It is highly doubtful that you could get such a contrast to the form of recent months compared to the match in the Ataturk tonight. Where previously Liverpool looked assured and dangerous, tonight they were nervous and bereft of ideas.
In truth, the team was lucky to even get to a penalty shootout, but the spot-kicks were perhaps the Reds’ only positive, as all four of the first takers scored with aplomb. You could say it was written in the stars that Dejan Lovren would miss the fifth but there are bigger issues at stake than his miss.
Such as, why was a player without confidence given the most important penalty? Why were Liverpool seemingly told to sit back after half-time? Why did the players look so tired, when so many of them had played so little before the New Year?
A win against Manchester City will render all of the questions above irrelevant but, for now, to the aftermath and our player ratings.
[ffc-gallery]See our player ratings here.[/ffc-gallery]
3 years of Rodgers and so far no trophies, apparently 250m spent in that time, only the FA cup left now, not good enough.