Liverpool Should Play Arsenal Every Day

Liverpool came into their match against perennial top-four candidate Arsenal needing a result, particularly a win.  While there was plenty of reason to think they would be able to get it, there were reasons to doubt whether it would happen too.

Fortunately, the Reds came to play and the Gunners stayed away.  Liverpool put out a much more balanced side, with no less focus on attack.

After my own claims about the intelligence behind starting Lucas at center back (yes, I'm taking credit), the Reds put in Ragnar Klavan.  It may not have had an immediate impact as Liverpool still look shaky on the counter, but it did have a calming effect on the team.

Liverpool looked much more focused and streamlined on their attacks, right from the get go.  They came out and took the game to Arsenal and were rewarded for their efforts.

Even more impressive than Liverpool's intensity was the crispness of their attack.  Not only did they score nice goals, but the plays that led up to each goal were discussion worthy as well.

Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead just nine minutes into the game.  The buildup was just as satisfying as the finish.

Coming off a Simon Mignolet kick, the ball took a bounce through the midfield.  Coutinho just flicked it to the right for Sadio Mane.  Mane's speed allowed him to gain enough space for, admittedly, an awkward cross.  However it found it's way to Firmino, who kept his composure and allowed the goalkeeper and defenders to fall like bowling pins in front of him.

The game stayed close until the 40th minute when Mane would get his just-desserts.

2-0 MANE!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LvnefERe9b

— Liverpool Gifs (@LiverpoolGifs) March 4, 2017

Mane's finish was fine, but again the buildup was just as good. Liverpool worked it up the left this time, pinged some passes around the box and then found a wide-open Mane on the back door. It was a sight. Also, it was not the first time the prolific winger stung the Gunners.

Sadio Mané goal vs Arsenal at the start of the season 🔥👊 #LFC pic.twitter.com/0iG26LrdJm

— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) March 4, 2017

The way the game played out, you honestly wish this year's Liverpool could play Arsenal every game. Granted, the first game was too close at 4-3 but Liverpool came out and played masterfully offensively (if not defensively).

 The Reds had an even better team performance in getting the season sweep over Arsenal. The offense was not as strong, but it did not need to be.

 With the exception of Arsenal's initial boost from the substitute of Alexis Sanchez, Liverpool dominated the midfield. Liverpool did not have to do a ton of defending, but they looked pretty comfortable in most situations where they did.  Mignolet was not called on to save the team's butts like in previous games.

 It was a fun game to watch and, win or lose, that has not always been the case in recent times. Now, if the team could just bottle up these efforts and apply it to the teams mid-table and below.

Random Thoughts:
- It's fun to consider ourselves the third place team in the league, but it is hard to do so.  We are currently even on points with Manchester City and they have two games in hand.  More importantly, it gets the team into the top four though, where they are now two points up on Arsenal.

- Any suggestions on other suggestions I should make for the team?  Clearly they listened and put Klavan in and that seemed to help, so I have all the power now.

- This is generally a Liverpool blog, but what is up with Arsenal sitting Sanchez?  The guy is leading the league in goals.  We will take it, but it was definitely a head scratcher.

- On a side note, nobody reading this will get it likely, but my wife apparently thinks Jurgen Klopp looks like Principal Brown from The Amazing World of Gumball.  I don't know about her sometimes.

Liverpool Pull Off Miracle Draw Against League Leaders

Throw records out the window.  Forget about the injury report.  Rivalry games are their own animals and the beast showed up for a good one between Liverpool and Arsenal.  This game opened up fast and furious, with the Reds in control of the first quarter hour.  Liverpool had the bulk of the possession and looked like the side that crushed Manchester City 4-1 instead of the one that has struggled at times.

Adam Lallana came close to finishing off a good bit of play in the  6th minute, only to clash with a defender that as correctly not called a penalty.  Only four minutes later, Liverpool would strike.  After bounding around with several cracks following a corner kick, Roberto Firmino finished off a left footer through the wickets of the defender and past a helpless Petr Cech.  Unfortunately instead of turning into a one-way affair, it turned into a boxing match straight out of Hollywood.

