Rafa Stares into the Abyss after Birmingham Draw

by Willie Gannon… The best slant that can be put on another poor Liverpool performance is that they managed to come from behind to draw. But that tells its own tale: as the equalizing goal came from a penalty after David Ngog had dived to win the spot kick.

Little was done in this game to lift the pressure that Rafael Benitez now finds himself under.

If anything, Rafa’s time in charge of Liverpool can be summed up as a team stronger than the sum of their parts, defensively solid, and one which always rose to the occasion of a big match.

So far this year it has been almost the complete opposite. Their once sound defense has been found wanting against teams that have attacked, and their midfield has been bypassed, out-fought, out-thought, and is clearly missing the influence of Xabi Alonso.

Their much talked about ‘zonal marking’ system has been shown for the shambles it always was, and now Liverpool looks like conceding a goal from every cross and set piece. The problem in using this system is that it relies heavily on every player being 100 percent switched on; even then it is very susceptible against well organized opponents.

Last season the big four in the EPL: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool only lost 17 games all season, with the Anfield giants losing only twice.

But this year those four teams have already lost 12, and Liverpool has contributed a massive five to that total.

Add in their Champions League problems and Rafa is facing the first and possibly last crisis of his Liverpool career.

His problems can be traced back to his purchases over his six seasons in charge. The once great club now looks like they have a paper thin squad.

It says much about the quality that Benitez has at his disposal that he was forced to bring on a half fit Steven Gerrard at half time against Birmingham and for him to be Liverpool’s most potent threat on goal-whilst playing on one leg.

Before tonight, Birmingham boasted the worst forward line in the EPL, having only scored eight goals from their 11 matches. Yet somehow they managed to ask questions of Rafa’s team as others have done before them.

Of course, Liverpool did not start tonight with either of their world class talents, Gerrard and Torres, but they should still have had enough to brush Alex McLeish’s team aside.

Without the duo the onus to create falls upon Yossi Benayoun. While he is a very capable player, he is not of the upper echelon of Premiership quality and can struggle without the main attacking pair in the team.

Rafa’s run without a win has now stretched to nine games. To some this will be summed up as just a bad run. Many will be praying that all their injured return after the international break to face the EPL’s other club on the verge of a crisis, Manchester City.

While to others, they can point to the clubs worst start to a league campaign in over 50 years.

Liverpool are only three points off the coveted Champions League spot. Sources from within Anfield have confirmed that Rafa will only be sacked if it is mathematically impossible for them to qualify for next years tournament.

Never mind if they go out early this year; which is a very real possibility.

So where to Liverpool and Rafa turn to now?

Well, the international break has come at an ideal time. It should allow their star players an extra couple of weeks to recuperate, but if you believe everything you hear, then Rafa has been guiding Fernando Torres through the last couple of games until Gerrard returns. At that point, he will have an operation on his troublesome groin.

Without Torres or Gerrard in the team, Liverpool are a shadow of themselves, and without the Spaniard in particular, it is hard to see them breaking down the kind of quality that rests in the upper half of the Premiership.

His power and pace combined with his undoubted skill mark Torres out as one of the finest strikers in the world, and David Ngog isn’t even on the same planet as a player.

Without either of the pair, Liverpool’s win percentage is only 56 percent; with them it is a dramatic 79 percent.

And that now means the game against City is now a huge one for both clubs.

Currently, Manchester City sit one point ahead of Liverpool but with one game in hand. If they were to beat the Reds at Anfield and win that extra game, they would then be seven points in front heading towards January.

It is here that the battle for fourth will be won and lost this year.

Liverpool have very little in the way spending power, but their owners could be forced to dig deep to buy back up for Torres.

City is expected to buy heavily to consolidate their push for fourth. After spending somewhere in the region of £150 million in less than one year, it is easy to come to that conclusion.

The other contenders for fourth are Tottenham, and with Spurs being somewhat of a pushover in midfield, Harry Redknapp is expected to sign two if not three new players while the Lilywhites push City and Liverpool to the line.

So for all intensive purposes, the week following the international break will take be one of utmost importance for Rafa.

