Who’s most to blame for Liverpool’s stuttering start to the season?
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7) Simon Mignolet
When it comes to shot-stopping, the Belgian is actually a very good goalkeeper. Against Real Madrid he showed he can hold on to long shots, and keep out powerful drives from close-range too, but his ability to deal with crosses and set-pieces is shocking. His lack of confidence is infectious among his defence.
6) Daniel Sturridge’s injury
All teams have injuries, but with Sturridge being out (and the sale of Luis Suarez), Liverpool’s goalscoring heart has been ripped from within them. Versus Tottenham when Sturridge was fit, Liverpool looked excellent for the only time so far this season. His stand-in forwards Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli have yet to score a Premier League goal.
5) Brendan Rodgers
As talented and intelligent a manager Rodgers is, he’s clearly stubborn, and his apparent inability to shore up the defence is costing the Reds. He sanctioned the £18m deal for Mamadou Sakho last summer, and the £20m signing of Dejan Lovren this summer. Both are liabilities. The Reds need serious defensive work on the training ground – which clearly isn’t taking place.
4) Steven Gerrard
Gerrard could still be suffering from his slip last term which cost the Reds the title. His form is shoddy, despite quitting international football. He now plays deep in midfield, but fails to provide proper defensive cover to the defence behind him.
3) Martin Skrtel
The Slovakian is Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back, which says a lot about the current levels of the rest of them. Skrtel has been diabolical this term, and his mistakes are unforgivable for a 29-year-old defender with bags of top flight experience. He doesn’t lead the defence, can’t deal with crosses, and consistently fails to clear his lines.
2) Mario Balotelli
Balotelli has taken more shots on goal than any Premier League player, but has still not found the back of the net. His work-rate is abysmal, his attitude even worse, and his teammates look visibly frustrated every time he makes another selfish decision. Many thought £16m was cheap for a player of his international pedigree, but it wasn’t. The shirt-swap saga has merely confounded what Liverpool fans could have told you already about his character.
1) Dejan Lovren
Has a worse centre-back ever cost £20m? Arguably not… Lovren, despite being composed in possession, tall and handsome, can’t defend. He isn’t the leader Rodgers thought he was signing, and he loses every individual battle against any level of striker. Bobby Zamora terrorised him in the QPR fixture, and Karim Benzema embarrassed him in the Champions League. He badly needs to be taken out of the firing line.
