da bwin： Liverpool’s season of disaster and catastrophe lurched into the realms of nightmare yesterday as they slipped to a 3-0 loss at the home of arch-rivals Manchester United. Circumstance has not been kind to the Reds so far this term – Daniel Sturridge has played just three league games – but there is indeed a long way to go this term, so a quick turnaround may be enough to get the 2014/15 campaign back on track.
da leao： Could there actually be a silver lining to this massive raincloud? Here are FIVE reasons why there may be…
Big week ahead
Okay, defeat at Old Trafford by three goals to your most bitter rivals is far from ideal. But, Liverpool have a massive week to switch their attention to, and there could be a very different outlook at Anfield by next Monday, should results go their way. Next up for the Reds is a trip to AFC Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup, which, on paper at least, should be an ideal fixture to get some confidence back and book a spot in the last four of a major completion. The Cherries may top the Championship table, but divisional superiority might be enough to get Rodgers’ side over the line.
Following the cup clash, Liverpool will play host to Arsenal, who have stuttered as well this season. Victory over the Gunners, who are top four rivals, could give the table a slightly more positive look, with the sides between fourth and tenth tightly bunched.
Proof that the ‘false nine’ doesn’t work
With Daniel ‘man of glass’ Sturridge out injured, Rodgers has had to rotate his forward options in a bid to find a formula that works. Yesterday he went all ‘football hipster’ with a striker-less system, deploying Raheem Sterling as the ‘false nine’ and focal point of his attack. Although supremely talented at just 20-years-of age, the Jamaican-born England international is not really cut out to be a centre-forward, and some wayward finishing exposed the lack of killer instinct he has. On numerous occasions Sterling got into good positions, but the outcome was never positive.
For all his critics, Mario Balotelli gave the Reds a better option when he came on at half-time, and was unlucky not to score. Surely the much-maligned Italian is the best option from now on.
Liverpool actually out-played United for large spells
You can prove anything with stats, and Rodgers clearly went for that approach after the game when he claimed his side “did enough” to win. Although he talks some tosh at times, the Northern Irishman can cite his team’s 19 efforts on goal as proof they enjoyed the lions’ share of the attacking play, with more corners won also evidence of territorial advantage.
Yes, three goals were let in at the other end. But had the Merseysiders had David de Gea in goal the boot could well have been on the other foot.
Darkest before the dawn…
This may be a little cheesy and the sort of proverb found in a self-help book, but things cannot get much worse for Liverpool, right? A thumping loss at the home of your greatest rivals has to be a wake-up call, and any self-respecting professional football player will surely want to use the blow as a source of inspiration.
‘Kick up the arse’ for underperforming newbies
Building on the last point, some of Liverpool’s new signings have to use yesterday as the turning point. The majority of the Reds’ summer buys have been poor so far, but we’ll focus on Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno from the Threatre of Screams. The Croatian produced another limp clearance to effectively hand Robin van Persie a golden chance to make it 3-0, while Moreno was massively at fault for the opening goal after getting caught out of possession.
The pair have been woeful since pulling on the red (or yellow) shirt, so hopefully, from and Anfield point of view, this will be the point at which the need to focus and pull their weight clicks.