Arsenal answered in the 14th minute when Aaron Ramsey struck on a play from nothing.  Arsenal had had almost no attack at all and then when the ball just slipped through the defenders, Ramsey made Liverpool pay at the near post.  The pendulum swung back the other way in the 19th minute.

Firmino, like his Brazilian compatriot Coutinho (who is out injured), after it had bounced around like a hot potato outside the box and spun a brilliant curling shot into the upper 90.  It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic finish to a run of play that Liverpool had shown up to that point.  Alas, things would turn sour from then on.

In the 25th minute, Arsenal almost equalized but Sakho cleared the initial attempt over the bar only to see an even worse goal go in directly off the ensuing corner kick.  Everything went wrong on that corner kick.  Simon Mignolet did not react well to the deflection from Olivier Giroud, the defenders watched the ball with little reaction until it was too late and Liverpool had nobody on the near post when one body would have easily stopped the attempt.

Liverpool had a few runs and chances before the end of the half, but could not capitalize and would be made to pay soon after the half.  Not even ten minutes into the second frame, Giroud would again strike against shoddy Liverpool defending.  With bodies just flailing around and flopping on the ground, the Frenchman had a brilliant first touch and then spun against the grain to strike one past the defenders and behind a helpless Mignolet, who was left no time to react.

Liverpool, again, were not without chances.  Jordan Ibe made a good run on the right only to be unrewarded and berated by Benteke, who was in no position to receive a pass due to so many players in between.  Then, much like their opponents, Liverpool pulled one from nowhere.  Again, taking advantage of failures to clear, Liverpool kept the ball alive.  Benteke headed one across the box in stoppage time and the recent sub, Joe Allen, smashed one in off the fingertips of Cech.

The final whistle would go not long after with a 3-3 scoreline as the final of this midweek clash.  It was an insane contest.  The Liverpool that dominated the game for so long early, deserved much more than what they got.  In contrast, the Liverpool that was floundering in the rain and snow while Arsenal consolidated the momentum deserved much worse than this result.  Everything taken as a whole, it was a fair result to both squads.

Arsenal will be disappointed because they are now tied on points, instead of in sole possession of the top spot in the table.  Liverpool will be disappointed because three points would have drawn them much closer to the top four.  Instead, both will be satisfied because they could easily have lost as they could have won.  Both will take positives out of this game due to their team's tenacity.  Liverpool have another crack at glory as they take on the hated Manchester United on the weekend.  Given the two clubs' positions in the table, that contest holds even more importance.  For now, they must rest and focus on the things they did right on this night.

Random Thoughts:
- In an effort to not be two-faced, I will not say that this one goal does enough to put Joe Allen in a good light in my eyes.  That said, as anyone who follows the club, you celebrate good performances by any player and even if only for one brief moment, Joe Allen was a huge factor.

- As a goalkeeper, I will always side with my fellow union members.  I have constantly said that Mignolet is a great shot stopper and unless you can find a keeper who is better at everything - not just better at defending corners - then you don't make a change.  That said, Mignolet seems to make a case against me repeatedly.  There were several things that could have gone differently on that initial Giroud goal, but Mignolet was not blameless by any stretch.

- On a personal note, it was a fantastic result for me personally.  I desperately wanted the win, but given the cloud of doom and feeling of unworthiness over the St. Louis area after the Rams left in the manner they did, it was nice to be distracted for a few hours and see some good football as well.  For those that want further insight into my feelings on that matter you can see my YouTube show here:  https://youtu.be/kcTno6Ir4qY

- For fans, two points out of six against Arsenal isn't great, but the way each individual game played out it was more than enough.  Now, onto the weekend.

Walk On

Liverpool and Arsenal Excite Despite Score

Another Monday matchup for Liverpool.  This time it promised to have a bit more intrigue.  Traveling to the Emirates to face an old rival in Arsenal was poised to be the first real test of undefeated Liverpool.  It would prove to be just that, though the away side came out with a firm belief that they could perhaps take all three points.

