Liverpool supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern are hopeful that Martin Skrtel’s 97th minute header to rescue a point against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday will prove to be some kind of turning point, in what has been a difficult season.
The performance against Arsene Wenger’s side was much improved on what Reds fans have come used to witnessing so far this season but defensive lapses cost them the three points.
The Reds trail Arsenal and Tottenham by five points whilst West Ham United currently occupy the coveted fourth spot – a massive ten points clear of Brendan Rodgers side.
Injuries and the loss of a world class forward have not helped but with more than £100 million spent on new talent in the summer, Liverpool fans would have been expecting to be sitting much higher in the table then they currently are by the time Christmas comes around.
The Reds face a massive battle to make the top four during the second half of the season with improvements needed all round, perhaps no more so than from these five players who have let the side and the supporters down over the course of the 2014/15 season so far.
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Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal the 5 Liverpool stars who’ve LET DOWN Reds fans in 2014/15.
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Simon Mignolet
Simon Mignolet has not only been a major letdown for the Liverpool supporters but for Brendan Rodgers. The Reds boss shipped out a club legend in Pepe Reina to make room for the Belgian and he has repaid the faith by making more errors than any other goalkeeper in the division.
He has since been dropped ‘indefinitely’ by Rodgers, although Aussie replacement Brad Jones doesn’t appear to be the long-term answer either.
It would come as a surprise if the Reds did not attempt to sign a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window.
Martin Skrtel
Skrtel may have been the hero with his 97th minute equaliser against Arsenal yesterday but his defending remains a huge cause for concern.
Skrtel has been established as Brendan Rodgers’ first choice defender over the past two seasons, a time in which the Reds have been conceding goals left right and centre.
The Slovakian has no leadership skills for a central defender and loses too many individual battles; Mathieu Debuchy’s equaliser on Sunday being a prime example.
His goal threat from a set piece seems to have saved his position in the team for a long while now but defensively, you could argue he is simply not good enough.
Dejan Lovren
The Croatian was signed for a massive £20 million in the summer in the hope of improving a defence that conceded 50 Premier League goals last term.
In fact, the former Southampton man seems to have made the problem worse. No defender in the Premier League has made more individual errors than Lovren and he has recently lost his place to Kolo Toure.
With Mamadou Sakho having just returned from injury and with Lovren currently sidelined with a groin problem, it could be some time before we see him back in the Liverpool team.
Glen Johnson
The Liverpool right back is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave the club for a cut price fee next month. A winning goal against Stoke City in November aside, Johnson has done nothing to suggest he deserves a renewal on his £110,000-a-week deal.
Liverpool supporters have grown frustrated with his laidback style, with all pace and urgency seemingly gone from his game. Individually and collectively, Johnson has done nothing to help the Reds’ leaky defence, and it will be seen as something of a Christmas miracle if he is offered a deal to keep him at the club beyond the end of this season.
Mario Balotelli
Any Liverpool fan will tell you that Mario Balotelli has not been helped being deployed as a lone striker in a system that clearly does not suit him.
Perhaps it is only fair to judge him once Daniel Sturridge returns from injury and the pair have a chance to form a partnership. But up until now, Balotelli has been a major letdown, something that is reflected in the fact he is yet to open his Premier League account for the club.
He has barely featured of late due to injury and most recently suspension after the Italian striker compounded his miserable start to life at Anfield by picking up a one match ban for a social media post which included racist language.
