The 1-1 draw to West Brom, the 3-2 victory against Fulham, and Sunday’s FA Cup 2-1 loss to Arsenal asked questions of the team that we appear not particularly comfortable with answering.
The satisfying and impressive routs in the league against Everton and Arsenal saw us look like the most exciting and fluid team in Europe. Everything from the pressing, to the passing, to the finishing, looked crisp and fluent.
When we are up against teams that come onto us and allow us to spring a counter-attack, we are unbelievably devastating, and remarkably clinical.
Against teams that do not allow us to play our game, however, we look to lose our air of elegance and appear to lack ideas of alternate routes to goal.
West Brom, Fulham, and Arsenal all played with deep and narrow defensive lines, with the fullbacks tucking in. Unable to get in-behind, we passed side to side in an effort to pull opposing defenders out of position.
Whilst such an approach can work, we lack personnel in midfield that are able to move the ball on quick enough, or make intelligent and well-weighted through passes.
Against West Brom and Fulham, Jordan Henderson in particular looked far too ponderous on the ball, often taking too long to control the ball and pick a pass.
We also seemed to have no threat from wide areas, seeing that our wide forwards manoeuvre inside more often than not. Further, fullbacks Aly Cissokho and Jon Flanagan appear uncomfortable or perhaps unable to provide a quality threat on the wings. Of course our cause may also be aided when Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique return, as it is their natural game to venture forward and cause problems in wider areas.
What has seen the team through – especially in the Fulham game – was the incredible character we’ve shown throughout the season. The Fulham win seemed to be a result of heart and grit rather than tactics. These victories, whilst can be scrappy, should in future be more by way of a well worked and deliberate plan of action against stubborn defences.
Even the chances created for Sturridge look almost carbon copies of each other. All his goals in the last five games – bar the one against West Brom – have come from through passes.
What has to happen is that we need to have the ability to mix things up when we are against teams that will settle for a point. This can only come through new tactical ideas implemented by Rodgers.
There is a fear, when watching the aforementioned three games, that we are becoming a bit too predictable. Should our star men not be able to pull something off on the day, then it could very well see us needlessly dropping points.
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