Both sides traded chances in the first five minutes.  Benteke continued to be a revelation for the Reds as he strode up the right side and cut it back toward the spot.  Coutinho hit a strong right footer and was unlucky to hit the crossbar.  To counter that, only moments later, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey was unlucky not to score in the 9th minute as offside was called, unnecessarily.  It would prove to be a rough opening 20 minutes or so for the officials.  They failed to call a foul on Liverpool in the 21st minute, which led to Benteke striding toward the box and then no foul was given on the follow through clip.  Francis Coquelin did get the ball originally, but came through Benteke's legs just a bit.

With the exception of a two or three minute spell in which Arsenal put on a master class of passing, Liverpool really controlled most of the game and had more true chances.  James Milner almost scored in the 25th minute.  Benteke continued to impress with his strength and skill.  The new Liverpool frontman showcased himself in a run through the defense in the 30th minute only to fail to connect on a short pass to Coutinho.  Roberto Firmino, on the other hand has been a bit slower to gel into his new side.  The youngster chose not to shoot in the 37th minute and gave the ball away, perhaps wanting to find favor with teammates instead of taking a chance himself.

Despite all the chances, Liverpool just could not find the back of the net.  Petr Cech made an unbelievable save on Benteke towards the end of the half.  Even the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers thought it was a sure goal only to have the longtime Chelsea keeper dive at the perfect moment to get a hand on it and keep the Gunners level.  A minute later Cech kicked away a chance off the following corner after Firmino found the loose ball and took a blast.  45th minute, Coutinho had a great bit of skill to fake out the defender and then a fingernail save by Cech and the woodwoork kept the Brazilian off the scoresheet again.

The first 5 minutes of the second half belonged to Liverpool, but Arsenal began to find a bit of possession in 51 min.  Possession and passing culminated with a near goal from Alexis Sanchez as he kissed one off the left post in the 61st minute.  The pendulum continued to swing the other way as Arsenal dominated the chances and possession.  After several buildups with no chances for Arsenal, Simon Mingolet was forced to make a top notch save.  The Belgian dove to his right to stop a diving chance from a sprawled Oliver Giroud in the 70th minute.  Only a minute later, Mingolet was called into action again.

What looked like an innocuous shot when it came off the foot of Ramsey, curled toward the back post and Mingolet stretched to his left and made the grab.  Mingolet made another huge save in the 83rd minute when the shot deflected off Dejan Lovren.  Moments later, good defending on the part of Skrtel almost resulted in an own goal as the ball just skimmed wide.  Arsenal continued to put on the pressure, but Liverpool managed to keep the dam from breaking.  There were cracks and leaks, but no goals conceded for the third game in a row.

Liverpool did manage to create a pulse pounding chance late on as the late sub, Alberto Moreno, used his boatloads of pace to counter the Gunners after a Sanchez turnover.  Unfortunately for the Reds, Moreno tried to go all the way into the box instead of laying it through to Benteke.  A draw was a fair result for both squads when all the variables are considered.  Liverpool dominated the first half and could easily have been up 2-0.  Arsenal dominated the second half and only a big save from Mingolet kept them off the sheet.  The officials messed up another offside call, again benefiting Liverpool, but they also did not call several fouls that could have impacted the match for either side.

Fans of both squads will be disappointed in the lack of goals, but a draw was a fair result for both and a good result for Liverpool.  The defense, while never going to be a strong point for this squad, has looked much improved and been a pleasant surprise so far.  When a win is on the table a draw can be looked at with disdain, but if you told most Liverpool supporters they would leave the Emirates with a point, most would not balk.  The Reds would dearly loved to get all nine points from the first three games, but cannot complain too much when many pundits would probably have predicted only six points at best and more likely to have only four.  In the end, though a win was not to be had on this day, Liverpool has played a little better each game.  If they can continue that trend, good things will be on the table for the rest of the year.

Random Thoughts:
- Lucas may have been exhausted, but putting Jordan Rossiter into such an important game was a bit alarming.  I'm all for giving players a chance, but when three points were still on the line against a team you're competing with for top four it was a gamble.

