Liverpool were denied a place in the FA Cup final after a 2-1 reverse against Aston Villa…
Our faint hopes of securing a top four finish are all that remain to play for this season, after goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph brought our chances of an eighth FA Cup success to a disappointing end.
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As if to add insult to injury, Manchester City’s victory over West Ham United has left us with a seven point gap to make up on the final Champions League place, while Tottenham’s win has put them level on points with us.
Here are five things we learned from today’s game…
5) Steven Gerrard has chosen the right time to say goodbye
If his Liverpool career had somehow ended this time last year, during that triumphant huddle following victory over Norwich City which moved us agonisingly close to the Premier League title, he would have left a legend. Ever since, whatever could possibly go wrong, has gone wrong. It’s such a shame for our iconic captain, who deserved his fairytale ending at Wembley. He can’t influence games in the way he once did and it’s time for him to go.
4) Raheem Sterling should be allowed to leave if he wants to go
At first it was a nagging distraction, now it’s the only thing anybody talks about. Raheem Sterling’s ongoing contract issues – explained in full here by the Daily Mail – are now threatening to overshadow our entire season. His performance have undoubtedly been effected by the constant speculation and scrutiny and while he’s brought many of these problems on himself the solution is simple, if he wants to go then let him go, and do it soon.
3) Philippe Coutinho is our prize asset, the team should be built around him
One man who should be almost entirely blameless for today’s defeat is Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian scored the goal and showed more work-rate and desire than many of his teammates combined. He’s proved time and again this season that, since Luis Suarez’s departure, he is the main man. That deserves to be fully recognised. He should be placed in that pivotal role at the top of the midfield and allowed to run the game at his own pace.
2) Brendan Rodgers is under a lot of pressure
Manchester United was bad, Arsenal was awful, today was cataclysmic. Three results should not take away from the excellent job Rodgers has done at Anfield over the last three years – with his achievements including a second place finish and a return to Champions League football. But the growing question marks over his performance this term cannot be ignored – the lack of quality from our summer signings, two semi-final exits, a European capitulation and a Premier League season that has a ‘back to square one’ feel about it. A penny for your thoughts…
1) As much as we hate to say it… the better team won
Credit to Aston Villa. Let’s hope they win the final. Today was one of the darkest days of our season but after all is said and done, we can at least take some small comfort in the fact that we weren’t beaten by the inept, clueless, goalless Villa of earlier this season. We were beaten by a side enjoying a revolutionary period under their new manager – Tim Sherwood – and who, in Christian Benteke, have one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers.