Manchester City (h), Debrechen (a), and Everton (a) are the three biggest games of the season for Rafa.

To guarantee his job he must win all three.

Lose two of these games and Tom Hicks and George Gillett will be seeking advice on Rafa’s future.

The abyss is staring back.

EPL Review: Red Mist, Red Cards, Rafa’s Red or Dead, and False Dawns

by Willie Gannon… It was a red letter day in Week 11 of the Premiership in more ways than one.

For a start, there were more red cards dished out in one weekend than ever before, Rafa and Liverpool were well beaten at Fulham, while Spurs learned what life is really like at the top.

There were a couple of big stories this weekend, the most notable being Liverpool succumbing to defeat against Fulham which, in turn, rendered their only victory in October, against Manchester United, almost meaningless.

Their tilt at the title is all over.

Any Liverpool fan who is still trying to convince themselves that the Reds will challenge are deluding themselves.

To win the league they would have to go the rest of the season unbeaten, and after losing for the 5th time in 11 games, that is just not going to happen, while Rafa seems even now to be concentrating on the European Champions League.

For their part, Liverpool contributed two players to this week’s red card frenzy in the 3-1 defeat. Both players were deservedly sent off, although Jamie Carragher will most likely appeal his decision.

It would be wrong not to mention Fulham. They seem to be returning to their European chasing form of last year and are a difficult proposition for anyone to beat at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Big Sam’s Blackburn Rovers. Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney both combined to put United back in behind leaders Chelsea who put four past Bolton for the second time in less than one week.

The 4-0 win means that Chelsea have now scored 17 without reply in their last four games. Florent and the Machine are back in business.

The ominous cloud on the horizon for Arsenal and United is that Chelsea’s appeal will most likely allow them to recruit new players in January.

And while we’re talking about Chelsea and January, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win every game in the month, despite them losing at least four players to the African Nations Cup.

Hull (a), Sunderland (h), Birmingham (h), and Burnley (a) are not exactly who their rivals want them to be playing minus some very important players.

Two of those teams met on Saturday in a real 24-pointer, never mind a six-pointer. Hull made the journey to Burnley and Phil Brown’s men came away with their tail between their leags, a 2-0 defeat, a man sent off, and a manager who doesn’t have the dignity to step down when all around him is falling apart.

There were a number of 2-2 draws as Wolves and Stoke fought it out in the Staffardshire derby, and then Sunderland were surprisingly held to the same scoreline by West Ham on Wearside. Andy Reid scored a sublime free kick but it wasn’t enough for Giovani Trappatoni to call him up.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was the way Portsmouth took Wigan to the cleaners with a 4-0 win thanks to a hat-trick from Dindane…Dong.

Anyone who has seen Pompey play lately know that a result like this was coming, they hammered both Spurs and Everton but ended up without full points from either game and Paul Hart’s team now have an outside chance of survival. Very outside.

Everton and Villa played out a lifeless 1-1 draw, with Russian winger Bilyaletdinov scoring and then getting sent off for the Toffees.

It was a weekend for draws, and Birmingham and Manchester City played out a 0-0 thanks to a penalty save by Shay Given. It was only the fourth 0-0 this season from almost 110 games.

Spurs made their way to the Emirates for the 162nd North London derby. All week Robbie Keane and Harry Redknapp were available for comment to anyone who would listen, talking up their teams chances while putting Arsenal down.

Silly talk in the run up to the biggest North London Derby in years.

With the two teams sitting in 3rd and 4th, this one game would speak volumes of how their respective seasons would go.

Arsenal won 3-0.

For the Gunners it was a big win. Not because they beat their rivals, but because they ground it out and played with a level of professionalism not seen in an Arsenal team in some time.

For Spurs it was a crash down to earth. The White Hart Lane faithful are used to false dawns so you would have thought they would have been more guarded against their teams comments in the run up to the game.

Make no mistake about it, Spurs have progressed rapidly under Harry Redknapp, but not as fast as some have made out.

They possess a team that can expose almost every team, outside the top four.

It was a harsh lesson learned. Only time will tell if it was learned well.

