Liverpool's perpetual fall after Steven Gerrard's slip

For Liverpool Football Club time has stood still since April 27 For Chelsea victors at Anfield that afternoon it has raced on and embraced a new ageSteven Gerrard looks dejected during Liverpools EPL clash against Chelsea last season PicGetty ImagesSteven Gerrards slip on the stroke of half time which allowed Demba Ba to race past and give Chelsea the lead was the moment that changed a title race and possibly Brendan Rodgers fate as Liverpool manager Chelsea had shown absolutely no inclination to win that game wasting time from the outset but once Ba gave them the lead they defended with the tenacity that one has come to expect from Jose Mourinhos sidesCostly slipupEven a draw and a point that day would surely have given Liverpool the title Had there not been goal difference to worry about they would certainly not have let slip a 30 lead against Crystal Palace in their penultimate game As it was Manchester City prevailed by two points And instead of celebrating a first title since 1990 Liverpool were left to accept that they were first among the losers as Bill Shankly the man who made them a feared side in the 1960s put itLiverpool have started the new season like a team still in a funk a situation not helped by the loss of Luis Suarez to Barcelona Without him the side has become a lot more predictable Suarez was the type of player who made things happen who would lure defenders out of position and create chances for teammates when he wasnt scoring himself Even if you spend in excess of 50 million you wont find too many players like thatRecognising that reality Rodgers went out and added considerably to the depth of his squad Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert came with Premier League experience while Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno were two of the most coveted young players in Europe With the season not even three months old its ludicrous to suggest that any of these buys is a dud more so when you consider that Daniel Sturridge such an able foil for Suarez last season also hasnt played a game since August 31With two thirds of his preferred attacking force mdash Raheem Sterling has been almost everpresent mdash not there to call on Rodgers has had to look at a variety of different tactical options Sometimes Sterling has played through the middleChelseas dominanceSometimes he has been out wide Philippe Coutinho has drifted in and out of games without quite imposing himself and Gerrards displays at the base of the midfield diamond have been equally patchy Last Saturday Chelseas dominance of midfield in a 21 win was stark with Nemanja Matic the tall Serbian making Gerrard look like a 34yearold hasbeenDejan Lovren another signing from Southampton has yet to show that he can became another Sami Hyypialike rock in the heart of defence while Moreno and Javi Manquillo another promising Spanish talent have both struggled with the defensive aspects of the fullbacks roleRodgers was pilloried in the media for not starting the likes of Gerrard Sterling and Jordan Henderson in the Champions League tie against Real Madrid last Tuesday night but its not as though a single Liverpool player has made himself indispensable this season The muchtweaked side eventually lost 01 to the best team in the world a vast improvement on the 03 drubbing suffered at home three weeks earlierWhatever else he does though it will be games against the likes of Chelsea that Rodgers will be judged by He has fond memories of the club having been recruited by Mourinho as youth team coach before being promoted to take charge of the reservesChelsea signed proven quality in the summer with Diego Costa and Felipe Luis coming from a titlewinning Atletico Madrid side and Cesc Fabregas convinced to leave the Barcelona mothership Thats the kind of quality Liverpool cant even dream of buying until they win a championship or two Following that Gerrard slip however the glory days seem further away than everDileep Premachandran is Wisden Indiarsquos editorinchief