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If only they had a cutting edge. For all the slick passing, high pressing and sharp movement, Liverpool’s journey under Brendan Rodgers will not take flight until they start taking chances.
The theme of this Europa League clash against Anzhi Makhachkala was in keeping with everything they have produced under Rodgers so far — easy on the eye but too easy on the opposition defence. It is a riddle the manager knows he must solve.
They deserved more from a 3,200-mile round trip than to come home on the end of a 1-0 defeat, inflicted by Lacina Traore’s first-half strike, but thanks to a combination of profligacy and a lapse in concentration, Liverpool’s hopes of progress in this competition are back in the balance.
Chipping in: Anzhi Makhachkala's Lacina Traore scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time
MATCH FACTS
Anzhi Makhachkala: Vladimir Gabulov, Logashov, Samba, Joao Carlos, Tagirbekov, Ahmedov (Carcela-Gonzalez 19) (Lakhiyalov 90), Jucilei, Zhirkov, Eto'o, Boussoufa, Traore (Smolov 80).
Subs not used: Pomazan, Gadzhibekov, Agalarov, Burmistrov
Goal: Traore 45
Liverpool: Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Flanagan, Henderson, Coady (Fernandez Saez 35), Cole (Assaidi 77), Shelvey, Downing, Morgan (Pacheco 61).
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Wilson, Sama, Robinson
Booked: Flanagan, Shelvey
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: David Fernandez Borbalan (Spain)
‘I feel for the players,’ said Rodgers. ‘They were outstanding in the first half tactically for 45 minutes and 50 seconds. It was more of the same in the second half.
‘We had chances throughout the game. This was a much-changed team but we still deserved something from the game. We just need to be clinical. That is something we have to improve.
‘It is a great learning curve for these young players. You have to cut out those mistakes.’
Rodgers loaded his side with young players, as he has throughout Liverpool’s adventure in Europe this season, and there were starts for academy graduates John Flanagan, Conor Coady, Andre Wisdom and Adam Morgan.
Of that quartet, it was Morgan who showed the most invention and energy.
Relishing the opportunity to lead the line, his enthusiasm was apparent from the first whistle and he created an opening on 23 minutes that should have rewarded Liverpool’s bright start.
Much to Rodgers’s frustration, though, Jordan Henderson could not finish a fluent move that culminated with him being ushered clean through by Morgan. The midfielder did not know whether to shoot or pass and ended up squandering a brilliant opening.
Watching it all the way: Lacina Traore scores for Anzhi on the stroke of half time and claimed the three points
Celebration time: Traore is mobbed by team-mates after his goal
Disciplined and organised, Liverpool’s start was as encouraging as Anzhi’s was inhibited. The Russians were criticised for the lack of adventure they showed at Anfield two weeks ago and they did not seem particularly intent on making home advantage count.
But that changed on 36 minutes. Yuri Zhirkov capitalised on a mistake by Wisdom and crossed for Samuel Eto’o, only for Brad Jones to deny one of the greatest strikers of the modern era with a reflex save, tipping his drive over the bar.
That, however, lifted the atmosphere and a spell of pressure ended with Anzhi poking their noses in front in first-half stoppage time with a brilliant goal from Traore, who lobbed Jones from 20 yards after spinning past Sebastian Coates with a deft flick.
At full stretch: Anzhi Makhachkala's player Joao Carlos vies for the ball with Liverpool's Adam Morgan
Hitting the deck: Joe Cole goes to ground under a challenge
Jones may have regretted rushing off his line to give Traore a target but there was no getting away from the fact that it was a sublime piece of skill from a player who cost Anzhi more than £15million when they signed him six months ago.
Liverpool did not deserve to be behind. They had dominated possession and there had been encouraging displays from Stewart Downing and Joe Cole, two players who have been criticised to varying degrees by Rodgers.
But — and this will sound familiar — they lacked a knockout punch.With striker Luis Suarez resting back on Merseyside, retrieving the deficit was always going to be difficult and the job was made even more complicated by Anzhi producing their most dynamic football of the two games.
Eyes on the prize: Cole, right, fights for the ball against Anzhi's Christopher Samba
Eyes wide shut: Jonjo Shelvey and Anzhi's Rasim Tagirbekov contest a header
As Liverpool started to run out of steam, Anzhi had enough openings to seal victory long before the end.
Traore was the biggest culprit and fluffed two chances in the space of two minutes, heading one straight at Jones and dragging the other wide after he had been sent clean through.
Liverpool, to their credit, stuck to their task and kept pressing for an equaliser.
Battle for the ball: Anzhi Makhachkala's Yuri Zhirkov fights for the ball with Liverpool's Andre Wisdom
Cole might have grabbed one but shot straight at Vladimir Gabulov in the 77th minute after Anzhi’s keeper had fumbled a long-range drive from Suso. It was to be Liverpool’s last clear opening.
Thanks to a shock result in Italy, where Young Boys beat Udinese 3-2, Liverpool can still progress. But, as Rodgers knows, that potential will disappear if possession is not turned into something more tangible.
‘This group was always going to be tight but you get punished at this level if you make mistakes,’ said Rodgers. ‘We take positives from this game. We will approach the Young Boys game with optimism.