- As I said at the end of the primary article, Liverpool played much better in my opinion than they did in both wins in prior weeks.  It would have just been nice to poach all three points and perhaps those extra two points may have been deserved given the fact that Liverpool out-chanced Arsenal even with only 1/3 the possession.

- Again, perhaps it has to do with fitness, but despite the fact Moreno almost created a late chance I was surprised to see Coutinho come off in such a tight contest.

- Speaking of Moreno, I have to give credit to Rodgers' choice of Joseph Gomez.  I thought Moreno, while not stellar defensively, got a raw deal last season when he did not play that poorly.  I was hoping he would get a chance to take the left spot in a back four this year, but Gomez has really shined up to this point.

- Skrtel and Lovren will probably never be the first choice center pairing for most Liverpool fans.  They have played very well this year, even with a couple breakdowns here and there.  Their main problem, outside a lack of pace, is they are the same player.  They go hard into challenges, which creates problems with some referees especially when they go over the top.  They get caught flat footed at times and do a lot of tugging and pulling.

- Credit goes to Arsenal for making the adjustments, but it was a bit disappointing that Liverpool created so much havoc but could not take advantage of the poor defending and constant giveaways by Arsenal's patchwork center pairing.

Walk On

Liverpool Gunned Down by Arsenal

The international break was not very kind to Liverpool Football Club.  Following an incredibly disappointing performance against Manchester United, that saw the Reds fall 2-1, many had hoped that a little breather would be beneficial.  It was not.

Arsenal came out and dominated the match right from the get go.  If not for two great saves from Simon Mingolet, Liverpool would have been down 2-0 in the first 10 minutes of the match.  Instead, the Belgian keeper bailed out his club and they settled into the match - for the midsection of the first half anyway.  Unfortunately for Liverpool, if the first half was a sandwich, the middle would have been a sweet tasty jam, but the bread was riddled with mold.

Liverpool were dominated in the first ten minutes, settled in and created chances in the middle of the first half and then fell to pieces in the last ten minutes.  In a span of eight minutes, Hector Bellarin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez all bulged the net and Liverpool were finished.  Even more interesting was how quickly things turned.

The Reds were actually on the charge just prior to Bellarin's goal.  They had pressed their way into the attacking third, were stringing together passes and actually looked threatening.  Liverpool, by all rights, should have taken the lead in the match when Lazar Markovic elected not to take a shot and passed it off to Raheem Sterling.  The pass was too far for Sterling to get a foot on and as went the chance, so went Liverpool's offense for the rest of the game.

Liverpool did manage to score a goal from a Jordan Henderson penalty kick in the 76th minute, but really that came down to a lack of urgency from Arsenal.  Being up 3-0, the Gunners took their foot off the gas pedal and got sloppy.  They stood back and absorbed a little bit of pressure and Bellarin tackled Sterling, leading to the penalty.  Arsenal would get another goal in stoppage time against a 10 man Liverpool squad when Olivier Giroud made the Reds' defense look silly and banged home the Gunners' fourth.

The bottom line is, Liverpool never had a chance and that's a scary thought.  The Reds were the in-form team for the better part of four months, but when they are off they struggle to look like a team that is better than mid-table.  For two games there has been a lack of form, a lack of defending, a lack of mental fortitude and worst of all, a lack of fire.  As fans and observers, it seems unthinkable to be unable to get up to face your biggest rivals with so much on the line.  Two games in a row that would have put them in the top four for sure had they won.  Instead those two games may end up being their downfall.

Liverpool now find themselves in a position of trying to hold onto fifth place, standing only one point ahead of Southampton and Tottenham.  They are not eliminated from a top four finish, but they have taken it out of their own hands.  With only seven games remaining in the Premier League season, Liverpool are now seven points behind fourth place.  The Reds have plenty of winnable games, outside of a match with Chelsea in early May, but manager Brendan Rodgers will have to work his magic touch and figure out a lot of what ails his club.

