Liverpool Falter and Deservedly Bow Out of Europe

Liverpool came into the road leg of their Europa League matchup with Besiktas seemingly in control of their own destiny.  Despite a relatively slim lead of only 1-0, from the controversial Mario Balotelli penalty kick at Anfield, all the power was in Liverpool's hands.  They had a slight margin for error with the one goal lead.  They had momentum coming off a huge win over the weekend over Southampton, where they dominated most of the game.  All Liverpool had to do was score one goal and they would force the Turkish side to score three goals to win, due to the away goal rule.

Liverpool could not accomplish such a feat.  The Reds came out in the first half and both squads probed at each other.  Neither really had great chances in the first fifteen to twenty minutes, but the flow of the game was what would be expected given the circumstances.  Liverpool did what they set out to do, according to Brendan Rodgers' prematch statements.  They held up the ball, knocked it around and did their best to absorb the match until the initial wave washed over Istanbul.  It worked.

You can disagree with the tactics or want to see Liverpool come out flying right from the opening whistle, but it worked...in the first half.  Liverpool held to their game plan in the opening 45 minutes and took the energy out of Besiktas.  Liverpool dominated possession and sprung several attacks from the 20th minute until halftime.  Honestly, Liverpool should have been 1-0 up at the half.  Daniel Sturridge has regressed after his firecracker start returning from injury.

Sturridge did not complete a run toward the goal line, where he would have had a chance at a Raheem Sterling cross.  Instead he planted himself on the penalty spot where even a chip cross would have been difficult to complete.  Sturridge was sprung on a semi-breakaway in the 28th minute, but was not at fault for failing to score there - the awful pitch at Besiktas' temporary home would not allow for any true rolls or bounces.  Sturridge was also given a great through ball by Balotelli in the 33rd minute, but instead of striking it first or second time, he tried to dribble around two or three defenders.

Sturridge has some excuse, though it is not much of one given his status in the team.  This match was really the first game since returning from injury that he was asked to go all 90 minutes and then some.  It was clear as the match wore on that Sturridge's fitness is not up to his own standards.  He is by no means out of shape, but is appearing more like a man that has not played for half a season rather than one of the feared strikers in the Premier League.

Regardless of Sturridge's failings in the first half or disappearing in the second, the entire team is at fault in the second half.  Blame for that has to be with the manager.  Long has this blog been a safe haven for Brendan Rodgers, whether during the difficult times at the start of the season or when every choice made by the boss was pure gold.  However Rodgers failed his team in the second half.  Liverpool came out and once they saw the pressure that Besiktas was going to throw at them, they capitulated.  Liverpool sat back and tried to defend for 45 minutes, which is something that almost no team can do, especially one that is not known for being the most stout at the back end.

Perhaps it was a tactical decision made in the locker room at the break.  Perhaps it was merely tired legs taking over for the Reds' midfield and defenders.  Perhaps the players thought the Turkish side were going to roll over after the wave of attack that Liverpool had thrust upon them to end half number one.  Whatever the reasoning, Rodgers needed to change something.  Well before Liverpool conceded the equalizing goal, you could sense what was coming.

Liverpool did not look like a side that were simply defending and repelling each Besiktas attack with ease.  This was a team that was under constant duress and flailing balls away just to catch a breath.  If the choice to defend was tactically made, Rodgers should have seen it was not effective and undone it.  If it was the case of the players thinking their opponent would not have the energy to pounce on them, then Rodgers needed to plant the seed either from the sideline or at the half that the match was not anywhere near over.

Instead, Liverpool did nothing with possession, gave the ball away constantly, backed away from attacks with speed and ultimately let up the tying goal.  Tolgay-Ali Arslan capitalized on the mistouch from Demba Ba and ripped one that split the defenders and curled away from a diving Simon Mingolet.  The Reds finally mustered up a bit of possession and looked more in control of the game following the equalizer, but really did not threaten.  It became more of cat and mouse game with both sides seeking to not make the mistake that would cost the game rather than actually trying to seize it.

