---
title: "Four Findings: Arsenal (A)"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/match-reviews/four-findings-arsenal-a/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Fred Haas"
section: "Liverpool Match Reports"
published: "2015-04-05T12:02:27Z"
modified: "2015-04-05T12:02:27Z"
---

# Four Findings: Arsenal (A)

Faltering against Manchester United before the international fortnight deeply complicated Liverpool’s push to get back amongst the top four. While Red supporters and others have been waiting all season for United to be found out, it might just be that today, against Arsenal, Liverpool were the ones found out, falling 4-1 at the Emirates. Not unlike the last match, Arsenal jumped on Liverpool from the whistle and the Reds struggled to cope against the only team in better form since New Year. It was a full 20 minutes before Liverpool even gained a foothold. Once the Gunners eventually broke through, scoring three goals in final eight minutes of the first half, the contest and possibly any Champions League hopes ended.

Here are four findings from today’s match:

**Too many for the future?** – With Daniel Sturridge starting on the bench, the average age of the front six players was 22 years old. Even adding 28 year-old Lucas Leiva to the group, the average barely ticked up over 23 years. Manager Brendan Rodgers has an unabashed preference for youth, which generally has served both him and the club well, but today the lack of experience was exposed in sharp relief. Over half of the starting eleven were under 25 and played that way today. Too young, too raw, and too much on the side of potential rather than proven, this side looked short of top talent against a well-balanced Arsenal side that once again has found their best form at the business end of the season. Adding Sturridge at the half made little difference. Most troubling, this term’s revelation, Emre Can, looked foolish and ill-disciplined for both two yellow cards that resulted in his sending off. The moment ensured the outcome for the Reds in the 84th minute, but the ensuing suspension will have longer consequence.

**Lacking leadership** – While Jordan Henderson got on the scoresheet with his penalty, he was otherwise more noticeable for picking himself up off the pitch than his play. He did not play badly, but nor did he play well. If this match was an audition for the armband, he was found still wanting. However, he was not alone, nor should he shoulder all the blame. No one, with the possible exception of Simon Mignolet, was able to rally Liverpool when they were under the most pressure in the early going. Technical mistakes and errors in decision-making were rampant all over the pitch, and the Reds desperately needed someone to put in a tackle or two and steady the side. Liverpool continues to lack any physical presence in midfield, a fact that has been exploited with greater regularity when they play from behind. The Red’s brief first half response was as much down to Arsenal trying to catch their breath than anything Liverpool were doing to affect the match.

**Not enough goals** – All season Liverpool have looked like a team short on scoring. Today’s starting eleven players accounted for a mere 18 goals in total. In contrast, Arsenal’s two main threats, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez, entered with over 25 goals between them. Sadly, the 100 plus goals of last season seem more and more like a distant memory. Of course it is not the same team, and injuries to Sturridge have no doubt proven the biggest factor. Yet, given just how much Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert, and Fabio Borini have utterly failed to impress or even earn a place, it is as if Liverpool have played the entire season without a striker. Today, against quality opposition, that fact was even more obvious. Apart from one glorious chance untaken, when Lazar Markovic missed Raheem Sterling for an early tap-in, Liverpool never really looked like scoring at all during open play.

**Many with much to prove** – With a match at league leaders Chelsea to yet play, Liverpool have won just once in the league against the four clubs above them, hardly the way to climb the table. Now, two matches in a row, when opportunity was clear and present, Liverpool have not just failed to get results, they have performed poorly. Not only lacking scoring threat, they have been overrun in the midfield, unable to cope with an aggressive press, and prone to petulance. Truth is, Liverpool have as many red cards as goals in the last two games against the two teams they were trying to overtake in the table, regaining a place in Champions League cash and cachet. Their glorious run since the festive season has now crashed hard and sadly may now prove too little too late. Despite all the promise and potential that Liverpool possess, and there is plenty, neither the team nor the manager have won anything yet, a fact that will come into even sharper focus during their FA Cup replay against Blackburn, Wednesday evening.