What a difference a year makes as blunt Reds falter up front
A YEAR ago tomorrow, Steven Gerrard slipped, Demba Ba scored, a terrace chant was born and the title was lost for Liverpool.
Twelve months have passed since that fateful defeat at Anfield against Chelsea and how much has changed for Liverpool.
A year ago, they were on the verge of something historic and their games were infused with drama, passion and intensity.
Yesterday, they were at The Hawthorns, their season having effectively finished last weekend at Wembley, and there was precious little of the above.
Indeed in a noncombative first half, lethargy seemed to be the watchword of the day, both sides seemingly intent on not expending too much energy lest they be tired for their imminent summer holidays.
To West Brom and Liverpool’s credit, they did at least rouse themselves to contest a lively second half but, even so, the contrast with time last year was marked for both teams.
‘If you take 52 goals out of a team it doesn’t help you,’ said Brendan Rodgers afterwards. Indeed. There were 101 goals scored in that thrilling tilt at the title last year; 47 have been amassed so far this season.
Luis Suarez was back chasing titles yesterday, but for Barcelona at Espanyol. Daniel Sturridge was on the physio’s couch, injured. So much of what made Liverpool thrilling at last season now appears confined to the past.
Gerrard is still here, of course, but he is effectively now on a lap of honour as he prepares to take his leave, warmly applauded yesterday by West Brom fans when it was announced he was making his 500th Premier League appearance.
Mario Balotelli remains too, and yesterday he was entrusted with his first league start since November. Though he was no more culpable than anyone else in that turgid first half, he too is not the future.
‘It’s the final third of the field, isn’t it?’ said Rodgers. ‘We worked it very well, we just couldn’t make that final touch that made the difference. We just don’t score as many goals. The players are giving the same effort the same attitude, the skills are the same.
‘But we had two players last year who played in our front three who got 52 goals and we don’t have that. As a team, the players are giving absolutely everything — some really good bits of play and some clever invention around the box, it’s just that final little piece. It’s an area we will look at in the summer and definitely one we have to do some work on.’
Still not technically assured of their Premier League status, West Brom are now close, though with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal to play, Tony Pulis was in no mood to declare the job done just yet.
‘It’s a great point and it’s something we deserved for the effort and commitment we put in,’ he said. ‘But we need to keep going and pick points up because I’ve been in this game long enough to know strange things happen, especially at this time of year.’
The first half was like a non-competitive sports day, exercise for the sake of it, utterly devoid of energetic intent. The only moments of note were when Gerrard curled a free-kick just wide and when Balotelli executed a swerving half volley which just cleared Boaz Myhill’s crossbar.
The second half at least improved. On 57 minutes Balotelli touched the ball back to Philippe Coutinho and the Brazilian fired a smart shot which Boaz Myhill saved well. Henderson then hit the rebound on the turn, forcing a second stop from Myhill.
West Brom responded, Craig Gardner almost sneaking in behind Glen Johnson, but ultimately he steered the ball wide.
Back came Liverpool, Jordon Ibe driving into the box, exchanging a one-two with Balotelli before the youngster drove the ball on to the crossbar on 63 minutes.
Within two minutes, West Brom had responded in kind, Callum McManaman, only just on as a sub, driving down the right and delivering a hanging cross which troubled Martin Skrtel. His clumsy intervention allowed James Morrison a header which required a touch from Simon Mignolet and a goal-line clearance from Dejan Lovren to save his team.
If Rodgers’ wanted to see signs of hope, he need look no further than Lovren’s display — finally he looked like the centre half they signed from Southampton — and the flashes of Ibe brilliance.
But scoreless was about right for a game which lacked inspiration. It will take a summer break to restore that.