Another week and another two points dropped at home by Liverpool as their title challenge continues to falter.
Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal gave Rafael Benitez’s side a great chance to make a bold statement of their championship credentials. The brief was clear: sweep aside the hapless Hammers and take control of the title race. But not for the first time this season, Gerrard, Alonso and their functional but flawed supporting cast fluffed their lines. As the boos rang out around Anfield, you could sense the disappointment of fans coming to terms with the likelihood that their long wait for the title may be about to get even longer.
But it’s not all bad news for The Reds. They are one point clear and despite failing to score at home to Stoke, Fulham or West Ham, the destination of the Premier League trophy is still very much in their hands.
However, something has to change and it needs to change fast. I believe the answer lies in how Benitez chooses to compensate for the loss of Fernando Torres. Last night he chose to pair Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt up front, and with Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun huffing and puffing on the wings, there was a blatant lack of pace and penetration about Liverpool.
Ryan Babel, the one player who could replicate Torres’s ability to frighten defenders by running at them and beyond them with speed, was kept on the bench until the 78th minute. In the short time he was on the field the Dutchman showed more dynamism and directness than the rest of Liverpool’s attacking quartet put together, and almost scored with a fierce drive that swerved narrowly past the top corner.
Benitez’s treatment of Babel this season has been a mystery. After appearing to cement his place in the first team with some impressive performances towards the end of last term, it seemed this would be the year when the 21-year-old kicked on and really justified his £11.5 million transfer fee. A minor injury held him back at the start of the season, but when he came on and grabbed the winner against Manchester United, he looked destined to take a starring role in Liverpool’s assault on the title. But instead, the Dutchman has had to settle for a place on the bench, usually remaining there until deep into the second half, and given little chance to influence the outcome of the match.
Benitez has talked openly about the fact that he doesn’t trust Babel, he says the youngster must learn to defend better, to be more like Kuyt. What the Spaniard doesn’t seem to realise is that the best thing about Babel is that he is nothing like his fellow Dutchman - a title-winning side needs its mavericks as well as its work-horses and Babel’s willingness to take risks and try something beyond simple pragmatism could well be the key to unlocking stubborn defences like Fulham and West Ham.
With Keane looking a shadow of his former self (just two goals in 15 league games now) and Riera starting to demonstrate why Man City offloaded him so quickly, Benitez is in urgent need of a spark to reignite his team’s faltering challenge.
What must be particularly galling for Babel is that he seems to have fallen behind David Ngog in the pecking order. When Torres first tweaked his hamstring against Aston Villa in August, it was the little-known Frenchman who took his place and again last night, when Benitez needed a goal, he turned to the 19-year-old before eventually giving Babel his chance with just 12 minutes remaining. Ngog has done very little to suggest he is ready for the rigours of Premier League football and, besides, surely if he was any good, Arsene Wenger would have signed him three years ago.
Liverpool have their best chance in years of winning the league. With their three main rivals taking points off each other and losing nine games already between them this season, the door is well and truly open. But it’s going to take a sea change in the mentality of their manager to barge through it and claim the glory.
It’s time unleash his flying Dutchman.