Rodgers continued to make slightly odd decisions in his substitutions as well.  While nobody can fault the idea of taking Balotelli off to keep the team at 11 men, given his earlier yellow card, it seemed odd given that Liverpool seemed to be playing for penalties and Balotelli is the best on the squad that was in Turkey.  Jodan Ibe came off for Javier Manquillo in a decision that was odd given Ibe's youth and thus potentially more stamina and the fact that Manquillo is more defensive minded and, again, Liverpool were seeking penalties.  Finally Rickie Lambert came on, which is fine, but took off Daniel Sturridge who you would think would be needed to take penalties.  Some will argue you don't want to waste all his energy on this match with Manchester City coming up, but once you've played 105 minutes, what danger does it really pose?

Liverpool failed to really threaten in the extra time.  Both sides looked completely spent and the match went to the dreaded penalty shootout.  It was tied 4-4 after all eight kickers had hit the back of the net.  There was still a sense of dread about the entire process from a Liverpool perspective though.  Even though all four kickers converted, there did not seem to be the coolness and calm with which Besiktas took their kicks.  That sense of foreboding was proved correct when Dejan Lovren stepped to the spot as Liverpool's fifth penalty taker.

Lovren actually had a decent match up to that point.  He was not going to be man of the match candidate, but he was solid given the amount of playing time he has had in recent weeks.  He was strong on the man and strong in the air.  If his feet would not fail him so often, he would be a very good defender.  But a goalscorer he is not.  Lovren should not have been in that situation.  It is hard to understand including him in your top five penalty takers, even with all the injuries on the squad.  It is even harder to understand why he would be placed last, when you know all the pressure put on that kicker if it actually gets to that point.

The even more puzzling quandary is why Raheem Sterling had not kicked.  You can take all the penalties in practice you want, and perhaps practice statistics are why Lovren was in, but your top players have to be your top performers.  In hockey, top players often want to be left off the shootout because they don't like it or feel they don't do well in it.  Perhaps that was the case young Sterling made and left himself off the top five list.  Whatever the reason, Rodgers has to have number 31 on that top five list.  Injuries or not, Gerrard or not, Balotelli or not, Sturridge or not, I have a hard time believing that Raheem Sterling would not be one of those penalty takers.

Ultimately Liverpool got what they deserved.  They shrank from the occasion and bowed out of all European competition with a whimper.  Brendan Rodgers is a fine manager and deserves all the credit in the world for helping Liverpool turn things around.  He still has a lot to learn about competing in Europe however.  The danger now is that Liverpool cannot let this performance seep in.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel.  All that awaits at the end of this week's tunnel is the goliath, Manchester City.  Whether City take their revenge for a poor European showing of their own or continue to slip back remains to be seen.  One thing is for certain, Liverpool have to rebound quickly.  Liverpool can keep City on their heels, but it will take much better than they showed on this night.

Random Thoughts:

- I hate penalty shootouts

- Mario Balotelli had a hell of a first half.  He set up the potential Sturridge goal, drew important fouls, got under the skin of several defenders and held up the ball nicely when needed.  It would be interesting to see if he still exited the game had he not received a yellow card.  The shot near the end of the first half, left much to be desired however.

- Daniel Sturridge needs a rest.  Unfortunately for him, it won't come soon as I cannot see him not playing significant minutes against Manchester City.  Perhaps a respite against Burnley midweek, but the rest of the squad's fitness may determine that as well.

- I hate penalty shootouts

- Liverpool's passing was just horrendous.  Normally I fully understand when players are gassed or put in poor positions etc, but it was just inexcusable.  From the second half on, the passes at the back were too weak, the passes in the midfield were off the mark and everything was just bad.  Hopefully that is not a reoccurring issue as it will lead to bad things in the future.

- I hate to pile on BR, but the decision to not even include Coutinho on the bench may have cost him.  Replacing Balotelli with Coutinho would have been much more attacking minded than Lallana proved to be.  Lallana is a very good attacking player, but he was obviously given instructions to help solidify the midfield, where Coutinho knows nothing but attack.

- Did I say how much I hate penalty shootouts?

- Some people may point to the number of important players out.  Yes it is not good for the team to not have Coutinho, Gerrard, Lucas, Markovic, Sakho and Henderson, but the team was still set up in a positive manner.  They had the strike tandem of Balo and Sturridge, which I still believe could work.  Allen has stepped up his game the past few weeks and Ibe continued to show talent beyond his years.  Toure and Lovren were the question marks and within the confines of 90 minutes they were fine.  Something just lacked and I would hope that even in the recesses of their minds, the players would not use the absences as an excuse.

Walk On