Problems with Liverpool

So we have lost 3 out of 8 games in EPL and add one more Champions League defeat to it and we have lost to just about every half decent team we have played. A brief look at the reasons i think is behind this:

1.Defense unable to pass the ball - our defense never had the ability to pass the ball, we always needed someone from midfield to drop back and collect it. Till last season we had Xabi to do it. But Lucas does not fit the bill and Mash has been unfit and is only now coming back to top gear. What this does is invite needless pressure, the defense hold on to the ball far too long letting the opposition to press in up the pitch. This results most often in a hoof up the pitch and loss of possession. This has been the story in every single match we lost so far.

2.Defense in bad shape - I regret losing Sami. Carragher switched from RCB to LCB has looked lost in most of the matches.
Also the much talked about zonal defending is partly responsible. Most of the opposition teams simply seem to crowd out one of the posts and the players drilled to defend their zones are static when the ball is played in and hence are not much use defending.

3.Weak Midfield - I dont know where he got the idea that Kuyt is a winger or Lucas is world class midfielder. Lucas is an average player right now and has no real pace nor vision. Kuyt [a player i personally adore for his work rate and commitment] is not a winger in any sense. He can do a job now and then but he is not going to be effective in that position against the better teams. Also buying a player who you know is injured that too when your team has had a really poor summer is downright criminal.

4.The team formation - some of our formations are puzzling to say the least.Benayoun who should start in every match in my view, starts mostly on the left to accomadate Kuyt on the other wing. We mostly play with Stevie and Torres upfront and in all the matches we lost, both of them have been completely isolated and hence ineffective.

Better idea would be to play Stevie and Mash in the middle and Benayoun and Riera in the wings. Torres and Kuyt/Babel upfront. This formation would offer better space for Torres to exploit as well. And with Stevie in the middle, we will atleast create something. Watch the last twenty minutes or so in every match we lost, you will notice that Stevie drops in and we begin to look more solid from then on.

5. The owners - Gillet spoke up this week criticizing Benitez, just goes to highlight the situation at Anfield now. Stupid owners, silly manager.

Is the season over for us? I do accept that Liverpool have not looked good enough, but neither have the opposition. ManU, Chelski and Arsenal have stuttered and the chasing pack of Spurs and Villa dont look good enough either. Considering that Chelsea will lose out on a few players during the Cup of Nations and that City have only the league to play for , if they sort out their defense, City could become the team to beat this season and are the favorites for the title IMHO. ManU are not the force they were in the last two seasons and are sustained only by a sublime run of matches from Giggs. So on the whole - a bit optimistic and needless to say i will be happy that any team other than that old dog Fergie's win the title.