Five things we learned from today’s huge win, including why Steven Gerrard should be forgiven…
Liverpool lost for the first time since mid-December today, going down 2-1 against Manchester United.
What’s important now is that we don’t get too down about the result, and don’t take it out on the players!
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After all, the Reds have been fantastic over the last three months, and were – for the most part – unlucky today. Yes, we started poorly, but we battled bravely in the second-half, especially with ten men, and there’s still plenty to be proud about when all is said and done.
Here are five things we learned from this afternoon’s game:
5) Steven Gerrard’s moment of madness can be forgiven
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the man. What must he feel like right now? Our iconic captain – a wonderful servant to our club and arguably our best ever player – playing his final game against Manchester United, and it ends like that… It was evidence that even the most experienced players can lose their heads. Out came all the frustration at being left on the bench, at his team losing, it all went into those few seconds of madness. Nonetheless, he is, and should always remain, a Liverpool legend.
4) Raheem Sterling MUST play through the middle
Once again, Sterling looked a shadow of his usual self, and you have to think that his days of playing as a wing-back are sorely limited. He just can’t influence the game as he might otherwise do – playing up front, or at the front of an attacking midfield diamond. You need to put your best players where the action is, and it’s hard to imagine him being left stranded out wide any longer. The wing-back positions are an issue for Liverpool, particularly on the right, but playing Sterling there is clearly not the answer.
3) The 3-4-3 is great, but isn’t always the answer
Liverpool have enjoyed huge success using the 3-4-3 formation, but was today’s game crying out for something different? Sterling and Moreno were overpowered on the flanks, and that’s where United got their joy. Juan Mata and, in the second-half, Angel di Maria, caused plenty of problems, while Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho were left exposed on either side of the back three. If there was a day where out-and-out full-backs could have been used, this would have been the one.
2) Everyone has a bad day at the office
A small section of Liverpool fans have been quick to jump on the performances of Adam Lallana, Alberto Moreno, and a number of others who struggled today. However, it’s worth remembering that this is the team that has just gone 13 Premier League games unbeaten. Everyone has an off day, and from a selfish perspective, we were unfortunate that we didn’t get it quite right today. Lay off the lads, because criticising them isn’t going to get us anywhere!
1) We can still make the top four
Not an ideal result by any means, but not one that categorically ends our top four hopes. The gap is still only five points, and if you’d offered us that in December, we would have bitten your hand off for it! Next month United take on a resurgent Aston Villa, followed by Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton. They’ve also got to play Arsenal in their penultimate game, and travel to the notoriously difficult Selhurst Park. Lets not give up hope!
