Spurs are level on points with us, Everton can go above us, and our season is over. Better luck next year.
Whilst I have criticisms of both Rodgers and individual players, it’s important we all look at the bigger picture here that as of this moment, leaves the race for 4th spot in our own hands; something we haven’t been able to say since Rafa left the club and not only this but thus far, we are doing it in style. Generally you can see the progress mentally, technically and tactically over Rodgers reign at the club. He is a very bright young manager, a forward thinker who handles himself well in the media and clearly has a positive effect in every way on young players. He is taking us places, but that doesn’t mean we won’t trip up every now and then, as we did Saturday.
Firstly, when I saw the team sheet I was both excited and anxious. Villa at home have generally been pretty poor playing through the middle of the park and struggle to create passing angles to move the ball into the final third. Rodgers thinking may have been that Gerrard and Henderson were good enough to hold out and good enough to play through Villa. He was wrong however, as Villa won the midfield battle in almost every way until the introduction of Lucas. They were more reactive, their passing was crisper, and they had more energy and numbers picking their runs well. Jordan got through an astonishing amount of work, but both he and Stevie were having an off day passing wise, averaging less than 80% accuracy each, and so you’re going to have problems. Add to this that Coutinho was very poor in his decision making and passing accuracy and we become very disjointed when three such good players aren’t playing well at all. Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez were starved of any chances despite decent movement because of our lack of functionality in midfield. Delph is a lovely little player, particularly off the ball as he presses ferociously and with his wiry little frame he is able to be very reactive and effective at nicking the ball off the opponents.
I think the key factor is that Gerrard and Henderson shouldn’t have started in a midfield pair with two young lads who will naturally attack and make forward runs more than consolidate, you are going to be open. The 4222 has been proven to work but usually with Lucas in the side and Henderson occupying one of the more forward positions. It was a difficult call for Rodgers as Coutinho is the only natural number 10 to link the play between the lines but given Sterling’s form I’d have opted for the two young Englishmen to start in the middle 2 with Sturridge and Suarez ahead and Lucas partnering Gerrard in the back 2. I think that has enough balance and goal threat. Also having Coutinho to bring on would have been a great option from the bench.
As I say it was a difficult decision for but a strange on nonetheless. We have seen before Gerrard and Henderson struggle on their own in midfield and Saturday was no different. Lucas or Allen have to play for me because they are more technical, calculated midfielders who know how to air on the side of caution and control the tempo. Brendan is a huge believer in controlling the ball and the tempo rather than space and direction and I think it was odd for him to choose such a midfield that never looked like it would be able to circulate the ball well. Both Henderson and Gerrard are pretty direct, and we rushed our way through the game.
Skrtel and Toure struggle as a pair don’t they? It’s unfortunate because both look pretty decent beside Agger or Sakho but play them together and either one or both seem to have a bad game. This time it was Toure as Skrtel actually played quite well. Looking at their first goal you can see at how Toure failed to get near Agbonglahor (tbf he wouldn’t be expected to), couldn’t take the ball off him when he slowed down - but as he got in the cross, what is irritating is just looking at the numbers. Four Liverpool players in the box, one white and claret shirt, and we can’t prevent the ball getting to that man. Gerrard let him slip over his should and failed to get near enough to the ball. Skrtel, Cissokho and Johnson are all standing in line with the ball cutting off one angle to two of their players just outside the box and Skrtel fails to close the ball down aggressively enough. That’s five Liverpool players failing to do a pretty basic job, Mig could have got down quicker too, so six – very disappointing.
Second goal, without going back too far, Toure finds himself in no man’s land at left back, Gerrard fails to track or close down the cross early enough and the ball comes in. Skrtel’s position is a good one and Johnson has allowed Benteke to drop off his shoulder as he ball watches. Miglonet made a poor decision to come for a ball he wouldn’t reach and it looped over Johnson onto the head of Benteke for an easy finish. Another catalogue of errors rather than anything spectacular from Villa, we made it easy for them to score their goals, though they deserved their lead. Our goal was quite direct and self-explanatory. Gerrard found one delicious pass to the advancing Suarez who rounded off Guzan and was bought down – the penalty taken well by Stevie.
I was actually hoping to see the sub happen that occurred. Coutinho was the worst player on the pitch for me, shortly followed by our captain but given Gerrard’s ability to step up when required, his experience and maturity, and with Phillippe being a young lad who has been in poor form, I think it was the obvious choice for a number of reasons. Coutinho will bounce back, he’s too good not to. Lucas made a difference, I sure hope the initial news isn’t true but I fear the worst and we do need depth in his position. We gained some control in the game as we circulated the ball better and Lucas plugged an obvious hole in the middle of the pitch. Our goal was well worked with a lovely bit of play between Suarez and Henderson before Sturridge took his chance in the custom we’ve come to expect. Allen did well when he came on but boy did we lack some urgency towards the end of the match, like we were happy with the draw? We went from playing too direct and rushed to playing too slowly out from the back with no determination to try and move play forward quickly to snatch that winner which we wouldn’t have actually deserved. It’s something we have been pretty good at since Rodgers arrival. Two years ago we’d have been well beaten I think. Still, disappointing not to push that little bit harder. Henderson looked absolutely fucked at the end, and I’m not surprised he was EVERYWHERE all game – the others, really should have done more.
Overall disappointing from the manager (by his usual exceptional standards), disappointment in many of the players, and a little disappointed at our lack of urgency to win the game. But I said before, this is just a little stumble on what is a road to somewhere special. Beat Everton next week and you’ll all be talking about the title again.
