Frustation At The Death For Liverpool, UCL Review

SOCCER/FUTBOL

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008/09

LIVERPOOL VS REAL MADRID

MEXSPORT DIGITAL IMAGE

10 March 2009: Action photo of Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, during the game UEFA Champions League 20008/09./Foto de accion de Steven Gerrard de Liverpool, durante la juego de la UEFA Champions League 2008/09. MEXSPORT/BACKPAGE IMAGES

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Liverpool traveled to Bulgaria on Tuesday night for a Uefa Champions League clash with Ludogorets. With a lot riding on the match, Brendan Rodgers squad were looking to end a poor run of results that saw them winless in their last four matches in all competitions. The Reds needed a full performance from their entire squad especially the back four who have under performed all season, what they got on the night was unfortunately a lot of the same mistakes. The match finished 2-2 on the night which is a result to end the losing streak and keeps the Reds alive in the UCL, however late on in the match with a 2-1 lead they conceded another cheap goal which cost them all three points.

Talking Points

May 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (1) against the United States at FirstEnergy Stadium. Belgium won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Liverpool started the match poorly again, with Ludogorets taking the lead off another Simon Minoglet error. The Belgium goalkeeper bobbled a long-range effort right to the feet of Ludogorets striker Dani Abalo who easily slotted home. The pitch wasn’t in the greatest condition to be fair but the skip off the turf was far enough away for a keeper of Minoglet’s quality to deal with. This error from the Belgium makes him the highlight of too many negative displays this season.

After the goal Liverpool did show a lot of character in equalizing quickly as Rickie Lambert headed home for the Reds, his first ever Uefa Champions League goal off a defensive mistake from the home side. After the score was knotted at one a piece Liverpool continued to have scares at the back line as Ludogorets through many attacks forward and came close on several occasions. However some more character was shown by the Reds as they finally managed to control the ball and got a solid possession game started. This led to Liverpool taking the lead when Raheem Sterling found Jordan Henderson on the far post with a perfect ball and the Liverpool midfielder did well to slot it home from a difficult angle. Henderson’s celebration saw what it meant to him and his club as he threw his fist in the air and yelled what was probably a reaction to the negative criticism his club has been facing of late.

Jul 30, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Liverpool FC forward Raheem Sterling (31) controls the ball against Manchester City FC during the second half of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Liverpool took the lead to the break but when the restart began it was back to defending a lead that looked vulnerable all night. The Reds did look a lot better in the latter half of the second frame with another run of possession football. This was the moment where they could have gotten a third goal that would have eased the anxiety facing Rodgers and the travelling Liverpool fans, and their moment nearly came through Raheem Sterling. A great one two with Steven Gerrard put Sterling in on a partial breakaway but the young starlet could only see his effort stopped and held.

Turning Point

Could Rodgers be replaced by Rafael Benitez. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Many critics and fans will now question Rodgers decision to take Sterling off and bring on another defender in Alberto Moreno. Sterling looked to be the one spark in the Liverpool attack that threatened to get an insurance marker but Rodgers wanted to protect his lead and maybe it wasn’t the right decision in the end. Once Sterling departed Liverpool were pegged back in their own end again trying to hold onto that slim lead and with only three minutes to go they let it slip. Another set piece cost Liverpool the three points as a cross into the box was flicked onto the far post where Georgi Terziev was unmarked to head home the equalizer.

With Basels loss to Real Madrid the Reds are still alive in the competition, a win at home on the final match day of the group stage against FC Basel will get Liverpool into the knock out stage, however many question marks continue to float around a team who shouldn’t be scrapping out results especially to a team like Ludogorets, “no offense.” It is the way the Reds are conceding their goals that has fans and critics questioning them night in and night out. Both of Ludogorets markers in the match were off defensive errors that shouldn’t be continuing to happen if Liverpool hope to turn all of this around. A mistake by Simon Minoglet and another poor marking job on the far post gave Ludogorets their goals, and its these mistakes that are becoming way too constant in the back line.

Brendan Rodgers spoke about the result post match and tried to see the positives but he was bitterly disappointed and believed the Reds should have gotten the win and I quote.

“The key thing for us is that we hold our destiny in our hands. We will play Basel in front of our fans and I am looking forward to it. It was always going to be a very tough group. Thankfully for us, it is a good result, but we should have won.”

Next up for Liverpool is a home match in the Premier League against Stoke City. Anything short of a victory on this day will only fuel an already raging fire under the Reds. Let’s hope for their case they have an extinguisher close by.