Liverpool 2-1 Ludogorets – Match Report
Liverpool huffed and puffed their way to three precious Champions League points last night on their return among Europe’s elite.
To say Liverpool got out of jail can only be described as generous. Captain Steven Gerrard described the performance as “OK” although many would differ.
If Liverpool have any designs on progressing in this competition, or any for that matter, they need to do much, much better than they did tonight. I’m not even going into the finer points of the game because I don’t think it merits the time. What irked me was that they simply slung the ball into the visitors goal area on far too many occasions. All heart and no brains.
I haven’t looked at the stats but Liverpool must have made more crosses last night than in the whole of last season. They attempted fewer drilled crosses across the box. They made little or no attempt to work the ball into the box. Just high balls into Mario Balotelli and this is not good enough. On the positive side he did take his goal superbly, considering the delivery into him was again, nowhere near the best.
No sooner had Liverpool taken the lead and needed only to kill the game off, they threw it away. Carelessly handing possession to the visitors who were able to tuck away a tight angled finish. It was as if We’d been transported back two seasons. It was that calamitous and frankly unacceptable for a side looking to challenge for honours. To concede a goal in the way they they did, in the 91st minute was nothing short of scandalous.
Fortunately, Fabio Borini, everyone’s favourite entrant on the Transfer List, was on hand to win a dubious penalty as only an Italian forward can. Gerrard on hand to tuck it away.
I’m beginning to wonder if the seasons expectations are too great for this Liverpool side. A summer of hefty purchases has left the side no better off and arguably worse than last term. I don’t believe it’s simply down to Luis Suarez’ departure. Brendan Rodgers needs to return to the formula of football that served them so well last season and show more creativity around the attacking third. The team has to be cuter in possession than they currently are and this “tactical awareness” he wants from the players seems woefully departed right now.
As things stand it’s becoming difficult to explain away these performances as a bad day at the office every time. In any other walk of life, it’s what you’d call incompetent.
We move on. A trip to Upton Park on Saturday to face West Ham. If you thought Villa at home was tough. You ain’t seen nothing yet.
LFC File Man of the moment: Alberto Moreno. Worked tirelessly, got forward well and asked many questions of the Ludogrets defence when he did.
Follow me on Twitter: @Mrbengreen
