MY overriding feeling during Liverpool’s game against Crystal Palace was that we aren’t a particularly good football team.
Which is a bit weird considering the fact we were pretty much cruising and could have won more than the 3-1 it ended up with.
There were too many things – too many aspects of our game – that bothered the sanity out of me and left me a screaming, nervous lump.
Even at half time, three goals up, I never felt comfortable. This wasn’t over. A completely irrational thought based on what I had just witnessed, but I get that feeling quite a lot with the version of LFC we have seen for seven games this season.
For this particular game there was really no need to be nervous at all, that’s how big the difference in quality was between the two teams; but instead of being calmed down by it and just put my feet up and enjoy the rest of the ride I started to almost actively look for flaws in our game, collectively as well and individually.
That’s what happens when a game is won after 25 minutes, I guess. You become greedy. More, more, more. Gimme more.
I’d happily have taken a frustrating 1-0 or a dull 2-0 if you offered it to me before the game and walked cheerfully away with the three points – but that was when I thought Crystal Palace would put up a bit of a fight, which for me they didn’t do at all. We saw it against Tottenham Hotspur and against Manchester United that they are not a very good Premier League team, but for that exact reason I thought they would have collected a bit of wisdom and were ready to apply it at Anfield.
As that didn’t happen and the game in reality was a bit of a mild breeze right from the off, I paid more and more attention to our tactical approach as the goals started coming – especially to individual decision making. My general impression of this team is that there are a lot of stupid footballers in the squad; stupid in terms of overcomplicating things and going for the kill when it’s not on.
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Whatever happened to just putting your foot on the ball when you’re 3-0 up in the final minute of the first half, instead of going for the 40-yard cross field pass? That’s the stupidity I’m talking about. You sometimes hear a manager talking about players who are capable of reading and controlling the flow of a game, and this is something I have been missing for a few years in this Liverpool team.
The main issue for me on the day, and also throughout the whole season so far, was our midfield. Looking at the team right now I think this is where we have the most room for improvement, and it has very little to do with the physically imposing defensive midfielder many were looking for during the transfer window. To me our main problem right now is that we seem unable to control games no matter who we have running the engine room, and this is why every Liverpool game is a bit of a mental roller coaster. We look like we’re becoming a very good team in both penalty areas, which is a most welcome change and obviously a vital treat to have, but for me the picture isn’t complete until we get that same edge in midfield. Then again, Manchester United have won titles for half a decade with a less than brilliant midfield, so perhaps it’s not as important as I and others are making it out to be?
You could see it as fairly strange to start criticising the team after a smooth and handsome win that puts Liverpool FC joint top of the league, but conversely you could also say this is a good time to acknowledge the fact there are certain elements the team needs to improve in order to grow and evolve and that if Liverpool FC wants to continue improving on the pitch these elements need to be fixed in order to find the consistency needed to stay in the proximity of where we are right now on the league table.
I’m not saying it’s on or that this is the year – but it’s definitely up for grabs this season.
Just sayin’…
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Let’s see the difference when Gerrard is out of the team. Remember he was best in right midfield or attacking midfield; not maestro…
The aura LFC needs is that opponents assume they will lose. That enables the Reds to dominate on the field and in the minds of opponents. The midfield problem Gerrard excepted is that players offload the ball ASAP without intent or a view of where the forwards are. Hendo is allergic to the ball and gates rid of it in milliseconds. Alonso or Souness could tackle and distribute, Lucas is now fouling and failing to connect with a pass. This flaw means that the defenders can’t get a ball through to forwards at pace through a midfielder. Gerrard uses his exceptional talent by being in 4 positions in matches the Reds win.
This is not about stupidity but the lack of two players alongside the captain who can disrupt play and another who can move the ball at pace to the strikers.
