Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers must have breathed a sigh
of relief when Martin Skrtel rose to head home his side’s equaliser in their
2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday. The Merseysiders’ lack of zest and
options upfront are well documented – Daniel Sturridge is sidelined with a
thigh injury - and although the Reds drew level after having Fabio Borini sent
off, their profligacy in front of goal is still concerning.
With only 21 goals this season they rank as the second-lowest
scorers in the top half of the Premier League behind Newcastle, one place ahead
of them in ninth. No Liverpool striker has scored a league goal since November
23rd when Rickie Lambert, the underused England international, notched
a consolation in a 3-1 slump at Crystal Palace.
Indeed, more worryingly, Rodgers is exiling his centre-forwards.
Lambert and Borini came on late after starting on the bench. Once Borini came
on he was dismissed for two silly yellows within sixteen minutes, plus Mario
Balotelli was suspended. So why not reshuffle in the January transfer window? A
run of three wins in twelve games, across all competitions, suggests Rodgers
might not last until then.
The Northern Irishman has always championed fast,
free-flowing, attacking football and against Arsenal, like the 3-0 defeat at
Old Trafford last weekend, he opted for a front-line based on technique rather
than force. Raheem Sterling was flanked by Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana,
and although Coutinho grabbed the opener in style, Liverpool wasted their
chances. Of their 27 shots 10 were on target, while Arsenal were more
economical with three on target – including two goals – from seven attempts.
You have to feel for Sterling though. The little winger is
quick, nimble-footed and can unlock defences with one burst of those muscular
legs. Rodgers has a problem however: Sterling is not a striker, nor is he a
natural finisher. The 20-year-old repeatedly shot straight at Wojciech Szczesny,
showing his lack of guile when bearing down on goal. Against Manchester United
he lost a similar battle with David De Gea. Scoring goals is something that
comes naturally to some players - you either have it or you don’t. Thierry
Henry, the former Arsenal and France magician who retired this week, had it,
but Sterling doesn’t.
Still, Rodgers can be thankful that upcoming fixtures
against Burnley, Leicester and Swansea – and indeed AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup
Third Round – might provide Lambert and company with more of a chance to hit the
net. What is worrying, though, is Liverpool’s recent slide to tenth in the
table.
Compare their situation with the leading pack. Chelsea, who
visit Stoke tomorrow, are top on goal difference ahead of Manchester City – who
are missing Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic through injury. But
City have rallied together as a group, defeating Leicester and Crystal Palace
without their goal-getters by an aggregate score of 4-0. Manuel Pellegrini’s
side are settled. They have blooded in new signings to remain a cohesive unit -
unlike Liverpool who are going backwards after last summer’s extravagant,
scattergun signings. And then there’s Manchester United in third. Falcao, the
Colombian assassin, returned from injury on Saturday against Aston Villa to
score United’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
In that sense the Christmas period – throwing up three
Premier League fixtures in seven days - could be make or break for Rodgers. The
former Reading and Swansea boss has a tough job on his hand as well as the
pressure of coaxing the best out of Balotelli. While Lambert has struggled and
Borini will never be first pick, it seems the only question is how far
Liverpool and Rodgers will slip by the time the year is out.
By Alistair Hendrie
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