Liverpool find themselves in a situation that even the great Bill Shankly could not guide them out of.  Not only have they played poorly the last two matches, but hair pullingly bad decisions have put their future in question.  Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and now Emre Can have all taken themselves out of competition with poor choices.

Brendan Rodgers was forced to play a defensive midfield comprising Joe Allen and Lucas that was ineffective at best and incredibly inept at worst.  The back three, a lineup of Can, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho looked immensely uncomfortable on the ball and often put their own goalkeeper in tenuous situations.  Now, with Can out, Rodgers must continue to tinker with a lineup that has increasingly few good options.

Liverpool must find a way to overcome this adversity.  Whether there are problems in the locker room or if this is just one of the valleys for a team that has had plenty of peaks and valleys, the Reds have to figure out a way to come together.  They simply cannot regress the way they have.  Much like the beginning of the season, the midfield is non-existent.  There is a void between the defense and the attack.  Much of that is due to players being out of position or getting playing time following long layoffs, but there just cannot be excuses at this point of the season.

Markovic did little to affect the game other than the missed chance.  Joe Allen and Lucas were not working together and Lucas was awful on the ball to begin the game.  Toure and Sakho looked like high school freshmen, the way they passed and looked shaky.  Jordan Henderson played very hard, like a captain should, but was listed as part of the top three to begin the game and after about three minutes, was playing behind Markovic.  Sterling was back in a striking role after spending a couple weeks as a wingback, which is puzzling in and of itself.

Liverpool must regroup and quickly.  They have an FA Cup tie, on the road, on Wednesday.  On paper, it could be the perfect opportunity to turn things back around.  In reality, it has just as much a chance to dash all preseason goals.  Liverpool will be without three key players for the FA Cup match and next Monday's league game.  The Reds still have much to play for, but they are not making it easy, for their fans or themselves.

Random Thoughts:

- Is Europa League even worth it?  Arguments can be made that any extra competition would be beneficial to teach a young team how to prepare for extra matches.  However, Liverpool's run a year ago and Manchester United's charge back this year would argue that not having the distraction of European matches and getting extra training time may be more beneficial.  By no means would any right thinking person want Liverpool to tank, but if the team cannot finish top four then finishing behind Southampton or Tottenham may not be so bad.

- Raheem Sterling better get things figured out quickly.  I fully understand wanting to maximize your earning potential, but the games against United and certainly Arsenal prove that he is not to a caliber that deserves 150,000 a week.  Sterling is only a promising prospect.  He has great skills and speed in spades, but his shot is poor and weak and he dribbles into defenders too often.  He needs to sign the deal in the offseason, continue to grow as a player and person and then the bigger contracts will line themselves up.

- Brendan Rodgers needs to be more proactive.  He can be a top manager, when he is on his game and things are working well.  However, he tends to react a bit too slowly.  He hesitated to switch from a back four formation early in the year and the team labored.  Now he stuck too long with his 3-4-3 and given the troops available, was made to pay the price due to its ineffectiveness.  It will be interesting to see, not only who lines up but how they line up against Blackburn.

A Happy Easter to you all.  And as a shameless plug, feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQi3KGDK7lDPU0AyvCbBOfA.  I discuss the hot sports topics, with a Midwestern slant during the week.

Walk On.

Liverpool Continue to March Up the Table

Liverpool managed a fantastic game against Manchester City, just days after a disastrous exit to Besiktas in the Europa League.  While it certainly helped to get the huge boost that the Anfield faithful always provide, Liverpool came out with a zest for the game and with energy many feared would be lacking after expending 120 minutes of strength in Istanbul.  Liverpool opened the game very positively, almost creating a chance mere minutes into the game.

Then the floodgates opened.  Both teams bombed back and forth.  Manchester City, title dreams slowly vanishing like that last sweet dream that fades into the morning, put forth a solid attack.  Absorbing the first two or three minutes, they lashed out toward the Kop with reckless abandon.  Their attacks often left holes in the back, which Liverpool were able to take advantage of in turn.

