If you were to sum
up Brendan Rodgers’ first season so far at Liverpool, inconsistent would be at
the fore of everyone’s lips.
However cliché it
sounds, the campaign’s been a case of two steps forward and then one step back.
As renewed hope is brought back with a string of impressive results, the
reality quickly looms that this Liverpool team’s fortunes indeed won’t change
overnight.
Coming off the back of three recent impressive victories against Swansea, Wigan and Tottenham, whispers of a return to Champions League football was the talk that surrounded the team from sports betting sites. Alas, the 3-1 loss to relegation threatened Southampton was in order to follow the season’s frustrating pattern and set off the pessimists.
But, there was a statistic that was overlooked. The nail-biting 3-2 turnaround against Spurs was the first time since May 2011 Liverpool recorded three consecutive league wins.
The performance
against Southampton was inexcusable, however, the inconsistency is somewhat justifiable
and is to be unfortunately expected.
High expectations
are getting in the way of remembering that this still is Brendan Rodgers’ first
season. The 40-year-old hadn’t been at a club with the same distinction as
Liverpool since taking over from Kenny Dalglish last summer.
He’s come out and
admitted he’s made mistakes in his tenure; the Northern Irishman’s learning
everyday.
In fact, it was
far from an overnight turn around for Ferguson at United. Fans grew frustrated
and he was close to being relieved of his managerial duties early in his
career.
Rodgers inherited
an indifferent squad. It was far from complete, though it registered a core of
very good players, there were also overvalued and overpaid players.
He set out to
replace the departing Craig Bellamy, Maxi Rodriguez, Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt
with relatively young players.
It’s resulted in
Liverpool boasting the youngest squad in the Premier League this season. The
likes of Joe Allen, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Jonjo
Shelvey, Suso and Andre Wisdom have all contributed to an average of just 25.3
years.
With inexperience
comes inconsistency. However, the long-term results with the talent littered in
the squad will be rewarding. At just 20, Coutinho has bagged 2 goals and 2
assists in his four starts since joining from Inter Milan - He’ll only get
better with time.
On the flip side
you have Joe Allen. After a storming start to his Liverpool career, the £15
million midfielder scooped the Player of the Month award for August. But since
then his performances have tailed off, looking a fraction of the player we saw
early in the season.
Come next season,
Rodgers needs to strike a balance. With veteran Jamie Carragher retiring, a
search should’ve already begun for his successor. Plus, there aren’t too many
senior figures in the squad already, a concern Steven Gerrard has already
spoken out about – It’s a problem that needs to be addressed or we could be
facing another stop start season.
How have the
management tried to tackle the inconsistency this season I hear you all ask at
once?
To start, Liverpool
have appointed top-rated sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters mid-way through
the campaign. He’s worked with great effect alongside the British Cycling team
for the last decade, and is distinguished by Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton
as the catalyst for their Olympic achievements.
Fabio Borini has
already revealed how he’s previously sought help from mental coach Roberto
Civitarese while at Chelsea and again when he suffered a broken foot earlier in
the season.
"I
think it is a thing that, in modern football, can be really helpful.”
"I really appreciate talking to psychologists and
I will talk to them again.”
The mental health
of players is often played down in the footballing world, but it shouldn’t go
unnoticed by clubs, especially Liverpool as we have, and have had, a fair share
of underperforming players shot of confidence.
Coupled with that,
manager Brendan Rodgers has brought out an incentive scheme for the players.
The 3 wins in a row against Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland and Mansfield Town
were rewarded with lunch at a local Italian restaurant on the manager.
It shows strives
are being made to implement a level of consistency through incentives for
players however unorthodox the methods.
A winning mentality
is difficult to implement and it sure won’t happen in a manager’s first season.
But once it’s in full flow, it’s highly rewarding. The scrappy encounters turn
your way. You win games that perhaps you didn’t deserve to.
Just ask
Manchester United.
Sikander Najib
On our Twitter page we asked you your favourite Jamie Carragher moments with the news of the stalwart hanging up his boots at the end of the season.
Over to you.
@attackofthekop The full stretch block in injury-time in Istanbul when he could hardly walk. Milan players couldn't believe it
— Stephen McKenna (@Red_Regi) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop Istanbul. Cramp. Absolute rock. 'Body-on-the-line' stuff.
— James Sutton (@thejamessutton) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop his legendary performance in Istanbul, especially in the dying minutes. #CarraMemories
— Stephen Dunne (@StephenEamonn) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop diving save in dying minutes against AC in Instanbul #legend #Carra
— Jack Scott (@jackbnim) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop him going mental at Dudek telling him to do the Grobbelaar wobbly legs in Istanbul
— Apathy Man (@Janso95) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop His never say die attitude. Oh and tearing Adrian Durham a new one live on air
— Adam Clarke (@radman1975) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop Recovering from cramp in the '05 CL final, only to get up and sling himself at another cross. Legend.
