Lack of self belief proving costly

WE thought it was all over — it is now! As good a manager Ancelotti is, I wonder whether he could do with a lesson is psychology.

It’s very easy to talk with the benefit of hindsight, but, I would have thought that if you have in your possession the subject of the country’s biggest transfer deal you do not bring him off after just over an hour.

Taking him off, goalless — immediately gave Liverpool a lift — you could almost see their players and supporters exhale and get to work. The nerves about not wanting Torres to score against them vanished — as soon as he was no longer a threat, they were able to relax and it was no surprise they scored soon after.

I then expected an injection of desire and effort from Chelsea — that sadly did not come. It was all so predictable; Monday’s signing had seemingly been like a shot in the arm for the team and especially the strikers up at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday. Whether Sunday was the comedown, or a cat caught in headlights moment I don’t know — but either way, the team let us down.

It’s hard to decide who was the most ineffective, Lampard or Essien and who would have thought that a combined strike-force of Torres, Drogba and Anelka could look so unthreatening?

Ancelotti too proved again he is one dimensional when it comes to substitutions.

I’d have had McEachran on — as much as I have talked about exercising caution when it comes to heaping pressure on this lad, we needed someone who was prepared to take the ball forward and to take on players. Instead we saw little change in attitude or tactics even after all three substitutions.

The importance of this game cannot be overestimated. With Tottenham and City having won the day before, and Arsenal and United having dropped points, we had to win if we wanted to start cementing our place in the Champions League for next season.

Instead we have demonstrated our weaknesses again giving hope to anyone left to play us. A game is won (or lost) as much in the mind as it is on the pitch.

The most annoying thing, is that Liverpool didn’t even look that threatening; I think they came with the remit of just not losing. But it became very evident very quickly that we were having “one of those days” and as mentioned earlier, the Torres substitution gave them that added impetuous.

A few very small slivers of light emerged though. Torres got into some good positions despite any real service — I think he’ll do the business soon.

Luiz (or Sideshow Bob as he has already been christened) looked very accomplished. He is calm and disciplined with good awareness — all things considered, a good start.

I do wonder how the game would have gone had Steve Clarke not been Dalglish’s assistant. Obviously, he would have been more aware than most of our foibles.

Yet it wouldn’t have taken a tactical genius to tell him not to give us time on the ball in the final third and crowd out our strikers.

There is no denying Dalglish has turned Liverpool’s season around. What he has created is what we are lacking — belief. It counts for more than people give it credit for and I’m not sure Ancelotti imparts that on the players. We are led to believe that it was something Mourinho used every day — the belief that his players were the best in the world.

No one could beat them he told them because Chelsea were the best. Simple as. These players do not believe they are the best anymore; added to that, I am not sure they believe in some of the tactics. Put those two together and you have a serious problem. Procuring the services of players like Torres may paper over the cracks — but even that is not a given. The fundamental issues need to be addressed and quickly. The likes of Torres came to play Champions League football — our qualification for that competition is in jeopardy. It is time to sort it out.

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