The Discomforts Of Home

 Another home game down, only one left to go now. Everybody complains when we draw too many at home but I’m really missing those days now, after Wigan, West Brom and now Fulham all came and took maximum points home with them I’m longing to get that ‘at least we didn’t get beat’ feeling back again.

 It’s good giving the likes of Coates, Kelly, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson, and Carroll the responsibility to go out and win three points for Liverpool, in addition to slowly introducing players like Raheem Sterling to Premier League football, but it’s very hard for players such as these without having real leadership alongside them in the team, the kind that Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher provide. Martin Skrtel has been excellent this season and Dirk Kuyt is an experienced senior professional but neither is what you would call a natural leader, someone who can help the younger players with their game without letting their own standards slip or taking their eye off their own responsibilities. I haven’t seen enough of last night’s game to give a full analysis but it’s disappointing to concede so early and not fight back and at least score. 85 minutes at home against a team who conceded four goals at the weekend needing to score ourselves and failing isn’t good, this is where a leader to drag a performance out of the team makes a difference.

 The team selection clearly showed where our priorities lie and despite last night’s defeat it’s hard to argue that the FA Cup final is by far our most important match not just of our remaining fixtures this season, but of our whole campaign. Saturday will be an incredibly difficult game and anything that can give us an edge should be used, and that includes resting players so they’re ready for the Wembley showdown.

 It’s not all negative however, any of you thinking we’ve got it bad should spare a thought for our poor neighbours across Stanley Park. I’ve been informed several times today that Everton are going to win the league! Protestations that the two Manchester clubs might have something to say about that fell on deaf ears, apparently Everton are going to win the ‘Merseyside League’. We’ve not won the title for 22 years and we’ve only won five home league games this season but things haven’t yet got so bad that we have to start inventing competitions just so we can say we’ve won something….