Unwrapping the enigma that is Liverpool’s domestic inconsistency

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Imagine that you are sitting in a preparing to sit your final exam. Your strategy is to waste little time in answering the easy questions, meaning that you have plenty of time in tackling the most challenging ones.

Liverpool would be the kind of student that thrives on the challenge of the hardest part of the exam and somewhat struggle on the simpler questions. In short, they make the difficult look easy and the simple look like they are putting together a jigsaw of 1000 pieces.

Their current position in the Premier League table highlights this fact. Against their top six rivals, they have been superb, where they currently have an unbeaten record in eight games (four wins, four draws).

Against the teams that currently occupy the 7th-9th position (Everton, West Brom, and Stoke) they boast a 100% win rate from three games. However, it is when they come up against mid-table or relegation threatened sides that they begin to look vulnerable.

In a statistic that is hard to make sense of, they have amassed just 24 points out of a possible 42 on offer against the bottom eleven sides in the league. Overall, they have amassed one more point (25) from their meetings with the top nine clubs in fewer games played (11 in total compared to 14 games against 10th and below).

Playing against lesser opponents is an area which has been an issue for the Reds for the better part of two decades. The odd occasion where they have managed to mount a title challenge in the Premier League era, they have come unglued by dropping points against teams that they should be defeating comfortably.

They looked to have overcome their jitters in the first half of this season with very convincing performances against the likes of Hull and Watford. However, the ghosts from past seasons have reared their head at the most inopportune time.

Seen by many pundits as the number one contender to the rampaging Chelsea side during the middle part of the season, a horror January and early February have put pay to any true title hopes for this season.

It is no surprise that their best three performances since the turn of the new year have been against Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, the latter of which was arguably their most complete and professional performance of the season.

The answer of why Liverpool have a Jekyll and Hyde persona is quite simple.

Against their main rivals, they play with the shackles off and are given the time and space to create goalscoring opportunities. When coming up against an opponent of equal ability they are certain to be tested defensively, but their well-known frailties in that area of the pitch do not seem as evident as they are mentally switched on to the job at hand.

However, when you come up against an opponent who are desperate for points, it is a completely different game. Every loose ball has to be won, every tackle has to be made, and every set piece has to be dealt with accordingly.

In truth, you have to be up for the challenge physically as well as mentally. Emerging victorious is more to do with those factors than it is to do with just skill and Liverpool have constantly fallen short in this regard.

After failing recent tests in the league against Sunderland, Swansea, and Hull, on Monday Night they face Leicester who are well and truly in a battle for their Premier League survival.

Like Liverpool, Leicester have had a miserable start to 2017, culminating in an insipid performance in the 5th round of the FA Cup against League One side on Millwall on last Sunday.

The Foxes have won just once in their last 10 league games, and currently, sit one point and one place above the bottom three. With just 13 games of the season remaining, clubs in Leicester’s position are anxiously looking over their shoulder and desperate to break away from the relegation zone.

Leicester will be well aware of Liverpool’s failings in coming up against a team in their position and would see it as an opportunity for a rare win.

It will be fascinating to see the response of the playing group after the shock sacking of manager Claudio Ranieri. Normally after a managerial departure, players seem to play with the type of confidence that has been missing in the previous months.

This never reflects well on the playing group as a whole as questions are raised why they could not do it previously, but it just seems to be the way they subconsciously react.

To become a better side you have to be able to overcome your demons, and Liverpool have an opportunity to do just that against Leicester. The title may now be out of reach, and while the top four is certainly an attainable goal, they face stiff competition in what has become a battle between five teams for three spots.

In many ways, Monday night’s clash will answer some questions.

How have the events of the last few days affected the Leicester playing group, and will they be able to produce a performance reminiscent of what they did on a regular basis last season? Can Liverpool produce a performance like they have done consistently against the upper echelon of clubs? Are they willing to roll up their sleeves and grind out a victory against a team fighting for survival?

Both teams know the clash will be pivotal to their respective fortunes for the rest of the season.

For the winners, it will be an undoubted confidence boost after a poor run of form, while for the loser it makes achieving their ultimate goal just that bit harder.

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