how they are a threat to his position:

• Lallana – Recently picked up an injury, and will most likely miss the first 5-6 GWs of the season. When fit, he will most likely pick up a place on a flank. He may also play a more central role in a 4-4-2 diamond, alongside Henderson, Can or Lucas. The odd game he may play in the #10 role, however this doesn’t look likely with the wealth of players they have in this position.

• Sterling – Will take the right flank in a 4-3-3 formation or the #10 spot in the 4-4-2 diamond. Contrary to most people’s opinions, Sterling does not really hold a threat to Remy’s starting potential.

• Sturridge – Is able to play both central and in a wider position. He was more often the man who would play wide with Suarez playing down the middle. Sturridge is expected to be the main man, the spearhead of the attack, in a 4-3-3 formation. In a 4-4-2 diamond, both he and Remy will play up top. There is a large chance that Sturridge will be forced wide some games with Remy in a more central role if this suits the team.

• Markovic – A young player with no experience in the Premier League. He will be eased in, bench appearances from the start, with the odd appearance in the starting XI. He is a player for the future and I would not be concerned that he will affect Remy’s game time too negatively.

Liverpool will play 2 main formations, 4-4-3 and a 4-4-2 diamond. The expected line ups are below:

4-3-3, played 75% of the time against easier opposition:
------------- Gerrard -----------
------Lallana -------- Coutinho
Sterling ------------------Remy
------------- Sturridge ------------

There are a number of ways this could be changed, if BR rests players:

Sterling > Lallana
Lallana/Coutinho > Lucas/Can/Henderson
Remy > Markovic

The other formation they will play is a 4-4-2 diamond, like so:

-------- Gerrard --------
Lallana --------- Henderson
--------- Sterling ----------
Sturridge ------- Remy

There are a number of ways this could be changed, if BR rests players:
Sterling> Coutinho
Lallana/Henderson> Coutinho/Can/Lucas

Lambert will not start many games, and will come on for Sturridge in the 4-3-3 games at around 70 minutes and Remy for the games they play the 4-4-2 diamond.

Brendan Rodgers is impressed with Remy's versatility, and so signed him because he believed he could cover a number of positions. He did not sign him as a bench player to boost the squad. That was more what Lambert was signed as.

Here are Remy's stats for the last season:

Goals - 14
Assists - 3
Mins Per Goal - 150.2
Conversion Rate - 15.6%
Shots Per Game - 3.5
Key Passes Per Game - 1.2
Dribbles Per Game - 1.1

His stats work out as about a goal every second game.

Although primarily a striker, he can operate anywhere across the front line.

Remy featured in five different positions for Newcastle last season and that is a clear sign he will fit into a Liverpool attacking system that is likely to have Daniel Sturridge as its beating heart but with a mix-and-match group of players as its lifeblood.

Raheem Sterling assumed a key role during Liverpool’s title challenge last season after learning to be more flexible, while Philippe Coutinho earned rave reviews in the latter half of the season after showing a similar willingness to adapt.

Rarely did they get in each others’ way as Liverpool smashed goals with abandon at the height of their resurgence; Remy will be equally expected to work out his place in this grand scheme.

There will be inevitable moments of confusion when Sturridge and Remy both pull wide and deep, or chase the same balls into the box. But Rodgers will trust them to come good, in time.

The Liverpool manager would not have spent the £8.5m on Remy if he were not confident there will be no long-term clash of styles, no fighting for the same positions.

His game outside of the box in terms of passing, creativity and hold-up play clearly cannot be compared to Suarez, but when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, while still perhaps a level below Suarez, he is at least 'in the conversation', to quote Brendan Rodgers.

On loan at Newcastle United last season, the Frenchman scored 14 goals in just 26 games in a team that appeared almost disinterested from January onwards, and 6 goals in 13 starts for a struggling QPR side threatened by relegation.

It is a respectable return, and in a team that creates as many chances as Liverpool did last season, that tally and his minutes-per-goal record of 150.21 could well improve, especially when you consider that his shot conversion rate (21.54 per cent) was better than both Suarez (20.39%) and Wayne Rooney (20.99%).

Of course, with Rodgers having switched formation on numerous occasion between and even during games, and with the prospect of challenging on four fronts in 2014-15, the chances are that Remy would get his fair share of opportunities from the start. Given that he failed to register a goal in his four substitute appearances last season, perhaps that is just as well for us. He would be a wasted talent coming off the bench. That is a role more suited to Lambert.

Overall, Remy looks to be a great addition to an ever maturing Liverpool side. He will not replace Suarez but provides cover and support for the void he left in Liverpool's attack. He can play both central and on the wing, which means he will start many more games. In my opinion, I believe he will be a regular starter, given the formations. However, it is vital we observe pre season in order to get a better picture.