10 Statements after EPL GameDay 11.

1) Phil Brown should do the right thing and resign. Three wins from 31 tells the true story of Hull’s demise.

2) Rafa will come under severe pressure over the next week. And Liverpool fans could be singing The Gunpowder Plot next week. “Remember, remember the 5th of November.” It could be the day Rafa goes.

3) Spurs have progressed, 4th after 11 games is good, but it means nothing at this stage of the season.

4) Pompey are becoming hard to beat, but an injury to David James could cure that.

5) Manchester United need a central midfielder to partner Fletcher.

6) Ex-Liverpool pro’s are beginning to call for Rafa’s head.

7) Arsenal are now viable challengers, but the best I can see them doing is 2nd, and only if United don’t buy big in January.

Marlon King is an misogynistic idiot. Dave Whelan was right.

9) Lorik Cana is very very good.

10) Expect a bidding war to erupt over Matthew Upson. He’s available for at around £10m to £15m and the likes of United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Spurs are all interested.

Rollercoaster Ride for Liverpool

by Jeremy Gibson… Read a season preview for any sports league and the following is bound to be written: “they have a solid group of players and if they can build on last year’s success their title drought may finally end.” Such a quote is applied annually to the Chicago Cubs, and this year fits the NHL’s Blackhawks and the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. In the English Premier League, one team fit that description heading into this season – Liverpool.

The Reds were coming off their best season since 2002, an 86-point 2^nd place finish behind Manchester United. They lost a mere two matches over the course of the entire schedule, and reached the quarterfinals of the Champion’s League. After an injury plagued 2008/09 Fernando Torres was expected to blossom even further in his third year with the club, and become the striker they had lacked for years. Despite the loss of midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, Liverpool’s roster still dripped with talent, including captain Steven Gerrard. In addition, Liverpool’s three main rivals were hit hard in the offseason. Emmanuel Adebayor left Arsenal for Manchester City, Cristiano Ronaldo abandoned Manchester United for the green pastures of Madrid, and Chelsea was hit with a UEFA sanctioned transfer ban, preventing them from adding to their roster in any way, shape, or form. Liverpool looked to be in great shape to end their 19 year title drought.

But going into Sunday’s match against Manchester United, Liverpool has been a complete and utter disaster. In the nine league games prior to Sunday they sported a 5 – 4 record, the four losses doubling the amount they sustained in all 38 matches last season. They were floundering in 8^th place, seven points adrift of the leaders, and riding a four match losing streak (including two in the Champion’s League). Not since 1987 had they dropped four straight. In addition, their Champion’s League campaign has been rotten. Two straight defeats, including one at home, and a narrow victory over tiny minnows Debrecen have them in danger of missing the knockout rounds entirely. They looked nothing like the club that was supposed to return to glory this year.

All of which makes Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United so shocking. Man U was riding an extremely rich run of form: six wins and a draw in their past seven Premier League matches; ten victories and a draw in their past eleven matches overall (Carling Cup and Champion’s League included). Compare that with the chaos surrounding Liverpool in recent days: financial troubles, ownership crisis, coaching rumours, player injuries, and fan protests. It was obvious that the last thing they needed was a visit from the best.

But a team in crisis usually plays with effort rarely seen, and that is exactly what transpired at Anfield. The Reds controlled the game from start to finish and were justly rewarded with a two goal victory. The negative momentum and publicity surrounding the club has, at least temporarily, been silenced. But the inspired effort leaves one question begging to be answered: which Liverpool side is for real?

Their season to this point has been as up-and-down as a rollercoaster. At times they have dominated – a six match winning streak throughout early and mid-September, outscoring opponents 18 – 5. At times they have struggled – dropping two of their first three matches of the season, including one at their home fortress. And at times they have looked terrible, so inept and awful that it is easy to picture them falling straight to the bottom of the table. As evidence see the recent four match losing streak, including being completely outplayed, outhustled, and outclassed by Lyon, Fiorentina, and Chelsea.

