Gerrard's failure to lead by example is hurting Liverpool
Losing 2-1 at Old Trafford to a title-chasing Manchester United side is no great travesty, but listening to some Liverpool fans you would be forgiven for thinking it was.
The result saw the angry mob trying to force Rafael Benitez out of Anfield in full flow yet again as knee-jerking ‘fans’ rang radio talk shows in their droves, whilst the more cowardly amongst them penned borderline xenophobic rants on internet forums about ridding the club of the Spaniard.
Some accused the Liverpool manager of failing to motivate the players, but leadership comes from on the pitch as much as it does the touchline - underlining Steven Gerrard's failure this season to fulfil his role as captain and rally his troops into action.
Gerrard has been a tremendous servant to the club over the previous decade or so, and this should not be forgotten, but at the same time questions have to be asked about his abilities to give his all and fire his team to victory as he did regularly in the past, especially in 2005.
Gone are the show-stopping performances that dragged his team kicking and screaming to landmark victories and glorious triumphs. Unfortunately, that Steven Gerrard is a far cry from the player he currently resembles.
He is no longer "the man" he once proclaimed to be to the Anfield faithful after scoring against Portsmouth in December 2004, but he is also not alone in resembling a shadow of his former self as Liverpool have plummeted to new depths due to an unhealthy balance of mismanagement, both on and off the pitch.
How can players, as individuals, and more importantly as a team, play with even the slightest commitment to the cause when the individual charged with leading them does not appear to care? How can these players operate alongside team-mates who are more apathetic to the club's plight than most of their fans?
Gerrard was not the sole reason for the defeat but his body language and overall performance expressed feelings that sum up Liverpool's season perfectly – hopelessness and frustration. Without investment in the squad, the club will never have the strength in depth to compete with the likes of United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Another player showing signs of frustration at Old Trafford was Fernando Torres, who allowed himself once again to be wound up by United defenders. It worked in their favour as he allowed his mouth to run away with him again. The striker needs to learn to nip this bad habit in the bud and let his feet do the talking, like he did against Lille and Portsmouth
A prime example of a need to invest in all aspects of the team is Emiliano Insua, the designated scapegoat by some supporters for yesterday's reversal, who is below the required standard and has only been thrown into the side due to injury to Fabio Aurelio.
Last season the Argentine looked impressive in a series of cameos, but he has failed to build on those initial glimpses. Yesterday he gifted possession away constantly, notably in the build-up to Ji-Sung Park's goal and the incident that saw Javier Mascherano concede the penalty.
With the visit of Sunderland just six days away, Benitez needs to rally his troops to another victory because, based on recent performances, it’s clear that his captain is unable to do that for him on the pitch.
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