Behind that line were two defensive-minded midfielders with the defensive line stationed further back.
The duo joined midfielders Mark Kennedy, Riccardo Scimeca and Tony Capaldi on the mid-term injury list.
He believes that Mr. Gerrard should play deeper, as one of the two central midfielders.
WSJ: Soccer 2010: Steven Gerrard's Best Position on Liverpool? Still a Mystery
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has also dropped midfielders Emerse Fae, Gilles Yapi Yapo and Traore Lacina.
Among the club's central midfielders, he has more minutes than all but two players.
WSJ: Soccer: Chelsea Figures Out How to Say Goodbye to Frank Lampard
Midfielders Andy Robinson and Ferrie Bodde also made the side alongside the club's top-scorer Jason Scotland.
Instead, Mali's goals came from midfielders like Soumaila Coulibaly, Seydou Keita and Bassala Toure.
But Aston Villa defender Shane Lowry was omitted, along with Netherlands-based midfielders Tommy Oar and James Holland.
BBC: World Cup 2010: Australia omit Middlesbrough's Williams
Back then, most European teams still lined up four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards, also known as strikers.
Cardiff have no fit first-choice centre midfielders as Gavin Rae and Stephen McPhail are out for a few weeks.
Defenders Gonzalo Sorondo and Dario Rodriguez and midfielders Guiggou and Pablor Garcia were also injured in the first match.
Midfielders Paul Murray and Abdul Osman have been signed up for the new campaign and more fresh faces will follow.
BBC: SPORT | Football | My Club | Gretna | No return for Alexander at Gretna
Midfielders Michael Stewart (Manchester Utd) and Stephen Pearson (Motherwell) and defender Andrew Dowie of Rangers are the other injury victims.
Saints' Murray Davidson was the pick of the midfielders, winning several strong tackles and always playing with his head up.
Midfielders Savage and Guppy terrorised Newcastle in the middle of the park, servicing make-shift forward, Matt Elliott, to good effect.
The absence of midfielders Duff, Reid and Gibson made Andy Reid's claims for a recall look all the more compelling.
And manager Walter Smith was not about to disappoint his critics - playing two holding midfielders instead of his usual one.
City have signed goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos, midfielders Matthew Gill and Owain Tudor Jones, and defender Michael Nelson so far this summer.
To their credit, Zamalek continued to attack, and went close through Aly on 78 minutes, the midfielders' shot going just wide.
Despite picking up three points at Ewood Park, Spurs suffered the last-minute loss of key midfielders Steven Pienaar and Luka Modric.
You see our players, not just the strikers but the midfielders, banging in goals week in and week out at club level.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Internationals | Poor England frustrate McClaren
Gilberto's move means three midfielders have left Arsenal this summer, with Alexander Hleb (Barcelona) and Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan) also moving out.
Rovers released four players at the end of last season, midfielders Edrissa Sonko and Adnan Ahmed and defenders Luke Waterfall and Danny Holmes.
The midfielders were sent home by NI manager Lawrie Sanchez after breaking a curfew before the games against Azerbaijan and England last month.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Internationals | Sanchez to keep City duo in exile
The forwards are going in slow motion, the defense gives them acres of space, the midfielders have an eternity to pass the ball.
Midfielders Chris Lumsdon, Paul Thirlwell and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson have all been sidelined while striker Michael Bridges and defender Peter Murphy have also been absentees.
Chris Casement and Colin Coates are the new faces in defence while midfielders Corry Evans and Stephen Carson will also make their first appearance.
Midfielders Michael Pook, 24, and Josh Low, 31, have both been given two-year deals and David Bird, 25, has signed for another 12 months.
Just some of the qualities possessed by the greatest modern-day midfielders - and attributes that could eventually enable Wilshere to join the same bracket.
Cisse, who had perhaps his best game for his country against France, joins a clutch of other Senegal defensive midfielders on the injured list.
应用推荐