10 Reasons It Sucks To Be a Liverpool Fan Right Now

Liverpool have seen a better start to their year than they did last season, but it is still a frustrating life as a Reds fan at the moment.

Whether it is a shot off the woodwork, another injury or another player suspension, it seems that just about everything is against the club at the moment.

However, those above are just the tip of the iceberg, as for many of us it sucks to be a Liverpool fan at the moment.

The Woodwork

Liverpool have hit the cross bar and the uprights more times than any club in the league this season, and I honestly lost count after the 25th bang off the bar.

However, the woodwork honestly leads up to a more frustrating point.

Poor Finishing

More importantly than problems hitting the woodwork, the real issue for the Reds has not been getting chances, but putting them away.

Just this past week against Wigan Athletic, both Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson had great wasted chances to put the club on top. However, the howler of the night was Charlie Adam's telegraphed penalty that should have won the game in all likelihood if he had scored.

Luis Suarez himself alone has 75 shots this season with only five goals. If that does not put the poorness of our finishing in perspective, I don't know what does.

Manchester's Great Escape

Liverpool dominated both Manchester United and Manchester City at Anfield this season, but both of the leagues top two sides managed to slip away with a point when the Reds should have taken six points and not two.

Javier Hernandez once again came off the bench for United to steal a goal. However, rather than just end a clean sheet as he did at the game in March when the Reds won 3-1, he managed to stop a sure Reds win and turn it into a draw.

Joe Hart was the culprit for Manchester City, as the England keeper is perhaps the only shot stopper in the league that could have held off the Reds like he did during the dying moments of the game as they pressed for a victory following the dismissal of Mario Balotelli.

Captain Fantastic-Less

Once again, Steven Gerrard has been robbed of nearly half a season due to injury—a layoff that had seen him miss from the middle of March all the way up until nearly the end of September.

Gerrard scored one goal for the club that was robbed of its luster by Javier Hernandez against Manchester United. He is the Captain's biggest contribution, as he is hopefully set to return to the first team some time in January.

At least in the five appearances he has made the Reds have not lost, so there is a little something positive.

Loss of Lucas

No matter what anyone says, the season-ending injury of Lucas Leiva has been a tough blow to the club.

The Brazilian had worked his way to an automatic starting spot in the center of midfield and was one of the leading tacklers in all of the league, despite years of abuse that he would never be good enough to win over the fans.

In his 15 starts across the board, the Reds only lost two matches against Stoke City and Tottenham and Lucas was insurmountable in the draws against both Manchester United and Manchester City.

Not Enough Anfield Points

Liverpool have not lost at Anfield in eight matches so far this season, which in a sentence devoid of context is a great thing.

However, the problem is that the Reds while remaining undefeated have dropped 10 points in draws to clubs they either had on the ropes and lost, or should have beaten outright.

Both Manchester games were mentioned before, but on top of that the Reds have slumped to draws against Sunderland and Norwich while having been ahead plus were held by Swansea City at home to a goalless draw.

Dropping Points When They Shouldn't

One of the things that Liverpool have failed to do in recent season's is take points from clubs they should.

The Reds have managed to only achieve draws against Sunderland, Manchester United, Norwich City, Swansea City, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic. The Reds also dropped three points away to Fulham that should have been avoided if they finished chances.

Baring two of the previously mentioned games against United and City, the Reds should have beating the other five and arguably they should have beaten the Manchester sides.

Those additional victories over Sunderland, Norwich, Swansea, Fulham and Wigan would have netted the Reds an additional 11 points, which would see them third in the league and only three points from the top.

No Torres and a £35 Million Waste

The loss of the real Fernando Torres that lit up the Kop has been a travesty, and the lost chance of him having righted his form in Red under Kenny Dalglish only rubbed salt in the wound.

Recent rumors to see him return to Anfield were only just that as he bashed the club's owners in the last week to only broaden that gap between himself and the fans that once would have done anything for their darling number nine.

However, the real problem has been that there was no one coming in to replace the £50 million sale. The excessive fee of £35 million for a mediocre player at best in Andy Carroll, that at his best was still only worth maybe £12 million to £15 million at the time just makes it worse.

Luis Suarez only cost £23 million and looks a steal compared to the flop that Carroll has become. If only that £35 million had been spent on a player that was set for Suarez to create for—like he was actually meant to in Torres.

Racism and the FA

This is perhaps the touchiest slide I may ever write on Bleacher Report, but it must be said.

First off, I in no way support the abuse of other players in regards to racism. It is perhaps the most derogatory thing that can be done to devalue someone or insult them solely because of their race or ethnicity. I completely agree that the English Football Association should take action against players that do so.

Having been a history major in college and living in the United States where the past includes some of the worst documented racism in history, believe me when I say I completely understand the gravity of the situation in regards to racial issues.

However, it has to be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt through factual evidence, witnesses and beyond any chance of it being wrong. In a case such as that of Luis Suarez, or the impending investigation of Chelsea's John Terry, that is set to possibly result in a ban of nearly a 1/5 of a season, it has to be based on more than hearsay as there appears to be no principle witnesses other than the accuser.

On top of that, it should not take months to figure out. After that I will rest my case and say that if Suarez is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt then he should be punished. Perhaps for five rather than eight games and fined more heftily, as lets face it, that £40,000 is nothing to most players.

The news that the ban could be extended just for an appeal that was broken on ESPNsoccernet makes it even more ridiculous in the long run to show that the FA is threatening to become an unjust system. Threatening to increase a ban just for an appeal, which is something that would be considered commonplace in a harsh ruling, only makes it look like they are trying to fend off an appeal because they have doubt that what they chose as punishment is wrong and unfounded.

But, if he is convicted with only word of mouth as evidence, it sets a terrible precedent for the future.

Not Enough Luis Suarez

While Luis Suarez is a masterful goal scorer, he is not built to be an out-and-out goalscorer that will lead your line all by himself every season.

He is a creator and he will frustrate defenses all day long, but needs a partner that is a clinical finisher to compliment his play making ability.

Liverpool currently lack that type of partner for Suarez and it has seen the player rack up the most shots in the league trying to be both chance creator and chance taker in one.

However, Suarez cannot do it alone. The partnership with Carroll has proved to be rather fruitless as Carroll simply does not have to talent and ball skill, nor the positional ability to take advantage of Suarez's exploits.

Craig Bellamy and Maxi Rodriguez have been the best trifecta with Suarez, but Maxi is a midfielder and Bellamy is built more in the playmaker forward roll the same as Suarez.

Put simply there is just not enough Luis Suarez to do the job upfront alone, and to put it in the voice of the Kop, "I Just Can't Get Enough, Luis Suarez"—literally.

Conclusion

Liverpool kick off their run in to the transfer window against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on Boxing Day.

While it should be a Reds victory, it leaves much open to being another frustrating moment in this calendar year as a Liverpool fan.

Here is hoping that optimism wins over and the Reds go marching on.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out more on Bleacher Report and at the links below. You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook or visit my website.