THERE has been an interesting reaction in some quarters to Liverpool’s Anfield draw with Leicester City on Wednesday night.
Despite a series of circumstances to mitigate what was a below-par performance from Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders – from injuries and illness to the suspension of James Milner, and from the conditions, to – shock horror – much-deserved credit to Leicester City for their showing, for some it’s more simple.
“Liverpool bottled it.”
The opportunity to go seven points clear at the Premier League’s summit, so the theory goes, got to Liverpool as a collective, and the performance and result that followed at Anfield was the end product of a contagious brain frazzle.
How am i gonna explain to my future son or daughter that Liverpool bottled the league from this position. It literally slipped pic.twitter.com/kQcCwma3u5
— Mo_Ahmed (@ifti_235) January 28, 2019
It’s an incredibly black and white view of a situation that throws up so much grey – a statement that could be applied to so much of football conversation. Is there any truth in it, or is it just another example of post-match frustration from Liverpool fans coupled with wishful thinking from rival supporters desperate for the club to fail?
There is undoubtedly stress associated with the situation The Reds find themselves in – and judging by the mood inside Anfield midweek, the supporters inside the ground are certainly feeling it. The red majority of Merseyside is desperate for the much-craved title to return to Anfield after a three-decade hiatus. And that desperation was spilling out of the stands at times on Wednesday night.
There is a hunger to win – a yearning to make it happen. But moans, groans and anguish so audible – while human and understandable – surely can’t help with the overall goal. When a man as effortlessly cool as Virgil van Dijk is referencing the vibes inside the ground, you know there is a potential issue.
"It sounded like the crowd were nervous. Obviously you get that feeling as well from the crowd and I think it’s not really necessary at the moment."
– Virgil Van Dijk on the Anfield atmosphere last night. pic.twitter.com/9S5lqjEkoM
— Deadline Day (@Football__Tweet) January 31, 2019
“It sounded like it [was nervous],” Van Dijk reportedly said post-match, though he added it would not affect his performance. “Nah, not to me! But, obviously, you get that feeling as well from the crowd and I think it’s not really necessary at the moment. “But, obviously, everyone wants to win so bad and that’s what we want as well but sometimes you need to be very patient.”
Klopp also touched on the mental aspect recently – not to suggest, as was once levelled at Rafa Benitez during a Liverpool title race, that he was “cracking up” but more to nod to the realities of the situation.
Klopp hasn't enjoyed the ride so far, I don't think any of us have, this stress can't be good for us! Last night's results deffo help though, let's keep building on our lead tonight!#LFC #Liverpool #LiverpoolFC #Klopp #JurgenKlopp #Salah #YNWA #PremierLeague #Anfield pic.twitter.com/9zloJdQrB8
— Forever Red (@ForeverRedUK) January 30, 2019
"It's not the biggest stress in the world, but it's so intense and so important and all in a short time,” he told the BBC. "Football is not the most important thing in the world, but at these moments, of course, it feels like that because we have nothing else to do. It's not easy to enjoy but I love what I do."
The message all season has been to concentrate on what can be controlled and forget the rest. Klopp would no doubt have loved to field his first-choice centre back pairing and his first-choice right back on Wednesday. The experience of James Milner could also have proved invaluable, as it has so many times before.
In an ideal world, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be adding oomph to a sometimes static-looking midfield instead of continue to rehabilitate away from Premier League pitches.
Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain is set to return to full training by late-mid February. #LFC pic.twitter.com/TLehprIlVm
— LFC Live (@LFCLive3) January 22, 2019
In another reality, Naby Keita is producing the form he was famed for. And if Liverpool could control the weather, they no doubt wouldn’t have opted for the pitch to be showered with hail minutes before kick off. All of the above added to the nerves. All of the above would have crept in as potential stressors for Klopp and for the players that took to the pitch.
Why did Andrew Robertson – normally so consistent, normally so controlled even when aggressive – give away a needless free kick that led to the Leicester goal and perform way below his average all evening?
Why did Liverpool look to push it when they didn’t need to, and fail to do so when they did? “Bottling it” is an exaggeration. But it wasn’t what we’re used to. The key is how it is handled from here – and the evidence of history suggests there is no need to reach for the panic button.
That Liverpool emerged the other side of an off night with a draw that extended the gap between first and second in the Premier League to five points is the biggest positive.
And if the mantra remains control, The Reds can remind themselves that other aspects out of it played a part on the night. A potential red card for the opponent. A potential penalty for Liverpool. Another day, another official… But those things have gone and past and The Reds are top and the next assignment will soon be upon Klopp.
It could have been so different with a good refpic.twitter.com/dV5m3vFu24
— SFM (@SosoSFM) January 30, 2019
Is it blinkered or biased to suggest an easing of the injury situation and the return of Milner will help Liverpool in the quest to return to winning ways at West Ham on Monday?
Is it fair to lean on the evidence of 24 games played, 61 points won and only one game lost rather than two points dropped against a side that played well (and which had previously beaten Manchester City, who have lost four in the league this season by the way)? And is it safe to say that when Oxlade-Chamberlain returns it will provide a lift for all involved?
If any bottle is being lost when Liverpool are in such a strong position with plenty of potential positives to come, it’s by those that suggest a draw with Leicester is the signal of a spiral into something worse.
A phenomenal pace has been set. An unbelievable run of results has been achieved. And that is the sunny climate of a Liverpool season so far that one icy night can’t be allowed to spoil.
