Worrying times for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is under pressure to get results

Another defeat for Liverpool, this time at the hands of FC Basel, the Swiss club – their fourth defeat in nine matches this season. On a night when more questions were raised than answered, it is worrisome, that even this early in the season, Liverpool look like a team in desperate need of a creative spark. While Brendan Rodgers has generally restructured the team after the Suarez departure, its the synchronisation that is causing the supporters heartache.

Pleas of gelling time already seem to be falling on deaf ears. In an era where technology can be used to overhype situations, this might be just one of them. Most supporters of Liverpool believe that Rodgers is the right person, but impatience can always lead to conflicting thoughts.

The current crop of players are still adjusting but with games piling up, the pressure is relentless and some of the players are not just playing to the required standard. Steven Gerrard, one of the old guards and a legend in his own right, has already started questioning the commitment of some of the players.

It may be too early to judge some of the players, and if one reflects back on Rodger’s first season, it was only towards the second half of the season that Liverpool started thrilling everyone with their gameplay. But time flies, and currently Liverpool are already nine points behind league leaders Chelsea and four points off the Champions League places.

What is wrong with the Liverpool squad?

It is not just the results that have been worrying. It is more to do with the lack of fluidity and lack of ideas that is more worrisome. Philippe Coutinho still isn’t strong enough to take the game by the scruff of its neck like Gerrard who is being overused. People point to Andrea Pirlo, but the Premier League is much faster and takes a toll on players as they age. At times this season, it has seemed that the game passes by Gerrard.

He might have been instrumental last weekend against Everton, but he was afforded all that space to run the game. It is the big games that has him rushed and teams are lurking around to capitalise on those mistakes. In order for Rodgers to continue with Gerrard, he needs more runners and that is where Emre Can has the potential to make an impact.

Until now, it has mostly been a midfield comprising of lightweights. Jordan Henderson is the only tireless runner who passes and moves around. Lucas Leiva still hasn’t been the same since the injury against Chelsea last season, and that leaves Joe Allen who needs to start making more of an impact. The creative players still need some time to embed themselves in the team and Raheem Sterling has been overused already this season. If Liverpool are to compete over a longer period, then the others have to start chipping in. The defence is still vulnerable and one of the major worrying reasons for the lack of solidity in the team.

Liverpool could do with Daniel Sturridge back in the starting XI.

Rodgers’ assessment of the fans’ mood and the transition period of the team has been bang on. Connecting with the fans has always been one of his priorities and there is still a lot of belief in the team. There may have been defeats, but some spells of play has proved that Liverpool remains on the right track. The results are currently not forthcoming and it happens in football; change takes time and patience.

When things don’t go a club’s way, there is a need for the team to go back to basics. But Rodgers’ basics have always been built on attacking gameplay and that needs work. There are no simple solutions when it comes to football. Results obviously help, but an expensive summer and European competitions are just some of the situations which are creating an environment of pressure. Being a Liverpool fan, it is necessary to stick by our manager and give him time. We know things aren’t going in Liverpool’s favour, but after the lull only comes the storm.

You’ll never walk alone.