Liverpool reached a fork in the road and continued walking straight down the middle.
The Reds played Ludogorets to a 2-2 draw Wednesday in a UEFA Champions League Group B game in Sofia, Bulgaria. The result means Liverpool must win next Tuesday when it faces Basel at Anfield in order to progress to the knockout rounds of European soccer’s elite competition.
Perhaps it’s fitting that Liverpool will determine its own Champions League fate and do so on the last possible day. The Reds performed better Wednesday than they have during the recent four-game losing streak, but their play was as mixed as the result, nonetheless. While Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hailed the Reds’ character after the game, they’ll show their true colors in how forcefully (and soon) they emerge from their current funk.
Rodgers’ tactical changes might (or might not) light Liverpool’s way out of the tunnel. Kolo Toure replaced Dejan Lovren as Martin Skrtel’s partner in central defense, but neither he nor Lucas Leiva, who also was recalled to the starting lineup as a holding midfielder, convincingly solidified Liverpool’s creaky defense.
Ludogorets out-possessed Liverpool and created more dangerous scoring opportunities from start to finish. Skrtel and Toure made a number of timely stops and made few individual errors, but Liverpool was vulnerable on the flanks.
Simon Mignolet struggled to re-take command of his penalty area after gifting Ludogorets an early goal, and the criticism of the Liverpool goalkeeper only will grow louder following Wednesday’s draw.
Liverpool’s pressing game lacked intensity, and it conceded the second goal in a situation that is nothing short of a true nemesis.
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Ludogorets’ control, the bumpy field and the low confidence of Liverpool’s players prevented the Reds from passing fluidly, but Lucas’ presence helped shake the attack from its recent slumber. Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard, whom Rodgers deployed as an attacking midfielder, helped launch dangerous counter-attacks with forwards Raheem Sterling and Rickie Lambert.
The tactical adjustments worked to some effect, as Liverpool twice reaped the rewards for their ability to threaten after transitioning from defense to attack. Henderson’s 37th minute goal, which Sterling created, was one instance.
Lambert’s life at Liverpool might be changing from hard to charmed, as he scored an early, game-tying goal. Lambert, 32, now has scored in two straight games, justifying his place in the starting lineup on each occasion.
The draw was disappointing because Liverpool conceded the game-tying goal with two minutes left in normal time. Instead of celebrating a much-needed win, the Reds continue to face questions about their mental strength and defensive resilience.
This further examination of Liverpool’s psychological state also is appropriate. The Reds’ form, confidence and results plummeted in November (four losses and one draw), and they won’t travel the road back to success over 90 minutes or overnight.
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Photo via Valentina Petrova/Associated Press
