Three games into the season and already Liverpool fans are calling for manager Brendan Rodgers head.
The Reds lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal yesterday and were really poor. There seemed no inspiration and no fight in the team.
Early
It is still very early in the season and everybody knew that the first three games of the campaign would be difficult.
Liverpool fans also knew that Rodgers would need time to get his ideas across to his players and introduce his football philosophy.
Style
Liverpool has never been a team that likes to play direct football. On the whole the team has tried to play a passing style down the years. However, Rodgers has tried to introduce the possession based game that he played at Swansea and some of the Liverpool players are struggling to adapt.
Liverpool is currently playing a similar system to that of Spanish giants Barcelona, Rodgers being a disciple of the Barca school of football. The two centre-backs split and allow the full-backs to venture forward at every opportunity, and then the defensive midfielder, in Liverpool’s case Joe Allen drops in to cover the forward runs.
Unfortunately at the moment the defence seems all over the place and the Reds have conceded too many goals already this season. Liverpool was relatively solid at the back last season, but this season they have looked very vulnerable.
Inspiration
The defence isn’t the only worrying issue for Reds fans though. The team’s performance against Arsenal just completely lacked inspiration. The likes of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez are the ones that usually supply the inspiration.
In yesterday’s game the one player on the Liverpool team that seemed capable of creating anything exciting was young Raheem Sterling. The 17 year-old looked lively in the first half, but faded slightly in the second half. I’m sure Liverpool fans are worried that their most likely source of creating something was such a young player.
Frustration
At the moment the likes of Gerrard and Suarez seem frustrated. Their body language isn’t particularly encouraging either. They can’t be expected to drag Liverpool through every game, but surely they should be performing better than they did against Arsenal.
The frustration stems from the fact that the Reds are not playing well and getting results. If Liverpool carries on playing like they have been in recent weeks the frustration is going to continue.
Mistake
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers allowed Andy Carroll to join West Ham just before the transfer window shut. I think that was a major mistake by the former-Swansea boss. Carroll may not fit into his ideal striker stereotype but he is still a threat to opposition defence’s.
Liverpool sold Carroll without a replacement, which now means they have just two senior strikers in Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini. They now have no plan B and Rodgers desperately needed one in yesterday’s game against Arsenal.
Owen
Former-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp suggested after yesterday’s game that if he was Reds boss he would be putting in a call to former-kop idol Michael Owen. The 32 year-old is a free agent after leaving Manchester United at the end of the season.
Owen s still looking for a club and has stated he will only join a Premier League outfit. A lot of Liverpool fans were angered when Owen joined Liverpool’s bitter-rivals Manchester United. However, he could be their only option. Liverpool has also been linked with a move for former-Chelsea star Didier Drogba, according to sources close to the player that move is unlikely to happen.
Owen has been injury-prone throughout his career and it has cost him at times. He hardly played for United in his three seasons in Manchester, when he did though he more often than not got on the score sheet. I really don’t think Michael Owen would be a bad short-term option for Liverpool. He would definitely give Rodgers another option.
Work
Brendan Rodgers has a lot of hard work ahead of him getting Liverpool into shape, a shape that fits in with his philosophy and a shape that brings good results. He knew the size of the job when he took over, but maybe the harsh reality of just where Liverpool are at the moment has only just dawned on him.
I thought Brendan Rodgers did a great job at Swansea City. It has to be said though that a lot of the hard work done in Wales was done by previous bosses. I just hope that the Ulsterman hasn’t bitten of more than he can chew by taking up the reigns at Anfield.
Do Liverpool fans need to start worrying yet?
I would say that they should start worrying. If players like Gerrard and Suarez don’t start buying into Rodgers project then they will be doomed.
Just look at Chelsea. The players didn’t buy into AVB’s project and the team suffered (followed by AVB). The question now becomes, will Rodgers be given enough time and if players don’t buy into it, what will happen to them?
FSG said that BR would have their backing, but their current actions show otherwise. This could become yet another issue for the club.
Hey Todd, you state some good points. I’m a real fan of Brendan Rodgers (even if I’m not a Liverpool fan). If the key players don’t buy into his philosophy then like you say it’s not going to work. I’m not sure how long he will be given, but he will need a lot of time to instill his way of playing into his players.
Gerrard n Suarez have not been at their best yet n notibly tried to. Borini was the dissapointing player. Stevie lost out few important balls in midfield, 1 that led to a goal. The final longer passes r horrible n they should try shorter ones instead. All players shld start playing for the team. Lack of strikers or not, no use crying over split milk. Overall, Liverpool is starting to emerge as an exiting team n i believe Brandon is a brilliant manager. Just trust him to progress to great heights.