Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has been criticised by some for fielding a so-called weakened side in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at European champions Real Madrid
The Premier League is often praised for the excitement it brings.
However, as the last few seasons of Champions League football has proved, English teams are nowhere near the standard of some of their continental rivals, with the possible exception of Chelsea.
Difficult
If proof was needed it came in Tuesday night’s Champions League games involving English teams.
Liverpool travelled to face the daunting task of facing European champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, whilst Arsenal host a very average Anderlecht side at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers showed his intentions prior to the game by choosing what looked like a second-string team to face Los Blancos. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho all started the game on the bench.
The team selection was almost a white flag of surrender for some. In times gone by the Reds could have stood toe-to-toe with their Spanish opponents. In fact Real Madrid had not claimed a competitive victory over Liverpool till two weeks ago.
Anytime would have struggled to cope with the in-form Spanish outfit. There have been claims that Rodgers had decided to save a number of his regular first team players for Saturday’s clash against Liverpool and write-off the game in Madrid.
In my time as a football supporter I am not sure if I have ever seen a Liverpool boss field a so-called weakened side in such a high-profile game.
In truth the players that were left out last night have not pulled-up any trees of late, but if Rodgers truly thought the team he put out at the Bernabeu was good enough to win the game he was deluded.
I can pretty much guarantee that Rodgers will completely change his starting line-up for Saturday’s game and those players who he rested against Real will return to the first eleven.
That means the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli and Glen Johnson are likely to return to the starting line-up for a difficult home game with the league leaders.
The team Rodgers picked did not play too badly and a 1-0 defeat was respectable I suppose, considering the amount of goals the Spanish league leaders have scored in recent weeks and months.
The truth is that Real Madrid were always going outclass Liverpool, because they are arguably the best club side in European football right now. The men from Merseyside and their boss are looking like Champions League novices.
Liverpool are still in with a chance of qualification for the last 16 of the competition, but are unlikely to make a mark on the latter stages of the competition.
Collapse
Arsenal was in a completely different situation to Liverpool. The Gunners were facing an average Anderlecht team at home, who they were expected to defeat with relative ease. It was all going to plan for the Gunners as they were leading 3-0 by the 58th minute.
Then they simply collapsed and somehow threw away a three goal lead to draw 3-3 with the Belgian champions. The route of the problem seemed to be tactical naivety from Gunners veteran boss Arsene Wenger, who with his experience should have known better.
Instead of shutting-up shop and collecting the points Wenger continued to allow his team to push forward, which in turn allowed the visitors to exploit the spaces left behind and score three goals in half an hour.
The Gunners fans are understandably annoyed by their teams collapse and there is one man responsible for the result, their experienced boss. It does not take a tactical genius to work out that taking a more cautious approach when winning is necessary sometimes.
Arsenal still looks likely to make it to the knockout stages of the competition, but could struggle to make it past the round of 16 for another season.
Qualification
Arsenal and Liverpool could qualify for the last 16 of the competition and if they do they are likely to finish second in their groups, which means facing one of the better teams of the European game. Neither team are capable of competing with Europe’s best at the moment.
Tonight
Chelsea faces a trip to Slovenia to face Maribor this evening, while Manchester City hosts Russian side CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium. Both English teams will be expected to win tonight’s games.
City have struggled to find any form of consistency in recent weeks, but will be looking to build on Sunday’s 1-0 derby victory over Manchester United.
Chelsea are English football’s best hope of winning the Champions League trophy this season. Jose Mourinho’s side biggest problem may be challenging for the Premier League title as well as the Champions League.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all look like they have obviously weaknesses at the moment. All three are likely to struggle against Europe’s big-hitters in the last 16 of the competition, assuming they qualify of course.
Is any English team capable of winning the Champions League?
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