Liverpool See off Newcastle, but Defensive Concerns Return

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool achieved a somewhat comfortable 2-0 victory at Anfield over Newcastle United on Monday night courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen, but it was harder work than it should have been.

Sterling opened the scoring after just nine minutes, and Liverpool seemed in complete control against a poor Newcastle side. But the visitors went into half-time feeling that they should have been level after Dejan Lovren somehow got away with a hideously timed tackle on Ayoze Perez in the penalty area.

Referee Lee Mason had a poor game, missing the Lovren tackle and numerous other fouls and somehow giving Moussa Sissoko a second yellow card rather than a straight red for a terrible challenge on Lucas Leiva late on.

In between those two incidents, Allen had made it 2-0 for the home side with a well-placed shot at the Kop end after Emre Can did well to keep the ball alive on a corner.

Back Four

Jon Super/Associated Press

Rodgers kept with a back-four shape, having returned to the defensive setup against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup last week. Can replaced the injured Mamadou Sakho to partner Lovren at centre-back. It was the first time the German had occupied such a role in a back four for Liverpool—and he was the only one of the defence to impress.

That's because Lovren and Glen Johnson appeared at times during the second half to be having their own contest to decide who could put in a more disappointing performance. The Anfield crowd were left shaking their heads at how poorly the duo were performing.

Somebody, somewhere, had pressed the self-destruct button at Anfield—something supporters have witnessed too often at times this season.

Lovren, having got away with the penalty claim, then almost injured Can when stepping on his team-mate's ankle early in the second half. Minutes later, he played a header perfectly to a Newcastle player. The fragility that marked the Croatian's early months at Anfield had returned.

It was a shame, because Lovren had actually started the game better—seemingly buoyed by his improved performance last week against Blackburn. But his confidence is clearly still a huge problem.

"

Lovren with a novel approach to keeping his place in the XI by simply injuring all our other defenders.

— Michael Sweeting (@M_Sweeting) April 13, 2015"

Alas, Liverpool achieved a second consecutive clean sheet with Johnson and Lovren in defence. Much credit should go to Simon Mignolet, who produced another world-class save to deny Perez and collect his 13th clean sheet of the season.

FA Cup Semi-Final vs. Aston Villa

Jon Super/Associated Press

Thankfully, Martin Skrtel returns from his three-match ban for the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The question is: Where he will come back into the side?

Will Rodgers bring Skrtel into a back four alongside Lovren or switch back to a three-man defence consisting of Can, Skrtel and Lovren?

Top-Four Chance?

Jon Super/Associated Press

Liverpool move to four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, which is effectively five points due to City's superior goal difference. Post-match, Rodgers said he and his squad wouldn't give up on the chance of finishing in the top four. "The players are very, very motivated to do what we can," he said.

"We’re looking for other teams to slip up, but we’ve got to keep winning. Do that, and we’ve got a chance."

Liverpool will now turn their immediate attentions to Sunday's FA Cup semi-final, a game in which Rodgers hopes Daniel Sturridge will be available.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.