A nightmare. From 3-0 with just 10 minutes, to 3-3. The Reds were looking to try and level the score up on goal difference, but somehow found themselves trying to hold on to the three points. They have dealt with shaky situations so many times this season, but they will ultimately be left to rue not only their failure to do so here, but the extent of their failure. If they had held their nerve to keep a one goal lead so many times this season, with a three-nil lead, should seeing the game off really be a concern?
The first goal should have been a mere consolation goal. Palace's second came from a counter attack after Liverpool's own attack broke down. Bolasie terrorized Liverpool's defense with his pace, and Gayle had little to do to put Palace right back in it. The momentum was then with with the Eagles, but their third came from the same source as many goals scored on the Reds have come from: the Red's own poor defending. Liverpool were struggling to get the ball out of their own half, and poor spacing from the Red's defense left Gayle wide open. Gayle punished them with a superb finish.
Liverpool have improved in many aspects since Rodgers took charge. Defense is clearly not one of those aspects. Before coming into this match, it appeared that the Reds would lose out to the title on goal difference, which would be because of pour defending. In the worst possible moment of the season, and in the worst possible way, their defense has now cost them two very precious points. Liverpool have conceded three goals on multiple occasions in games that they must take advantage of. Some examples are Stoke, Hull (after conceding three against Everton the game before), Swansea, Cardiff, and now in the most embarrassing of ways, Crystal Palace. While their attacking power may have won those games, eventually their defensive flaws would catch up to them. And catch up they did.
Their dominance throughout eighty of the ninety minutes came undone in ten. The games against teams in the lower half of the table simply have to be won if Liverpool are in a title race, especially when in the position the Reds were in. This is something that simply cannot happen from any team who will be in the Champions League next season.
Nonetheless, Liverpool must show that they have the mentality to overcome such disappointments. They have done such a great job this season with doing so, but they now face the toughest mental challenge that they have faced all season. I have full confidence that they will not let what happened yesterday, affect their mentality when they face Newcastle come Sunday. However, I do expect lessons to be learned from this. The mental approach of Liverpool has without doubt been one of the keys to their success this season, and will hopefully do the same next season.
Liverpool's title hopes now hang by a thread. They will need an enormous favor from either West Ham or Aston Villa to regain hope. Nonetheless, as disappointing as this season may seem without a title, the fact that they came this close is a remarkable success considering where they have been for the previous few years. The work Rodgers has done is incredible, and at the end of the day, although they may not win the league, that should not take away from the joy of some absolutely incredible nights at Anfield. Sometimes failure can be the driving force for the next season. Just look at Bayern's treble last year, after they had finished second in every competition the year before. But whose to say we've failed yet? If the game is never over until it's over, than neither is the season...Especially this one.
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