Steven Gerrard has stated Alfredo Morelos’ goal tally this season of 5 in 15 isn’t enough, despite the general consensus being that it’s not a lousy total.
The Colombian has had an underwhelming start to season 21/22 and had an especially poor match at the weekend, wasting at least 3 gilt-edge chances and having 7 shots off target in total, with many claiming he cost the 2 points.
And Gerrard, despite acknowledging the 1 in 3 return the former HJK man has managed, stated it’s simply not good enough and he wants more from his forwards in general.
It’s a blunt assessment from the boss who has become infinitely more prone to criticising his best players in the past season or two, after formerly defending them resolutely without condition. It’s a trend we noticed following his gentle criticism at the season’s end of 2018/2019 when he was honest about Borna Barisic and Eros Grezda’s struggles, without being too harsh on them, albeit he was a tonne more brutal about Umar Sadiq before Jordan Jones got both barrels.
But he’s generally not done it with his favourite players, formerly defending Morelos to the hilt.
But these days the manager will call things out more, and be honest about underperforming players, and in his view, Morelos’ goal return has not been up to scratch.
Is he right? Yes, he is. Morelos hasn’t delivered this season, but as we’ve noted before, he’s either on fire or desperately poor – there is no middle ground with the Colombian.
And right now it’s the latter.
If he plays tomorrow, hopefully he can kick start his season with a good night.