Liverpool Youth Follow Poor Europa Performance With One Of Their Own

The week didn't begin very well for LIverpool.  A lackluster performance in Spain ended in a late defeat at Villareal in the Europa League.  Fans were thus quite eager to get to the weekend and hopefully remove the sour taste in their mouths with a fixture against Swansea.

It would not be that simple.  For all the talk of respecting the league, Jurgen Klopp played a very young squad with only four regulars in the starting XI.  It was an understandable change, but the reasoning given was a bit flimsy.

Regardless of all that, the game opened up a bit tight, but opened up quickly.  Sigurdsson had the first strike for Swansea in the 12th minute that was right at Danny Ward.  The reserve goalkeeper did have to get low and smother the ball, but was not tested in terms of range on that chance.

It wasn't too much longer before the chances ended up as a result.  Andre Ayew had been creating several opportunities and was rewarded in the 21st minute.  Liverpool failed to defend a corner kick very well and Ayew flew into the six yard area to hammer home the goal with his head.  1-0 to Swansea with Liverpool barely registering a blip on the game.

26th minute brought more of the same.  Ward came up with a fantastic kick save on the initial shot then showed good reflexes to stand up and punch away the rebound chance.  Swansea were rewarded with a free kick just outside the right of the box moments later and the kick was again almost scored on because of poor marking on set pieces.

Normally Liverpool find that moment to turn things around following a poor spell, but things went from bad to worse really.  Jack Cork took the ball in the middle of the pitch and with almost the entirety of the Liverpool defense backing well into the penalty box, he curled one into the side netting on the right.  Ward had no chance and Liverpool's backline were looking at each other quizzicly for the umpteenth time in the game and it was only the 33rd minute.

Sturridge came close to chipping the goalkeeper in the 35th minute, but it went wide.  The Reds would not really create much after that, seemingly trying to see the game into the half with only a two goal deficit.

Plenty of change made prior to the half.  Benteke came on for Coutinho, pushing the formation to a 4-4-2 and Lucas came in for Chirivella.  After the changes, Liverpool seemed a bit more cohesive in terms of knocking the ball around, but the first five minutes still saw nothing toward goal.

Liverpool's attack began to build a little more each time, but once they passed the 60th minute there didn't seem to be the urgency needed to overcome a two goal deficit.  The effort would have been fine for only needing one goal to equalize, but when there is only 30 minutes remaining and you're down two, there should be a massive push.

The push did finally come just past that 60th minute.  In the 65th, on a corner kick, Benteke slipped away from his mark who was grasping the jersey and got the head onto it to put it into the goal.

The one goal deficit would not last long.  Liverpool's defending was more than suspect again.  They failed to defend a cross from the left of the box, Sheyi Ojo could not manage a clearance once it bumped into him and then three defenders could not converge quickly enough on Ayew before he slipped his second into the net.

Brad Smith picked up a second yellow, making Liverpool play with 10 men for the last 15 minutes.  However, 3-1 would end up being the final, capping off an incredibly disappointing week that had so much promise at the start.  Liverpool concede a late goal in Spain in the Europa League to fall late in the midweek game and allow too many early on the weekend to a team that was still part of the relegation conversation just weeks ago.

The Reds had better rebound quickly.  A loss this Thursday (or even a draw) will mean 2015-16 was a lost season in every aspect.  As good as Jurgen Klopp has proven to be for this team, it is possible they finish lower in the table than they ever did under Brendan Rodgers.  Finishing well in the Europa League is all that seems to be left outside of individual game performances.  Thursday becomes all the more important now.

Random Thoughts

- I like Klopp and I don't think he lies to the media.  However, it does seem a bit against belief to say you aren't saving players for Europe when you play four regulars (3 if you don't count Sturridge who hadn't started in almost a month) and have seven players 23 or younger.

- It's a shame we couldn't see more from a 4-4-2 formation.  It doesn't fit much of today's game, but I still like having two strikers.  Unfortunately, Benteke hadn't played in weeks and Sturridge was in a bit of a pouty mood and they never really meshed.  Add to that the midfield didn't give them much service and there wasn't much there to be seen.

- The crowd at Anfield is always great, but they'll need to be on top of their own game come Thursday.  Regardless of who is on the field, Liverpool have entered one of those periods where their performances are just lacking all around.  A top notch atmosphere against Villareal might boost their play.

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