Lacklustre Liverpool Stall Again, But Is It Rafa's Fault?

Let me analogize for a moment.

Liverpool shifted through their gears from the start of the season. Yes, they had a few "lucky" results coming from behind to score last minute winners but to be top of the league at the turn of the year showed they were accelerating well. 

Accelerating. 

They hadn't even reached top speed. Keane hadn't really got going and Torres' injuries had limited his opportunities. The road ahead looked smooth.

However, they had to negotiate a tricky junction consisting of two derbies, a tough away game and a clash against Chelsea. They were caught in the wrong lane against Stoke before they had even reached the junction.

And then they stalled.

Three times.

Liverpool are now third in the League as Manchester United and then Chelsea, laughing as they did it, cruised past Liverpool in the League. Three draws in a row, albeit with one coming in the FA Cup, have stalled Liverpool's entire season.

I have been fortunate enough to attend both Merseyside Derbies as well as tonight's game against Wigan. I hope to see Liverpool beat Chelsea on Sunday at Anfield too.

Before I contemplate their next game though, I need to decide something; Who is to blame for our stuttering form at the minute?

Liverpool started tonight with a very positive lineup, especially when the matches this game was sandwiched between are taken into consideration. While Rafael Benitez is being blamed by fans and pundits alike, he resisted the temptation to "rotate" and played with both Gerrard and Torres on the pitch at the beginning of the game.

However, neither were there at the end. That is what upsets the fans. That the manager makes 'negative' substitutions and is happy to "defend a one goal lead" rather than push for more goals.

Tonight I would like to defend Benitez in all but one of his decisions. He started with a far stronger team than I thought he would have. Of the players he brought in, both Benayoun and Lucas had good games (if you have watched the MOTD highlights, you will not have seen anything of Lucas' good game but I thought he played fairly well).

Babel looked low in confidence, though the only times he tried to run with the ball, he breezed past Melchiot.

Though Torres and Gerrard were retained both were largely ineffective. I personally would have started with Riera on the left rather than Babel, especially as he didn't start on Sunday. That aside, I thought Benitez sent out a strong team which was full of talent and, with respect, well capable of beating Wigan.

From there, the team were poor. Blame must be put at the door of the men on the pitch. Benayoun's goal was the one real bright spot in a lame first half with Torres hitting the post from a header earlier. Liverpool had no ideas. The goal was the only time anyone got behind the defence. 

Wigan's performance was worth the point they gained, though they were never put under any real pressure, even after going one goal down. Mido looked busy throughout and their other new signing, Rodallega, hit the bar to be robbed of the chance to score a last gasp winner on his debut.

Torres was brought off; a good move as he looked legless for the last twenty minutes on Sunday afternoon and will be needed on Sunday. The only decision I would disagree with Rafa on is that of bringing Gerrard off as soon as Wigan had equalised. The 'rest' Gerrard got for seven minutes was hardly worth the advantage it will give him through the rest of the season as, even when not playing well, he can change a game in a moment. 

Despite that, the team must face up to the fact that they performed far from their best tonight. It seems to me that they struggle to create chances once they have moved the ball into an attacking position. The readiness of the "wingers" to constantly pass back to the full backs, who in turn rarely make an effort to overlap their teammates, is disturbing.

Liverpool have a tradition of great wide play coming from greats such as Billy Liddell and Steve Heighway while Dirk Kuyt, who undoubtedly possesses many qualities, has no real quality.

Liverpool drew tonight, for the fourth game in a row and with a tight game against Chelsea coming up, that run may well continue.

While the press will make sure that people really do think "Rafa's cracking up," I want to challenge the players to beat Chelsea on Sunday.

If they do, Liverpool will make it across the junction to continue their journey and, though some damage has been done along the way, we may yet see Liverpool race through the gears and accelerate down to the finish line to win the title race.

Apologies for the analogy.