Liverpool Must Accept Fortune, Learn Lessons and Make Big Calls to Stay in Top 4

LOFTUS ROAD, LONDON — Liverpool endured a nightmare 45 minutes against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, before a partly improved roller-coaster second half saw them eventually scramble a mad-cap 3-2 victory which owed more to luck and the crazy nature of the game than any real tactical or technical superiority over the bottom-placed club.

Own goals, a super-sub showing by Philippe Coutinho and QPR's kamikaze recklessness—and some handy work by Simon Mignolet and his goal frame—saw the Reds somehow take three points from the game which could have been beyond them by half-time.

While Brendan Rodgers accepted his side have room for improvement, he was also right to point out that the Reds are in the top four (or just outside on goal difference at full-time) despite a desperate run of form. The start of the season has not seen Liverpool's objectives stray out of reach, and Rodgers and Co. have to ensure that such luck as has come their way so far is made the most of.

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BR "we're into top4, long way to go, room for lot of improvement. didn't play well but won. learn from it, let it go, focus on RMA."

— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) October 19, 2014"

Anybody watching the opening 45 minutes of the game from a Liverpool perspective could be forgiven for thinking they must have stumbled on a Sunday League match down the park instead of a Premier League fixture.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

With Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique restored at full-back, the Reds were slow and inaccurate in possession, horrendously lacking in confidence, composure or consistency at doing anything defensively competent, and extremely fortunate not to be out of the game by the break. The latter in particular looked so far below the necessary standard, again, that it surely must be a case of getting Alberto Moreno back in the side in that role as soon as possible for Brendan Rodgers.

In the middle, the two aggressive centre-backs were dominated by Bobby Zamora and were exposed time and again down the channels.

Brendan Rodgers switched the midfield shape to put Steven Gerrard back in his old No. 10 role—revealed in his post-game press conference to be an alteration to help the attack rather than the defence—but Liverpool once more looked more comfortable on the ball and less exposed at the back once, in the second half, they reverted to a 1-2 shape.

Whether Victor Valdes comes in or not, it cannot be escaped that right now, Liverpool have paid £20 million and made the centre of the defence worse, and continue to field the full-backs who saw the team end sixth, seventh or eighth for too many years.

Rodgers has to prove himself capable now, not just of getting the team back to playing good football, but of making big decisions.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

In the starkest possible terms, neither starting full-back from Sunday are good enough, tactically, mentally or technically.

The shift to 4-2-3-1 was borne partly out of need. Injuries and availability, coupled with a loss of form, meant the midfield needed to be rearranged. But it has been shown far too many times that Liverpool cannot operate with this structure in the midfield. Mario Balotelli continues to labour and struggle, and while he would benefit from a two-man attack, the Reds' lack of cohesion on the ball, options to pass to and team pressing emphasis has been a horrid throwback to the days of 2010-11 in recent weeks.

Rodgers spoke about the lack of pace following Suarez's departure:

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Last season Suarez played on the shoulder of the defence, but again the dynamics have changed. Other than Sterling we don't have that pace up front. We were too slow in getting the ball forward today, that improved in the second half. The players will improve over time but that was a big three points for us.

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Despite all the apparent negativity, all is far from lost for Liverpool.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

They are level on points with West Ham in fourth, ahead of Manchester United, Everton, Spurs and Arsenal in the table and having won more matches this season than all of those. Having won double the games of Arsenal and Everton, in fact.

Real Madrid present pressing and worrying opposition in the immediate term, but in a season where "own goals" currently tally a higher number than Liverpool's four first-team strikers combined, a little faith in the ridiculous and in luck can apparently go a long way.

In that fearsome attacking side Merseyside-bound next week, Gareth Bale may play no part.

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Gareth Bale a doubt for #LFC v Real Madrid with muscle injury: http://t.co/AwGFuUIWiZ pic.twitter.com/Gkq42YKxdD

— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchoLFC) October 18, 2014"

Liverpool have been afforded the chance, by their own fortune and the poor form of other clubs, to make sure that they remain in touch with the top four places and can still progress this year as planned. It hasn't been pretty, it hasn't been fun at times—certainly compared to last year—but there is still a long way to go.

And, crucially, the Reds are not playing catch-up.

Follow @karlmatchett

Quotes obtained firsthand unless stated.