The once-formidable Anfield fortress now resembles a welcoming visitor centre. The sense of overwhelming intimidation, so integral to Liverpool’s success during their prime, is in danger of becoming a memory.
It is revived for special occasions – no doubt the double header with the city of Manchester this month will reawaken passions – but too many Premier League encounters have failed to raise beyond the humdrum.
Stoke City, like the six previous clubs to leave Anfield clutching a point which was generously offered as much as hard earned, have long shaken off any fearful inferiority felt by those passing through the Shankly Gates.
Fourteen points have been squandered by Liverpool on their own turf this season. Recruiting a striker is considered the obvious solution, but given the number of accidents they are encountering at home, a new health and safety officer would not go amiss, either.
Twelve months on from Kenny Dalglish’s appointment, a sweep of the Premier League landscape reveals Liverpool are exactly where they have been for three years.
They are the sixth best side in the division, and although they are consolidating themselves by taking a more scenic route towards a top-four challenge (although not in this game), it must concern the American owners that they have been unable to take advantage of the mediocre standards of Arsenal and Chelsea.
A season has unfolded which confirms the view that whatever methods are employed and changes made at Anfield, the gains and losses have a habit of balancing each other.
In Rafael Benítez, Liverpool possessed the most tactically astute manager in their history – a trait which was magical when he outwitted Jose Mourinho but infuriating when he would select teams to cope with the elaborate formation of Barnsley.
Under Dalglish, broadly speaking the philosophy has been based on the traditional Anfield mantra of ‘letting the opposition worry about us’.
This rather ignores Dalglish’s occasional forays into the strategy room. During his first spell, he was not averse to surprising his own supporters as much as rival managers by using full backs in central midfield, or midfielders in defence. Often with mixed results.
If Wednesday’s rearguard action in the second half at the Etihad Stadium was a reminder of Dalglish’s often underestimated capacity for pragmatism, his choices here marked it in bold capital letters.
There was wisdom in lining up with three centre-halves to combat Stoke’s aerial threat, repeating a successful idea from last season, but few could identify the merit of persisting with it once Tony Pulis reacted by amending his own line-up to play one up front.
It was like watching someone’s cunning plan being undermined by the opponent’s irritating refusal to let it work. In chess terms, Pulis emerged as the grandmaster.
Dirk Kuyt was left to play the Andy Carroll role as a lone striker, and engaged in a perfect impression of the Geordie. Kuyt’s touch deserted him throughout and when the game’s single chance fell on his forehead he somehow missed the target.
As with Carroll at Manchester City, the Dutchman was often isolated against a robust Stoke defence, a problem compounded when he hunted deep for possession. This had the effect of making it seem as though Liverpool were playing with seven midfielders and no striker.
Clearly Liverpool missed Luis Suárez. “I was absolutely delighted not to see him on the pitch,” said Pulis. Since Suárez was present for the previous six Anfield draws suggesting his absence was the difference is simplistic.
A greater loss in such a system was the rested Daniel Agger whose capacity to bring the ball out of defence could have turned a redundant extra defender into an attacking weapon.
When the change did come after an hour, it was Stewart Downing who mystifyingly made way for substitute Carroll, while the assortment of centre-backs was retained, at least two of them marking thin air.
Asked how he thought his plan worked, Dalglish pointed out that his defence looked strong, but admitted “they had only one striker to mark”, which simply added to the bewilderment. Liverpool had evidently identified their problem, but failed to react and rectify it until it was too late.
If they do not sign a striker to turn home draws into wins within the next fortnight, the same will also be true of this season’s attempts to return to the Champions League.
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