For the second consecutive league game, Liverpool underperformed and frustrated the masses at Anfield with a goalless draw with West Ham United.
Whilst the Reds have gone a point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premiership, last season's winter blues appear to be making a return.
Here is how Liverpool's win record compares with the team's statistics on 2nd December 2007:
December '07 P 15 W 8 D 6 L 1 30 PTS
December ’08 P 15 W10 D 4 L 1 34 PTSDespite having a far better record than that in the previous season combined with landmark victories over title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, Rafael Benitez's side are being exposed in games which derailed their title challenge last term.
Defensively frail and out of sorts in front of goal, Benitez's team are suffering from a lack of confidence - something which the Spaniard admitted to in his post match press conference.
"Maybe some players are but it's just a case of us trying to keep creating chances - then I'm sure we'll start taking them", he said.
The anger of the Anfield faithful was evident for all to hear as a chorus of boos greeted the final whistle - an act several supporters have condemned as a breaking of the Kop commandment 'thou shalt never criticise manager or the team'.
It cannot be disguised that Liverpool were at their worst for a second consecutive league game at Anfield. According to the Liverpool Echo's Tony Barrett, "the fact that the evergreen Sami Hyypia carried their biggest threat says it all."
Indeed the veteran Finn, a surprise inclusion in the squad ahead of Daniel Agger, proved to be the only candidate for the Man of the Match award on a night where the only positive was off the field with the unified support of jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields before the match and during the first three minutes of the game as the Kop held up a mosaic proclaiming 'Free Michael Now'.
Former Red Craig Bellamy went closest to breaking the deadlock for the visitors with a long range effort which skimmed the inside of Pepe Reina's right hand post in the first half but West Ham had several other chances to take the lead.
As with the same result against Fulham, Benitez's team selection and substitutions were called into question as the team looked reminiscent of that which ended Gerard Houllier's time in the Anfield hot seat.
Despite Steven Gerrard's air shot, Yossi Benayoun was made the prime scapegoat by disgruntled home supporters whilst David N'Gog and Ryan Babel also came in for fierce criticism. The Dutch forward has recently aired his frustrations at a lack of first team opportunities and bemoaned Benitez for playing him out of position.
If Monday night's performance is anything to go by then perhaps he should consider a future away from Anfield. His pace and raw determination would have been a valuable asset to Liverpool's front line had he been utilised properly by his manager. Instead he was ordered to fill the void left by Albert Riera's departure from the field and felt understandably out of his depth.
Kop legend Kenny Dalglish has said that Babel has the ability to terrorise defenders in the Premier League with his pace and on-the-ball skills. Perhaps Benitez should learn from the mistakes of his predecessor Houllier who failed to heed the warnings of the Anfield old guard who, the majority of the time, were completely accurate in their observations.
N'Gog's presence on the pitch in the second half had chilling echoes of Houllier's mercenary French bastion circa 2003 as the 19-year-old was easily knocked off the ball by West Ham's bullish defence. The £1.5 million signing from Paris Saint Germain this summer was one that baffled Kopites both young and old and it appears that they were right to hold reservations about the youngster.
Another of Benitez's much criticised signings showed visible signs of improvement as Andrea Dossena started to show why he was brought to the club as John Arne Riise's replacement.
The Italian was drafted into the starting line up after Fabio Aurelio was sidelined by injury during last week's Champions League win with Olympique Marseille and despite a faltering start to his Anfield career, the left back gave a glimpse of his true potential with surging runs on the left hand side of the field with several impressive crosses into West Ham's area. Benitez's prediction that Dossena would come good appears to be ringing true and no doubt those words will have served as a confidence boost for him during what has been an unfortunate honeymoon period for him at his new club.
As attention turns to the game with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday, Benitez will be eager to capitalise on his side's lead over Chelsea at the top of the league following two consecutive draws.
