This season, Liverpool will walk alone unless...

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The new Premier League season began with plenty of optimism around Brendan Rogers and his possession-and-passing philosophy, but all the flaws that plagued Kenny Dalgish’s reign were on display in the 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion in their opening game (it could have been worse for Liverpool as well, with Pepe Raina saving a Shane Long penalty and James Morrison somehow screwing his shot wide when it looked easier to score). The most glaring problem is the one that ultimately put paid to King Kenny: a lack of goals. Liverpool took 16 shots at goal but hit the target only twice, both times thanks to Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan twisted, turned and danced his way through defenders but once again couldn’t find the back of the net. Ben Foster made one decent save and had another shot struck straight at him in the opening twenty minutes. [caption id=“attachment_426402” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The most glaring problem is the one that ultimately put paid to King Kenny: a lack of goals. Reuters[/caption] But the most glaring of misses came in the second half, when an unmarked Suarez sent a header wide of the post with only Foster to beat. For all of his gifts, Suarez struggles to convert chances. If the ball doesn’t end up in the back of the net, you can’t win the game. New signing Fabio Borini had a largely invisible debut as well, with just one shot attempt, while Steven Gerard, so often Liverpool’s rescuer, was strangely subdued with none of the surging runs into the box that are typical of the team’s captain. On this evidence, it is hard to see where the side’s goals are going to come from this season. Beyond the obvious inability to convert possession into goals— Liverpool spent 60% of the match with the ball at their feet— there is also the question of whether they have the right personnel to make the most of the manager’s methods. Stuart Downing, a left-footed midfielder, started on the right. Glen Johnson, a right back, started at left back. The result: a number of crosses that flew harmlessly over the West Brom goal and out of play. It is no wonder Suarez often tries to do everything himself. The substitutions showed a lack of options at Rodgers’s disposal as well. Joe Cole for Lucas was an odd choice even before Cole limped off nine minutes later to be replaced by Andy Carroll, the much maligned striker who isn’t even wanted by his manager. When you consider Manchester United brought on Robin Van Persie as a substitute against Everton, the gap that needs to be bridged appears to be a canyon. Rodgers is the fourth manager in four years to lead Liverpool at the start of a Premier League Season. To put that in perspective, Liverpool had four managers between 1959 and 1991, a span of 32 years. If the club are to be anything more than mid-table this season, Rodgers will have to figure out his best side quickly— three of his next four games are against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United— and the best way to harness the players at his disposal. That could well mean a rethink of his passing philosophy in the short term as he will have to strike a balance between his methods and getting results. To Rogers’ credit, he has been upfront about how hard a task it will be to turn around the club’s fortunes and challenge for the title again. He has even suggested he might not be around to finish the job. But if there were any lingering doubts about the uphill climb he has ahead of him, Saturday’s result would have put them to rest. Judging from the stark expression on his face at the end of the game, he knew it too.