Capitulation! After four wins in a row, the Liverpool threw away two points at Anfield today against a Newcastle side struggling to avoid relegation, and according to ex-Red Jason McAteer, the 'sloppy' performance suggests a problem with the collective mentality of the players.
Analysing the game for LFC.com, McAteer described Liverpool's performance as 'sloppy', and made the folloexplained:
"Liverpool have conceded more points from a winning position than any other team in the Prem. That’s an attitude problem. When the big teams go 1-0 up they make it difficult, and that’s the mentality needed at the club".
Reds legend Roy Evans agreed, and suggested that Liverpool are in danger of becoming a team that only performs in big matches:
"It's an attitude problem. Liverpool started the game well, but then knocked, and if you do that, you get caught out".
After going 2-0 up Liverpool manifestly eased off in the latter stages of the first half, and that complacency gave Newcastle hope, and ultimately cost Liverpool two vital points.
Is it a team-wide 'attitude problem', though? It's possible, and there are recent precedents to support that contention:
* Feb 2016: 2-0 up against Sunderland. Game finished 2-2.
* Mar 2016: 2-0 up against Southampton. Lost the game 3-2.
Liverpool should never lose a two goal lead at home against relegation fodder, but this is the Premier League, and sh1t happens. That notwithstanding, the team's occasional soft-centre is something Klopp needs to look at, and in my view, it all boils down to one thing: lack of effective leadership on the field.
On a related note: I always want Liverpool to win games, but a small part of me is pleased that Newcastle fought back. After all the trials, tribulations, and shoddy treatment (at the hands of Chelsea, and Real Madrid, for example), Rafa Benitez deserves some good luck, and like many Reds fans, I'm rooting for him to succeed at St. James' Park.
Author: Jaimie K
Analysing the game for LFC.com, McAteer described Liverpool's performance as 'sloppy', and made the folloexplained:
"Liverpool have conceded more points from a winning position than any other team in the Prem. That’s an attitude problem. When the big teams go 1-0 up they make it difficult, and that’s the mentality needed at the club".
Reds legend Roy Evans agreed, and suggested that Liverpool are in danger of becoming a team that only performs in big matches:
"It's an attitude problem. Liverpool started the game well, but then knocked, and if you do that, you get caught out".
After going 2-0 up Liverpool manifestly eased off in the latter stages of the first half, and that complacency gave Newcastle hope, and ultimately cost Liverpool two vital points.
Is it a team-wide 'attitude problem', though? It's possible, and there are recent precedents to support that contention:
* Feb 2016: 2-0 up against Sunderland. Game finished 2-2.
* Mar 2016: 2-0 up against Southampton. Lost the game 3-2.
Liverpool should never lose a two goal lead at home against relegation fodder, but this is the Premier League, and sh1t happens. That notwithstanding, the team's occasional soft-centre is something Klopp needs to look at, and in my view, it all boils down to one thing: lack of effective leadership on the field.
On a related note: I always want Liverpool to win games, but a small part of me is pleased that Newcastle fought back. After all the trials, tribulations, and shoddy treatment (at the hands of Chelsea, and Real Madrid, for example), Rafa Benitez deserves some good luck, and like many Reds fans, I'm rooting for him to succeed at St. James' Park.
Author: Jaimie K
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