Liverpool FC Forum

[el_stinger]

Liverpoolfc.tv reflect on the fall-out from a third successive Reds defeat at Southampton... 
According to scientists today is the most depressing day of the year.
 
There is no evidence to suggest that one of these mystery scientists is a dyed-in-the-wool Liverpudlian who travels home and away in support of the Reds.
 
But if so, and they've been reading the majority of newspapers since Saturday's dismal showing at Southampton, it wouldn't really come as much of a surprise.
 
Apparently, Liverpool are in the midst of crisis, no better off than they were during the turbulent last few months of Gerard Houllier's reign and have not fielded a worst team for 40 years!
 
There's nothing like a knee-jerk reaction to a poor run of results.
 
True, three successive defeats have seriously dented morale among fans. FA Cup glory was meekly surrendered at the first hurdle and now a place in next season's Champions League looks to be slipping from our grasp.
 
What we've witnessed in recent matches is not good enough for Liverpool Football Club and is a major cause for concern. The fans know it, the players know it and, most importantly, Rafael Benitez knows it.
 
Since taking over in the summer the highly respected Spaniard has not endured a tougher week than the one that's just passed. But with refreshing honesty he refuses to make excuses and admits that he's made mistakes.
 
The size of the task he inherited at Liverpool is unprecedented in modern times. Not since the late, great Bill Shankly breezed into Anfield 45 years ago as a Reds boss had such a massive rebuilding job on his hands.
 
Hanging him out to dry before he's had time to fully exert his influence is both disgraceful and laughable.
 
We already have more points than we did at this stage last season, we are in the last sixteen of the Champions League and stand just 90 minutes away from another Cup Final appearance in Cardiff, so the argument that we have not improved under Benitez is invalid for a start.
 
Memories are short. Admittedly, Saturday's display was as abject as we've seen from aLiverpool team this season. But was it any worse than our performance at the same venue last season? And while we're on the subject of miserable trips back from the south coast, what about our two visits to Fratton Park?
 
Just two months ago, almost the same set of players were being hailed for their dramatic victories over Arsenal and Olympiacos. Now they are being described by some anti-Anfield hacks as the worst Liverpool team of the past four decades. Talk about being fickle!
 
Patience is a virtue not readily available in modern football management. Gone are the days when a manager like Alex Ferguson is given seven years to turn the flailing fortunes of a club around.
 
But seven months?
 
Since the League title was last won, Liverpool Football Club has fallen into a worrying state of disrepair and no papering over the cracks will disguise the fact that major surgery is needed.
 
Saturday's poor performance at the St Mary's Stadium confirmed this more than any other 90 minutes we've seen this season.
 
For the loyal supporters who were up at the crack of dawn for this long and arduous trip south it was a kick in the teeth. It is they who we should feel sorry for and it is they who were Liverpool's best performers on a day to forget.
 
With the chase for fourth spot becoming tighter by the week and maximum points a necessity you can't ask for more than a fixture against a struggling side that was without a Premiership win in ten.
 
Even better was the fact they lined up with just Peter Crouch as their lone attacker. With due respect, the beanpole centre forward is hardly a world-beater but that's what he looked like during a nightmare start to this game.
 
Within 22 minutes the Saints were two goals to the good and deservedly so. Both goals were sloppily conceded and raised questions about the wisdom of breaking up the tried and trusted centre back paring of Hyypia and Carragher.
 
It could have been worse and Liverpool went in at the break fortunate that the deficit was not greater. The damage had been done, however, and too many Liverpool heads had already dropped.
 
With Steven Gerrard clearly not one hundred per cent fit, former Red Jamie Redknapp and England under-21 star David Prutton ran the show in midfield, and it was the hosts who looked more likely to increase their lead, albeit on the counter-attack in the second half.
 
The introduction of half-time substitute Florent Sinama-Pongolle provided a glimmer of hope that some pride could be salvaged but a couple of long-range pot-shots apart, Antti Niemi was largely untroubled and Southampton were allowed a comfortable passage to a memorable victory.
 
Benitez looked as shell-shocked as the supporters when interviewed afterwards and there's no doubt he's hurting just as much. After being pilloried for fielding a weakened team against Burnley in midweek he'd recalled his so-called big guns and been let down.
 
The next few weeks will make or break Liverpool's season but let's not lose touch with reality. Benitez is still in the infancy of his managerial reign and it may even get worse before it gets better.
 
Even the great Liverpool managers are not immune to such a wretched run of results and Liverpudlians need only to look at Bob Paisley's first season in charge of the Reds as a prime example.
 
The legendary boss endured a run of six successive league games without a win and suffered elimination from both the European Cup Winners Cup and League Cup during a miserable four week spell
 
If you're still feeling depressed have a think about what happened next? He went onto to become the most successful manager in this club's history.
 
Keep the faith. In Rafa we trust.