Steven Gerrard was left surprised by the poor performance of his Al-Ettifaq team as they lost to Al-Riyadh on Sunday.
Just 696 fans attended Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium to watch the Saudi Pro League clash, on what was a humiliating day for Gerrard and captain Jordan Henderson. Khalid Al-Shuwayyi’s early goal was enough to secure all three points for the hosts.
Ettifaq have now lost two games in succession and slumped to seventh in the table, nine points behind leaders Al-Hilal. And Gerrard was furious with his team for their dreadful display against a side who had been struggling at the bottom end of the division.
“We didn’t show what was required of us. We weren’t even close to the level we’d hoped to be at. The opposition’s plan was clear, to frustrate and wait for the opportunities. The mistakes cost us today, we gifted the three points to Al-Riyadh,” Gerrard fumed.
Gerrard will also have been left embarrassed by the pitiful attendance after just 976 fans turned up for their win at Abha in September. Sunday’s attendance was less than Clitheroe’s for their win over Newcastle Town in the eighth tier of English football on Saturday.
More than double the Ettifaq attendance watched Marine’s win over Lancaster in the division above, while 2122 took in the National League North game between Hereford and Curzon Ashton.
Gerrard has assembled a team of star-studded names, with Champions League winners Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum forming the midfield partnership. Sweden international Robin Quaison started up front against Riyadh, with Scotland’s Jack Hendry in defence.
But that group have now gone three games without a win and is clearly not attracting the attention of the Saudi public. Henderson though has previously insisted he is not concerned by the lack of fans.
“I’m playing in that league now and I’m still here, still playing. So I had conversations before with the England manager, what I thought was the right move for me at that time with everything that was going on at Liverpool as well,” he said earlier this month.
“So it was a big decision, but one where I felt as though I could still be playing regularly. But if you’re talking about physical attributes, it isn’t a problem for me. The conditions out there are hard with the weather and humidity.
“I’m an experienced player, I know how to play football, you don’t forget that when you just go out and play in a different league. So when I’ve been back here and when I’ve trained, when I’ve played games, I felt as good and as fit as ever really.
“I mean physically, I don’t think it’s an issue. I mean, look at my numbers physically and my output in a game, whether that’s in Saudi, whether that’s here for England, I don’t see that as an issue.”
Culled From Mirror
