Is this a make or break day for King Kenny at Liverpool?

Just over two months ago I wrote a piece on this site asking if Kenny Dalglish was untouchable at Liverpool. At the time a few people commented that he should be given more time. However after last weekends demoralising defeat at home to Wigan is today’s game with Newcastle make or break?

The Longer the season goes on the worse the results and the statistics get for Liverpool. Since January the 1st Liverpool’s league form has been that of a relegation threatened team. They have played 11 games, won 2, drawn 2 and lost 7 scoring just 12 goals. If you did a league table from that date then Liverpool sit 18th level with Qpr with just Wolves on 5 points below them.  The last week has been particuarly difficult to take, throwing away a 2 goal lead with 15 minutes left at QPR and then limply losing at home to Wigan. These are simply results you would never see happen to Manchester United and results that should not happen when you have aspirations of battling at the top end of the table.

The home form remains a major concern. Liverpool have collected just 23 points from a possible 45. Some of the teams they have dropped points against will be the biggest annoyance to Liverpool fans. Draws against Blackburn, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea and Norwich and of course the defeat against Wigan. Yes Liverpool have been unlucky in a few of those games with hitting the woodwork on a number of occasions, but they also only have themselves to blame for some of the great chances they have missed.

This brings us to the problem most critics have with Dalglish, his signings. He stubbornly refused to realise in January that Liverpool were crying out for a natural goalscorer. Luis Suarez is a terrific footballer but is not a natural finisher and Andy Carroll’s goalscoring record does not inspire confidence.  The signings of Jose Enrique and Craig Bellamy have both been good as both have enjoyed solid seasons. The main problem has been the big money spent on Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam. Dalglish must be given credit for trying to buy young British talent however he has spent it on average British talent while the likes of Ashley Young and Gary Cahill have gone elsewhere.

There must be some sympathy given to some of these players though. Jordan Henderson is consistently played out of position on the right of midfield when he is and always has been a central midfielder and this is where he starred for Sunderland last year. Charlie Adam is clearly missing the presence of Lucas alongside him as the pair started the season so well together. As for Downing and Carroll as soon as they start to find a bit of form they are both left out. Downing was man of the match in the carling cup final and performed very well against Arsenal the week after but has been in and out of the team since. Carroll played well in the games against Everton and Stoke and seemed to be striking up a partnership with Suarez and Gerrard but then gets left out of the team again.  Dalglish constantly changes the team and formations even when Liverpool have been on winning runs which does not allow for players to strike up partnerships.

People who support Dalglish because of the 2 cup runs this season. There is no doubt that it is terrific for the club to have won 1 cup and to be in the semi-final of another but this isnt going to happen every year and to really progress as a club and to attract better players Liverpool need to be targeting those Champions league places. The fact is that Liverpool are closer to Wolves at the bottom of the table than they are to the 2 Manchester clubs at the top. More and more clubs are catching Liverpool and if current form continues they will finish in the bottom half of the table which would be completely unacceptable and if it was any other person in charge no Liverpool fan would accept that.

Which brings us to today’s game against Newcastle. They now sit 8 points and 2 places above Liverpool and a win for them today would make it extremely difficult for Liverpool to finish in the top 6 which is what they managed last year. Newcastle go into this game as strong favourites, they look better organised defensively than Liverpool right now, they have more creativity in midfield with the likes of Ben Arfa and Cabaye and in Cisse and Ba up front they have 2 strong powerful strikers who can certainly finish. Defeat today would be Liverpool’s 6th in the last 7 games but a win would be a massive boost going towards a cup semi-final and maybe still a chance to finish in the top 5 or 6. That is why today must be make or break for King Kenny.