There’s no beating around the bush, Liverpool’s draw with Chelsea on Saturday afternoon was disappointing.
You look at our side and it was clear Jurgen tried to freshen it up with younger legs. I’m just glad we played Chelsea at a good time because if they had a stronger side out I think we might have lost. We could’ve had a strong side too, of course we could. But like them, we have injuries to players like Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.
On Saturday, the experienced players within the squad were largely left on the bench as the manager decided to stick with the same midfield that had impressively defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup just a few days before - leaving Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as substitutes.
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It was a strange one, Chelsea didn’t deserve to win and neither did we. Neither side played particularly well and, to be fair, where we are at the moment it was probably the right result. Although it wasn’t the best result for either side and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season, there’s a long, long way to go in the season. But Liverpool do need to start winning games.
Of the broader issues at Anfield right now, I'm not sure what exactly has hindered this same Liverpool side that came within a whisker of landing a clean sweep of trophies last season. After the game there was talk from Thiago Alcantara of a collective fatigue within the squad - something Klopp publically admitted this month for the first time - and I completely understand that.
In truth, this group of players put so much into last season. In fact, you can extend that to the past five years, where they have challenged right at the very top of English and European football. They have given everything that you can possibly give, they must be shattered. But there comes a moment where you have to pick yourself up and go again. We have lost our mojo and confidence, certain players are not performing anywhere close to how they can be, but bit by bit you have to try and get back on track; earn clean sheets, become hard to beat again.
Klopp made some big calls during the weekend as he decided to stick with Naby Keita, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago - who had all impressed on Tuesday night in the West Midlands - and I think in this situation you have to trust the manager. But for me, Henderson has been a fantastic captain and leading figure over the years for the club and has to come back into the team. Whether his absence was down to a niggling injury or the science saying he's not quite fit enough to start, Jordan has a big role in helping us get back to where we want to be. He's a big player and a big motivator on the pitch. We need him back on the team.
But despite the struggles and issues, add Van Dijk, Jota, Diaz and Nunez into that team and it's a completely different dynamic. It's a new monster for opponents to deal with. We have nothing in the final third of the pitch at the moment, Mohamed Salah has struggled recently and didn't look like himself against Chelsea.
When you're in these types of situations and your team is stumbling, you need your big players to step up and come to the fore. Not just Mo, but Fabinho, Thiago and Matip too. You need them to be at it to have any chance of winning.
On the flip side to that is when are then forced to throw young lads into a struggling side - like has been the case with Harvey Elliott and Bajcetic in recent weeks - it's difficult for them. It's really tough for them.
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