Anthony McIntyre feels that despite defeat on the soccer field, greater losses are to be found elsewhere.

Despite an atrocious run of form from Liverpool it would be a cold heart from which no warmth could emit for its coach, Jurgen Klopp. Unable to return to Germany for the funeral of his mother, Klopp stepped up to the plate for his team, a forlorn pallbearer for its championship hopes.

The team's fall from grace has been every bit as swift as it has been astounding. A most painful spectacle for the fans who have watched the decline with utter disbelief, the implosion beyond their comprehension. Perhaps they and the players believed the PR spun about the team although not by it: world and domestic conquerors, simply the best, better than all the rest, reminiscent of the great Barcelona, going to sweep all before them into the foreseeable future.

It was all hype. Even at their best there were signs that there was a flaw in the side that would be susceptible to pressure. Performances like the Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona were the exception rather than the rule. More frequently, victories were ground out. For sure there was an efficiency, but one which at the same time masked a deficiency that has in recent weeks been all too evident.

Citing the absence of Virgil Van Dijk as a reason for the title challenge faltering is an excuse rather than a reason. The Dutch man was at the heart of the defence when Liverpool were humiliated in a 7-2 trouncing at the hands of Aston Villa, the team Bobby Sands followed. A side that concedes 7 is simply not in the running for the championship.

Yesterday’s collapse against Leicester and last week’s routing at the hands of Manchester City fail to show the depth of the chasm Liverpool have fallen into. Brendan Rodgers has put together a formidable force at Leicester, while Manchester City are a sterling outfit able to Blitzkrieg their way past mediocre opposition. And mediocre is what Liverpool have become this season. Successive home defeats to Burnley and Brighton offer a better measure of the abyss into which this side has plummeted.

A forward line that has been so flat footed hasn’t managed this all on its own. There is a serious midfield deficit. For all of Thiago’s reputed successful passing, if the bulk of the passes are square balls, then the penetration of defences that allow forwards to finish off is going to be absent, leaving Liverpool more like Crabpool where sideways is the sole momentum. Probably putting Henderson in the backline has robbed the centre of the park of a forward oriented midfielder, while the injury prone Alex Oxlade Chamberlain can only breath a sigh of relief that he is not a racehorse. They tend not be transferred. Ultimately, there is no creative midfield, nothing to bridge that crucial space between the centre circle and the penalty box. The dots are all in place, their names emblazoned in neon lights, just nobody there any longer who is capable of joining them.

And when all else failed, when the team was on the skids, when the chips were down, there remained the comforting reassurance that between the posts there would be a last man standing. But after a few howlers and poor judgement in the last two games, even that rock of reliability looks wobbly.

The crisis of confidence is now contagious and it will be next season before we know if the club has managed to pull itself up by the bootstraps. Hope dies last.

Important not to lose focus. Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, whether quoted or misquoted, is often remembered through immortalised words: Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.

Au contraire, the greatest loss this week was Jurgen Klopp’s mother. 

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Au Contraire

Anthony McIntyre feels that despite defeat on the soccer field, greater losses are to be found elsewhere.

Despite an atrocious run of form from Liverpool it would be a cold heart from which no warmth could emit for its coach, Jurgen Klopp. Unable to return to Germany for the funeral of his mother, Klopp stepped up to the plate for his team, a forlorn pallbearer for its championship hopes.

The team's fall from grace has been every bit as swift as it has been astounding. A most painful spectacle for the fans who have watched the decline with utter disbelief, the implosion beyond their comprehension. Perhaps they and the players believed the PR spun about the team although not by it: world and domestic conquerors, simply the best, better than all the rest, reminiscent of the great Barcelona, going to sweep all before them into the foreseeable future.

It was all hype. Even at their best there were signs that there was a flaw in the side that would be susceptible to pressure. Performances like the Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona were the exception rather than the rule. More frequently, victories were ground out. For sure there was an efficiency, but one which at the same time masked a deficiency that has in recent weeks been all too evident.

Citing the absence of Virgil Van Dijk as a reason for the title challenge faltering is an excuse rather than a reason. The Dutch man was at the heart of the defence when Liverpool were humiliated in a 7-2 trouncing at the hands of Aston Villa, the team Bobby Sands followed. A side that concedes 7 is simply not in the running for the championship.

Yesterday’s collapse against Leicester and last week’s routing at the hands of Manchester City fail to show the depth of the chasm Liverpool have fallen into. Brendan Rodgers has put together a formidable force at Leicester, while Manchester City are a sterling outfit able to Blitzkrieg their way past mediocre opposition. And mediocre is what Liverpool have become this season. Successive home defeats to Burnley and Brighton offer a better measure of the abyss into which this side has plummeted.

