Liverpool Implode; Only Get Draw Against Lowly Sunderland

The weather in Liverpool was a bit of a harbinger for the day.  Cloudy and dim but not completely devoid of something better.  It was a typical start for the Reds on the day.  Liverpool held the majority of the possession in the first quarter hour but could not find that final ball in the attacking areas as has been their way of late.

Liverpool and Alberto Moreno finally created a chance in the 20th minute.  Moreno flashed a left footer across the face of goal, but saw it saved with the left foot of the keeper.  Later on in the 30th minute, James Milner was fed a great pass that got into the box.  However, instead of shooting, he tried to lay it off on the ground to Adam Lallana, with too many defenders in between.  Liverpool again were foiled by themselves in the 40th minute.  Joe Allen plunged down the left but served it too far behind Jordan Henderson.  Henderson tried to back heel it into the path of a teammate, but again there was just too much reliance on luck instead of knowing where each pass would end up.  Roberto Firmino probably came closest to scoring in the first 45 with a crack off the left foot in the 44th minute that sailed about two feet over goal.

LFC had 82% possession and yet nothing was really created.  There were chances, as there are in any game, but you never really go the feeling that Liverpool were going to score.  It was something we've seen all too often this season.  While many, including this writer, are souring on many of the players that take the pitch, there is still just too much potential for this squad to be floundering the way they have been in 2016.

Firmino was again the closest to scoring in the early stages of the second half.  Unfortunately, like his earlier chance, it just sailed away from target.  Fortunately, though, the Brazilian did not let his missed chances get into his head.  In the 59th minute, Firmino got into the space behind the defenders as he readied himself for a cross from the near side off Milner's foot.  Firmino just got a nod onto it and cut it back across the grain, giving the Sunderland keeper no shot.  1-0 to the Reds at that point, but still a half hour for either more glory or doom to creep in.

Liverpool definitely put the pressure on after their initial score.  Jordan Ibe blasted one off the head of a defender immediately after the goal.  Then in the 65th minute both Lallana and Ibe were stopped by good kick saves by Vito Mannone.  Henderson also just slashed one wide a minute later.  Finally Liverpool would get some cushion in the 70th minute.  Firmino intercepted a cross, but instead of taking the shot he dropped it back to the penalty spot where it was finished off by Lallana.

However, Liverpool still never really felt comfortable.  Patrick van Aanholt hit the side netting for the opposition in the 66th minute and could have easily laid it into the path of Jermain Defoe.  Then the lump in the throat got bigger as Sunderland poached one in the 82nd minute from Adam Johnson.  Johnson struck it sweetly and curled it around the wall, but Simon Mignolet should have saved it.  Then, in the 89th minute, Dafoe evened it up.  Liverpool's defenders just kind of stood behind all the attackers, which allowed Dafoe to spin and easily put it in.

Sadly, this sort of result has come to be more expected than not.  The fools in the mainstream media will have a field day, writing clickbait articles about how Jurgen Klopp hasn't had a positive affect and how he hasn't earned as many points per game as his predecessor.  The bottom line is that the players just aren't good enough.  Changes are in order to get this club back where it needs to be, but for now fans just never know what they're in for.  One game you'll see the team that thrashed Manchester City and the next you could lose to a team in the relegation zone.  It's not a comfortable feeling, but there's nothing to be done about it at the moment.  It's simply the current reality for the Reds.

Random Thoughts:
- Only time will tell how good Alex Teixeira will be.  I still contend that Liverpool were right not to pay the amount that China ended up spending to get him.

- As a keeper, I've been there.  You know you should have been better, but just failed to get a ball.  Therefor, I empathize with Mignolet.  Even so, he had to stop that ball from the free kick.  There was enough time for him to see it and get down.  He was just slow to react and it cost the team.

- I understand that injuries are a part of the modern game.  It's because of the fitness regime these players use to keep in top physical condition and eventually the body wears out.  That said, either Liverpool need new physios or they just have terrible luck.  To be forced to waste two subs in the first half due to injury is just pushing it.  Part of me expected Daniel Sturridge to be inserted just so the team could make it three for three.

- You would've hoped the team could perform for their manager, who was out with an apparent appendicitis.  Sadly, this lot couldn't even hold a two goal lead for their leader.

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