SOMETIMES you just need to keep your feet on the ground. Which is not something any of us did for the last week, I’m sure.
In the build-up to the game at the Emirates I wrote that I felt that the game was a potential turning point for Liverpool, that if we could come through and get an unlikely win we could genuinely look at the league title as a real aim.
Either through ignorance or just some misguided loyalty, I didn’t really even consider the possibility of – or fallout from – a defeat.
But that’s where we are now – our first big defeat of the season.
It may have taken 10 games to get there (and I know we lost to Southampton, but I’m referring to the ‘big four’ games) but it doesn’t soften the blow at all. Something else which in no way softens the blow is that all but a handful of the players that started yesterday deserve any credit for their performances.
It’s just too easy, and a bit of a cop-out, to say that we were just outclassed by Arsenal as for every Ozil and Cazorla, we have a Coutinho and a Suarez, for their Girouds and Flaminis, we have Sturridge and Lucas. Sure, there are slight differences in quality but the point is that, on paper, both sides are very similar in the quality of their strongest starting 11’s.
The difference on Saturday evening was that Arsenal’s players seemed to be more interested in getting a result, and that’s exactly what they got. The better team won, on the day.
However, despite 2-0 appearing a comfortable result, Liverpool still managed almost 50% of the possession and equalled Arsenal’s shots at goal. On another day, if the Reds had performed, it may well have been a comfortable win.
But as far as my eyes could see, Skrtel, Sakho and Suarez were the only players to come out of the game with any real credit. The rest of the team either had bad games or may as well just not been there, for all the effort they put in.
It would be easy to the finger at the mis-firing Suarez and Sturridge, given that we equalled Arsenal’s shot total but the support from the rest of the team for the front two was practically non-existent. The majority of the chances created were from the front pair themselves.
Then there was the couple of chances – perhaps our two best of the game – which Jordan Henderson squandered, one in each half. It would be unfair to the young midfielder though to blame him too much, as he really isn’t suited to the more advanced role he has been playing. He will play anywhere you ask him to but that doesn’t mean he should.
For all his running and how he applies himself, it is hard not to admire Henderson but, in truth, his contribution to the team really does need to become more tangible. It is all well and good running endlessly and tracking back, but when he does get up to support the attack (which in fairness to him, is more than most) he never convinces. He is certainly not the new Steven Gerrard, but he can still improve in the attacking third.
And speaking of the man himself, it is becoming more and more clear that we have two choices with Gerrard, one of which is a choice many will not be happy having to consider.
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The first is that, if Gerrard is going to start every game, then we need to find a system in which he can flourish. Against West Brom the previous week, Gerrard had perhaps his best game of the season. He was pushed further forward and actually looked threatening at times, but against Arsenal he was once again playing alongside Lucas and gave his partner absolutely no support.
I’ve never thought that discipline was a great strength Gerrard’s but that was never an issue. Playing so high up he play his own game and if he loses possession or tries a dangerous ball it is unlikely to be punished. But playing just in front of the defence his often wayward passing and clear lack of ability to get around the pitch like he used to is really damaging our performances.
Gerrard’s strength has always been in attack. Barr the odd spectacular tackle or tracking back (which is something, again, he can’t really do anymore) the captain should be kept as far away from our own goal as possible.
The other option is that it may just be time to let Gerrard spend a bit of time on the bench. Rodgers spoke recently about how he had no concerns over leaving Dan Agger out, despite being his vice-captain, and if that is the case then I think the same sentiment should be applied to his captain also.
Not even the most staunch Gerrard supporter can say he’s had anything like an acceptable season up to this point and I think that it would benefit the team to give somebody else a go, somebody more suited to the round hole Brendan is clearly trying to get Gerrard’s square peg to fit into.
That isn’t to say that Gerrard should take any direct blame for the defeat to Arsenal, the team as a whole need to regroup and rethink how they approach big games, but it was clear from Saturday’s game that a couple of changes need to be made and taking Gerrard out of the fire for a while would be a good place to start.
Elsewhere, if anything was clear from Saturday’s game it is that Liverpool currently lack any effective creativity aside from Suarez and Sturridge. Coutinho’s return should be a boost but he didn’t start the season on fire and will need at least a month to get himself back to his best.
But if Liverpool are still in contention coming into January then a creative attacking talent should be of the utmost priority. A player of the kind we made bids for but missed out on in the summer.
Names such as Pastore have been linked, and Mata’s continued absence from Mourinho’s preferred 11 show that there are plenty of options available but we have to ensure we make the right choice.
It isn’t the end of the world that we lost our first big test of the season. The absence of our two first-choice full backs really hampered our attacking intent, and a lack of performance from some key personnel really hurt us but the lessons we saw on Saturday need to be learned from and 1 or 2 changes need to be enacted to make sure that we’re ready for the next big test at Goodison later this month.
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We bought really badly in the summer , and our weak midfield is evidence of this . The opening fixtures were very kind for Liverpool but the real season started on Saturday and shows us that BR has not built a squad good enough to compete at the top.
