"Albert Einstein once said: 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'
I'm tempted to ask Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez, what he's thinking when it comes to his team defending set pieces. Since the Spaniard moved from Valencia to Anfield, the major Achilles heel has been their inability to stop the one play in football that has an air of predictability about it.
To date Liverpool have conceded goals on set plays against Tottenham, Aston Villa, Bolton and most recently, West Ham.
Twice it has cost them victories and when you consider that the Merseysiders only lost two league matches in all of last season, this has got to be a tactical consideration that must be addressed, especially as the club moves into European play.
Benitez believes in zonal marking at set plays and he also doesn't position players on the posts at corners. His defensive leaders, Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel are supposedly taking charge of the penalty area and yet week-after-week opposing players are finding space where they can create havoc and score goals.
Surely by now it must be obvious to Benitez that he should use the tried and test method of man-to-man marking? It doesn't get any simpler: there is your man, stop him from getting to the ball. End of story and the end of Liverpool defenders looking at each other wondering what happened as once again the ball ends up in the back of the net.
In all honesty, I'm surprised that senior players like Steven Gerrard and Carragher haven't yet said: 'Boss, we need to change the system.'
There is a major hurdle to cross if this is to happen because if Rafa were to climb down, it would entail eating a not-so-small portion of humble pie. The Spaniard is way too stubborn to admit failure in this department though, so Liverpool will soldier on and continue to put themselves in danger of losing matches they should win comfortably.
With a thrilling victory over West Ham on Saturday, Benitez will point to the table and say to the assembled media corps that they should focus on the result. Good point, but this is yet another victory that I believe papers over cracks. Liverpool have not looked 100% in either the defensive or offensive departments this season.
In the back line I applaud the attacking verve of Glenn Johnson and Emiliano Insua, but their first job is to defend. I admire the never-say-die spirit of Jamie Carragher but against pace he's looking increasingly past it. I like the steel of Martin Skrtel but I am constantly reminded of the grace and consistency of an Alan Hansen — the return of Danny Agger cannot come soon enough. As for Pepe Reina, at times he's flapping about like a bird learning how to fly — not a back-four confidence booster.
At the other end of the pitch, sixteen goals is a healthy return. However, when you delve a little deeper there is a frightening lack of center forward fire power once you get past Fernando Torres.
The Spanish hit man is currently the most electrifying forward in world football but (and I better whisper this) what if he gets injured and who replaces him?
Ryan Babel? I'm quaking.
David Ngog? I'm trembling.
Andrei Voronin? I've gone positively weak at the knees.
It'll be interesting to see what Benitez has up his sleeve with the fabled 'Plan B.'
Red fans will point to the emergence of Yossi Benayoun (never a Benitez favorite) and Dirk Kuyt as goal scorers but I think that they're getting more opportunities as the Reds' opponents focus more of their resources on stopping Steven Gerrard. Like Torres it's tempting to ask what happens if...?
As for the Liverpool bench, it is so completely underwhelming compared to other members of the 'Big Four', I'm almost embarrassed for the club when the substitutes' names appear on the team sheet. Whether Alberto Aquilani can give the impression of more depth remains to be seen and I wouldn't be surprised if Benitez made some moves in January.
For the time being though, third place in the Premiership is a position from which they can build but with nineteen years of frustration stinking up Anfield, one wonders if Einstein's quote will someday replace 'You'll never walk alone' as Liverpool's motto.
Until then, I'll see you at the far post...."
Source:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10103308/Rafa's-Reds-have-lost-the-plot-at-the-set-pieceWhat are your thoughts gents?
