Point Gained Still Disappointing

Liverpool saw two returns on this Sunday matchup.  It saw the return of the Reds to Anfield after a few weeks of road contests.  More importantly, however, the supporters saw the return of Daniel Sturridge to the pitch as his team took on Norwich City.  It was his first visit to an actual field of play since April 4 and a welcome one.  While Liverpool failed to strike while the iron was hot in the first ten minutes of the match, you could clearly see the difference both in the team shape and playing style.

The attacks built slowly, but looked good from a Reds side that has again struggled with scoring.  Alberto Moreno showed a bit of skill along the endline in the 18th minute, but James Milner needed to do better shooting it right into the defender.  Later in the 25th minute, the rust began to show.  Sturridge would have done better to let the wide ball from Moreno go through to Coutinho.

Despite the decent offensive showings, albeit brief, Anfield seemed a bit quiet and on edge.  Sturridge again showed rust in the 34th minute.  A turnover led to him alone on the right side of the area but his shot to the near post was saved by John Ruddy.  Liverpool continued to build on each attack and looked a tiny bit better with the next.  Benteke almost put one on the foot of Milner with good one and two touch passing in the box in the 38th minute, but the end result just wasn't quite there.

The second half began interestingly, but not in a good way.  Christian Benteke started the half on the bench, with the commentators claiming he had tightness in his hamstring.  While Liverpool were wise to rest him, given their recent injury history, it was disappointing to see the partnership between Benteke and Sturridge not allowed to grow.  The disappointment didn't last long though.

Danny Ings, the Benteke sub, chested down a long ball from Moreno in the 49th minute.  Ings then cooly slipped the ball past the keeper, who was mere feet away from the striker, to score the first goal of the game and Ings' first goal of the season.

Norwich score off a corner kick.  Mingolet got a punch on it, but not enough to clear and then a deft touch from Russel Martin put it just over the sprawling keeper as he retreated to his position in the 62nd minute.  Only minutes later, the Canaries of Norwich almost took the lead.  A lack of interest from the defenders allowed a run down the right side.  The cross was met by Matt Jarvis and only a kick save from Mingolet kept the score level.

Sadly, things would not improve for the home side, despite plenty of chances created.  In the  78th minute, Coutinho was the beneficiary of a two-on-one break.  However, the Brazilian was too indecisive, took the ball too close to the goalkeeper and again Ruddy made the save.  Yet another chance went by the wayside when Ings could not control with his left in the 82 min.  The final buildup led to nothing in the 91st minute.  One touch passing landed the ball to Coutinho, but again the final touch was not there as the shot from the outside of the right foot went awry.

When looked at with a cool head, there were plenty of positives to take from the match.  Daniel Sturridge had glimpses of returning to form, if not fitness.  Liverpool created more chances in this contest than they had in many recent games combined.  A return to the back three and more of a two striker setup with Coutinho tucked behind seemed to spark Liverpool's attack.  Outside of the punch not getting far enough away, Mingolet continued to establish himself as a reliable keeper, making several stops that kept the game to at least a result.

All that said, it was an incredibly disappointing result when it comes to the standings.  As positive a person as I try to be, the moral victories are simply not enough for this club anymore.  A point against a promoted team, despite how well they played, is not good enough.  For whatever reason, Anfield is no longer one of the most difficult places to play when it should be at the top of the list.  Many will blame Brendan Rodgers again, but in this contest it all falls to the players.  None of the managers decisions really impacted the game negatively.  It was simply a matter of the men on the field not doing enough individually or collectively to get all three points.

The chances that were presented have to be taken.  Injuries and players not quite up to fitness are not excuses.  Players like Coutinho, Sturridge, Benteke and several others have to start producing.  Whether you wish to blame Rodgers or agree that this one is on the players, the bottom line is that the noose around Rodgers' neck is beginning to tighten.  I believe he has found a formation that will work for this particular squad, but wins have to come now.  The players have to start producing.  This is a team that should be competing for the top four with how inconsistently everyone in the league has played.  They need to start now or changes will be made, despite FSG's claims the manager is safe.

Random Thoughts:
- The insertion of Sakho into the team seemed to embolden the centerback pairing.  Both Sakho and Skrtel regularly went "out of position" to track players.

- James Milner had a pretty bad game.  The effort was there, undeniably, but the quality was just very off for a player of his caliber.

- Roberto Firmino showed a few flashes of what we had hoped he would be, but his development is taking much longer than expected.  That said, as good as fans believe Coutinho is and will be, he took a few seasons to really click with this squad.

- Can we please just have a healthy squad?  Jordan Henderson returns to training only to break his foot.  We finally have the striker partnership we've been waiting for with Sturridge and Benteke only to see Benteke leave at the half with a dreaded hamstring injury.  It has to be hard for any manager to try and balance attacking football with constant worry of injury with this club.

- Everyone has their players that they just can't get behind.  For me, despite how much I want to like him and know he is talented, I just can't get behind Adam Lallana.  I would have much prefered to see Divock Origi come into the game.  It just doesn't seem like, for all his ball skills, he ever puts a stamp on any game.

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