Despite his failings in Europe, Brendan Rodgers' decisions continue to bear fruit domestically.  While the boss has labeled it as an injury, the consensus is that Coutinho was held out of the road game at Istanbul merely to give him a rest.  Regardless of what the truth is, the decision turned out to be a genius one as Coutinho dominated the game from the Reds' point of view.  The Brazilian talent was solid on the ball, made great decisions and slotted deft passes into places only his teammates could get the ball.  Coutinho may not have scored the opening goal, but he formulated Liverpool's attack for most of the first half.  He presented Manchester City with problems as he was too fast in some instances and too skilled to be marked in others.

Jordan Henderson, who despite recent games of solid play is not known for his clinical finishing, smashed what Arlo White described as one of the potential goals of the year.  Little did White know what was to come later.  Henderson, for his part, took the pass on the left side of the box. pushed it past the lunging defender and though it seemed as though he may have pushed it too far away, Vincent Kompany did not close the distance.  Henderson then smashed a brilliant right footed curler into the upper 90 and Joe Hart stood no chance.

Liverpool's lead would not last forever, unfortunately for their fans.  Though the Reds were able to withstand the onslaught in the opening foray of the match, their defensive lapses could not hold back the wave forever.  Sergio Aguero managed to avoid several tackles as he slid along the top of the box.  The City striker's skill managed to draw enough attention that Edin Dzeko slipped into the space between center backs.  Dzeko took the pass neatly from Aguero, spotted it past the sliding Simon Mingolet and knotted up the game.

Both teams continued to take their chances and heading into the half, it appeared as though momentum may be sliding toward City.  However, Liverpool took control of the game in the second half.  Defying conventional wisdom which said City would have more energy having played on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday, the Reds took the game to their opponents.  Coutinho took the game into his hands as well.

In the 75th minute, Coutinho scored a brilliant goal that was very similar to Henderson's but from an even tighter angle.  Liverpool's manager had nothing but praise for his young player.  "He is a joy to work with and a joy to watch," said Rodgers.  "He is a kid who has so much ahead of him in the game.  He is 22 years of age.  People forget that he came to us at 19.  He is a sensational footballer.  To beat Joe Hart at that angle and power was a phenomenal shot."

Not only was it important to get the victory over City for the simple morale booster, of beating a team that is above you in the table and defeated you soundly earlier in the season, but to keep moving up the table yourself.  Liverpool came into the match one point behind Southampton, who sat in sixth.  The Saints lost on Saturday, which allowed Liverpool a chance to even tie for fourth spot.  The win vaulted them two points over the Saints and into a tie with Arsenal.  The tie did not last long as Liverpool's Merseyside companion, Everton, could not take down the Gunners but at least the Reds have a Champions League spot within an extremely realistic grasp.

Liverpool are the only Premier League team yet to lose a league match in the calander year of 2015.  Rodgers believes working into a Champions League spot may be an even bigger accomplishment than hoped for.  "If we can get into the top four, it is an even bigger accomplishment than last season because of our starting position."

Liverpool continue to take their Kopites on a rollercoaster of a season.  Their lack of success in Europe and the ups and downs of cup competitions have kept fans guessing and wondering.  In the league, they have yet to let people down.  A loss is bound to come at some time and Liverpool still have Arsenal and Manchester United above, but they have placed themselves in a position where things are in their hands.  The Reds have winnable matches the next two league games and then face all-important fixtures against the Red Devils at home and the Gunners on the road.  Points are at a premium.  As long as Liverpool continue to pick them up in each game, then there may be more European nights at Anfield next season.

Random Thoughts:

- I cannot imagine not starting Daniel Sturridge if he is fit, but he seems to be proving himself more of an asset at this stage coming off the bench.  He failed to put the nail in the coffin on a couple chances, but still threatened the goal and one has to figure if he was in full form he would've slotted the goals in.

- Liverpool deserved to win.  Bottom line.  That said, Manchester City failed to connect on several chances that, given their skill, you would normally expect them to finish off.  The formation still suits the Reds, but I just worry about their defensive skill if faced with a team that is flying.

- Adam Lallana continues to be a bit of a mystery.  Some games he looks fantastic, like this one against City.  Others, he completely disappears like against Southampton.  Perhaps the occasion of facing his former team was too much for him on that night.

