Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez decided to field a weak side against Burnley and is now paying the price for that decision.
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The biggest priority for Liverpool is to finish fourth
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I was always told that when you are struggling you play your strongest possible side, even if you overload the team with the same key players every time.
It is absolutely critical to restore confidence to the team.
But Benitez's decision to field an under-strength team at Burnley has clearly not worked.
One thing leads to another and the first-half performance against Southampton on Saturday was probably the worst of the season.
No disrespect to Southampton but Liverpool were just awful.
Jamie Carragher has been the most consistent performer for Liverpool this season but he looked shell-shocked towards the end and started to make uncharacteristic mistakes.
That is what happens - one bad performance, the confidence drains away and before you know it even the most reliable players are making mistakes.
Liverpool are fortunate in the respect that Everton lost to Charlton on Saturday.
The biggest priority for Liverpool is to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League - had David Moyes' team won they would have been 10 points clear.
Liverpool do not look like the sort of team who could put on a nine or 10-game unbeaten run and pull back a 10-point deficit.
The big question now is how Liverpool are going to get their confidence back.
It has always been the case that doing well in cup competitions makes it easier in the league.
But Liverpool struggled in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Watford and lost to Burnley.
The Liverpool manager argued that he has not got the squad to compete on four fronts and it seems the FA Cup was sacrificed.
But the way Liverpool are playing it might not be long before they are not competing on any front.
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