LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool (L) celebrates scoring their first goal with Alberto Moreno of Liverpool during the FA Cup fifth round match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on February 14, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Since Martin Skrtel left, who are Liverpool fans to blame for every single on of the team’s shortcomings?
One of the positive things about Martin Skrtel is that he acted as the club’s biggest sponge for blame. The one with the superior longevity at least.
Brendan Rodgers took a lot of stick from fans, but then he got fired. From Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli to even Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana at times, fans always knew who was atop their rankings to blame when things went array for Liverpool and in their personal lives. Most were sold, others worked their way back into a more favorable view.
For more than a season, Skrtel was number one in that regard. He was like a cockroach that could outlast a nuclear attack, he’s lasted through all the managers, from Rafa Benitez to Jurgen Klopp.
Now he’s gone. Who will fans blame for every possible mistake? Well, we’ve given it a thought and here’s your go-to power rankings for who’s likeliest to catch all of the blame and ire from fans going forward.
6. Dejan Lovren
He’s a darkhorse at this stage with his form, but it’s one that’s merited with his history.
Think: this time last season, Rodgers was still in charge of Liverpool and Lovren capitulated against West Ham. He was absolutely awful and fans were praying he was on his way out before the window closed. As they had been for months prior.
Thankfully, he wasn’t sold and he’s since recovered his form to the point where he’s a defensive leader for Liverpool.
But: we’ve seen this film before. Last season, his first two games were very good before he (again) forgot how to play football against West Ham.
It’s not likely that he drops off in form, but he’s like a dormant volcano: the possibility for catastrophe always feels like it’s out there.
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – MAY 18: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool appeals during the UEFA Europa League Final match between Liverpool and Sevilla at St. Jakob-Park on May 18, 2016 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
5. Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge could be one of the top three players at Liverpool. He probably is. He’s a top striker in England yet he has been a lightning rod for opinion in recent seasons.
The rumblings have begun. Fans are thoroughly sick of his injury history and have lost all patience that he’s on the chop block if things go south for the club. Klopp hasn’t helped by keeping him on the sidelines so far this season despite being fit.
Attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino has been preferred at striker while Divock Origi has been the first off the bench. When the team doesn’t play well, it’s Sturridge’s fault for not scoring literally every time he steps on the pitch it feels like. That’s why he may start to become a chief scapegoat.
It shouldn’t happen, he doesn’t deserve it to happen but that’s the way life goes sometimes.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on February, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
4. Mamadou Sakho
If he doesn’t leave, of course. With Sakho’s battle for his Liverpool career leaking out to the press, even if he does stay he may be on the end of some blame whenever proceedings don’t go as planned.
Apparently Klopp has told him in no uncertain terms that he must leave on loan to save any chance of staying at the club on a permanent basis beyond this season. Sakho is to prove his commitment, attitude and ability elsewhere as Klopp is content with Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez.
If he does stay and cracks the lineup here and there, the clumsy nature in which he plays is enough for many to blame him. Because of the funky way he plays passes, fans choose not to look at his passing percentage that’s north of 90%, they just assume because it looks wonky that he’s an awful passer, a liability in possession.
On top of Sakho’s unnatural passing technique, he has the tendency to play unnecessary flicks and such. As well as flying into tackles and attending the Martin Skrtel School of Shirt Pulling.
Sakho’s only fourth because of the probability he’ll either leave or not play much.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool reacts to a missed chance during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
3. Jordan Henderson
Henderson has one bad campaign largely due to injury, and some supporters have become deeply entrenched in opinions that he needs to be dropped and sold. What gives, what happened?
The captain has begun to be mistreated and blamed at every turn. When he played very well against Tottenham, there wasn’t much furor. But after less than desirable performances, it’s everywhere. When Liverpool beat Burton 5-0 in the League Cup, it was prevalent then.
IT WAS 5-0! Some people are insatiable, some are stubborn. Henderson will receive stick from some minority of fans because everyone is entitled to their opinions and that’s just how it goes.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Simon Mignolet of Liverpool dives for a ball during a training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Melwood Training Ground on March 9, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
2. Simon Mignolet
Mignolet grabs the silver medal because he’s been right up there with Skrtel the past two seasons as far as scapegoat is concerned. Hell, I’m guilty of it too. Even goals that may well be unsaveable, my first inclination is to think ‘well what would have happened if it was literally anyone other than Mignolet (or Brad Jones) in net?’
When did you first realize that Mignolet might not be all that great? For me, it happened amid Liverpool’s unlikely title run. They had lost to Manchester City after taking an early lead at The Etihad because Mignolet allowed two soft goals.
The subsequent season, he was as bad as everyone else on the team as Liverpool barely limped into a Europa League spot. Last season he made no improvements.
This season he shouldn’t have the chance to be a scapegoat with Loris Karius’ presence, but an injury has already given Mignolet three more Premier League starts than I hoped he’d make this year.
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – MAY 18: Alberto Moreno of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League Final match between Liverpool and Sevilla at St. Jakob-Park on May 18, 2016 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
1. Alberto Moreno
Obviously. Who else?
It’s already happened. There must have been a coronation process where Skrtel fitted Moreno (and his man bun/pony tail thing) for a dunce hat of sorts. This ceremony had to have been attended by scapegoats of years past, such as Kolo Toure, Pepe Reina (at the end), David N’gog, Mario Balotelli and Christian Benteke.
Someone find me some think piece on why Liverpool losing to Burnley was Moreno’s fault, despite being on the bench until it was 2-0. I’m sure it’s out there. I know someone was dedicated enough to find reasons why it was actually Moreno’s fault.
Imagine if Moreno had made the erroneous pass that Nathaniel Clyne did to spring Burnley’s first goal? Twitter would have melted from molten hot takes. Or if he had been out of position like James Milner had been against Tottenham for their equalizer? Oh man.
Moreno comes with his deficiencies. He would have been just as liable as Clyne to misplace a crucial pass as he would have been just as likely, if not more, to have been out of position like Milner had been.
But just wait– if he’s on the field and anywhere even near within reason of being blamed, it’ll be his fault. If new boy Matip gets dribbled and we concede through Karius’ hands, it’ll be on Moreno for not being there to cover rather than Matip for inadequate defending and Karius for doing his best Mignolet impression.
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