If I were to summarise our performances so far this season in one word, that word would be heart-breaking. Apart from a performance against Tottenham, we seem to have taken a few steps back this season as compared to last. My analyses of our performances tells me that we don’t necessary need different players, but different attitudes.
Our defence appears to be in constant array anytime we face a dead ball situation. To be fair, with a centre back four comprising of Skrtel, Lovren, Sakho and Toure, we should be strong enough to meet any challenge. However, Sakho and Lovren’s collision in our West Ham match proves that there is no communication in our defence. No leadership. Defenders need to be constantly talking to one another. There should be a constant torrent of instructions and advice such as “Behind you/ My man/ Yours/ Close him down/ My ball/ Man on/ You have time/ hold the line” and so on. There is none of that. Our defenders seem to be playing as individuals, and any solid defence needs to work as a single unit. As if they are one organism with a single mind.
The other thing I find concerning is the lack of movement when we do win the ball. It was infuriating watching when one of our players’ has the ball, and no one is making a run for him. Where is the work rate? For me, this is perhaps the most underrated quality that a certain former striker provided us. He never stopped moving. He would mix it up by coming short to collect the ball or spinning off the shoulder of defenders. The opposition hadn’t the foggiest idea what would happen next. And by him constantly being on the move, he would pull opposition players out of position creating space for his team mates to run into. This is not happening this season. Our players seem to be stuck in cement, and the lack of movement also influences the speed at which we move the ball. There is nothing a defender loves more than marking a player that does not move.
Tonight, we take on a Middlesbrough team that has won 5 and lost 3 of their first 8 matches in the Championship. This includes two impressive away wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield this month. I would like our back four to remain as is for this match as more playing time could lead to better communication. I would like to see changes made in the midfield and attack. Hopefully, Emre Can will be fit to start and play alongside Lucas in the midfield. I would like to see Lallana Playing in the number 10 role behind Rickie Lambert, with Markovic and Borini in the wider positions. We need to stop this run of poor results and poor performances today.
Follow Kut on Twitter @kurtellis2
Kurt Ellis is a lifelong Liverpool fan living in South Africa. His first novel, By Any Means, was published by Human & Rousseau Publishers in May 2014. It is a gritty, coming of age crime thriller featuring a young Liverpool FC fan. The novel is available in Kindle form, worldwide. Follow the link below. http://amzn.to/Zj532F