Zenit 2 Liverpool 0 - Liverpool’s fate hangs in the balance

Its been a disappointing week for Liverpool. Two 2-0 defeats have seen them almost drop fully out of contention for a place in the Champions League, whilst their European prospects for this season have been dealt a big blow in the form of a mountain to climb in the second leg.

In many ways, the two defeats couldn’t have been any more different.

Liverpool’s home defeat to West Brom in the Premier League saw them dominating everywhere on the ball park without the reward of a goal. They produced 5 times the number of shots that West Brom had (25 to West Brom’s 5) and were unlucky not to have taken anything (if not all 3 points) from the game at all.

This Europa League tie saw them chasing Zenit all game long. Suarez in absolute isolation. Relying on mistakes from opposition backpasses, and in general without much positive play at all. In fact, this was one of the few occasions this season where I can say that we were fully outplayed by our opposition, in a match that I would say Zenit deserved to win.

They kept the ball far better, they finished well and they were fairly solid apart from a few mistakes at the back.

Of course, you could say that Luis Suarez was wasteful. There were two big chances for the Uruguayan, one of which he fashioned himself with an interception, before rounding the keeper but seeing a defender get to the ball earlier than him. The other occurred due to the industry of Sterling and then the well-executed pass, before Suarez mucked it up with a fancy flick that went just wide. Realistically, he really should have put that one away.

The match stressed the new-found importance of new signing Daniel Sturridge, with Suarez forced to hold the ball up – something that he is clearly not too fond of doing – on many occasions, albeit poorly.

Hulk unleashed an absolutely spectacular shot into the top left-hand corner, and he must be given lots of credit for that strike. It was absolutely splendid. Semak came on and dealt the decisive blow in the fixture, and knocked the stuffing out of this psychologically weak Liverpool FC side.

It represents another occasion where the Reds have failed to come back after having conceded the first goal of the game.

Good Game: Glen Johnson

Although he was terribly out of position for Zenit’s second goal, Johnson had a good game offensively and defensively. He proved to be a good attacking outlet – considering Liverpool barely even penetrated throughout – and was solid at the back. One of Liverpool’s better players on the night.

Bad Game: Jordan Henderson

Despite being on a good run of form, Henderson had a poor game in the red kit of Liverpool FC. His error led to Hulk’s goal – although no one could have expected Hulk to launch such a ferocious shot – and was let down by his passing throughout the night. Looks likely that Coutinho will come in for the Englishman for Liverpool’s next match against Swansea City.