Brendan Rodgers said after the game that this was a good point.
This completely contradicts his comments earlier last week when he said we are still in the conversation for the title.
I think it shows a lack of ambition that we do not go for the win at Villa.
Tactically we are unlucky to concede the second goal because Glen Johnson is getting to that ball (header) if Mignolet decides to stay away, however with his touch the ball is perfectly nudged beyond Glen Johnson and striaght onto the head of Benteke.
I think we lose out in midfield throughout that game partly because Gerrard and Henderson is asked to do too much. They got outnumbered in the midfield and our high pressure hardly worked because Villa did a decent job of holding onto the ball and keeping their passing crisp under pressure.
It was very interesting to see how different we played on Saturday vs. last time we beat Villa. We tried to control the game more and keep possession but were inaccurate in our passing and when under pressure often lost it.
Also again we showed how we were vulnerable when the ball is played beyond Gerrard who played in the defensive mid position in the first half. Not only did he give away the ball a lot, he was not able to intercept very often and you can tell that he is not comfortable in the position yet.
Lucas was available from the start and should have started alongside Gerrard there because of his defensive qualities and his ability to intercept.
I think Rodgers were looking at this game and considered the Chelsea and City games that showed yet again that we are susceptible to get caught on the break. Lucas is on the slower side if you look at our team and that may have been why he was left out.
Having said that Gerrard got overrun back there on his own because he had Agbonlahor and Weimann running beyond him either side and benteke did a great job of holding the ball up and pining the ball of to the players that supported him.
I still think as mentioned months ago that Benteke could be a fantastic signing for us and one that may fit in terms of being a bit of a different player for us. Large, with arial strength and abiltiy to hold the ball up, he is a player that has much more potential than an Andy carroll. He is stronger under pressure, a better finisher with both feet and has more technique and pace.
In terms of raw talent I he would be a force to be reconed with and he would continue to push Suarez and Sturridge which may not be great for morale but it would be great for our push for top 4 and ablity to add strength to our squad and to rest certain players from time to time.
Coming back to the Villa game I think our lack of bodies through afforded more time and space on the wing backs from time to time. Cisshoko had the ball time and time again down the left and although he was a up against a full back or sometimes also a midfielder he had opportunities to hit the ball early in behind and failed to do it. Either his passing was inaccurate and at other times his decision making was poor where he tried to take players on that he just could not get past (Luna) or El Ahmady.
Johnson is also out of form and barely got forward on Saturday which some say is down to him being out of form. He actually had a decent game defensively considering that is not where his strength is and he had to defend most of the time. He never looks comfortable but his performance was better than against Stoke for example.
I think the full back area is increasingly becoming an issue because we do not have enrique available. It is worth trying to move Johnson to left back and stick Kelly in on right back who I still believe have talent and is better defensively than Johnoson. In the past Glen has actually looked better on the left than on the right from time to time as well
The game again showed how much we could do with a player like M'vila to add to our defensive mid area. He would complement what we have there, is a ball winner with strength and pace, has reportedly calmed down after he moved to russia in terms of off field antics (having become a father etc.) and now that Lucas may very well be out for the long term signing him would be timely.
Gerrard has not succeeded there and as much as we can use Joe Allen there when we are dominating games I think we need someone that is with a bit more strength and power in the defensive mid position would be very helpful.
I think putting sturridge back in was hard to avoid after last weeks fantastic performance from him coming off the bench but I wonder if it hurt our shape. Playing 442 leaves us one man short in the midfield and think we look more solid in a 4231.
Suarez (possibly being affected by playing a lot of games ) and playing a lot up front was not as good at helping back as we have seen him in the past. That could also be a function of being asked to stay up top but he may have some fatigue going on. A key pre-requisite of being successfull with a 442 is that one of the strikers helps home or that they both share that burden on different times and I though in central mid we were just looking like we were being overrun/out passed.
Reverting to 4231 is maybe not an option not that Lucas is out as we lack that disturber in midfield but I think we may still play with Henderson and Gerrard there and with Allen right behind the striker.
Fingers crossed we get a win against Everton next and that would go some way in making up for the 2 points dropped home vs. Villa.
YNWA,
Stian
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