In the end of last season, we all saw that Maxi scored a lot of goals, and two times did he make a hat-trick. That was in the last games of the season. But why have Maxi not been given the chance to prove himself in this season?

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Maxi:

On 13 January 2010, Rodríguez completed a free transfer to Liverpool, signing a three-and-a-half year deal [6] and being given the number 17 shirt.[7] He made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute in a league match against Stoke City on the 16th,[8] his first full start coming a week and a half later, away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In his first games for Liverpool, Rodríguez gained two league assists, both of which were for former Atlético teammate Torres. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on 25 April 2010 playing the full 90 minutes.[9]

2010-11 was a good season for Maxi, scoring 10 league goals for Liverpool. He scored 3 under Roy Hodgson against Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Aston Villa. Maxi did not score again until Liverpool's 5-0 win over Birmingham City when he scored a hat-trick. He followed up a week later scoring a deflected shot against Newcastle United. Maxi scored another hat-trick for Liverpool the following week in their 5-2 win at Craven Cottage, scoring 2 goals in the opening 7 minutes, the first being just after 32 seconds. He completed his hat-trick with an ambitious effort from 25 yards out.

On 8 July 2011, Maxi switched his number from 17 to 11.[10] On 16 July 2011 Maxi scored twice in Liverpool's pre-season friendly with Malaysia, which finished 6-3 to the Reds. On 24 August 2011, Maxi was given his first start of the season in a League Cup tie against Exeter City, which Liverpool went on to win 3-1 with Maxi scoring the second goal. On 20 November 2011 he scored against Chelsea following a build-up with teammate Craig Bellamy, the game ended 2-1 for Liverpool with goals from Glen Johnson and Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool and Chelsea, respectively. Nine days later, he scored in the same end yet again from a Craig Bellamy assist against Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarter final at Stamford Bridge, the match finished 2-0 with Martin Kelly getting the other. On 26 December he scored a goal against Blackburn Rovers to make the match 1-1, the match ended 1-1 the other goal was Charlie Adam own goal, making it his 2nd Premier League goal of the season.

Here is the proof that Maxi can score goals, but he has not been among the starting XI many times, if ever in the season 2011/2012, and that is even though he has scored goals in the matches where he was given the chance, and he scored 10 goals last season. But why has he not been played more often this season. This season he has only scored twice, and that is pretty good, when you think about how few chances he has been given.

Maybe it's a question about his age, that keeps him benched, but why was Carragher given the chance against Arsenal, when everybody knew that he was over 34 years old, and was not that quickly anymore, and he was supposed to mark Robin van Persie, but RVP only needed two goal chances to score two goals. Nothing more and nothing less, and I think that Sebastian Coates would have done a better job marking Robin van Persie, because he is still young as much faster than Carragher.

I think Liverpool has them selves to blame, that they don't end up in the top 4, Liverpool has missed 5 penalties out of 6 this season, and that simply isn't good enough. And Liverpool have been creating chances al season but Liverpool have only converted 7% of their goal chances in to goals this season, and we have played way too many draws at home, in matches that we deserved to win.

Liverpool simply needs to play Maxi more than they have done all season, but now it is too late, we have a 10 points gap up to Arsenal on the 4^th spot, and even though Liverpool have a game in the hand, against Everton, and lets say we win this home match, then we still have a gap at 7 points up to Arsenal. And we can still make it, if we win all the remaining matches of the season. But I would like to see Maxi among the starting XI, in the coming matches, he combines well with Suarez, and Maxi is a winger and can also play as offensive midfielder if he has to. But I find it pretty hard to believe that Liverpool can win then next 12 matches in a row. But I hope that Arsenal would slip up a few times. And the coming fixtures for Liverpool isn't that hard, but losing at home to Arsenal was a disaster, and all we can do is to keep on going, taking one match at a time.

You'll never walk alone...