Hopefully by the time you’re reading this all has been said and done regarding the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race-row/handshake shenanigans. So many column inches and Twitter feeds have had their say that it’s difficult to add anything fresh to the mix. It’s more difficult still to voice an opinion that doesn’t stir the melting pot even further. Although I don’t want to belittle the issue of race-relations in football, I think there’s a better more organic discussion to be had about the state of Liverpool’s football.
Besides, shouldn’t Liverpool fans be more concerned with the lack of endeavour their side showed to chase a game that they really needed to win? All the players knew the consequences of a loss – both in terms of bragging rights and the stark reality of a fourth place finish slipping away, but many just weren’t up to the challenge. This makes me wonder: is there a lack of a winning mentality prevalent amongst a number of Liverpool players?
Do the likes of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson know how to pick a game up by the scruff of its neck and drag their team across the finishing line? I don’t think so. Whilst you can always count on the likes of Steven Gerrard (who by his own high standard was pretty poor today) and Luis Suarez to persevere for a full 90 minutes, I’m not sure that that can be said about every player who took to the field against Manchester United.
It’s not even like United were at their imperious best. If the Reds had been really, really up for it, they could have easily nabbed a result today. But it’s not just down to the players – Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke set up their team in a deliberately cautious manner and basically invited United to come at this Liverpool defence. There’s simply no use sitting back against a team like United. Once they scored it was too difficult to attempt to get back into the game.
I hate to pile on more misery unto players like Stewart Downing, but he was absolutely woeful once again. At least Jordan Henderson has the excuse of youth.
What’s most apparent is how much Liverpool miss Lucas. Would Antonio Valencia really have had enough time and space to feed in Wayne Rooney for his second goal should Lucas still have been there? Spearing is one for the future, but doesn’t quite look ready to cut it with the big boys.
At the moment, Liverpool just have too many passengers. Unless more players start performing on a weekly basis, fourth place will soon slip away. And for the Reds, that simply isn’t good enough.
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Downing saw what was going to happen and bottled it.
i couldnt agree more and i think liverpool are using the suarez issue to side away from how poo we were and i mean at this stage of the season we are on a average 39 points which is bad and even crap everton are catching up.if kenny wasnt the legend he is im sure alot of people would be talking more about the manager situation.
I think hendo is the one with most passes but only to the left ,right and back to avoid responsibility and not creating any attacking passes upfront,it’s all that worth 20 mill for this kinda talent,shame on british or english palyer.
“Unless more players start performing on a weekly basis, fourth place will soon slip away.”
Let’s get real. LFC would be lucky to finish in the top 8.
Hi Harry , you are 100 % right , we were woeful and i put blame squarely on the technical staff including KD for his selection and tactics as we went to defend against a MU team who is not even playing well. The Suarez / Evra debacle overshadowed our mediocre performance and made MU stronger 2nd half, I say it again and I have said before Kenny is out of his depth,unless he proves me wrong we are not Champions League material and will not make 4th spot.We must be in dreamland if we think we will the Premier League in the next 5 years.
Totally agree. Sometimes KD and SC set out the team too negatively. We should not have change our usual star of play too much.
Also, I find them rotating the players too much.
Perhaps this is a year to get the players to adapt but they are many players who are at the wrong side of 30s to actually do that.
liverpool is a poor poor self pitying state that day. Nevermind the no-handshake, the team didnt show up. SG didnt lead, period.. Downing was in the field? Carroll was no match for the tenacity of rafael. We are still a long way off the pool way. No commitment, no dare, no fighting spirit. I think the way to beat United is to be cool and united ourselves. Havign said that I think Suarez’s no-hs may have cuased some disquiet in the players….
I’m no l’pool fan but i think KD ideaology on signings is what biting back at him. Him opting to Sign british at all cost when there were better quality players at even cheaper price has left him with no real technically sound player. Thus he has no plan B when his british (cross and nod or Longballs) option fails.
The is no Variety of options in L’pool, they are like a Band with only drummers.