A painful disaster!

by Anthony Jones for talklfc

Oh dear. I've struggled for hours to find words to open this article, "Oh dear" I think just about works. "Oh dear", in a sporting sense, is often followed by "what was that?". Liverpool fans have every right to ask that question this morning.

Last night's game reminded me of one of those Jerry Bruckheimer movies. His name usually appears all over the billing, yet nobody knows exactly what it is he does. It was much the same last night, Liverpool were given top billing, but played no part in the actual show itself. The one difference, Bruckheimer is usually the winner as his movies generally go well in the box office. Liverpool lost last night, badly. Oh dear.

Now it's important here to give Burnley credit. They fought for every ball, won every tackle, and had the better of the game from start to finish. They opened with three chances in the opening couple of minutes, more than Liverpool would manage all game. This was their chance on the big stage and they took it. Credit to them and one hopes it's the start of a fairy tale run for the club.

If there had been any doubts about Benitez's priorities coming into this game, they were made abundantly clear. There are two clear objectives on Benitez's table, one is to ensure the best placing possible in the league and Champions League to provide the finance to spend in the future. The other is to quickly determine which players in the squad will play a part in the new Liverpool. Benitez killed two birds with one stone last night, resting his best players for more important battles whilst taking a look at players who have had few opportunities.

I want to keep this as a match report but, especially from a Liverpool perspective, there is nothing to write about. It took the introduction of Baros midway through the second half to give Liverpool any impetus. Before that Rafa's mixture of youth, experience and nearly men had lacked any attribute a football team needs. There was no shape, no spirit, no cohesion and no understanding. The back four looked shaky and uncomfortable in possession. The midfield watched on as the opposition passed them by and were quickly tackled whenever they had the ball. Sinama-Pongolle in attack seemed unable to control the ball on the rare occasions we got to the half way line.

It's easy to dismiss the game as insignificant in the grand scheme of things, however it might play a major part. The young players will be given more time. Not one excelled, but they all showed a bit of spirit. Welsh and Warnock snapped into the tackles. Whitbread and Raven looked to get the ball down and play, and never backed out against older, stronger opponents. Potter and Sinama-Pongolle tried to play football, though they were fed on scraps. It was not these players who disappointed most.

Strangely, it was a player who didn't play that came out of this game with the most credit. Having played throughout the Carling Cup run, Salif Diao would surely have started tonight if his move to Birmingham hadn't come up. Now Diao is no first team player, but he offered a bit of steel and determination to the youthful cup side this season. Without him Liverpool had none of that.

Rafa might not have learnt who was good enough to remain at the club out of the youngsters, but he did learn a lot about the make up of the older players on display. This was a night for the old heads Rafa had selected to stand up and be counted. That they shirked their responsibility can only quicken their move through the exit door. According to the team news Biscan started the match - he barely touched the ball until late in the game when Liverpool were chasing. To say he looked like he'd rather be elsewhere is an understatement. He did nothing with the ball, and nothing without it. Biscan has a cult following, of which I've previously subscribed to, but no longer. Last night showed he's not a winner, and that's what Anfield needs.

The same is true of Sami Hyypia, captain for the night. He once cut an impressive figure at the back for Liverpool, those days are gone. With a young team around him, Liverpool needed an inspirational leader, instead Hyypia was as bad as the rest. His passing was appalling, as bad as I've ever seen it. He was often harried off the ball. Burnley dragged him down to their level and then showed him up. Liverpool conceded a corner early in the first half with Liverpool struggling to get into the game. It was a dubious decision and Hyypia knew it, his reaction was to grin at the Ref. In no way do I advocate the abuse of refs, but show a bit of passion.

The other three, Dudek, Nunez and Traore are maybe less culpable. Dudek was not at fault and did little wrong during the game. However at his age and with the experience he has, he does not appear to inspire or command the defenders around him. Benitez's confirmation that he is in the market for a keeper does not seem to be a ringing endorsement for the Pole.

Nunez has had a tough time since arriving, picking up an injury and missing the pre-season period. He is playing catch up and is starting to do a reasonable impression of a right winger, with his delivery improving match by match. Yet his character must come into question. Defensively he left Raven alone to deal with Burnley's left sided players. Raven picked up a booking when Nunez let him down, the Spaniard making the feeblest attempts to win the ball and leaving the young full back exposed. It was Nunez's sending off though that was particularly alarming. It was stupid and cowardly.

And finally, Djimi Traore. The obvious fall guy in the piece. Who knows what the Malian international was trying to do? It doesn't matter as the manner of the own goal simply showed up that Traore isn't tough enough to play at this level. It wasn't a misjudged back pass or a poor first touch. Traore, with no pressure on him and with time to clear with either foot, attempted a drag back in his own six yard box. It was totally unnecessary. It wasn't the obvious thing to do, it wasn't even the second most obvious thing to do. Yet he did it. It showed a sloppy approach, a lack of that winning mentality. Traore has a lot of good qualities, but he lacks something that can't be taught - that will to win. You either know how to close a deal or you don't.

With the anger of last night fading, the significance of the result has dimmed. There has been little mocking, a reflection of our falling stock and the strength of the side that was fielded. However anger has been replaced by clarity - clarity that the time to stop messing about with players who lack the mental toughness to win the big prizes has passed. It is a cancer that is killing the club and needs to be cured now. It isn't about whether these players are talented enough, but whether they are strong enough. If you need inspiration look back at the great teams, the Dalglish's, Souness', Keegan's, that are club has fielded. To a man, they would all do what it takes to win, they hated losing with a passion, but importantly did something about eradicating that passion from our club. These are the kind of people we need now. In Benitez we have a coach who I believe recognises this quality, and it's no great surprise that those who've appeared mentally weak, Heskey and Cheyrou for example are being removed. However the process needs to continue, and as quickly as possible...

Copyright - Anthony Jones