Walk On

Late Equalizer Gives Reds Much Deserved Point

Heading into an all important matchup with their Londoner rivals, Liverpool again employed a rather unusual formation with seven midfielders and three defenders.  Although you can argue whether it can sustain this squad for the rest of the season, it has yielded decent results.  Not only has it improved the team on the scoresheet, the team itself just seems to flow better and have better energy.
Liverpool came out and dominated the first 45 minutes of play.  They probably should have had more goals at the break than they did, given the effort.  However, despite a quality goal from Coutinho, the Reds ended the first half tied up due to their lack of defending set pieces.  Much like their counterparts, Liverpool again struggle to attack the ball and keep track of their man on free kicks and corners.  It was again their downfall in the first half.  After dominating possession and scoring chances, Liverpool could not hang onto the lead.  One may question whether the offense whistled against Steven Gerrard was actually a foul or not, but the fact is it was called and Liverpool failed to defend it.

Surprisingly, the Reds have defended as a team better with only three true defenders but they still continue to prove that no matter who cracks the lineup that changes are in order.  Whether they happen in January or during the summer window, there are still changes that must be made in the back.  This fact was on full display for the go-ahead goal by Oliver Giroud.  Arsenal did come out with more pep and possession in the second half, but still were not creating much.  Then, in the usual lapse of marking, Giroud was allowed a full strike on the ball just steps away from the six yard area with all three Liverpool defenders being in a triangle around him but at least two meters away.

For long stretches it appeared as though Liverpool would miss out on any points, very similarly to the Manchester United fixture.  Both matches saw Liverpool create chances aplenty and possess the ball in fine fashion, only to see mistakes at the back cost them.  Fortunately for the Reds, whether by injury or simply current form, Arsenal is not United.  Even after Liverpool were forced to go down by a man, following Fabio Borini's red card (and perhaps final act in a Liverpool kit), Arsenal were more than willing to let Liverpool run at them and create.  Blame the players or blame Arsene Wenger, the bottom line is Liverpool will take it.

The Reds deserved better than a loss.  Yes, sometimes you lose when you don't deserve to.  That's football.  That's sports.  But, on this night, Liverpool got at least partially what they deserved.  One could argue they deserved all three points, but at least a draw was something this club needed.  While they did not gain any ground against Arsenal, it was still a valuable point.  Even though there is still half a season to go and this writer has done his best to see the positives, a loss in this match would have made it exceedingly difficult to see Liverpool making a charge at the top four.  Liverpool have not fared well against the teams above them in the table.  They needed actual representation of the improvement they have seen rather than just moral or mental victories.  Three points would have been much better, but not giving up on the match and banging home a header from Martin Skrtel to equalize was a good way to go into the Christmas break.

Questions continue to rise for this team.  Though I have long argued for a two striker system, I am not quite sure you alter the team just yet.  What can be done about the defense?  There is no doubt the team has performed better with three at the back, but there is little doubt that whether you use Skrtel, Kolo Toure, Sakho, Dejan Lovren, Javier Manquillo, Glen Johnson or Moreno they still seem to give up unnecessary chances.  It is a team rife with question marks and doubters, but there are at least tangible positives to see.

Lazar Markovic, while still raw, is starting to look like a good talent.  There were flashes of a Raheem Sterling from two years ago.  Much like Sterling's first chances in the first team, you can see the talent there, it just needs to be nurtured and brought along.  Even from the beginning of the season, Markovic's touch has gotten much better.  Whether he is worth the transfer fee is up to discussion.  The team as a whole is producing a lot more as well.

Three goals against Bournmouthe, two against Arsenal and lots of chances against United have at least given fans hope that the ball will hit the back of the net each match.  Fans were hoping for three points, but a gift of one for Christmas will at least tide them over until Boxing Day where they can hope for the full three against Burnley.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and best wishes to Liverpool FC and all the fans from St. Louis to New York and out to the rest of the world.  Walk on.

