Game In Hand Goes To Pot

Let me preface today's blog with the fact that I did not see the entirety of today's match due to another DVR SNAFU (Which did not end up mattering as I saw the entire first half).  Liverpool's faint glimmer of hope for Champions League football has been all but dashed.  A midweek clash with Hull City, a squad fighting to stay above the relegation zone, seemed to be the good medicine Liverpool would need following a disappointing weekend match against West Brom.  Despite manager Brendan Rodgers' claims that the club played well on the weekend and just did not score, the team failed to answer the call in a time when three points are ever so precious.

Again, three points were needed to continue any hope of playing in Europe's top competition in this Tuesday match and Liverpool, again, failed to answer the bell.  This club, simply, has been a disappointment this season.  Despite glimmers and flashes of what could be, there have been far too many bad performances from the team.

Liverpool did create chances.  12 shots and nine on target are not stats to be scoffed at, but the quality of some of the attempts leaves much to be desired.  While the Reds could easily have had two or three goals in the first half - one coming off Mario Balotelli's backheel that went straight at the keeper, one coming off Coutinho's one-timer that went straight at the keeper and one that Jordan Henderson shot straight at the keeper - the bottom line is that the team did not finish their chances.  As fans we want to believe that there is talent in this squad, but either it is not being utilized correctly or it is simply not there.

People may blame Mario Balotelli for the loss, and would not be completely incorrect, but in fairness he was in position to make three Hull City attackers offside.  Unfortunately, the pass went to the one attacker smart enough to stay onside and nobody defended the ball.  Yes, Balotelli played the man offside and shoulders a large bit of blame, but the lack of urgency in attempting to defend that ball was shocking.  Premier League defenders should not be standing with their feet in quicksand and watching the ball go over their heads as though they were watching the first rocket blast into outer space.

One can also argue that the lack of urgency in this squad is quite alarming.  Fine, you go down by a goal in a late season match, only three days removed from your last match and one on the road.  But to see little to no fight after the halftime break is shocking.  If not for Simon Mingolet, a goalkeeper many fans were willing to place on the sacrificial altar during the January window, this team would have lost many more than 10 games.  The score would have been much worse than 1-0 in today's match as well.  Mingolet has been a rare bright spot in the month of April as the team has crumbled around him.

The sad part of all this is we have reached the point where cold, hard, calculated moves must be made.  Personally, I really like Brendan Rodgers.  But if he has lost the ear of this team and seems unable to pull off the moves to keep Liverpool in the upper echelon, then he must go.  Raheem Sterling is a great young talent.  However, as good as he is and can be, seven goals is not good enough.  I would not advocate selling him, but he has to do more than simply dribble and show speed to be a player deserving of the money he wants.  Coutinho is in the same boat.  He is a fantastic player, but more must be accomplished.  He cannot simply keep the ball on a string and show filthy moves and then blast the ball over the bar.  Sadly, despite their lack of truly accomplishing anything this season, those two have been the lone bright spots on this squad (at least in attacking terms).

Again, once the season is finished and every result tabulated, I will go more into depth about what this team needs and who is just not good enough.  As supporters, though, we are incredibly disappointed and frustrated right now.  Unfortunately, last year seems to be fools gold and we all took a piece.  Everyone knew, the loss of one of the top five players in the world in Suarez was going to be a big blow, but we did not know that it would deprive the team of all its scoring.  Nobody has stepped up to fill the void and players that were to be counted on in important roles like Daniel Sturridge and Lucas continue to get injured if you look at them the wrong way.

Even taking the supporter hat off, this team has become difficult to watch.  The club is slow at the back, ineffective through the midfield and lack cutthroat, clinical finishing in attack.  At this moment, we are all at a loss.  Anger presents many options and opinions in the heat of the moment, but many are lacking any true thought or consideration.  The winds of change are surely stirring inside the Shankly Gates, but for now all the fans can do is hope the season ends on an up-note.  It is a sad state of affairs, given the promise going into the year, but that is what they are left with.

Walk On.