New Year, Old Issues: Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool Fail to Learn Lessons

Liverpool saw in the new year by throwing away a two-goal lead to bottom-of-the-table Leicester City at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' side had gone ahead courtesy of two Steven Gerrard penalties, but goals from David Nugent and Jeff Schlupp inside three second-half minutes rocked the Reds—who were looking to build on two wins from their previous two games.

Rodgers' side were handed a very favourable festive fixture list this year, away to Burnley then at home against Swansea City and Leicester; three wins was a must to ensure they fought their way back into top four contention.

After scraping past Burnley then putting in arguably their best performance of the campaign against Swansea, a win against Leicester—who had one win in 14 games—should have been straight forward.

Alas, Liverpool never make anything straightforward and particularly in 2014/15.

With Arsenal losing and Manchester United and West Ham United both drawing, this was another huge missed opportunity for Liverpool to reduce the gap with the other top four challengers. The Reds are seven points behind current fourth-place occupiers Southampton.

Midfield

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The major talking point post-match will have to be Rodgers' decision to move Jordan Henderson out wide in order to accommodate bringing Gerrard back into centre-midfield.

We had a decade of England managers constantly making the same mistake of trying to make Gerrard and Frank Lampard work as a midfield two, and we're now seeing the same Gerrard-Lucas Leiva midfield pairing continually prove itself not to be effective.

Gerrard and Lucas as a midfield pairing didn't work four years ago when the former still had energy in his legs, it certainly doesn't work now.

When Rodgers changed shape to 3-4-2-1 at Old Trafford, the major problem was Gerrard and Joe Allen as the midfield pairing. Lucas was brought in against Bournemouth in the following game.

With Lucas proving worthy of his place in the side, and Rodgers seemingly afraid to make Gerrard a peripheral figure, the two of them keep being paired together.

But Henderson's role on the right then marginalises all his best qualities—losing his pressing and energy in midfield.

The former Sunderland man enjoyed one of his better displays this season alongside Lucas against Swansea three days ago, but Rodgers broke up the pairing, moved Henderson wide and brought in Gerrard instead.

Would it have been too much to rest Gerrard for two successive games?

It's long past the point of Gerrard and Lucas ever working and Rodgers has to realise this.

The hard truth is Gerrard should be being phased out of the side, used more sparingly and when used done so in a more attacking role behind the forward. Instead, Rodgers has persisted with keeping him as a focal point in the side.

"

Someday a manager will have the balls to say that Gerrard-Lucas will never work. If that manager isn't Rodgers it will cost him the job.

— Michael Sweeting (@M_Sweeting) January 1, 2015"

Attack

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Having exiled Fabio Borini in recent weeks, then bringing him back into the side for small cameos—such as the two minutes played against Swansea—the Italian looks devoid of confidence.

Rodgers has to take responsibility for Borini's troubles, certainly contributing to his frustrations and low confidence. It's a similar story with Rickie Lambert, too.

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli watched on from the stands having not been included in the matchday squad. His fate appears very uncertain following Rodgers' recent comments about him not suiting the club's style of play, as per Sean Gallagher of Mail Online.

Yet more frustration at Anfield, where Liverpool have won just four of their 10 home games this season.