But one thing must be kept in mind when analyzing Liverpool’s performance: a team is never as good as they look when they’re winning, and never as bad as they look when they’re losing. The truth of how good this team actually is lies somewhere in the middle of their recent form. The bottom line is that Liverpool is stocked with world class players, but lack depth, and it is this lack of depth that will make it extremely difficult to challenge for both the Premier League title and the Champion’s League crown. At the same time, they definitely have too much firepower and class to fall out of the top four.

While it would be difficult to convince a manager like Rafa Benitez, and superstar players like Torres and Gerrard that they would be better off focusing solely on one competition, the reality is that Liverpool’s best (perhaps only) opportunity to taste success this year is to do just that. Nobody – fans and players alike – likes to see a weakened squad sent out for key matches, but saving the ‘A’ team for domestic matches is the strategy the Reds should follow. Consider this: since 2001 Liverpool has captured two Carling Cups, two FA Cups, the UEFA Cup, and the Champion’s League, but zero Premier League banners. In fact, the Premier League title has annually escaped them since 1990 – a fact very hard to swallow for their passionate fan base. It is hard for fans to accept their team as the best in Europe when they are continually second best (or worse) at home. Focusing on domestic play may give them their best shot at re-claiming the prize that the fans crave most – the Premier League title. The Reds just have to hope that it isn’t too late, that the hole they have dug for themselves isn’t too deep.

EPL Review: Rafa’s Redemption, Wenger Whines, Spurs Stumble, and Torres Taunts

by Willie Gannon… Week 10 of the EPL produced more stories than almost every other week so far—from Rafa’s job, to Stoke beating Spurs, to Chelsea hammering Blackburn, to Arsenal capitulating against West Ham.

All eyes were on Liverpool for Manchester United’s trip to Anfield. The back story of Rafa’s job being on the line had captivated almost the entire footballing world. Lose and Liverpool would have had their worst start to a season in some 50 years, and the last time they lost five in a row they were relegated…

It was Rafa who inspired his team into battle against a United team who looked like they didn’t know what hit them.

Again, Fernando Torres destroyed Nemanja Vidic, who got sent off against the Reds for the third time in a row.

Torres seems to have gotten into the Serbian’s head, and has him psyched out even before the teams take to the pitch. In all truth, Vidic was lucky not to have picked up at least four yellow cards during the game in his fruitless attempts to put the Spaniard off his stride.

Fergie fumed after the encounter about the sending off but he did make some valid points about some decisions by the referee.

“We lost out to one or two major decisions. I felt Carrick in the first half was a penalty kick, but the controversial one that everyone will be talking about is when Carragher brought Michael Owen down on the edge of the box.

“The crowd got Vidic booked, and that put the ref under pressure, but this atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience or not, I don’t know, but he will certainly learn from it.”

But he finished off on the back foot as he gave Liverpool the credit they deserved.

“All in all though, Liverpool were the better team. They created more chances and were better than us on the day.”

A Torres goal and a cool finish by David N’Gog were enough to see United off as Liverpool deservedly won, 2-0.

It was a great win for Rafa, but they are still in the same predicament and need a win next week against Fulham to keep the pressure off Rafa. His statement that Chief Executive Christian Purslow told him to “take one game at a time” is ominous.

Spurs lost 1-0 to Stoke at White Hart Lane. It was a poor result for Tottenham, who dominated the match for 80 minutes before being reduced to 10 men after Aaron Lennon left the pitch with ankle ligament damage. Spurs had already made all their substitutions.

It was hailed by Tony Pulis as “our best ever Premiership result”, which does go some way to showing how far Spurs have come in one year under Redknapp.

The Chelsea machine returned to normal service as Blackburn came to the Lions’ den that is Stamford Bridge.

But all they did was show up.

Chelsea hammered five past Paul Robinson and Frank Lampard returned to his normal scoring ways by bagging two.

Bolton and Everton played out a highly entertaining game at the Reebok Stadium as Everton came from two down only to lose to an 86th-minute Klasnic goal.

It was a much needed win for Gary Megson, who is always under pressure from the Bolton faithful, regardless of results.

Manchester City continued to stutter in their recent form by surrendering a two-goal lead to Fulham, who look to be returning to the kind of form that saw them qualify for Europe last year.

