"Back To The Chalk Board for Rodgers"
Liverpool 1 - 2 Chelsea
Can 9' Cahill 14'
Costa 67'
Possession: 59% - 41%
Shots: 12 - 15
On Target: 4 - 5
Corners: 5 - 7
Fouls: 9 - 12
Yellow Cards: 2-5 (Sterling, Balotelli - Ivanovic, Matic, Oscar, Costa, Courtois)
Red Cards: 0-0
Liverpool find themselves a staggering twelve points behind first place, and although remain rooted in eight place, could further find themselves slump to as low as eleventh place by the time Sunday's fixtures are played. Yes, Brendan's men are a mere three points ahead of 16th place Aston Villa, as a Diego Costa goal on the hour-mark marked a worrying start to the weekend for Rodgers and his men.
How The Goals Went In
Emre Can, 9 minutes: The reds kicked off with a vigorous pace, only previously shown in the majority of home games last season. Emre Can found himself in space just outside the penalty area and let loose a thunderbolt which ricocheted off Gary Cahill and past Courtois' left hand side. The initial shot was heading in, therefore Emre Can finally has a Liverpool goal to show for.
Gary Cahill, 14 minutes: As shown by Liverpool on any occasions this season, set-pieces have proved to be a worrying factor, and it took Cahill just five minutes to make up for Can's goal. Costa flicked on a Fabregas corner, and whilst Terry forced Mignolet into making a brilliant save from the header, he could not prevent Cahill's rebound shot as he bundled the ball past the goal-line, with hawk-eye confirming it had indeed passed the line.
Diego Costa, 67 minutes: Prior to the goal, it was proving to be anybody's match, where it was going to take a piece of individual brilliance to make the breakthrough. On the contrary, it was a refereeing error. Azpilicueta broke into a run on the left-hand side, and although the ball looked like it had gone out of play, the ref allowed it and the Spaniard skipped past Coutinho and fired a cross into the penalty area. Mignolet could only parry it onto Moreno's knee, as it ricocheted onto none other than Diego Costa, who made no mistake and slotted home his tenth of the league season.
Heroes, Villains & Talking Points (Within Liverpool Squad & Based on my Personal View)
Man of The Match: Although fading slightly in the second half, Emre Can was just short of outstanding in the opening half an hour, and his inclusion proved to be the right decision made by Rodgers. (His goal definitely helped, of course). With this being said, what in God's name was Brendan thinking when replacing him a few minutes after Costa's goal?
Worst Player: The once ever so reliable Dejan Lovren looks nowhere close to emulating the form he showed whilst wearing the stripes of Southampton. The Croatian was all over the place once again, which has reulted in many fans pondering whether Brendan should have replaced the 25 year old with the 'in-form' Kolo Toure, and whether that would have changed the outcome of the result.
Talking Point: The referee. in this week's 'ref watch', I am going to be extremely kind and rate Anthony Taylor's performance a 2/10. The man seemed to possess no authority within the game. From booking Sterling for getting elbowed in the face, to missing a blatant hand ball by Gary Cahill in the latter stages of the match. Taylor's performance was a very poor one indeed, one that has been echoed by Rodgers in his post-match press conference.
Things We Learnt From The Match
1. Anything bar a convincing win at Palace could result into Brendan's days being numbered.
If the man in the hot seat was under-fire prior to today's match, the seat he is now sat on is burning into flames. Let us be frank, the Northern Irishman got it wrong, tactically and in his team selection. The major problem is that this has become a re-occurring factor. As I sat in my local pub, pre-match pint in hand and awaiting the team news, watching Kopites were left flabbergasted as the team news flurried in. Brendan opted for the 'lone striker' option that has failed him on numerous occasions this season, and an option that should be axed with immediate effect until the return of Daniel Sturridge.
Now, I am in no-way stating my desire in wanting Rodgers to be sacked, however, the owners may not share the same opinion as myself. IF Liverpool do not improve, and fail to win convincingly at Palace in a fortnight, Brendan will undoubtedly be sweating it out towards the end of the month.
2. Mario Balotelli & Dejan Lovren = A 35 million utter waste?
From today's outcome it seems Rodgers did not listen to my pre-match preview rant regarding starting Fabio Borini and Kolo Toure. In fact, I do not think he even bothered to re-watch Tuesday's match at all. Instead, the boss picked both Lovren and Mario, his two 'big name' signings, and once again they failed miserably. Dejan does not look half the player we paid 25 million pounds for, and Balotelli seems disinterested whenever he enters a football pitch. Kolo and Borini both possess leadership and determination, two traits that Brendan's 35 million duo lack in abundance. Is Rodgers too proud to bench the players he forked out so much money for, or is it about time we witness both Kolo and Fabio be given their chance?
3. The 'Pre-International Break' voodoo has been broken.
If one where to delve into Liverpool's past and analyse the reds' matches entering each international break, the result would be astonishing..... until today. Both our 3-0 demolition of Spurs and 2-1 win against the Baggies arrived prior to international breaks, however the ongoing ritual has finally come to an end at the third time of asking, which will leave reds' fans worldwide with a sour taste in mouths for the next fortnight.
4. Liverpool are too 'Predictable'.
This point epitomizes just how one summer can change an entire football team. If we glance back towards last season, we see a squad of players that excited even the most passionate of Man. United fans. If Luis Suarez did not pose a threat up front, then it was Daniel Sturridge causing havoc. Opposition teams did not know how to defend against the Liverpool of 2013-2014, a team that had attacking flair etched across the whole team.
Now, stop daydreaming and bring yourselves back to the present day, and to a Liverpool squad who have bored me to death at times this season. The reds lack the creativity going forward, with the opposition now conscious of the fact that if you block out the reds' midfield, there is nowhere else they can hurt you. The question on everyone's lips at the moment; What exactly has happened over the summer period to make Brendan's team so predictable? One simple answer: Luis Suarez + 100 million spent, with no world class striker as a replacement.
5. A 'Daniel Sturridge' away from a drastic improvement?
Maybe, and from Liverpool's first half showing, us reds fans can be pretty content looking forward. However, one man will not change a teams' fortune. What if the striker was to return and struggle to find his feet again? What if the Englishman fails to click with the 'enigma' that is Mario Balotelli? Two possibilities that I do not wish to venture into, however they are two possibilities that could determine the outcome of Liverpool's season.
Regardless of the fact, the return of 'Dan the man' will be met with high appraisal. Let us all hope that he and Balotelli can manufacture a similar partnership to the one he and Suarez so successfully endured.
As we begin a two-week rehabilitation phase away from domestic football and delve into the depressing international break (what ever shall we do with ourselves?) , we enter a period of reflectiveness and a period where Rodgers will need to counter up a plan that will turn Liverpool's season the right side up. Brendan will relish the timing of this break, as the man currently under huge pressure faces long, hard days sat in front of his chalkboard, pondering and creating a master-plan of sorts. Next up is Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, a fixture that beings further depressive memories. (Let me re-freshen your brains with the image below):
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YNWA
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