Revised Expectations for Liverpool After 1st Month of Season

A strong start to the season for Liverpool was curtailed by a disappointing 3-0 loss at home to West Ham United before the international break, and though the Reds sit comfortably in seventh place in the Premier League table—just two points below second-placed Crystal Palace—this defeat raises considerable questions over expectations for the season.

With competition in the Premier League arguably stronger than ever following the promise of increased revenue from TV broadcasting, manager Brendan Rodgers finds himself in a difficult situation as his side embarks for international duty.

But what are Liverpool's expectations for the 2015/16 season? And what should they be?

After the first month of the season, a revision in Rodgers' ambitions may be required.

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Season's Expectations

Rodgers needed a sharp turnaround in results to counter the misery of Liverpool's 2014/15 campaign, in which they finished sixth in the Premier League, fell out of both European competitions at the first time of asking and failed to secure domestic silverware for the third season running.

But in canvassing a host of their resident writers, This is Anfield uncovered a cynicism within the Reds' support.

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Fewer than half of the 11-strong group, including Bleacher Report's own Karl Matchett, predicted that Liverpool would finish in the Premier League's top four, with no writer believing Rodgers could achieve a third-placed finish or higher.

However, asked elsewhere, the same group predominantly intimated that a top-four finish and a trophy should be the minimum aim in 2015/16, with Matchett writing: "In the league, nothing lower than fourth is acceptable or remotely 'happy.'"

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann echoed this sentiment, telling BBC Sport at the start of the season that the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City were too strong for the Reds to challenge for fourth place, despite considerable spending over the summer:

"

There are a lot of unknowns [in the squad], but firstly the players they brought in last year have obviously got to to do better. I like the signings they have made this year and I think they have got a chance but, as of now, you have got to say that the other four teams are ahead of them.

"

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty shared a similar view, too. Heaping pressure on Rodgers, the BBC's chief football writer seemingly believes this season the manager "must now deliver," continuing:

"

Liverpool could find it difficult initially to adapt to life without the iconic presence of Steven Gerrard, their comfort blanket for so long.

I do not see Liverpool anywhere near the title and they will have to battle to make the top four. A cup is not out of the question but Rodgers and his players need to hit the ground running.

Bottom line for Rodgers, though, is top four and/or a cup, otherwise he will know the consequences.

"

With the spectral Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti still waiting for the right managerial opportunity, Rodgers' summer of spending—and therefore Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group's unequivocal backing—demands success in 2015/16.

Therefore, perhaps it should not be a surprise that his most media-friendly charges have outlined their ambitions accordingly.

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Adam Lallana told Sky Sports that "the aim for all of us this year is to win a trophy and try to get back in the top four," while fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson furthered this in conversation with the club's official website, saying that "getting back into the Champions League is a big objective for us, but also winning trophies."

Similarly, star playmaker Philippe Coutinho spoke to Sport360.com while away with Brazil during this summer's Copa America, declaring "we all have to play our part to make sure this club is playing Champions League football again."

Coutinho in particular was in top form in the first month of the new season, but whether his performances and those of his team-mates suggest that Liverpool can satisfy their aims is a different matter entirely.

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Liverpool's August Form

The season began positively for the Reds, but following their most recent fixture, spirits have sunk, with major questions over Rodgers' tactical blueprint in line with his summer signings.

Two 1-0 victories against Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth kicked off the season, with goals from Coutinho and Christian Benteke ensuring the Reds secured six points from six before a difficult trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on top-four rivals Arsenal.

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Marked by an impressive rearguard effort, Rodgers' side earned a 0-0 draw at what is typically a tough ground to visit, making it three clean sheets from three and boosting early hopes of Champions League qualification—the likes of Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel and Lucas Leiva seemed to have ironed out some of their defensive deficiencies, and a failure to score was the biggest issue for Liverpool moving forward.

But the Hammers' visit obliterated any hope of progress, and in the fallout of this embarrassing defeat, the manager's tactical frailties have been exposed.

A wholly disorganised back line, hampered by the error-strewn performance of Lovren and the unsettling presence of Skrtel, allowed Slaven Bilic's side to collect an easy three points.

This was the defensive showing that Liverpool supporters had expected: Lovren and Skrtel looking far from a composed partnership; out-of-position left-back Joe Gomez's inexperience exploited; Simon Mignolet not trusting his defence in possession; and the attack-happy Nathaniel Clyne lacking cover on the break.

Aside from this collective abomination ahead of the 18-yard box, Liverpool's defensive ineptitude served to magnify their inability to create and convert chances.

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With Coutinho pinned down by a hard-working midfield of Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble, Rodgers' side were unable to carve open the well-drilled back line. The promising partnership that Coutinho and Benteke showcased against Bournemouth was nullified, with the Brazilian making no key passes before his 52nd-minute red card.

Benteke cut an isolated figure as Rodgers' lone centre-forward, completing just 76.2 percent of his passes as Liverpool resorted to a long-ball game—to little effect.

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This should come as no surprise, however. Liverpool have so far averaged just 10 key passes per game collectively, fewer than eight other Premier League sides including relegation candidates Norwich City (10.8), and have scored the joint-least amount of goals of any team in the top flight, with two. That one of those goals was a Coutinho wonderstrike and the other benefiting from a hugely debatable offside decision should be a major worry for Rodgers.

Coutinho's upcoming suspension gives the manager another headache as he plots to defeat another major rival, Manchester United, when the Reds return from the international break.

But that is the least of his concerns, with a major structural overhaul required before the manager will see his side reaching the attacking heights of the 2013/14 season. So far, the likes of Coutinho, Benteke, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Jordan Henderson have looked at odds with each other, and the Reds have lacked attacking cohesion—on top of their defensive woes.

So where does this leave Rodgers?

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Revised Expectations

"There will be lots of games like that so we have to find a way on the training field in order to develop that patience, work the ball and exploit it," Rodgers reflected following the defeat to West Ham, as reported by the Press Association (h/t This is Anfield).

"There is a long way to go yet. We will learn from it, we always analyse every game. You have to be better and you want to be better in your next game."

Aiming to bounce back immediately, Rodgers will be hoping for three points at Old Trafford to regain some momentum in the race for a top-four finish. As the manager continued, it is clear he is hoping the international break will provide himself and his squad with some perspective:

"

We have seven points from 12.

The players will come back after the internationals and we will refocus and look to put in a much better performance away from home.

If I have the squad I have got then I will be happy to work with that team.

"

Having not added to his squad again before the transfer window came to a close at the beginning of September, Rodgers is clearly plotting improvement on the training field in order to arrest a dip in form at Anfield.

This leaves the onus on him, and though four games is a minute sample size in terms of gauging expectations for an entire season, it is therefore difficult to envisage a wholesale advance on the forecasts of McNulty and Hamann.

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Can Rodgers organise a confident, cohesive back line? Can the likes of Firmino and Lallana pick up the slack in Coutinho's absence or when he's obstructed by opposing midfielders? Can Liverpool adjust to Benteke's style of play? Will Daniel Sturridge return and relieve Liverpool's goalscoring difficulties?

To predict improvement at this stage is problematic, with a host of variables to consider.

But, as Rodgers attests, with the Reds already having secured seven points from a possible 12 this season, there is evidence to suggest they can challenge at the top end of the table if he can find solutions to his tactical problems.

After the first month of the season, Liverpool's expectations should remain the same. A realistic objective of consolidating fifth place, with at least a challenge for glory in the domestic cup competitions, should remain the expectation for supporters.

Any better and Rodgers will have overachieved.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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