This was always likely to be a strange match. A week after clinching the league title, speculation soared as to how Chelsea would play this fixture. However, it would have been foolish to think Jose Mourinho would field a completely weakened side against his former protege’s Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. A small handful of Chelsea starters were rested but given the Blues strength at home under Mourinho, Liverpool’s hopes of gaining any points were long. Still, Liverpool recovered from yet another early concession to draw 1-1 with this year’s champions.
Here are four findings from today’s match.
Too many slow starts
Granted this is not last year’s team, but the difference in how Liverpool has started matches this year has bordered on the absurd. In fact, the change has been so dramatic questions have to be asked about where the responsibility actually lies. To concede the first goal early, what’s more on on a set piece, has been a far too common occurrence this season. Instead of blitzing teams from the opening whistle, this year’s Reds have more often than not looked unprepared and unaware that matches have started. Far from the first time, it took over ten minutes for Liverpool to find their way into the game. It has been an undeniable problem, and it has cost them games. Liverpool are a much stronger front-running side, not surprising given the youth in the squad, putting an even higher premium on scoring the first goal. Given how blunt the attack has been, the problem has been compounded by beginning matches with an utter lack of aggression.
Line-up questions linger
Exactly why Glen Johnson started this match is just another open question for the manager. Considering the soon-to-be-out-of-contract defender will be plying his twilight years with a different club, an opportunity to give one of the younger full-backs a run in the team remains. There certainly is no shortage of squad players in need of experience. Similarly, starting likely-to-leave Rickie Lambert added to the list of curious choices. Not only has the striker had a terribly unfortunate spell with his hometown club, he has offered little in terms of goal scoring threat. Eventually, Lambert gave way for Jerome Sinclair’s league debut. Unfortunately, the eighteen year-old was just as ineffective. Add to the curiosity list Adam Lallana, who almost single handedly requires a shuffling of others to accommodate him. Jordan Ibe eventually replaced Lallana, but, again, why not give the youngster the start? As raw as Ibe may be, he still offers more pace, power, and attacking threat than the former Southampton captain, all traits woefully in need.
Holes yet to fill
The yawning hole up front looks deeper and more problematic, especially since any chance Raheem Sterling has of playing centrally as a striker seem to have vanished ever since his contract talks and indiscretions have been more responsible for his name gaining headlines. Despite him being the strongest attacking threat, finishing weaknesses and all, it’s as if Brendan Rodgers has abandoned all notion of playing Sterling through the middle or maximising the link with Philippe Coutinho. Then there is the irony of Steven Gerrard scoring the equalising goal, on a corner to boot! Not only did it serve as a nice response to the laminated caution card carrying fools at Stamford Bridge, it has all but secured his position as the clubs leading scorer. So for two consecutive seasons Liverpool will lose its highest scorer. As much as he has struggled this season, Gerrard will leave an even greater void than Suarez. His forthcoming departure definitively marks the end of an era. As much as the captaincy has been discussed, Liverpool simply cannot replace his leadership. No one currently at the club has the breadth and depth of his experience, seen the heights he has seen, or demonstrated the level of loyalty to much of anything let alone Liverpool Football Club. That is fact and does not even begin to address his play.
Mounting missed opportunities
This season must be defined by missed opportunities. First, Liverpool missed out on the Alexis Sanchez sweepstakes, leaving them definitively short on quality strikers, a problem that only proved more malignant. January came and went and so did the chance of finding a solution as the transfer window shut and Liverpool stood still. Barring most of their great run at the new year, Liverpool made things harder for themselves at almost every turn. Ultimately, the Reds simply missed too many opportunities against weaker opposition throughout the season, dropping points against relegation embattled sides. Losing or drawing to the likes of Aston Villa, Hull City, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Leicester City, even more than their abysmal record against the current top four sides, is what doomed any chance Liverpool had of regaining a place in the Champions League. Moreover, taking eight of the last possible 21 points in the league, not to mention unceremoniously crashing out of the FA Cup against Villa, saw the Merseysiders unable to capitalise on a weak league year and essentially an open invitation by Manchester United to catch them in the last month. There are lots of reasons, of course, for the failings, but it must be said that the opportunities were present and were missed.
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