Steven Gerrard made a big alteration to his tactics on Wednesday night.
Before the game, some fans were delighted with the move.
Yet, during the fallout, he received scathing criticism.
The move was clearly motivated by a desire to get Jermain Defoe into the team straight away.
The manager had opted for a lone striker in almost every match up of his reign until then, and other than the arrival of Steven Davis, nothing else has changed.
As soon as a marquee striker arrived, the manager was prepared to rip up all previous plans.
He even mentioned in his pre-match interview, that if possible, he likes to go with two up top.
That reflects badly on one summer signing.
Kyle Lafferty
The 70-cap Northern International started well for the Gers in August, but has been off the boil ever since.
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One contributing factor is undoubtedly, his lack of game time. Since September, he has almost exclusively been used as a substitute.
He’s been fit for the vast majority of the season, so Gerrard has had the chance to use him.
Yet, he has chosen not to time and time again.
The way that Gerrard immediately changed tact from a winning formula to accommodate Defoe, must have been tough to take.
If he saw it, the pre-match interview must have stung as well.
It all started so well, but the 31-year-old had been reduced to a bit part role, long before the winter break.
That looks set to continue – indefinitely.
