Liverpool not quite winging it

THE Hull defeat was a huge disappointment to everyone.

The news that Daniel Sturridge would be out for the next 2 months, missing the incredibly busy festive period, is an even bigger blow for both the player and the team. As the Hull game, and indeed the Everton game prior, showed, he’s a player that our team is already very reliant upon.

It was noticeable also that without our magical Brazilian as well, it affected not only the team’s ability to play but also the performance of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan had his quietest game in a Liverpool shirt for some time.

The injuries to last January’s signings gave a couple of players huge opportunities. Rodgers changed the system to a 4-3-3 and brought in Raheem Sterling and Victor Moses as wingers. One of the concerns in such a system, prior to the game being played, would have been ensuring we got enough players into the box in order to get on the end of crosses and pull-backs. What few expected was that we would barely register a cross all day.

The midfield has been Liverpool’s biggest problem area this season, either not providing adequate cover to the defence and leaving them exposed, not controlling enough of the ball or not providing their fair share of goals. In this game Liverpool had significantly improved possession in the first half, but did not show either the drive or creativity to push for a result. It seemed we were just assuming the possession statistics would simply turn into goals, relying again on Suarez to do all the work.

However for me it was in the wide areas where the players let down the team, and the fans. Neither Flanagan, and perhaps more surprisingly Johnson, got forward. Against a team where we had so much possession, we rarely doubled up in the wide areas. But it was the performances of our two wingers that were the most disappointing.

Raheem is a very talented youngster, and it must be remembered he is only 18, but his lack of game time this season made him look remarkably rusty. He improved in the second half, with some good turns, but he has clearly suffered from rarely getting off the bench and simply did not effect the game in the manner that he would have hoped. His pace and trickery should have been an outlet, but too frequently he ran into players, let the ball get away from him with a poor touch (something which has been common this season) or, particularly in the first half, struggled to get on the ball.

My biggest disappointment was Moses. I will confess to being rather unimpressed with him so far. The lad is also still fairly young, and certainly had an incredibly harrowing experience growing up, but I can only judge him as a footballer. He was recently voted Nigerian player of the year, but beyond his goal on his debut, he has often flattered to deceive, and doesn’t seem on the same wavelength of Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge. He too often misses opportunities for a good pass, and makes a poor decision when on the ball. Perhaps he is trying too hard to impress, in order to secure a regular starting spot, but I think the lad is going about it the wrong way. He certainly shouldn’t be giving interviews stating he should be playing more when he is playing as poorly as he is.

Rodgers took personal responsibility for the loss at Hull, and as the manager that is only right. But, even if many fans may have picked a slightly different team or formation, the players that were picked should have been good enough to beat Hull, even away. There is not a single member of the Hull squad that would get into the Liverpool squad. I wonder if the excessive praise that Rodgers often uses is the right way to keep our players focussed for games against Hull.

Brendan also criticised the squad depth at the club, and no doubt we don’t have the money to compete with Chelsea or Man City, but it was noticeable that none of the players, Mignolet excepted, that Rodgers spent about £75m on in the last two summers (i.e. not including January) had any effect on the Hull game. Perhaps because even in Brendan’s opinion they weren’t viewed as good enough to start or come off the bench.

Some big decisions need to be made against Norwich. However with the game being at home, the players undoubtedly being focussed on giving a reaction to the Hull defeat and Suarez usually scoring hat-tricks against Norwich, whichever team or formation Rodgers picks is likely to do the job this time. However bigger tests await over the course of the holidays, and with Sturridge missing, Rodgers can no longer afford to make mistakes in team selection, preparation or tactics.

But then who said it would be easy being manager of Liverpool Football Club.

You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/

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