Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes that the reason that Liverpool have been so inconsistent in recent weeks is because the players aren’t good enough to play at a consistently high level. He wrote in his column for the Liverpool Daily Post:
“Liverpool’s performance in the first leg [against Braga] was average at best. That it came after the win over Manchester United, which itself came after the defeat at West Ham United, tells everyone the squad of players aren’t good enough to play at a consistently high level.It also didn’t make for good viewing, which has been the case for much of Liverpool’s Europa League efforts on the road this season.”
Lawrenson also warned Braga defender Kaka to be in for a rough ride on Thursday night:
“I wouldn’t want to be Braga centre-back Kaka on Thursday. The defender caught Andy Carroll with a sneaky elbow to the face towards the end of Liverpool’s disappointing 1-0 Europa League defeat in Portugal last week. But Kaka would have been frightened to see Carroll take his punishment, get some treatment then carry on playing as though nothing had happened. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kaka mysteriously suffered a groin strain before kick-off.”
This week it is former LFC WAG Jennifer Metcalfe!
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The lack of pace,width and muscle in the midfield is part of the reason why a crucial 10 points has been dropped in the last 9 league games. The Europa League games on Thursday nights have also been a problem.
Totally agree with the first part of your comment. I don’t agree that the Europa League has been a hindrance though – the “B Team” played all of the group stage matches, and recent games in Europe have been an opportunity to gather momentum/form
Kelly’s injury against West Ham was first sustained playing against Sparta at Anfield on the previous Thursday night. Agger also got injured in that game. Liverpool had to push hard to win that game through the likes of Meireles and Lucas in the secondhalf. The friday would have been a dayoff so training and preparation for the crucial game at West Ham only occurred on the Saturday and then a long journey down to London did not help tired limbs either. Watch how the Sunderland performance this Sunday will be poor again.