What we all witnessed on Wednesday night was Europe’s best team come to Anfield and control a game for 70 minutes. A team who are reigning European champions. A team who have spent an abundance of cash on ‘the new Galacticos’. There cannot be anyone that’s surprised we lost, nor anyone surprised in the manner goals two and three were conceded. It’s becoming a reoccurring, boring story.
We played fairly well in the first 20, despite not really testing Casillas (or at any other time in the game, for that matter). There were a few shining lights, namely Lallana, Can and Coutinho. On the whole, however, Liverpool never showed themselves or what we know they’re capable of. It was a game that handed out no real surprises, until after the final whistle at least.
What ensued, via the social channels and the media, was quite frankly an embarrassment. For me, one far worse than what I’d just watched for 90 minutes in front of me. Shirt-swap-gate was born and it gave everyone a shitty stick to beat Balotelli with. People, supposed ‘fans’, genuinely laying in to him.
I’m aware Mario hasn’t been the brightest since joining the club. Really, I am. I know he can produce more than he has. But we’re criticising a guy who has played only a handful of games for the club. A player who was purchased to support and work with Daniel Sturridge, not alone. So why is there a clamour to judge him before that’s even happened properly?
Yes, he swapped shirts with Pepe, and I can see why some people may find that an issue. I don’t. I imagine it’s something he’s done numerous times previously in Italy and nobody’s ever batted an eyelid. In fact, Balotelli’s only real wrongdoing was getting caught on camera. Pepe asked him to exchange shirts, for goodness sake. A refusal and we’d have all seen a damning headline of a different nature in Thursday morning’s papers. He was naïve, no more.
By now everyone’s seen the ‘APOLOGISE’ headline, and quite frankly that’s a mess. Balotelli doesn’t owe me or anyone else an apology. If that’s the case, why don’t Skrtel and Lovren owe everyone the same thing for their comical-at-times defending this year? Don’t be so bloody silly.
Mignolet and Johnson were two others who took some flack, and again, in the instance of Wednesday night, I think that’s misplaced. I thought Johnson dealt with the best player in the world ok. Lets be honest, Ronaldo didn’t have *that* many chances throughout, but it’s not like anyone can really tame him either. Johnson’s game over recent times hasn’t been great, granted. But he offers some attacking threat, and did so in this game. He’s been injured and it’s probably fair to say that he’s still getting back to full match fitness. He’s basically still being berated for his poor form last season.
I thought Mignolet made a few good saves too. Aside from his poor choice to go legs first for the third goal, I think he helped add a degree of credibility about the score line. His distribution needs to improve, and his decision making at times, but I don’t think he’s as bad as some decide to label him.
Ultimately, though, as I digress, Balotelli has been scapegoated for this loss, and to an extent for others too. Instead of the people genuinely at fault for a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid being in question, Balotelli is pictured on all the back pages.
As a team this season, we’ve been poor. There really is no denying that. There’s one game so far where I’ve come away afterwards and been delighted – Spurs away. In that game we carried a full threat going forward. We defended pretty well on the whole, and got a clean sheet of course. That day, Mario partnered Sturridge. Sterling played in behind. Sakho partnered Lovren. Coincidence? I don’t know. Lets do it again soon though, Brendan. I want to find out.
