The Force Is Not Strong With Liverpool Against Watford

My apologies for the title, but after a game like that one has to try and pick up their spirits.  You know the day is not going to go well when the club allow a goal such as the one given up in the first few minutes.  Rarely, in this writer's eyes, is the goalkeeper truly to blame for a goal but Adam Bogdan was at fault for the opening goal of the contest.

It appeared as though Bogdan overjumped in his attempt to claim the ball and had to adjust the position of his hands.  He spilled the ball and while a case could be made that it was kicked from his grasp, you still expect a Premier League goalkeeper to be able to handle that sort of ball.  Bogdan again looked panicked in the 34th minute when he wildly attempted to punch a ball that he could have easily claimed it.  That original play did solidify two things, however.  Firstly, Liverpool may be the worst they've ever been in the last three seasons at set pieces.

Whether corner kicks or free kicks, the Reds seem completely inept and unable to defend.  Fans, quite rightly, shake in their boots every time because it's as though you can sense the goal will be conceded.  Even when they do not concede, they never really look very confident during the transaction.

Secondly, unless a transfer can be made in the January window, perhaps the question of whether Bogdan should start over Simon Mingolet is now put to rest.  It was by no means a majority, but there were growing rumbles that Bogdan should be given a look instead of Mingolet.  He was given that chance and botched it almost from the start.  Bogdan was a hero in the penalty shoot out in the league cup, but those competitions are probably where his talents are best served.

The Reds tried to do something positive.  They had a blast from Nathaniel Clyne blocked in the ninth minute and then an opportunity again in the 11th.  Despite any of that, Liverpool never really looked settled into the game.  Understandably, they may have been complacent due to the fact that the club had not lost to Watford in the league in this century.

But the players needed to realize the position of their opponent in the table, not necessarily only focus on the name of the team.  The Hornets currently sit in seventh, but have been as high as fifth at times this season and Liverpool treated them as though they were a team from the relegation zone.  Liverpool never seemed interested or ready to match the energy and the physicality of their exuberant foes.

Liverpool just seemed completely unaware for the majority of the fixture.  That point was nevermore evident than in the 38th minute.  Adam Lallana was driving at the defender with Jordan Henderson streaking up the wing.  Instead of easily finding his teammate, Lallana had a poor touch and took it right into the defender.  No attack was gained at all

The game, as a whole, also showed what has been evident from the entire league this season but has now reared its head for Liverpool - there is absolutely no team this season that is very good.  No disrespect to Leicester City, because they have earned their top spot, but when they are the top team in the league you can tell that nobody else is playing up to standard.

Teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool have just never gotten into a role for a long stretch.  Liverpool can blow City out of the stadium and then drop games to Newcastle or Watford.  The same has been true of all the "big clubs."  There is absolutely nothing wrong with smaller clubs doing well or bigger ones struggling, but as far as the Reds are concerned, they had better figure out who they are and what they're truly capable of.  If they do not, it will be another wasted season resting on the laurels of a coaching change as an excuse.

Random Thoughts:
- I believe Jurgen Klopp is doing the best he can, but these lineups without a true strikr are just not working with any consistency.  No, Christian Benteke and Divock Origi have not lived up to expectation but they have to be given the opportunity.  Granted, we do not see what these players do in training, but strikers have to be given the chance to produce.

- Can we please not start Adam Lallana?  Just once?  The man is talented, but he is completely lost right now.  He provides nothing offensively or defensively outside of a rare moment or two.  I see no reason why Lallana cannot sit on the bench while Firmino stays in his position and either Benteke or Origi play up front.  The trio of Firmino, Coutinho and a true striker can't be any worse than a trio of nothing but wingers.

- Klopp's honeymoon is over.  Not with the fans, but with the players.  The German may be unwilling to change much in January, but he will have to make big changes to the club to fit how he wants to play.  The current group of Reds don't seem to be able to do it right now.

Walk On