Liverpool Falls Short

            In a Champions League game today, Liverpool took on Arsenal looking to keep their tournament chance alive. Unfortunately, it has become obvious that their hopes have been lost, and even manager Rogers has admitted that their focus has switched towards the FA Cup. Despite rising back up through the Premier League table recently, two defeats to big teams have put them back in their place and effectively ruined their Champions League hopes. Against Arsenal, Liverpool lost 4-1. Opponents have easily seen weaknesses in their defensive side, and any pressure by Arsenal today led to mistakes in the back for Liverpool. They left themselves vulnerable and Arsenal made them pay, and against such a great opponent, Liverpool could not have expected to succeed the way that they were playing.

            It didn’t help the Reds that they had off-field problems that were equally (if not more) detrimental to their play on Saturday. Just prior to the game, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling was found talking to the press about his refusal to sign a new contract with the team and how they didn’t provide the ambition that he displays as a player. While Sterling can have his reasons to sign or not sign a contract and that is just fine, it is not the sort of thing that he should be focused on and bringing attention to before such a game. Going against Arsenal shortly after, Sterling definitely brought conflict to the team and set himself and the team up to be disorganized. Then, after the game, Liverpool’s manager Brenden Rogers dismissed any blame on Sterling. He instead went so far as to call him Liverpool’s best player and to shift any blame for the lost onto the rest of the team, protecting Sterling. While Sterling was not the worst in the game, he certainly wasn’t playing well by any means. He missed a chance early in the game and didn’t help (or hurt) much in the following minutes. A player shouldn’t be praised for not being as bad as the rest.

            As for Brenden Rogers and the future and reflection of Liverpool, there were no real answers given. Rogers stated his reasons for Sterling’s place at the club, saying that it is good playing time for him in the Premier League. Also, he felt that the team’s improvement over the season has been good, saying "This summer was very difficult. Losing Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge being injured, the integration of so many new players. It was like starting again. It was like my first six months. The reaction after losing 3-1 at Crystal Palace was positive. The reaction and commitment of the players has been first class since then." (ESPN). Providing no answers for going forward, the placement of some players (including Sterling) may be questioned soon.