Last year, Liverpool muddled through a malaise that began the season lacking identity, eventually crashing into full-blown crisis. Despite the red herring of the first two-and-a-half matches, things are looking eerily similar. In the biggest away fixture of the season, Liverpool looked lost, again, falling to Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford.
The first four games provided a mini-season’s glimpse at a new look side that barely ground out some results, showed glimpses of possibility, and then floundered when genuine opportunity presented itself. The pattern might be the most accurate template of Brendan Rodgers reign since the crushing could-have-been season of 2013-14.
In this most storied of derbies, Rodgers’ Reds looked absent of ambition, devoid of ideas, and collapsing character. Regardless of early endorsements from owners Fenway Sports Group, the manager may have finally fallen irredeemably in the eyes of supporters.
Here are four findings from the match.
Void of Vision
For Liverpool to play so conservatively that they were only capable of penetrating the final third twice in an entire half, against this average Manchester United side, is a damning indictment of ambition.
Routinely in the first half, Rodgers’ never-ending search for solidity at the back resulted in nine players bunkering in their own third, content to let the home side pass the ball all over the pitch, with intermittent pressure from individual players. It was a shocking lack of intent and negative display.
There is trying to maintain team shape and simply playing in a shell. The tactics deployed in Manchester was clearly in the latter. The plan employed was as whey-faced as the all white kit the Reds wore for the event.
Same Problems Sans Solutions
For five games now, prized striker Christian Benteke has cut a lone, isolated figure attempting to lead a non-existent forward line for Liverpool. He may have scored the goal of the season, with that sublime overhead volley, but it was not even the conclusion of a well-knit attacking sequence of play. Rather, it was the Belgian’s preternatural understanding of the ball’s flight from a deflection. More disturbing was how easily he was bullied by United defenders with no assistance in sight.
While Philippe Coutinho was sidelined by suspension, this side possess no attacking threat, let alone goals. With essentially five players in midfield and Benteke surrounded by defenders, there was no outlet when Liverpool did find themselves in possession of the ball, which was particularly rare in the first half. Yet most chances created by this Reds team seem too reliant on fortune and neither invention nor ingenuity.
Defensively, Liverpool looked delayed and decidedly naive. Once again, they nearly conceded in the first 10 minutes, twice. Little changed in the second half, as the Reds continued chasing the game. Put under genuine pressure they were exposed anew, shipped three goals for the second consecutive match.
Five players inattentively guarded the goal box but no opponents and no one seemed to notice Daley Blind standing naked 20 yards from goal, beyond three unmarked decoy runners. He was granted a free path to a fine finish. Later, a young Joe Gomez received another harsh initiation to the Premier League courtesy of Michael Carrick’s lethal, vertical pass, that led to a penalty takedown.
Gomez’s error does not spoil the 18-year-old’s promise or growth, but there is considerably less upside remaining for either centre-half. Martin Skrtel was made to look a fool, getting turned inside out twice, with no cover, by mega teen transfer Anthony Martial, who coolly completed the execution for the result. Sadly, it is how short of surprise the splintering has become that is most alarming.
Less than the Sum of Parts
Including Dejan Lovren, seven new faces started this match for the Reds. Yet, all the fresh talent continues to give way to a fractured, ill-fitting side short of cohesion, confidence, and character.
With the possible exception of Nathaniel Clyne and Benteke’s one shining moment, no player performed with anything approaching the quality required by a Liverpool team hoping to challenge for anything other than a relegation fight. Absences aside, most players are either playing out of natural position or being asked to perform in roles that ill-fit them.
The starting XI for the first four games hardly changed, and this team sheet featured no surprise appearances. Still, this team remains exceedingly ineffectual. Apart from one half at the Emirates, the pattern has been little more than fractured displays of poor attacking play and fragile exhibitions of defending when tested. There is a reason Liverpool look desperately in search of any shred of confidence.
Perhaps the most shocking finding of all is the sheer vacuum of leadership and responsibility. Granted captain Jordan Henderson missed this fixture, but nobody appeared too bothered for Liverpool by the shambolic show. That, maybe more than anything, sent the visiting supporters to the exits well before the final whistle. The number of players that have captained other teams in the squad has offered little in establishing coordinated or competent performances to date.
Locker Room Lost?
With the tide of supporters faith in Rodgers flagging, the question of how long he can hold the locker room will only rise. There was a point last season where speculation swirled. This year’s influx of new personnel may buy the manager time, but plenty of familiar faces make up this squad.
If a critical threshold of longer tenured players begin to tune out the manager, no amount of professionalism on the part of players will save Rodgers, no matter how much he rages. Moreover, continued sputtering does nothing to win over the new veteran blood either.
The season is not wholly adrift just yet, but losing to a weaker Manchester United side, in the manner they did, puts Liverpool and their manager on a precarious path fraught with increasing pressure, edging closer to a crisis point of no return.
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