— Daniel Gripton (@gript0n) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop Jamie gets a knock on the head. All bloodied, he refuses to be subbed. They bandage him up and send him back out.
— Football Drivel (@FootballDrivel) February 7, 2013
@attackofthekop The full stretch block in injury-time in Istanbul when he could hardly walk. Milan players couldn't believe it
— Stephen McKenna (@Red_Regi) February 7, 2013
Thanks for the memories, Jamie.
After 17 years
of blood, sweat and tears for Liverpool Football Club Jamie Carragher has
announced his retirement from football at the end of this current campaign.
The tough
tackling, no nonsense defender has currently amassed more than 700 appearances
for the Reds after graduating from the prestigious academy in 1996.
After
the decision, Carragher had this to say to the official website, "This
will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer.
"I'm making this announcement now because I don't
want the manager or the club to be answering questions on my future when I've
already decided what I am going to do.
Jamie
Carragher has had a glittering career, winning the treble in 2001 with Gerard
Houllier and then lifting the Champion’s League trophy in 2005. Then, a year
later he helped Liverpool to the FA Cup against West Ham, his second in total.
But, the 35-year-old reiterated he’s "fully committed
between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool
Football Club, as I've done my entire career since joining aged just
nine-years-old.
"It
has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as
I have and I am immensely proud to have done so and thankful for all the
support I have had. There are many memories I want to share and people to
thank, but now is not the time for that.
"I won't be making any further comment on this
decision until the end of the season; all our focus and concentration should be
on achieving the best possible finish in the league this season and trying to
win the last remaining trophy we are competing in."
Here’s
to Jamie Carragher, a modern day football great and forever a Liverpool Legend.
Steven Gerrard’s England, featuring
Liverpool right back Glen Johnson, won 2-1 against Brazil at Wembley. Wayne
Rooney opened the scoring for the Three Lions before Fred pulled a goal back
for the visitors. But Frank Lampard put the hosts in front on the hour mark
with a curled effort from outside the box to give England their first win over
Brazil in 23 years.
Elsewhere for Liverpool’s international
stars, Uruguay lost 3-1 to Spain in Doha in a pulsating game. Luis Suarez
featured for the full 90 minutes, while coach Oscar Tabarez left Sebastian
Coates on the bench.
Fresh after winning Slovakian player of the
year, it was heartbreak for Martin Skrtel as Dries Mertens netted late on to
earn Belgium a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a night to remember for Skrtel’s
defensive partner Daniel Agger, who featured for 90 minutes as Denmark were
left shocked by a 3-0 loss to Macedonia.
Joe Allen featured for Wales in their 2-1 triumph
against Austria at the Liberty Stadium. The Welshman notched an assist when
Gareth Bale steered in after being sent through by Allen.
In Under-21 action, striker Fabio Borini
netted from close range late on as Italy defeated Germany.
On Tuesday night, four Liverpool players starred
in England’s 4-0 win over Sweden. Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson, Jonjo Shelvey and
Jordan Henderson all impressed at Walsall’s Banks’ Stadium.
Jonjo Shelvey’s side-footed effort doubled
England’s lead in the 30th minute, while Liverpool target and former
youth winger Tom Ince grabbed a brace.
Sikander Najib
Liverpool football club have confirmed the signing
of Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan, fending off interest from Premier League
rivals Southampton and Tottenham.
20-year-old Coutinho started his career in the youth
system of Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama. He rapidly became one of the most
sought after youngsters in world football and Inter Milan eventually signed him
for €4 million at just 16. The Italian side loaned him back to Vasco until his
18th birthday.
At Inter he saw his opportunities limited with stiff
competition, featuring just 15 times in his debut season. In January of 2012
Coutinho joined Spanish side Espanyol until the end of the season. It proved to
be fruitful for the attacked as he amassed 5 goals in 16 appearances.
Philippe Coutinho is a versatile attacker who can
play across the front three and is known for his trickery, acceleration and
technical ability.
Watch below as Liverpool transfer target Philippe Coutinho showcased his abilities against FK Partizan in the Europa League. The 20-year-old Brazilian displayed his passing prowess and technical ability in Inter Milan's 1-0 victory over the Serbian opposition.
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Liverpool's fixture against Norwich on the 19th January saw Luis Suarez start alongside Daniel Sturridge for the first time. There was a lot of pre-match debate as to how the front line would set up, would manager Brendan Rodgers sacrifice top-scorer Suarez out on the wing to accomodate the central £12 million signing Sturridge? Watch the best of the action involving the two forwards from Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Norwich.
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Watch Steven Halliwell's compilation of Liverpool's new signing Daniel Sturridge. The striker has already amassed 3 goals in just 3 appearances since signing from Chelsea at the start of the January transfer window.
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