Inconsistency
This season has been a season of up's and downs for Liverpool FC. A new manager, some new players, youngsters coming up from the youth squad, etc... The starting line up has changed a lot from last year's. A lot of reds (like myself) where expecting big things, but we all knew it was going to take time. A hard start of fixtures for the new manager meant a slip down to mid table before Christmas, but things have started looking better. One thing has haunted us reds all season, and the word is Inconsistency. Last year it was 'Post' or 'Woodwork' . This season's keyword has to be inconsistency. To think where Liverpool would be if we maintained that consistency would be mouth watering. The performances where there...just not the result.
If i had made another article explaining another keyword about Liverpool's season it would be big mistakes. Huge mistakes have cost Liverpool this season. Whilst in winning positions, bad passes or bad decisions have cost Liverpool big points and made us Liverpool fans throw the remote at the TV sometimes. If it weren't for some of these mistakes and errors, Liverpool would currently be around the 2nd/3rd spot with around 61 points, instead of our current 48 points. These matches include :
Manchester City (Home,Away)
Both huge mistakes. Dominated the home game after a brilliant set piece from Suarez and a sloppy pass from Martin Skrtel gifted Tevez with a 1 on 1 in the last 10 minutes. So too with the away fixture. Gerrard with a beauty of a goal and moments later, a mix up between Skrtel and Reina gifted Aguero a goal which saw both games end in draws, which should have meant the double over the current champions
Everton (Away)
This was stolen away from us. 2 early goals saw Liverpool ease in comfortably 2-0. Everton fought back to equalize, but in the dying seconds, Luis Suarez's tap in was ruled out wrongly as an offside by the linesman which made us Reds raging . Suarez couldn't believe it as he should have walked out of Goodison Park with the match ball.
Arsenal (Away)
This match was another tentative one if you're a Reds supporter. With Henderson grabbing Liverpool's second in the 2nd half, we all thought Liverpool where going to ease in with a win at the Emirates. 2 goals soon followed by Arsenal, which if we would have defended our lead better,should have been avoided. Yet once again, we came out the match with just a point.
Other games include Swansea Away when Enrique's goal in the first half was wrongly given offside, and West Brom at home recently, where Gerrard penalty at the end could have driven the game the complete opposite way for Liverpool. That has been the problem this season, inconsistency. Winning 2 games on the bounce and playing magnificently, and then losing to a sloppy team by sloppy goals. It is still early to say if Brendan Rodgers is the right man for the job, but me alongside many other reds would agree that the mentality in matches and the performances are good, just a couple of good signings needed in the summer could define if we finish in the top 4 next season or not. A big transfer window ahead, with more blogs to come about the players we need and the areas we need to strengthen.
Inconsistency has been the real issue this season. A couple of examples are these:
Aston Villa (Home)
Coming back from two win's against Southampton and West Ham, Liverpool where going into this game as huge favorites A great start led to some poor defending and a goal for Aston Villa on the counter attack. Liverpool dominated throughout the whole match but Aston Villa game out with the 3 goals in the end and dampened a good spirited Liverpool side.
West Brom (Home)
In my opinion, this was what dampened Liverpool's chances of a top 4 finish. On a good run of form,the reds came in to this match with high hopes. As the game went on , Liverpool (as usual) had their chances, and won a penalty towards the end of the match. Gerrard stepped up and missed it. Liverpool didn't recover from that miss and West Brom got two quick fire goals at the end to win 2-0.
Southampton (Away)
A more recent one this. Coming back from 3 wins on the bounce and a massive win the weekend before against top 4 rivals Tottenham, you couldn't see other but a win for the reds. 2 early goals for the saints against a sleepy Liverpool side saw the reds never recover from them and although they got back into it at the end, 3-1 is what the score ended up as. Another inconsistent performance.
Inconsistent Player's
There have been a couple of Inconsistent player's for the reds this season. Starting from Joe Allen in the center of midfield. The little technician was brought in for a fee of 12 million by Rodgers in the summer, and a few where questioning the signing, others where happy with it. Joe Allen started off with some brilliant performances and then faded away slowly and lost his place around Christmas time to a re surging Jordan Henderson. Some fans are questioning if he can do it a big club, others already calling for him to be sold. In my opinion, he should be given another year, especially after the money we spent on him just the past summer. Another inconsistent player, in my opinion, is Jonjo Shelvey. He can give it his all sometimes and play some beautiful passes across the pitch, but other times, the 20 year old can rush into some challenges without caution and be lazy with the ball in his feet. Nevertheless, Jonjo is a huge up and coming star and me a long with many others hope he would live up to it. The last player i am going to mention is Pepe Reina. I am sure everyone will agree with me, Pepe Reina is one of the best keepers in the world. Some saves he has pulled off (most recently a couple against Wigan) are world class, and he has been a huge servant to the club,even when teams like Barca have come calling. Pepe has become a Scouser, but some of his decisions and handling have come into question by the Liverpool fans. Too many mistakes , especially in the last few seasons, have led to a frustrated Pepe being linked with a move out of Anfield, and with Swansea's Michael Vorm and Sunderland's Simon Mignolet along side many more linked with a move to Liverpool, Pepe could find his long time with Liverpool could be coming to an end. There is no doubt that taking away the mistakes and lack of attention sometimes, Pepe is still one of the best around at what he does.
You can't doubt it, Liverpool , with a good transfer window, could be right up there by next season. Everyone knows that the Champions League misses Liverpool . The 5 times champions need to start pulling their socks up even higher and perform even better to show the fans and manager that they are good enough to bring those days back. Top 4 is probably out of reach now, but with a few new faces and a good start, you never knows where we could be come this time next season.
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