Missed opportunities may be the story of Liverpool's season but manager Kenny Dalglish may find evidence to back up his suggestion other forces are conspiring against them harder to come by.
The 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa, the ninth time they have been held at Anfield this campaign, ended a run of three successive defeats. On balance it could have been a victory for Liverpool but the factors which contributed to it not being so were more down to the players than referee Michael Oliver, who bore the brunt of Dalglish's frustration.
"It is important to get as much as you possibly can from every game and in most of the games we have played here we haven't got that and (that) was another example," said the Scot, whose side have won just five times at home, dropping 24 points in their 11 other games.
"Most of the things we did do which were in our control we tried our best to do. Some of the decisions we have not had recently have been a bit confusing. If we keep trying it will turn but sometimes there will be some people whose paranoia sets in and they will think there is an agenda against the club from people in importance.
"We don't immediately see it that way but other people may do."
Oliver turned down two penalty appeals either side of half-time, the first when Luis Suarez went down after contact from Alan Hutton, and then when Eric Lichaj appeared to handle as Dirk Kuyt tried to go past him.
Dalglish was particularly unhappy with the second instance and also the referee's decision to book Suarez for diving when Stephen Ireland stood on the Uruguay international's foot.
But aside from those issues Kuyt could have scored twice in the first half, denied once by a goal-line save by Shay Given and then ballooning over from four yards. After the break Suarez's header was denied by a post and Given's reflexes in repelling the rebound before substitute Craig Bellamy hit the upright.
"We were pleased with most of the things we did," insisted Dalglish. "Their attitude and commitment from 20 minutes from the end of the first half was the difference. Villa got a goal and it gave them something to hold on to but the longer the game went the stronger we got and the more determined we were to get a goal.
"They kept plugging away. If we keep doing that we will win more than we will lose."
Source: PA
