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Like so many of Bill Shankly’s proclamations, it was said with tongue placed firmly in cheek.

But there was an essence of truth in the Anfield legend’s reply when asked to name his team for any particular game.

“Same as last season,” was the usual response.

Such was Liverpool ’s pursuit of continuity back in the 1960s and 1970s, changes to the starting line-up were at a premium.

And with the Reds riding high, there was – injuries notwithstanding – precious little reason to alter a winning team.

Back in 1965-66, Liverpool won the league by using just 14 players, of which two – Alf Arrowsmith and Bobby Graham – made just six appearances between them.

Only 15 players were used in the title-winning campaigns of 1978-79 and 1983-84, a feat arguably more remarkable given the advent of substitutes.

Today’s hectic, all-action, pressurised game means there is no chance of a team succeeding with so little change.

But, in terms of Liverpool’s thrilling run-in for the title, Brendan Rodgers appears to be looking to the past in an effort to build a new future at Anfield.

In the Reds last six Premier League games – all of which were won to send them clear at the top of the table – only 12 different players have started.

There have been a regular nine starters with two of Philippe Coutinho, Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling taking the remaining places.

By comparison, in the same period title rivals Manchester City have started 17 different players, and Chelsea and Arsenal both 15.

Tottenham Hotspur, thumped 4-0 at Anfield last weekend, have started 20 different players in that time. Everton have called on 16.

The trend for status quo goes back even further.

During 2014, in constructing a 13-game unbeaten Premier League run only 16 Liverpool players have started matches of which two are Iago Aspas (one start in the first game of that run against Hull City) and Lucas Leiva (two starts in the first two games against Hull and Stoke).

That reticence to change personnel, though, is symptomatic of Rodgers’ approach since moving to Anfield.

Certainly, not for him Rafael Benitez’s beloved rotation.

The Northern Irishman received a bit of stick when, shortly after taking over at Anfield in the summer of 2012, he explained “if plan A doesn’t work, plan B is to make a change to make plan A more effective”.

It was more an observation on his philosophy than available players.

But subsequent events have suggested Rodgers, whether through necessity or design, is not one for massive tactical overhauls.

Just look at his record of substitutions.

Liverpool have used all three substitutes for only 15 of their 32 Premier Leagues games, of which more than a quarter have come in the final 10 minutes.

It goes some way to explaining why just three of the Reds’ 88 goals have come from substitutes – Daniel Sturridge at Everton and Stoke City, and Raheem Sterling at Southampton.

Only Norwich and Aston Villa have had less of a goal contribution from the bench in the Premier League this season.

Of course, a lack of European football has simplified Liverpool’s campaign compared to their title rivals.

By comparison, Jose Mourinho has made three substitutions in every Premier League game other than the recent defeat at Aston Villa when his usual ploy of throwing on subs late on was disrupted by a last-minute red card.

Of Chelsea’s 62 Premier League goals, nine have been from substitutes.

Two-thirds of Chelsea’s substitutions have been in the last 10 minutes of matches, part of Mourinho’s way of managing his squad so everyone feels they have contributed.

It is a contrast to Rodgers who, with Liverpool three or four goals ahead in so many of their games going into the closing stages, has had more leeway to make changes.

He hasn’t, though, on the basis he won’t reward players game time he believes isn’t deserved for efforts during training.

Only five times have City not used all three substitutes – and on four of those occasions they failed to win, a clear example of Manuel Pellegrini asking the players who got his team into a sticky situation to then get them out of it.

Just 18 of their substitutions have come in the final 10 minutes, while eight of City’s 80 top-flight goals have come from the bench.

Like City, Arsenal have failed to use their full complement of substitutes on five occasions, and four of those games they didn’t win. Five of their 56 league goals have come from the bench.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has been similar to Mersey counterpart Rodgers, eight times neglecting to use all three substitutes with the Blues unbeaten in all of those matches.

Martinez, though, has utilised the bench well, with nine of Everton’s 49 league goals coming from substitutes, including two in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Fulham.

So, what does this tell us?

Rodgers reluctance to turn to the bench, betraying a lack of faith in his fringe players, has influenced Liverpool’s approach this season.

Their propensity for starting matches strongly – scoring the first goal in 24 of their 32 Premier League games – means they haven’t had to chase games on many occasions, lessening the need to alter the team.

While Liverpool have 13 or 14 players who could challenge for a place in any top-flight side, Rodgers does not have the squad to compete with the likes of City and Chelsea.

A message, then, to Fenway Sports Group they cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window.

Champions League football, as is looking increasingly likely, will put a significant strain on the Liverpool squad and expose any shortcomings.

The cash must be splashed. Otherwise FSG will discover the hard way there is no substitute for strength in depth.

Big Sam calls on duo to shine

WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce believes Liverpool old-boys Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing will have to be at their very best against their former club today if the Hammers are to have any chance of causing an upset.

The Reds visit Upton Park fighting it out with Manchester City and Chelsea to be crowned Premier League champions with both Carroll and Downing deemed surplus to requirements by Brendan Rodgers since he took charge at Anfield.

The England international duo were snapped up by Allardyce, with Joe Cole also returning to West Ham from Liverpool in January 2013, and the 59-year-old knows that those players will have to put in top-drawer performances if they are to hurt the title tilt of Rodgers’ side and make their point to the Northern Irishman.

“He (Brendan Rodgers) made a decision early on (with Carroll) and we were the first to try and resolve that situation,” said Allardyce.

“As disappointed as Andy was, that was the decision made by Brendan and you have to move on, you have to put it behind you.

“Stewart Downing also comes into the fray where he played a part in Liverpool last season and then joined us. The rest of the team and those two lads particularly will want to show how good they are on Sunday. Let’s hope they play very, very well on Sunday because we need them to.”

With Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge forming a seemingly free-scoring strike partnership for the visitors, Allardyce will have to be wary of the goal threat but, as a proud Englishman, he is also happy to see a number of homegrown players emerging.

Along with Sturridge and captain Steven Gerrard, England manager Roy Hodgson named Glen Johnson, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling in his side against Denmark last month as half of his outfield team was made up of Liverpool players.

“People are emerging from an England point of view and it’s very encouraging to see Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling emerge more than ever this year,” Allardyce added.

“We’ve got a big job on our hands, we know that, but after our performances and our results we’re really looking forward to it.

“We’ve eased the pressure on ourselves and produced a great run of form and results at this period of time with six wins out of nine. That’s two points per game, that’s top-six form. We’re in our best form of the season and hopefully that will make for a competitive game on Sunday afternoon.”

Allardyce has confirmed captain Kevin Nolan will be available for the game having been forced off late in the win over Sunderland.

The 2-1 victory over the Black Cats was West Ham’s sixth win in nine games.

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