Liverpool's First-Team Players Return and Underperform Again in Chelsea Defeat

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL—After controversially making seven changes for the Champions League match in Madrid prior to Chelsea's arrival at Anfield, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers made another seven for the 2-1 Premier League defeat.

Only Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel, Alberto Moreno and Emre Can kept their places from the starting XI against Real Madrid, with Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling, Dejan Lovren, Glen Johnson, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson back in the team.

That meant that the only difference between this starting XI and the one a week ago when Liverpool succumbed to defeat at Newcastle United, was Can in for Joe Allen.

Liverpool Lacking

Rodgers wrote in his pre-match programme notes that his much-changed team in Madrid "performed with courage, quality and conviction"—attributes that were missing against the league leaders after an initial 20-minute start that saw his side take the lead through Can's deflected shot.

Chelsea found their equaliser in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, with Mignolet unlucky that his initial save was rebounded back at him by Gary Cahill at close range, and the ball narrowly edged over the line. The irony of a Jose Mourinho Chelsea side scoring under such circumstances at The Kop end; almost 10 years after Luis Garcia's "ghost" goal.

The winning goal arrived from in-form Chelsea forward Diego Costa midway through the second half after superb work from Cesar Azpiluceta on Liverpool's right. Why Johnson was so far inside, leaving Coutinho so deep, is probably a tactical problem.

Johnson, like many of the recalled players, underperformed for Liverpool. It was the same players who haven't been good enough for almost the whole of this season so far: Gerrard and Henderson were anonymous and off form in midfield; Balotelli continued to struggle as the lone forward up front.

Admittedly, referee Anthony Taylor wasn't helping Liverpool's cause. Taylor failed to get to grips with Costa's over-aggressive tactics, especially in the first half, and failed to give a clear handball from Cahill inside the box in the second half.

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Liverpool's biggest frustration this season is that the same supposed first-team players have been far below their best, and Rodgers continues to pick them.

Gerrard and Lovren failed to win a tackle, Johnson won just 20 percent of his, Henderson 50 percent, as per Squawka. As a team, Liverpool won just 28 percent of their tackles.

Not good enough.

The Reds' two best players on the day, Can and Coutinho, were withdrawn first.

Rodgers' Decisions

The pressure was already on Rodgers prior to this result due to his changes made in Madrid, but it will be even more intense now—with his substitutions of Coutinho and Can booed by the Anfield crowd.

Questions must be asked why, in his third season at the club and having spent over £100 million this summer, did Rodgers turn to Allen, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert in an attempt to save the game. They were hardly inspiring, game-changing substitutions.

The manager's refusal to ever sub Gerrard, or drop him for a Premier League game, has to be questioned. As does his continued use of Balotelli as a lone forward despite it blatantly not working for the player as an individual or as a team and attacking unit.

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Rodgers praised his squad players for their performance in Madrid, but only Can was deemed having done enough to keep his place, yet Liverpool were off form, again, and mostly the same faces were at fault. 

Daniel Sturridge's return from injury cannot come soon enough for Rodgers and Liverpool. That should be the Reds' next match—another match will bring back nightmares for Rodgers, Gerrard and Co.—away to Crystal Palace after the international break.

While the Liverpool boss insists his side have got over the manner of their title challenge coming to an end last season, it doesn't look like they have.

With key players not performing and new signings failing to settle, Liverpool's problems are huge.