Gutless midfield is why Liverpool are struggling in the Premier League

Liverpool have lost three of their five Premier League games.

This comes straight after Amalfitano sealed West Ham’s win over Liverpool with a third goal at the Boleyn Ground.

While a shabby defence adds to this Liverpool team’s woes at the moment, the cardinal reason why the Reds are struggling at the moment is their midfield balance, or rather the lack of it.

This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction. It has been evident for quite some while now and today’s abysmal display warranted an analysis (albeit subjective).

Defensive issues galore

The game today shouted for standing up to West Ham’s physical approach but the Reds just couldn’t. Every time Liverpool lost the ball in the opposition’s half, West Ham’s attacking players were able to make a free run to their 18-yard box like it was a walk in the park.

Is it because Liverpool’s link up play is a bit poor at the moment? To an extent, yes. Is the defence is sixes and sevens? Certainly. While Manquillo and Moreno have performed admirably up till now, both are still very young and getting up to speed with the ferocious pace of the Premier League.

As for the centre backs, they are to blame for the goals conceded but that is down to two reasons:

Lack of communication between goalkeeper and defence: For all his shot-stopping prowess, Simon Mignolet doesn’t really command his area. His positioning to deal with counter-attacks is poor, he has below average distribution and looks shaky on set pieces. That doesn’t really inspire confidence in the defenders in front of him.
Center backs are having to do too much on their own: From the Aston Villa, Ludogorets and the West Ham games, it is clear that the likes of Sakho (who’s a bundle of nerves by the way), Lovren and Skrtel are having to defend, bring the ball up the pitch and look for attackers since the midfielders are either not available to pass to or just make return passes back to the defenders who then end up attempting to ping a diagonal or a straight long ball forward.

Lack of balance in midfield

Elucidating on the second point, it is Liverpool’s midfield that is costing them dear at present. Joe Allen and Emre Can are injured. Now although it still remains to be seen what Can is all about, Allen is a pivotal cog in this team. Agreed that he gets knocked off the ball pretty easily but for all the criticism he gets, he is mobile, available to receive the ball and pass it forward, has great recovery and works his socks off every time he is on the pitch.

Lucas Leiva has returned a lesser player since his injury two years ago and lack of game time doesn’t do him any favours. Jordan Henderson’s energy is refreshing and undeniable, but he doesn’t do well as the typical midfielder in the middle of the park and always looks more effective when given the freedom to make late runs in the box to support the attackers.

Last but not the least – Steven Gerrard. In his prime, Gerrard has been the heart and soul of Liverpool FC but his powers have waned over the past few years. Rodgers’ idea behind making Gerrard play in the quarter-back role is to dictate play and shield the back four. Sounds perfect on paper, but the stark reality is that he does neither of the two very well.

He doesn’t have the turn of pace anymore which is why Gabriel Agbonlahor last week and Stewart Downing had his number. While the effort put in by the skipper is admirable, playing him in that position is basically giving the incentive to the opposition these days.

Rodgers should show courage and drop Gerrard

If Liverpool have to regain their midfield prowess, Rodgers needs to stop persisting with Steven Gerrard week in week out. It would benefit both the team as well as him if he is used more judiciously.

Yes Liverpool will lack a leader on the pitch who is great at delivering set-pieces and stepping up time and again from the penalty spot, but it is more important that the transition begins as soon as possible for the sake of the team. The Reds got away with it last season owing to the brilliance of SAS (Suarez and Sturridge), but that is not the case this season. It really is the time when we need the push to come to a shove.

Rodgers needs to dip in the January transfer market for a proper defensive midfielder. If that doesn’t happen, here’s hoping Can can come in and do the job there. But till the time the midfield balance is restored, every Liverpool supporter is right to worry about more such poor displays from this team.