Europa Thingy Reaction

Traveling to Russia in the middle of winter was never going to be an easy task, but we were all hoping the Reds could at least come away with a draw or an away goal. Jamie Carragher’s last away fixture in Europe was anything but ideal.

SPOILERS: it doesn't go in.
SPOILERS: it doesn’t go in.

There were two changes to the side that faced West Brom on Monday. Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen were in the team for Lucas and Jonjo Shelvey. Suarez played center forward and was isolated for much of the match. The high pressing and accurate passing game that is characteristic of the Rodgers system was nonexistent. Throughout the first half, possession was given away cheaply and Zenit was allowed to repeatedly test Pepe Reina. The home side finally broke through in the 70th minute when Hulk smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. The strike invigorated Zenit and another goal was scored after just two minutes by Sergei Semak.

At this point, the clear-cut-chances missed by Suarez early on were haunting Liverpool. This team does not do well when they are a goal down and Rodgers brought on Lucas in place of Sterling to ensure the deficit would stop at 2. Oddly enough, that was the only change made the entire match by the Reds. Forwards Borini and Suso were left on the bench. Why they even bothered making the trip so that Suarez could play CF is beyond me. The Uruguayan had arguably his worst game in a red shirt this season, showing signs of last season’s form.

This is likely to be the last Europa match reaction to an away fixture for a very long time. As I write this, the Reds are currently two goals down on aggregate coming back to Anfield and sitting in 9th position of the Premier League. European qualification of any kind is all but hopeless at this point. It would take a miracle in the return fixture for Liverpool to progress to the next round and the current lineup does not seem up to the task.

A few weeks ago, I had a great feeling about the club. It seemed that the team’s performance was trending in the right direction and we might be making progress after all. After West Brom and Zenit, I’m really not sure. The season isn’t over yet, but the few bad results are turning into a bad era. Istanbul was 8 years ago. I do not have the prescription for what ails this club, but I know it is not simple. If it were as easy as a change in management, owners, or players, we would just do it and be getting better. We have Swansea on Sunday and I’m anything but confident.

-CSD

 

12 thoughts on “Europa Thingy Reaction

  • February 14, 2013 at 8:36 pm
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    An absolute DISGRACE and a SHAMBLES!!! sack this clueless moron NOW!!!

  • February 14, 2013 at 8:46 pm
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    Why play joe LIABILITY Allen instead of LUCAS ;-( Rodgers hasnt a clue,TAXI FOR THIS IDIOT !!!

  • February 14, 2013 at 9:36 pm
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    rodgers said we would finish 2nd, now he is saying wait for 6 or 12 months.well is that 6 or 12 brendon?? he doesnt have a clue what he is doing!

  • February 14, 2013 at 10:51 pm
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    Fearful the belief in the dressing room has gone. Wondering if the public slating after the Oldham loss has had a detrimental effect on the players- cos the younger ones a la Shelvey, Sterling etc look like their confidence is shot. More hurt Sunday I reckon. Rookie owners and a rookie manager never a gd mix.

  • February 14, 2013 at 11:06 pm
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    i am sick and tried of rodgers and the yanks that are ruining my beloved club,,both are clueless ,buying cheap garbage ,excuse after excuse somebody for god sake tell it like it is ,,,its like watching a reserve team full of players unable to get into the first team apart from the odd one or two,,,once upon a time we had a midfield of alonso masco gerrard kuyt a striker called torres a defence lead by legends carra and hypia,,a world class goalie a left back in arbeloa who has euro and world cup medals and plays his trade at real madrid and a right back in rinse ie thunderfoot,, compare that to this pile of s@?t , ,, IF ONLY WE HAD SOLD TO THE ARABS WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE INSTEAD OF TRUSTING MORE YANKS WITH THE CLUB WE LOVE ,I BET THE SHAMBLES WE FIND OURSELVES IN WOULDNT BE HAPPENING ,,,,,

  • February 14, 2013 at 11:36 pm
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    agreed…sterling was playing badly…BR should replace him with Borini and play suarez on the left and borini to be main striker!! Puzzling subsitutions…whats the point to protect 2-0, we are out of Europa!

  • February 15, 2013 at 12:08 am
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    Those Arabs were planning on re-selling the club in 4-5 years for a profit. People tend to forget that part.

  • February 15, 2013 at 12:20 am
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    Yet again Liverpool Football Club have let down their loyal away support by allowing to happen the disgraceful scenes that followed the game tonight. Lots of Liverpool fans were attacked on the metro and indeed all over the city of saint petersburg during the past 2 days. There were no police or stewards available to protect anyone after the match, the zenit fans must of loved the opportunity to pick out all of our travelling support one by one. As a Red that follows my team everywhere I am disgusted with my football club.
    There will be murders at the Anfield next week when them Russian cowards turn up.

    Walks

  • February 15, 2013 at 6:26 am
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    I’ve slept on it and my slant is we need experience. If BR targets quality experience ie Alonso in the summer he needs to be given that chance. If its more 5ft children, then he’s just not getting it- and maybe Rafa rolling back into town isn’t such a bad idea?…..

  • February 16, 2013 at 5:12 pm
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    hopefully our fans have more sense than to take it over the top in the return leg…still, it’s absolutely astounding that with Zenit’s well known penchant for violence that more protection was afforded or DEMANDED for the travelling support ..

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