Liverpool: Red Revolution or a False Dawn?

Birmingham’s great win may have captured most of the Monday papers’ back pages, but it’s the result at Upton Park which perhaps carries greater significance, both in its score line and the way in which it was played.

Fight, passion and spirit, all words which Liverpool fans thought they would be seeing from the new-look Reds under King Kenny’s guidance. But the truth is that they were outperformed in all these areas by Uncle Avi’s West Ham, a team who had been accused of lacking these qualities all season. Spurred on tenaciously by Scott Parker in the middle of the park and by Tomkins and Upson at the back, West Ham wanted it more and that showed by the final whistle. Snapping into tackles and breaking forward with purpose, the midfield battle was won comprehensively by West Ham, with Noble, Parker and Hitzlsburger taking apart Gerrard, Meireles and the lacklustre Lucas with a show of real hunger which delighted the East London locals.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that Liverpool lost to the Hammers, although they are enjoying a mini revival under Dalglish: their away record since his arrival in the Premier League is 6 points out of a possible 15. However, the way in which they rolled over will have worried Dalglish and Steve Clark as well as the Kopites. A new 5-3-2 system which undoubtedly brings the best out of Glen Johnson and the unfortunate Martin Kelly has not managed to hide the flaws which they showed away from home under Hodgson. There may have been many in the away end at Upton Park who will have seen similarities in the performance with previous games this season such as the 3-1 away losses to Blackburn and Newcastle.

It’s a worrying issue for Dalglish, who will have no doubt wished he had a Scotty Parker in the middle of his midfield yesterday. Although he was on the pitch, Gerrard was by no means the same thundering force he has been previously, perhaps not surprisingly as there is only a certain amount of time Liverpool can be carried by their inspirational number 8. Although undoubtedly still a huge influence and a massive talent, the days in which the Liverpool skipper could win the Reds’ 10 points a season on his own may be on the decline.

So although there is no doubt that Liverpool are on the right road to recovery their recent good form needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as there is clearly a long way to go. With Suarez looking dangerous and Carrol to come it’s perhaps players with heart rather than skill that Dalglish and co need to look to in the summer.