LOL, Alonso couldn’t tackle a rice pudding
@asifaahmad… your comment about Lucas is not true! He has over a 90% pass completion rate. How is that not able to connect with passes? He seems to be getting in better condition since his last injury but over the years he has always had plenty of fouls. Would be good to see this change… YNWA
The point is not about pass completion but intent and direction. In the games
Lfc have scored in open play the players move the ball quickly with forward momentum. Hendo and Lucas can exchange passes with each other and get a high rating but how often has one of their passes led to a goal in the same phase of play. Lucas has improved particularly before his last long term injury but he is not quite the most feared player in midfield. We need an Alonso and a Souness type not slightly built players in midfield making lovely triangles.
Correct . Well said
You’re right …. we don’t look much of a side, and it is down to the midfield. Gerrard is not what he was but he’s still better than the dross around him. A couple of good midfielders and we might have a team to talk about. Henderson, Lucas and Allen are all mediocre at best . The problem is that some people talk about Henderson as if he has suddenly been transformed into Liverpool’s saviour …….. I know football is a game of opinions but do me a favour.
I’m complaining and we’ve got off to a better start than anyone expected ….. can’t please come people can you.
For me,we need mildfield 2 make our game wiser/beter bcus,we cnt expectin devensiv 2 be moving 4ward 2 make pass 2 d aterker.so we need perfect central 2 improve our game
Liverpool used to push up and keep numbers in the opponents half as soon as they got the ball, now they backtrac too much and are following the player instead of the ball, it’s the ball you want not the player by time you have tackled the player the ball is on it’s way to another player and our player is too far away to do anything, anticipate were the ball is going, get to it before they do or intercept it, henderson is learning this skill sometimes lucas is, the team are showing signs but it is a learning process as no other theam in the premiership are doing this…..Watch, Barcelona and Bayern, Pep is making sure Bayern are playing like this and he watched the Liverpool of old and Barcelona etc. have been playing like the old (the Shankley molded Liverpool) for a long time now.We are just starting to learn it again, it will take a few years to get back to were we where.
I agree with your article . We should have dominated the game in the same way Barcelona did against Man City. I don’t beleive that buying more expensive players is the answer. I also beleive that the manager has the right philosophy. However, transforming philosophy in to actual play is an art that a few managers have perfected. I think Rodger must be more assertive as a coach. Players must play to instructions. Ferguson’s success was due to his ability to get players to play to his instructions. He was brutally assertive. In order to get the best out of players you must be able to punish them for anything and everything. After all the club is paying their players for success onnthe pitch. Therefore the manager must demand the best and nothing less.
Honestly @Carl the way we play now is working well. Last season that’s what we were doing a lot of pressing upfield but once the opposing players got behind our midfield we were more vulnerable to conceiving goals (our defense wasn’t that strong either) plus we don’t have the type of players that Barcelona has. So I have few complaints about our technique to defending its just is controlling and finishing off a game that worries me.
A holding midfielder is the answer of all said here..And i ll be glad to see him back home.. Xavi Alnso answerate all.. The pass master.come and take us back where we belong cus since you left our middle of the park,life hasn’t be thesame with us. Come home!
we need tht midfield idelology of mascherano and alonso is wht we are missing,i would go of sandro of spurs is good defnsive midfielder who has visionary passes
All of u complaining go watch livpool vs norwich and n’castle both 2nd leg last season,it’s obvious we are missing a pure playmaker who will link up the attack and midfield cos it’s obvious Moses is not a pure playmaker,he seems not to know when to cool down and when to attack,evrytin is attack attack.Coutinho is better but we need Rakitic or Benat who are physically stronger or even Mario costa
Bring in Honda in January. 6ft tall, with creativity, power and goals! We need goals and penetration from MF.
The Liverpool team of today certainly has room for improvement.One we need to defend from setpecies. Two we need to stop conceding freekicks in dangerous positions. Three Lucas needs to cut down on his rash tackels and yellow cards.Four Liverpool need to play 90 mins of football. Fifth Liverpool need to stop being complacent. We need a right back and a creative midfielder and another striker. We may also need another backup goalkeeper.