United fixture encapsulates Liverpool season

It was the sort of match that, had the score line been different, maybe you could actually feel good about.  Liverpool had the best of the chances throughout the game.  They had a decent amount of possession.  They linked together reasonably well in the midfield.  Raheem Sterling gave the Manchester United defense fits with his pace.  Mario Balotelli created a few chances as well.

Alas, as Reds' fans know, potential positivity is where it all ends.  Yes, they created the chances but as has been the case all season long, they cannot finish them.  Raheem Sterling had so many chances it is almost laughable that Liverpool could not score.  Mario Balotelli, of course coupled with his usual malaise and complaints, also had several great opportunities that just would not go in either by lack of luck or good goalkeeping.  The bottom line was, no matter who was on the end of the ball, there is just no killer instinct in this side right now.  It wasn't just offensively that the club struggled either.

Though a back three will always leave space at the back, it really wasn't the formation that led to the goals against.  The way this side have played the last few matches and really the season as a whole, there really isn't a starting XI that will appease everyone.  Even saying that, the starting XI against United had flashes of brilliance and good team play.  However, it again just raises too many questions.

I won't argue completely against a back three, since there have been several times I thought it might be a good formation.  Personally, I would've chosen Toure over Johnson to begin and perhaps either Manquillo or Moreno instead of Allen.  And then there is the inclusion of Allen.  I know little of the man.  I'm sure he is fully committed to doing his best to bring results to his club.  Yet, the constant inclusion of Joe Allen at this point leans more toward managerial favoritism rather than anything the "Welsh Xavi" has actually produced on the pitch.  Normally he is nonexistant, only knowing he played by looking at the stat sheet.  On this day, he was directly responsible for the opening goal getting beaten through the legs and not getting back in front of Valencia.

The inclusion of Brad Jones in goal did not help matters either.  Jones was not responsible for any of the goals and, most likely, Simon Mingolet would not have stopped any of the three goals.  However, even if you understand the message that Brendan Rodgers was trying to send - hockey fans will get it more than most - this still was probably not the match to attempt it.  A huge rivalry, coupled with a purely attacking minded formation is just not the place to switch keepers and put in a man who has played one competitive fixture.

Support, from the people, for Rodgers will certainly continue to dwindle.  Even his most staunch supporters have little to say to back his decisions.  It is a sad day when the best a proud club such as Liverpool can muster is a faint glimmer of having the higher number of chances.  Unfortunately, that is what people need to cling to.

Brendan Rodgers will most likely last through the season and rightly so.  I will write up an article on the benefits of keeping him weighed versus the ideas of why he should be gone soon.  However, the truth is that no matter how much you argue that his decisions are infuriating, the players shoulder just as much of the blame and I do not believe that a mid-season managerial change will yield any different results.

Liverpool have put themselves in a position where they have loads of talent, but it is young, unproven potential talent.  They had a plan to bring in a certain type of player, but despite the necessity to plan for the future, in today's game you simply cannot win the league with only young talent.  You have to have players who have that hard gained experience and, outside of Steven Gerrard, this team just does not have it.  They don't have it on the pitch or on the bench.  Perhaps they are gaining it this season.

The club still needs to make some sort of change in the transfer window.  There are so many needs, I will leave the specifics of who they should bring in up to the reader.  Another defender is much needed, as is a striker.  The players to match those needs and being available in January might be difficult to find.  And while there really are no moral victories, the players have to take the positives from their play out of the Manchester United match.  Fans can whine and moan and complain all they want and they should.  Their club is not producing points.  However, the players have no confidence at all.  A 3-0 defeat will not help that, but there were glimmers of hope and the players have to find a way to open those rays of glimmering light into full beams.

The one other thing that supporters can hold onto, even if in vein, is that only seven points separate Liverpool and fourth place.  Southhampton have fallen back to the pack and Newcastle have cooled.  So, in terms of the big names, only Arsenal is above the Reds.  It's a long road to hoe, but the team has to find a way.  Continued disappointment will only breed more disappointment.  It's up to someone at Anfield to break the mold.  As ever, all we can do is Walk On.