Of managing expectations, the loss of Luis Suarez and the burden on Raheem Sterling at Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers talks to his players during a training session at Liverpool’s Melwood Training Ground

A common product of delving deep into clubs’ early season forms is the inference on which of them are seemingly in ‘crisis’ mode and which ones are close to one. There are certain trademarks of these ‘crisis’ clubs such as going from title contenders last season to mid-table and below at present in the current season, losing a top player to a rival and being in the Barclays Premier League more often than not.

Liverpool right now are the subject of many such inquests that are absolutely convinced that last year’s runners-up are going to squarely fall flat this season and fail to match up to their levels from 2013-14.
Tuesday night against lower league opposition Middlesbrough, Liverpool played out a hugely thrilling and tense penalty shootout that lasted an eternity and finally finished when Albert Adomah missed his kick to give the Merseyside team a 14-13 victory. That shootout win came on the back of a humbling 3-1 defeat at Upton Park against Sam Allardyce’s West Ham United, their third defeat in their first five games of the new league season.

More than their performances, Brendan Rodgers’ main task this time around is to manage expectations that have been set thanks to the team’s showing last time around.

Managing expectations

A section of Liverpool fans at Anfield before their UEFA Champions League match against FC Ludogorets last week

The truth is Liverpool are not at the level where they can be regular title-contenders yet, on par with Chelsea and Manchester City. They were very, very good last season and were rightfully amongst the top two teams in England’s top division. Brendan Rodgers has a proven record of bringing about regular improvement in his teams, but last season was just a glorious coming together of all the good work, one that we may not see again. A number of things went right for them with regards to injuries, player performances and the lack of European football, especially with regards to the comparatively thin squad they had last term.

So taking that as the base, it’s easy to feel disappointed and throw brickbats at them for their showing so far. But it’s never easy to repeat success (yes, success does not necessarily mean winning trophies), even without the kind of change that Liverpool have gone through. And there is precedence to it; just think back to their superb 2008-09 campaign where they were top of the table for 9 weeks and kept up the chase on eventual champions Manchester United right until the end.

Besides the fact that Liverpool were involved in the UEFA Champions League that season, there were many parallels between that season and the one from last year. Then too they had a lethal striker who struck up a beautiful partnership with the midfield and Steven Gerrard had a fantastic season. The very next season?

They finished 7th with one of their key players, Xabi Alonso, having left for Real Madrid in the summer. So history shows us that it’s not easy to do repeats and three-peats which is why the efforts of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in the past decade were so admirable.

However, that said their fans and fans of the league are not going to be so forgiving for the expectations have been set now and that’s an added pressure that both Rodgers and his side have to deal with. Errors that may have been let off last season may be received with much more admonishment, and we’re already seeing it.

Managing the loss of Luis Suarez

Kolo Toure seemed ever determined to get as much playing time as possible and did his best to give away a clumsy penalty in the dying minutes of regulation that pushed the aforementioned League Cup game against Middlesbrough into extra time. That pretty much sums up their defensive nightmares so far. Their defenders have more often than not been lost for position and were made to look good only by Tottenham Hotspur; that tells you something about where the London club are at the moment.

But defensive struggles aside, their attack has failed to kick into gear. Yes, that high-octane attack which scored just one goal lesser (101) than champions City last season and which could dismantle any side with ease when in rhythm. That forward line of theirs was one of the best on display amongst all 20 top flight teams and they were a thing of beauty when in full flow.

Yes, Luis Suarez has left for Barcelona and Liverpool are finding out exactly what Tottenham went through last season after Gareth Bale headed to Spain. It doesn’t matter how many quality players you bring in to replace that one big fish, they’re going to need time to settle and subsequently the team is going to go through a trough in that phase. To add, there’s the element of familiarity now with how Rodgers’ side are going to play which leaves teams better prepared from last time.

Suarez had a huge role in how well both Sturridge and Sterling played last season

One particular aspect that will be of great interest as the season progresses is how Rodgers assimilates Mario Balotelli into the first-team (if at all) along with Daniel Sturridge and youngling Raheem Sterling. Last year, Rodgers had at his disposal one of the most fluid frontlines in the league with the excellent Phillipe Coutinho behind. It was a frontline that was full of runners and players who liked swapping the role of scorer and provider regularly, especially Suarez, who in the second striker’s role amplified Sturridge.

Amongst those three, Sterling and Suarez were most of the time never hesitant to pass, while Sturridge every so often would pull the trigger unnecessarily instead of moving the ball on. It didn’t affect them too badly because two of the front three were playing to plan and plus Sturridge played the furthest up field, so he could be allowed the indiscretions.

Now with Balotelli, that makes two people not always looking to pass and that’s a worry. Also, the Italian isn’t the most hard-working forward around and needs good service; a trait that’s come through while playing for his national side and City formerly. This puts the impetus on Sterling who suddenly is the next big thing for England (lost count of how many such ‘things’ have come and gone in the last decade) and supposedly THE man at Liverpool too. I think we’re conveniently forgetting that he is just 19 years old; the guy is a serious candidate for a quick burnout at this rate.

Managing Raheem Sterling

There are increased demands now on Sterling for both England and Liverpool

And that’s the final part of what Rodgers is up against this season. Sterling may be the golden boy of Liverpool and England right now, but many such promising youngsters in the land of hype, England, have tapered spectacularly after having won selection for the Three Lions. He needs to abstain from putting all the pressure of chance creation on Sterling if things get rough and needs to stick with his philosophy. He also needs to manage the youngster’s minutes with his side likely to be involved in European competition right through to ensure that fitness concerns don’t overreach and cause a downturn in his performances on the field.

The other task he has is to keep Sterling grounded; such sudden elevation can sometimes get in the way of good young players making it great. He is a fantastic player and it is disheartening to see when players of his ilk don’t come through on their enormous potential.

Burnout and overconfidence apart, other teams will soon start sniffing around if he continues to grow at his current rate (There are rumours already about Real Madrid’s interest, no surprise!). Warding off their advances and keeping his charge focused on the here and now is going to be integral.

That’s the combination of issues that Rodgers has on his hands at the moment as he looks to right the course of the Liverpudian ship that has hit one too many icebergs already this early in the season. He is one of the best young managers around and history suggests that he will eventually get it right, but even if he does he may not be able to match that second-place finish. That’s the reality that we should be ready to contend with.

However, if he does get it right, what he will be doing is setting the club up for a more consistent run at the top of the table and a scenario where it would be tough to keep them out of the title talk at the beginning of every season. A scenario where Liverpool would be better prepped to manage expectations.