Liverpool's problem: Encouraging performances stalled by unimpressive results

Both Liverpool and Balotelli need to build on the win over Swansea in the Capital One Cup

On a weekend in which we were served brilliant football around the world, i.e. El Clasico and Manchester United vs Chelsea, it is abject to note that Liverpool’s performance doesn’t even deserve a mention. After the mid-week Champions League defeat, a few eyebrows must have been raised when Mario Balotelli earned a start. Commentators, critics, fans have all been crying out loud for Rickie Lambert to start, but that was not to be.

It was heartening though, to see that the problem doesn’t lie with Balotelli or Lambert not finding the net often enough but its the all–round problems that are responsible for such results.

As Steve Bruce, the Hull City Manager, aptly pointed out rightly at the end of the game Balotelli wasn’t the only culprit, instead there were words of encouragement for the heavily criticised striker. As Bruce said, “When you sign someone like Mario you have to understand the one thing they ain’t going to do is change”.

Further on he pointed to the example of how Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t rebuke Eric Cantona, for turning up at a civic reception in jeans and flip-flops, instead choosing to support the latter and famously stating that if the players could perform on the same level, then fashion takes a backseat.

What we learn from this episode is that you cannot single out a player for criticism all the time. Viewers must have noticed immediately the fluency in the game, as soon as Philippe Coutinho and Lambert were introduced. There was more service being provided and there was penetration. Liverpool for all their possession in the match hadn’t been able to make enough dents to score the goal, but it suddenly seemed like a possibility.

As pointed out time and again, Liverpool are feeling the loss of Suarez, but being hung up on the fact that Suarez is not around anymore is something that won’t help and everyone has to accept this and move on.

A New system takes time

The Liverpool team has accepted that and hence are adapting to suit the new system. As Luis Suarez points out rightly in his book, Brendan Rodgers, takes utmost care in planning a system so as to suit the attacking intent of his strikers. No one doubts that Suarez hit his peak and became the complete player under Rodgers, but it must also be taken into consideration that, it was the system that was built around him that helped him realize his potential.

A noticeable change in Liverpool’s squad is the addition of younger players. While young players are full of energy and vigour, there is also a certain possibility of overdoing things in their eagerness to impress. Individuals with normal lives and jobs to answer to have the probation period to impress and understand things when they join a new organization while in football there is the paucity of time.

As Andrea Pirlo, points out in his autobiography, “I Think Therefore I Play”, with bug bucks comes big pressure and the pressure is intense on professional athletes.

Questioning one’s own abilities on a constant basis and being scrutinized does sometimes have a belittling effect more than encouragement. Rodgers understands that and although the criticism has been strong for Balotelli, he has noticed that it is not for lack of trying. Emre Can, didn’t do that well, Adam Lallana couldn’t make his presence felt and Steven Gerrard was again the Man of the Match for me.

One thing you can’t really enough of is Steven Gerrard’s ability to muster up magic even when he is down and out. It wasn’t to be, and the neat inter-play that almost brought a goal was brilliantly swamped by the opposition goal-keeper, third-choice in fact but a performance that was world class.

Positive Result – Finally

The Swansea City game “finally”brought some happiness to the Anfield faithful and most importantly to the scorer itself. The emphasis on the word “finally” was justified in Balotelli’s tweet, and it was a welcome relief for this enigmatic striker and with Dejan Lovren finding the net in stoppage time, it completed a comeback.

Coutinho could have enhanced the margin further but the win does silence a lot of doubters for the time being. Liverpool didn’t hit the tempo as was expected but grinding out a win is what champions are made of. The half-volley finish might not be the most exquisite one, but for Balotelli and Liverpool it did the job and produced the desired result.

As the season progresses, it is to see whether the results turn around, but in opinion, you can clearly see that Liverpool are dominating games as to possession, but the final ball, defensive errors, individual mistakes are stalling the team’s progress. The team is still finding its feet and while some players acclimatize it is necessary that results do not suffer. Otherwise it will be one step forward and two steps backward.