Champions League All But Gone

Liverpool came into this weekend with much to do.  They needed results in pretty much every match, with all three points to come from as many games as possible.  Only getting one point against a team like West Brom was not something that favored Liverpool's chances of sneaking into the top four.  Unfortunately for the Reds, that is exactly the result they gained in this road match.  Draws against Chelsea or even Stoke would've been more stomachable, but now the Reds must walk on with the knowledge that they could not break down a team that has flirted with relegation a few times this season.

Liverpool came out positively, as they usually do before it all goes to pot.  Even without Daniel Sturridge, Lucas or Sakho, this was a team filled with enough talent on the ball to be able to do things.  And things they did, until the final third.  Liverpool were strong on the ball, mixed up the attack fairly well and plunged ahead with speed.  Unfortunately, that same bug bit them that has been an issue all season.  That bug is a lack of scoring punch.

Daniel Sturridge, for all his talents, has been a non-factor all year because he is either injured or played with a fear of getting injured.  Raheem Sterling is a fantastic talent for the future, but a combination of contract disputes, a possible lack of off-field maturity and a simple positional change have limited what he has been able to accomplish this season.  Mario Balotelli appears to be a failed experiment, both of his own doing and a lack of support when on the field.  There are little to no true striking options coming off the bench, woefully proven by Fabio Borini coming into this match as a sub after having not even been included in the team for several weeks.

Despite the relative negativity of options, the Reds had their chances.  Steven Gerrard narrowly missed on a free kick that was literally on the edge of the penalty box, in the first half.  Balotelli put one over the bar as did a few other Liverpool attacks.  The first half seemed littered with potential chances wasted by putting too much on and under the shot.

If the first half was a half of shots missing over the bar, the second was a half filled with chanced put off the bars.  The Reds' best chance - one that probably should've been finished off - was a scramble in the box in the 56th minute.  After an early scramble on the left side, Balotelli slid for a shot that was blocked by the defender.  Coutinho then put it back in the mixer only to have it saved.  The rebound came to Jordan Henderson.  While Henderson was granted little time to decide, his shot came too low and was blocked instead of hitting a relatively open net.

Balotelli linked well on a chance for Jordan Ibe in the 63rd minute.  Ibe's shot grazed the defender's leg and then crashed off the crossbar.  Coutinho just missed one of his trademark long shots as it skimmed off the top netting in the 81st minute.  Finally, a fitting end for Liverpool's day was a cross from Gerrard at the death that was narrowly headed wide by Dejan Lovren.

Liverpool had 74% of the possession.  They more than doubled the shots taken of their opponent, 22-10.  While those stats should be encouraging, they really are not.  Despite 22 shots, only 5 were listed as on target, compared to four for West Bromwich Albion.  As previously mentioned, Liverpool just did not take care of their opportunities.  Give the opponent some credit.  West Brom packed it in, often with seven or more players in the box, but Liverpool just did not have that finishing touch as they have not had much of the year.  West Brom also had a pretty good record against the Reds in recent times.

The game itself was not a travesty.  Liverpool had their chances.  Liverpool defended reasonably well, though West Brom could have scored a couple times - one in particular that was too close was the opportunity cleared off the line by Lovren.  Interestingly enough, when I awoke today the first thought in my head was what to write if this ended up being a goalless draw.  Now I'm kicking myself.

In the grander scheme, this result just further cemented the uncertainty Liverpool will go into the summer with.  Regardless of your feelings on him, Brendan Rodgers' job is in increasing jeopardy.  Regardless of who the manager is next year, depth at striker is going to be a huge need in the off season.  What is there to do about Mario Balotelli?  His resale value will be exceedingly low, but if you keep him then he needs to be in a system where he is not the lone striker.  His work rate and skills simply do not allow that to be a viable position for him.  However, he is no longer the type of talent you can build a system to fit either.  The defense has plenty of question marks as well, but I'll save that for the end of the year.

Though the game itself was simply boring, what is crushing about it is that it almost wipes out any chance at the Champions League.  Realists will say it was almost impossible to begin with, but there were enough opportunities left for it still to be a reality.  Now, there's just too much left to chance even if the Reds were to win out.  While Liverpool has a seemingly easy schedule with only Chelsea left as a major obstacle, the teams ahead don't have much on their ledger either.  Manchester United finishes off the year with matches against Everton, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Hull.  Given their form, Arsenal seems the only likely spot they might drop points.  City, meanwhile, end against Tottenham, QPR, Swansea and Southampton.  A more slippery slope, perhaps, but still unlikely to produce the kinds of results Liverpool would need.

Liverpool currently sit nine points behind second place Manchester City, with five matches to go.  If Liverpool win four of those they gain 12 points.  15 points if they upset Chelsea and won them all.  Unfortunately the math just doesn't favor them.  Even with all 12 or 15 points, that means that their opponents can only pick up 3-4 points of their remaining games.  Sadly, that just isn't going to happen.

Random Thoughts:
- Many will disagree with me, especially given this result, but I still feel Rodgers is a good enough coach to win at Liverpool.  I stated in my video blogs that Liverpool needs to put feelers out on Jurgen Klopp.  If he is willing to come and not use Liverpool as a bargaining chip, then the time for change may be now.  If not Klopp though, I don't see much out there that would really be better.  Rodgers' failings have mainly come during the off seasons.  He is a great tactitian and makes changes in season to turn things around.  He must be better at judging players not in his system though, if he is to really return Liverpool to their previous heights.

- From a personal standpoint, I have come to the conclusion that Sturridge will never be fit enough to fully be counted on by Liverpool.  I would not sell him for a pittance, but if you continue to try and build your offense around him, I just don't believe he will give you enough games.  Sturridge can still be a valuable piece now and then if you keep him, but significant changes need to be made to the Reds' attack.

Walk On.