Getting Into Character

For all the skill involved, football is a buffet of uncertainty. Without the proper tools required to carve out the chaos, success will not be forthcoming, but no particular pallet of skills will guarantee the right result every time.

Conditions, atmosphere, the level of consequences and skill of opponent are all indeterminate ingredients that go into any football match and so the only guarantee for Liverpool in the fight for a seat at the top table in European football can be what comes from within.

There are no real set drills for character, only instances where it is displayed proudly—or where it is sadly lacking.

When a team is as frequent with its defensive gifts as Liverpool have been, they volunteer themselves for an assessment of their stomach for the fight. The win over Spurs proved to everyone else that this team capable of a big victory. For those in the squad, they will have felt it at the Etihad and against Arsenal.

It doesn’t feel quite right to give credit in a situation whereby, through whatever set of circumstances, that points were given away rather than earned. However, there has to be something for the way both games ended.

Man City are the champions and were desperate for a way back into the title race. The game at the Emirates was turned around by the home side in a flash. On both occasions there was no real pressure on the Pepe Reina’s goal at the end. There could be a case of both teams individually ran out of steam. A completely fragile team does not end either game as comfortably as Liverpool did.

When Stewart Downing bore down on goal last Sunday, all of Anfield collectively held it’s breath while simultaneously trying to guess which of Vertonghen’s limbs the ball would bounce off. It’s been like that for a couple of years, but this was different. Downing is someone who had been completely written off before a ball had been kicked.

A running joke among his own supporters.

No doubt the impetus that was there going into the final few weeks of the season has now disappeared, but if he can come back, so can the rest of them.

Things are much easier and straightforward once all appears lost and the team that finds itself hopelessly behind in a match only has one recourse. It takes another set of skills entirely to keep things steady and hold on to what someone is desperate to prise from your fingertips. There is something to be said however for the side that can let everything slip, only to grab it all back again but still, Liverpool’s grip on points this season has not been as strong as anyone – Brendan Rodgers in particular – would have liked.

Questions have been raised time and again over the mental fragility that exists among the players.

Saturday once again proved that there is a case to be made, particularly in regard to games against lesser opposition when pressure is applied (in addition to defeats against Villa, Stoke and both league games against West Brom). Once again everything looked to have clicked into place after the previous victory over Tottenham. There is still enough time for certain individuals to learn from the mistakes that have been made – including the management itself – and work toward ironing out this particular kink.

Those of us waiting for it to disappear completely will be waiting a long time; sometimes upsets just happen in football, that’s the way it is.

What remains the biggest issue of concern is still the middle of the park.

It has – on occasion – worked very well, but the same kinds of problems continue to be a major source of damage to team. Henderson’s absence is alarming in the wake of what had appeared to be a few breakout performances for him, especially given the fact that both Lucas and Joe Allen are on the wrong side of injury which has seen their form suffer as of late.

On his return to the team Joe Allen will find it hard to shake off the tag of “teacher’s pet” but people forget how young he is and only need to look to his Brazilian midfield partner to see what happens when you write people off too soon. Lucas Leiva spent virtually his entire Liverpool career battling against the odds and looks to have found himself another scrap.

Right now his fitness can’t carry him to the heights he scaled previously but his heart is big enough to help bridge that gap once again.

For all the talk of a destructive type in midfield, there may be more appeal for someone who can dictate terms tactically.

A bulldozer in midfield would certainly be nice but when things start to go out of control, one player – aside from a former player who wore No. 20 – is unlikely to be able to bring that balance to the team as a whole.

The key – certainly in terms of the way that Rodgers wants to play – is to slow things down without becoming blunt as a unit and while Gerrard can do it, again he is only one man. Bringing someone in to assist in either disrupting the opponent or helping the team tick over will certainly help, but there needs to be a continuing adaptation from the rest of the team as individually and collectively they look for consistent form.

The last two weeks have seen everything that typifies what Liverpool has become recently, at least on the pitch.

On their day they can beat anyone but are just as likely to shoot themselves in the foot or have a “bad day at the office” at the wrong time. Being capable of doing something and actually going out there and doing it is the difference between real champions and pretenders to the throne. What played out at St. Mary’s was a strange one, almost as if Rodgers was being too clever in anticipating a comedown following the joyous result against Spurs and feeling the need to second guess himself.

Just as the players themselves must learn and adapt, so must those responsible for them.

Five points off fifth place, there is no metaphorical cliff that Liverpool are currently hanging off. That’s not to say anything is set up for the end of the season. If things were aligned better, there would be no need for the run that’s required in order to get into Europe. Also, the release of frustration and optimism that came with a much needed win over Tottenham has already been drained away.

While there are still points and pride to play for, the players have a duty to keep fighting. Those that want to bow their heads and feel sorry for themselves will not be staying at Liverpool Football Club for much longer.

What happens from here on in – if the season is to end on any kind of high note – will take nothing less than a steely determination and an iron will.

Forged on the training ground where nobody will see and then moulded on the playing field with the whole world watching.

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.