I agree with your assessment with gerrard, he is no spring chicken, but lets be honest we all know he could never hold his position when playing the role he has been asked to do so. Lucas can only do some much covering as seen yesterday after 75 mins he was really tired. But lets also put things into perspective, first of all i have no idea why you would play three midfielders against 5? second where was the pressing? thirdly why did we spend so much of the game trying to hold shape and let their midfield play? we did the same against manure (spit)! its simple, tactics need adjusting, firstly yesterday before the game had kicked off i said we needed to play 4-5-1 formation, drop sturridge to the bench bring him and courtino on for impact at 60 mins. it all ifs and buts, but truly if we had just pushed up another 10 yards and closed down more quickly we would have had a different result – i do not see a reason why we should not at least try to win games like this, BR said before the game a defeat would not be end of the world – says it all really!
U said the absence of the two first choice full back hampered the attack,that is nt an axcuse.arsenal too re missin their 3 first choice wingers in walcott,podolski n oxlade wit flamini bt they stil won,which shows they re nt a 1 man team.beliv me,if walcott was in dat match,it wuld hve bin 5-0.
And Wilshire. Dont forget Wilshire. Although there is probably some idiot out there that thinks Wilshire wouldn’t get in their team
lets be honest either rodgers was experimenting with our team (which i wld prefer to doubt) or lacking ideas. what is difficult in understanding when to play a 4-4-2. with johnson absent, kolo, skrtel, agger nd sackho wld ve filled in perfectly. both experience wise, and tempo of the game wise. what is difficult in understanding that steven cant finish every game. esp when he is playing deep. his passes nd movements are obviously very predictable. these are the factors that cost us the game on saturday and its a pity sturridge wants to reach the 1st 10 goals before suarez so he can win the boot, that unfortunately wld likely cost us more points.
Doesnt Rodgers always lack ideas ? He relies on Suarez magic every week to rescue us .
Completely right just look at our results without Suarez.
Ha ha hahaha . What a bellend little no sheep is
He is the only (fool) in the world who thinks we are betteroff without Suarez.
As if things aren’t bad enough. This clown wants us to sell our best player
We knew we are going to loose this once we saw team lineup and formation. BR lost it before it has started, I remember Wenger was smiling before match cause he knew what going to happen next. No team this year can outplay gunners by playing 3 at back. Gunners are fluent in passing. Anyway if you play 3 at back against gunners, Chelsea, Mancity they gonna rip u apart. But still Liverpool played really good. If we would have played 4231 then that was really awesome test for both. One thing is clear this season, it does not matter how many star players u have in your team its what tactics you play against depending on the opposition. But its good for liverpool and BR that we have some reality check now and best of luck for gunners for CL.
On tactics note SAF ( I know we all hate him) won the title with same team which Moyes is playing and now they look average team. Its all depend on your coach and tactics. Another good example is Klopp how they beat gunners was eye opening for all the EPL teams… but still only Jose has learn from that game. And our manager has not learn anything from both the games… or does he even watch those games.
What makes me sad is even a common fan with common knowledge like me can realize this they why cant BR. I only hop he dose not make the same mistake with other top teams.
VJM
Perfect comment. Playing 3 at the back , against a team that will overrun the midfield and pin your fullbacks back…..is asking for trouble. If we were to get anything from the game, -4–2-3-1 was the best option with suares and sturridge dropping back to help the mf.
Lessons never learned by BR .
I keep thinking back to his quote when he joined
“when plan A is not working , our intention then is to improve plan A”
What a ridiculous attitude for a premiership manager. Absolutely amateurish. No wonder we cant beat the good teams.
Br clearly is deceiving us.
You are right about deceiving us.
He’ll talk a good game, deceive us, then try his best to make us lose, in doing so wreck his future managing career and never manage again! Why would he do that?
Oh and I suppose he’s deceiving the league as well? We are third and no one has died.
Really intelligent comment Pino, not.
He must be some sort of illusionist!
Aaron and little no sheep again.
Same person ? Can’t be 2 such deluded fools on one planet
Not deludes my friend… Fans. Enjoying where we are in the league!
Would you prefer Rafa promising fourth but ending up seventh? You people using the word delude really need to take a long hard look in the mirror and e repeat these words… I hate being third, I hate most of the deadwood gone, I’d rather have Carroll than Sturridge, Downing over Coutinho and progress hasn’t been made.
Then comment after about how you felt. Then read the definition of delude.
You people have no idea what progress looks like because you live in the ‘In Rafa We Trust’ past.
Look to the future and look at the stats, since January we have been in the four most consistent teams in the league, yet, no progress has been made?
Please explain that without using the phrase brainwashed.
Plebs (you can use a dictionary if you are unsure of the meaning)
Ha ha ha ga
You are a small kid Aaron ? Yrs ?
Brainwashed and deluded . Enjoying being 3rd ? Is that a highlight ? 3rd ?
Maybe your a stoke fan to be happy about being 3rd in November and out of one cup already
You internet warriors have no idea what it means to be Liverpool fans .
I can just imagine you coming on here during Roys time , telling e everyone how to support .
Deadwood ? More deadwood than ever. Allen Borini assaidi Aspas cissosko Henderson Alberto etc etc
You are soooooooooo naive and blatantly stupid ..it’s hilarious .
I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat. There will never be top 4 with Rodgers. You can dance around your fire in whatever village your from and pretend everythingthst is ok because of our easy fixture start but reality will bite soon