Why do Liverpool keep drawing at Anfield?

Home draw. Two words which prove that familiarity, in certain circumstances at least, breeds contempt. Anfield residents have become increasingly accustomed to home draws throughout this campaign and have grown to despise them. A home draw is the most resented result, with the occasional defeat interspersed within a run of victories preferable to a seemingly endless unbeaten streak of ties.

Incessant draws at Anfield are not a new phenomenon though. Only four seasons ago, the Reds finished as runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League title race. That 2008/2009 season saw Liverpool record the lowest number of defeats (2) without claiming the top prize. Seven home draws, a figure only surpassed by Aston Villa and the relegated Middlesbrough, were widely blamed for costing the Merseysiders their first Premier League title success and manager at the time Rafael Benitez was slated for picking overly defensive sides at Anfield.

Worryingly, Kenny Dalglish's men have already equalled that total of home draws so far this season and subsequently are slipping further behind in the race for fourth, sitting currently in seventh place behind surprise package Newcastle United. As home draws cost us the title in 2008/2009, they could cost us Champions League qualification this campaign.

The main cause for this irritating run of draws at Anfield is an apparent lack of firepower up front. Liverpool have only managed to score a measly 14 goals at home this season, a record that is comparable to Wolverhampton Wanderers' and beaten by Blackburn Rovers, who have been rooted to the bottom of the table for considerable spells of the season.

Despite clearly adding a spark of creativity and invention to our attack, Suarez has struggled to score in prolific numbers, while Andy Carroll is failing to fit into the Liverpool Way of playing football and his teammates have failed to fully utilise his aerial ability. The £35 million spent to secure his services seems more like a rip-off with every passing match.

Craig Bellamy has been promising and displayed plenty of potential during his frequent substitutes appearances. Nevertheless, Liverpool clearly need some reinforcements in attack to boost our goalscoring record and convert some draws into wins.

Dalglish will hopefully provide a solution to this problem by purchasing a proven goalscorer during the January transfer window, however the legendary Scot could also improve our record at Anfield by revising some of his tactics. Don't get me wrong; since King Kenny returned to the dugout the overwhelming effect has been positive. The players are performing far more entertaining football and we are no longer stuck in mid-table worrying about relegation, as we were under his predecessor Roy Hodgson. Any fans claiming that Dalglish should be sacked after this run of consecutive draws are incredibly short sighted and need a healthy dose of perspective.

Nevertheless, at times Dalglish's starting line-ups have been baffling. For example, against Stoke at Anfield on Saturday Kenny started with five at the back and Dirk Kuyt alone up front. Consequently, we did not possess the attacking firepower necessary to break down Stoke's resilient back four and suffered another stalemate. Had the previous incumbent of the Anfield dugout selected such a line-up he would have been slaughtered by supporters but Dalglish has built up so much credit with the Kop that he is exempt from criticism.

Moreover, time and time again Maxi has proven that he is an effective winger who can find the back of the net regularly, yet the Argentine remains on the bench while Stewart Downing who, although possessing crossing ability and a menacing run, has struggled to score and influenced proceedings less than Maxi, continues to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Other factors beyond the Reds' control have also kept Liverpool continually collecting just a single point from clashes at Anfield. Visiting goalkeepers seem to have transformed into world-beaters whenever they visit Anfield. Joe Hart made some sensational saves to earn City a 1-1 draw, as did Norwich keeper Ruddy and Blackburn's stand-in stopper Mark Bunn. Former Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm, meanwhile, grabbed the headlines with an excellent save from Glen Johnson's last gasp effort to secure a 0-0 draw for Swansea in early November.

Moreover, Liverpool have had terrible luck throughout the campaign, hitting the woodwork more times than any other team in the division, chipping off the paint of the woodwork for the 18th time versus Newcastle United in the last game of 2011. Yes, hitting the bar or post is technically missing the target so you could criticise our attack but the fact that we have been so close yet so far from adding nearly 20 extra goals to our tally demonstrates very bad fortune.

There's very little the Reds can do about opposition keepers' form and hitting the post unfortunately, so Liverpool must concentrate on improving the attack, adding to our strikeforce and selecting attacking line-ups to match our enterprising style of play. Ultimately, this run of draws must come to an end and our home form must be improved radically and quickly if we are to continue to compete for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.

Anfield must become what the legendary Bill Shankly described as a 'bastion of invincibility' once again.

YNWA