THE Villa result on Sunday was a welcome one. As much for the fact that we came from behind to beat a side that comfortably defeated us at Anfield this season, as for the fact that the result kept us on the tail of our cross-city rivals and in the hunt for a European place.
Too few times this season have we seen the Reds turn a result around in the second-half, after such an abject first-half display and as much as we’d all prefer to not be in that position, it is something which all sides that are looking to challenge for the top honours have to become accustomed to.
All teams that crave success have to have a drive and a collective will about them to fight in the face of adversity, even the sides at the very top of the footballing pyramid, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and so on. When the chips are down, they supplement the expected fancy-dan stuff we’re used to seeing with a desire to turn things around.
These days, I really couldn’t care whether that desire to win is brought about by a love for the club, the fans, or the players’ next fat pay-check, just as long as it’s there.
We see this every week from Luis Suarez, as he gives 100% against even the smallest sides. Even when he’s scored a hatful and is being brought off to receive a standing ovation from his own fans, he isn’t happy because he wants to help the team score more.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
Likewise, it’s an attitude which we’ve seen for well over a decade from Steven Gerrard – when the chips are down, we can usually always rely on him to pull us out of it and he did it again against Villa, as he stepped up to put us in front, in a finely balanced game where the Reds had missed several fine opportunities to score time and again in the second-half.
Those two aside, we are scarily lacking in that department. And while a not-yet back to his best Lucas would normally add to that, he’s still struggling for his best form, as are Agger and Skrtel, who can usually be relied upon to drive the team from the back line, but have struggled equally all season long.
For a squad so full of English and British players, it is perhaps surprising that we so lack this drive and ‘passion’ that is normally a default attribute of any working-class player.
The first-half performance against Villa (and also the last 20 minutes of the second) showed a Liverpool not quite convinced of its’ own abilities, but did show a frightening timidity and lack of, well…balls, to take control of a mediocre side that are looking relegation in the face.
It’s been the story of our season.
A win is a win, and that’s all there is to that. But a win can also see clubs brush obvious issues under the carpet and Liverpool need to spend the lead-up to next season finding either the players that can give us that ‘win-at-all-costs’ mentality or that missing ingredient in the players that we already have.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
suarez is a real warrior nd may coutinho is a new ronaldinho