Mark Lawrenson: Time For Liverpool FC Players To Sort Out Their Ownership Issue

The takeover at Liverpool came as a relief to everyone – finally some clear leadership and direction to bring an end to the turmoil.

Now how about a similar thing happening on the field?

John W Henry took ownership, now it’s time some of the Liverpool players did as well.

What struck me about the game at Newcastle was that the team appeared rudderless.

When Fernando Torres missed that great chance to make it 2-1, they should have built on that moment and sensed the game was there for the taking.

But nobody was prepared to step up and really grab it by the scruff of the break.

Newcastle got a fortunate break and closed the game out quite easily.

Helped by some awful, basic defensive errors it has to be said.

All of which leads to the obvious conclusion that Liverpool are missing Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard badly.

But Gerrard’s absence didn’t affect the side too badly at Tottenham and certainly not in the home game with Aston Villa.

In fact, at St James’ Park Liverpool played quite well for the most part and made a decent start.

And in the central midfield area, Raul Meireles and Lucas have actually been thriving without Gerrard and taking some responsibility.

But it’s when you’re up against it, especially away from home, that you need more players to take responsibility as leaders.

Even with Gerrard and Carragher back in the team, those players can’t just be looking for them to provide the inspiration.

Everyone has to start putting their necks on the line.

As it is, the past week has summed up Liverpool’s season for me.

At home everything is absolutely fine. They have shaken off those early jitters that saw them lose to Blackpool at Anfield, and that remains their only home defeat of the campaign.

Victories over Chelsea, West Ham and Aston Villa have shown that they can find their groove and smash teams into submission in front of the Kop.

But what Roy Hodgson has to somehow instil is the ability to be mentally strong enough to respond to adversity and bounce back when you’re under the cosh.

If they had that they would have won at Spurs and at Newcastle, never mind drawn.

It could come from him it could come from within the players.

But either way, if it doesn’t happen soon then I won’t be changing my early season opinion that Liverpool are a top 10 side – but not a top six one.