As far as last night goes, swapping shirts is probably a stupid idea when your side is getting humped at half-time. Especially when youre not even down the tunnel. Especially when you know your manager wont like it. Especially when you know how it could look. Especially when youve had a stinker. Again. Analysis: 5 things we learnt from Liverpool 0-3 Madrid Balo par: Mario continues to underperform Fairly typically for Balotelli it was a stupid and naive move, and evidently from the substitution and talk of fines it was a problem for Brendan Rodgers - but it wont be one of the problems being analysed in the video suite at Melwood on Thursday. Nope, that should probably begin with a look at that defence. That defence who, despite being strengthened with new arrivals of increasingly eye-popping fees, still cant keep a clean sheet. Well, one. One in their last twelve games, that is. Their defending on set pieces, featuring hapless miscommunication and Martin Skrtels bid for Slovakias Greco-Roman wrestling team, has been at the heart of it. Five of twelve Premier League goals have come this way. As many as three of five in Europe. Its not unlike blaming their failure to win the title on Steven Gerrards slip and Demba Bas goal. Of course it was a pivotal moment, but if they hadnt shipped goals so easily - including three infamous ones at Selhurst Park against a side who averaged less than a goal a game - then they would have won the whole shebang. Now those heights seem a million miles away. All over Ba the shouting: Gerrards slip was important, but it wasnt to blame for Liverpool throwing away the title Brendan Rodgers admitted this week in an interview that last year his side were ahead of schedule in his three-year plan, but in truth the reset button was pressed this summer. The Northern Irishman compromised on his principles to get the best out of Suarez - not that adaptation is a bad thing, but when you build around an individual, removing him from the team affects its structural integrity. This is a team that needs to feel its way back into confidence and stride, and so much of last years swagger was built on knowing they could outgun sides in spite of their poor defence. Now they dont feel that, a nervousness pervades the back four and the result is the mangling of legs and hapless decision-making we have seen so much of. They would probably benefit from some protection, and Steven Gerrard, with his powers on the wane, is not providing that anymore. After an impressive enough renaissance in the quarterback (eugh) role last season there is the support for continuing to deploy him there. But what he did so well there was pass the ball long and trigger rapid attacks - while struggling sometimes with the covering play and defensive aspects. Goal Mad: A Ronaldo strike beats Simon Mignolet It is like the Brendan Rodgers Gerrard is the personification of Brendan Rodgers Liverpool right now: at their best and most exciting going forward but a liability at the top level when it comes to the other end. You started to feel that this had been noticed by Anfield figures when Gerrard popped up in a cameo behind the striker against West Bromwich Albion. He then began the game against QPR there, only to turn in an ineffective performance - not the only one, in honesty - and get moved to somewhere he could make more of an impact. Its not the only problem in midfield, mind. Noticeable against Madrid was the lack of bite. The lack of confrontation. Worse Liverpool teams have flown into battle against giants of the European game. It is hard to remember one that was so short on snarl and fight. Another creeping issue has been Simon Mignolet. It is not exactly a state secret that the Reds notorious transfer committee have been looking for a new goalkeeper, and Victor Valdes had seemed the perfect option for them on a free. Yet with that deal seemingly hitting the kerb, the Belgian continues to struggle. His stats are down, his confidence is down and that affects everyone around him - most notably that leaky backline that has benefitted from Mario Balotellis diversionary tactics. In pictures: Liverpool vs Real Madrid Of course, none of these issues in isolation are causing Liverpool to fall way below the standards set last year. The lack of protection from midfield exposes a fragile defence, who in turn are tested (and breached) more, where an low on confidence Mignolet is put on the spot. And with no superhuman forward to bail them out, the inevitable has happened. Fortunately for Liverpool there is hope. Brendan Rodgers did sometimes appear early on in his Anfield reign to be something of a fundamentalist, glued to his principles. But the Reds embrace of counter-attacking last season, in place of sterile possession, saw him build a team around its strengths and compromise his own strongly-held beliefs. That shows that he is evolving and improving as a manager, but sorting this team out - starting at the back - has to be his next task, and his biggest test. Many managers create one good team, the ability to regenerate them and improve performances sets the best coaches apart. Opinion: Balotelli wont fit in at Anfield until he takes time to understand Liverpool
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 06:31:24 +0000
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