Liverpool FC: Time for Kenny Dalglish to Admit There Is a Crisis at the Club?

The season has been a roller-coaster ride for Liverpool. Liverpool set out with an aim of getting back into the Champions League and trying to win a trophy this season.

They managed to achieve one of those goals by winning the Carling Cup and might still do one better by winning the FA Cup. However, in the league, where the fourth spot was the aim, Liverpool have fared miserably.

In the first half of the season, the Reds managed to build a good away form but drew too many games at home. It was largely due to the pathetic conversion rate in front of goal as Liverpool had one of the best defensive records in the league during that time. However, one could also say that they were unlucky in that period, with the team hitting the post a great deal and the opposition goalkeepers having the games of their seasons against the Reds.

On the other hand, since the turn of the year, Liverpool has managed to win only two, draw two and lose seven of their 11 league games. They have lost five of the last six with the win in the Merseyside derby being the only bright spot in an otherwise pathetic period. This largely went unnoticed in January and February because of the successes in the Carling Cup and the FA Cup games. 

A closer analysis of these league games start pointing towards worrying trends. None of these losses—barring the loss against Arsenal—were games Liverpool deserved to win. In this period, they have given some really pathetic performances in games that they should have won—against struggling teams such as Bolton, Sunderland and Wigan. 

What is more worrisome is the fact that Kenny Dalglish refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem.

After the loss against Queens Park Rangers, where his team conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes, he did not blame his players. QPR were not lucky in that game and none of goals they scored were lucky goals. It was simply a case of the Liverpool defence collapsing.

After the game against Wigan, the manager blamed the loss on the tiredness of players.

Now, a team of the stature of Liverpool, even with its schedule of games, should manage to beat a team that is fighting for survival in the league. There needs to be a serious introspection within the club. Only if one accepts the crisis, can the solution be found.

It has been a combination of poor tactics and poor performances by the players that has contributed to this current situation. 

One can always point towards the injuries to key players such as Lucas Leiva, Daniel Agger, Craig Bellamy and Glen Johnson. But there is not team in the league that has not had to deal with injuries to its key players. That is why there is a squad of players—players need to step up when they are asked to come and play for the club. 

I still believe that except for a couple of reinforcements required in the summer, the club does have the nucleus to get a strong team out next season. The players just need to give their 100 percent to the club as opposed to the uninspiring performances that the fans have started seeing on the field. 

The tactics need to be stronger if we need to get the results against the so-called smaller clubs. The problem with Liverpool has been that they have not been able to finish off the games against such sides when they have the chances. If the players play with a greater belief and commitment on the field, the Reds could be back with a bang next season.

What should be the aim for the rest of the season? Thoughts on that in a previous post...

Liverpool FC: How to Maximise the Returns from the Remaining Season

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