After losing only two games throughout the whole of last season, we’ve now managed to lose two in the space of just 10 days.
Which means that Liverpool have to adopt a positive mental outlook in every game from here on in.
The Reds were held to too many draws last season.
But the margin for error in the modern title race is so slim that draws are no use any more.
United won the Premier League title last season despite losing four matches.
And that’s because they drew five fewer than Liverpool throughout the course of the campaign.
The three points for a win format means that a defeat – even a home defeat as desperately disappointing as last night’s – is not as damaging as it might otherwise have been.
It’s accepted that the games we drew at home last season against the likes of West Ham, Fulham, Stoke and Hull cost us the title.
But losing two and winning two of those games would have given us a better points return than remaining unbeaten in all four.
That’s why I think it’s far too early to be writing Liverpool off as credible title challengers as some people already appear to be doing.
And it’s a times like this that the supporters’ influence can be vitally important.
They will be feeling low after last night – and they pay their hard earned money so are fully entitled to express their views.
But if they keep the faith they can help the team come through a difficult spell.
It’s also important that they get behind Lucas and don’t undermine the lad’s confidence. He knows he made a mistake last night and he will be hurting more than anybody.
But the simple fact is we need the Brazilian to play a significant role for the next few months until Aquilani is fit to play a part and he will be able to do that far more effectively with the fans behind him.
It’s unfortunate that he should have been involved in such a pivotal moment last night, because there were signs before then that the fans were starting to warm to him.
He has had an excellent pre-season and has been one of our better players in the first two Premier League games.
I just hope this little setback doesn’t knock him back again.
The finger was pointed at some of the senior players last night for not accepting enough responsibility, but I also think it’s the players on the bench like Babel, Voronin and Ngog who have to be doing more.
The squad is not as strong as we would like, everybody accepts that, but that means players not seen as first choice regulars have to do more to convince the manager they are worth a starting berth.
Yossi Benayoun has done it and his example is one that some of the fringe players should follow.
There will be an undoubted mood of gloom and despondency after last night.
But it simply means that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win.
It’s perhaps a little early to be talking about must-win matches, but I’m afraid draws really aren’t much use any more – even at this early stage.
And that is perhaps the one positive to come out of last night – we now have to be positive every game.
Which means that Liverpool have to adopt a positive mental outlook in every game from here on in.
The Reds were held to too many draws last season.
But the margin for error in the modern title race is so slim that draws are no use any more.
United won the Premier League title last season despite losing four matches.
And that’s because they drew five fewer than Liverpool throughout the course of the campaign.
The three points for a win format means that a defeat – even a home defeat as desperately disappointing as last night’s – is not as damaging as it might otherwise have been.
It’s accepted that the games we drew at home last season against the likes of West Ham, Fulham, Stoke and Hull cost us the title.
But losing two and winning two of those games would have given us a better points return than remaining unbeaten in all four.
That’s why I think it’s far too early to be writing Liverpool off as credible title challengers as some people already appear to be doing.
And it’s a times like this that the supporters’ influence can be vitally important.
They will be feeling low after last night – and they pay their hard earned money so are fully entitled to express their views.
But if they keep the faith they can help the team come through a difficult spell.
It’s also important that they get behind Lucas and don’t undermine the lad’s confidence. He knows he made a mistake last night and he will be hurting more than anybody.
But the simple fact is we need the Brazilian to play a significant role for the next few months until Aquilani is fit to play a part and he will be able to do that far more effectively with the fans behind him.
It’s unfortunate that he should have been involved in such a pivotal moment last night, because there were signs before then that the fans were starting to warm to him.
He has had an excellent pre-season and has been one of our better players in the first two Premier League games.
I just hope this little setback doesn’t knock him back again.
The finger was pointed at some of the senior players last night for not accepting enough responsibility, but I also think it’s the players on the bench like Babel, Voronin and Ngog who have to be doing more.
The squad is not as strong as we would like, everybody accepts that, but that means players not seen as first choice regulars have to do more to convince the manager they are worth a starting berth.
Yossi Benayoun has done it and his example is one that some of the fringe players should follow.
There will be an undoubted mood of gloom and despondency after last night.
But it simply means that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win.
It’s perhaps a little early to be talking about must-win matches, but I’m afraid draws really aren’t much use any more – even at this early stage.
And that is perhaps the one positive to come out of last night – we now have to be positive every game.
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