A forward line that has been so flat footed hasn’t managed this all on its own. There is a serious midfield deficit. For all of Thiago’s reputed successful passing, if the bulk of the passes are square balls, then the penetration of defences that allow forwards to finish off is going to be absent, leaving Liverpool more like Crabpool where sideways is the sole momentum. Probably putting Henderson in the backline has robbed the centre of the park of a forward oriented midfielder, while the injury prone Alex Oxlade Chamberlain can only breath a sigh of relief that he is not a racehorse. They tend not be transferred. Ultimately, there is no creative midfield, nothing to bridge that crucial space between the centre circle and the penalty box. The dots are all in place, their names emblazoned in neon lights, just nobody there any longer who is capable of joining them.

And when all else failed, when the team was on the skids, when the chips were down, there remained the comforting reassurance that between the posts there would be a last man standing. But after a few howlers and poor judgement in the last two games, even that rock of reliability looks wobbly.

The crisis of confidence is now contagious and it will be next season before we know if the club has managed to pull itself up by the bootstraps. Hope dies last.

Important not to lose focus. Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, whether quoted or misquoted, is often remembered through immortalised words: Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.

Au contraire, the greatest loss this week was Jurgen Klopp’s mother. 

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

24 comments:

  1. Anthony

    The thing to remember about the Premiership/First Division (in old money) is that it is difficult to retain titles. Only Bob Paisley, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho have retained titles in most of our lives. Not even Pep has done it; nor Arsene Winger, not Shankly, Clough, Revie ... I could go on.

    Liverpool were actually quite good for the first 70 mins or so yesterday before the collapse. Retention of their CL place has to be their priority (apart from winning it - again).

    Klopp has brought a lot of good to the English game and society. I hope there will be no clamour for him to go.

    At the end of the day; your last sentence is the most profound for its basic simplicity.

    At least my lot were spared what I feared would be a record defeat at The Emirates. It didn't spoil the day of my entry into my seventh decade!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barry - it would be a foolish clamour that would demand he go. He is a brilliant coach and in my view has the mettle to bring them back to the top again.

      Delete
  2. Barry
    Pep has retained the title, in 17/18 and 18/19.

    AM
    Liverpool will be back again next season. It is impossible to maintain that level for 4 seasons in a row. Finishing with 98 points and still coming second then winning by a mile the next is some work. Also the board has not strengthened the squad enough. A bench of Minamino, the OX, Keita, Shaquiri and Origi is not going to cut it when shit happens.

    The title will be ours again by the looks of it, another Pep master class. If we don't win it I hope wee Brendan lifts it at Leicester.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter - the title is City's. I would like to see Leicester do it as they have proved themselves a worthy side but I don't think they have what it takes to go past City.

      I agree, Liverpool will be back next year. I don't think it matters who Klopp puts in what position, he has a lot of work to do to to get their confidence back which the team from the goalkeeper out seems riven with.
      Fancy doing a sporting piece for us?

      Delete
    2. Correction, accepted. Peter. Still difficult to do though.

      Delete
  3. Try being a Spurs fan, then you would know what real pain is

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they will always rue the year Leicester won it. It was their best opportunity

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  4. What did Liverpool fans call Leicester’s win a fantastic achievement and the same for Liverpool a one off some might say a one trick pony

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    Replies
    1. Probably because of Liverpool's history and an anticipation that at some time they would win it. But Leicester have turned out a good side and I think Rodgers can make them serious contenders.

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  5. Replies
    1. it tends to come with a sense of entitlement.

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  6. And not a mention (until now) of the great work Ole is doing at Old Trafford....

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  7. You should have stuck with City.... ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sign the thing "Davy" - only for your Facebook message I'd never have known it was you!

      Delete
  8. Anthony, the 2nd link isn't working. It brings up Billy Boy Gates MSN home page. A few commentators on Talksport think Liverpool will turn it around, they've factored in like the rest of the world, half of their first team are in the treatment room injured. And they xay Klopp has to show the leadership he has shown in the past.

    Personally I don't care I support Man Utd. I'm with Ole.....

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Frankie. Will sort in morning

    ReplyDelete
  10. If the Reds can replace Ox, Shaq, Naby, buy a new rb, striker & retain the two cbs ( bought a month late on Feb 1), they will hit 90 points next season. A lot of business to fit around a plethora of international fixtures from June - September. 😣 Top four or winning the 🆑 this season is a must.

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    Replies
    1. A top four is possible if they haul things around. I would keep Ox if he can stay fit, the others yes.

      Delete
  11. Barry
    I agree, to win the long slog of a title then go again the next season requires a special motivation.

    AM
    Okay I'll see what I can do.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anthony i agree 100%. The usual top 4 were very poor that year so the opportunity for Spurs was certainly there ,under Claudio Ranieri a very underated Leicester City somehow kept winning and didnt slip up like everyone expected. After a poor start to the campaign the following year he got sacked. ...And my suffering continues.

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    Replies
    1. thought is a bad decision by Leicester to sack him. They should have held onto the end of the season and let him go gently. He brought them something no one else ever did.

      Delete