Next week, they take on Liverpool and Rafa at Craven Cottage.

All of Sunderland’s recent good work against United and Liverpool was flushed down the toilet as Birmingham beat Steve Bruce’s team, 2-1.

The Blues forced the tempo for much of the match and too many Black Cats players had off days (Darren Bent, in particular).

The ex-Spurs striker really needs the manager’s arm around his shoulder all the time and loses his focus on matches if he is expected to be the main goalscorer. However, he is doing very well this year and Sunderland are well-poised to challenge for a top eight position.

Burnley’s unbeaten home run was smashed by Wigan as Roberto Martinez’s side ran out 3-1 winners with Hugo Rodeallga scoring twice.

The Clarets’ away form is really poor so far, and if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation, they will have to avoid days like these.

Hull and Portsmouth drew, 0-0. Neither side has the strikers to trouble many teams in the EPL. Phil Brown’s cause was not helped by “Dozy” Altidore sleeping late and showing up late (and then going on Twitter to say, “I’m sorry”).

In Birmingham, the Wolves tied Aston Villa, 1-1…

Wanderers have not beaten Villa since 1979 and that record continued despite a good performance against Martin O’Neill’s improving team.

Arsenal gave a big indicator as to why they won’t challenge for the title this year against West Ham as they threw away a two-goal lead against Gianfranco Zola’s struggling side.

The Gunners raced into a comfortable two-goal lead but were pegged back by the Hammers, who capitalized on defensive mistakes by Arsenal’s players as they went to sleep.

Their lazy tackles gave away a free kick, which resulted in the first goal and a late penalty, and they were lucky not to give away another as Gallas blatantly tripped Scott Parker.

The referee then made a mad decision by sending off the Hammers’ skipper after a brilliant tackle on Fabregas. Only he can tell you what he was thinking.

Wenger then turned on his players and accused them of blowing a major chance at a title tilt.

“You need to get points when you deserve to get points and sometimes when you don’t deserve to get the points.

“Today, we didn’t get the points when we deserved them, and that means we have not made the maximum of what we should have done.

“It is tight and open and that is why I am convinced that it will be tight until the end. We have a great chance this year but you cannot repeat this kind of performance we had today and not come out with three points.

“We have to keep the positives as we played well and are a strong team. We want to learn to finish these games off, which is basically the most important lesson of the day.”

“West Ham is very happy tonight and I understand that. The free kick and penalty were extremely generous. I don’t think that either should have been given.”

Fergie and Wenger obviously go to the same school of blaming the ref for their poor results…

10 Statements after Game Day 10 of the EPL Season

1) Rafa is still under extreme pressure and they need to qualify for the Group Stages of the Champions League and stay in the top four to keep his job.

2) Fernando Torres is a majestic player, and Liverpool need to achieve the above to hold onto him.

3) What would it take for Stevie G. to leave Liverpool?

4) Spurs lost a game they were expected to win. They’ve taken huge strides in the last year, but they are still mentally weak.

5) Hull, Portsmouth, and Burnley…

6) Manchester City are looking to offload Robinho…Chelsea or Barcelona?

7) Chelsea should win their appeal with the CAS, so expect a spending spree in January as they gear up for the next 18 months.

That Lee fella at Bolton looks decent.

9) Arsenal won’t win the EPL, but they could do so in an FA Cup, CL double…

10) Will Liverpool field a strong side in the Carling Cup fourth round against Arsenal? Both managers are under pressure for different reasons to bring home some silverware.

Liverpools manager Rafael Benitez’s job in severe doubt

by Willie Gannon… Following their loss at Anfield to Lyon in the Champions League, most Liverpool fans meandered away scratching their heads wondering where it has all gone wrong. A fourth defeat in four games leaves the club on their worst run for years, and manager Rafael Benitez’s job in severe doubt.

So far this season we have seen a Liverpool team who have really struggled to overcome good opposition. Beaten by Spurs, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Sunderland in the league, Liverpool entertain Manchester United this coming weekend.

The freakish nature of their defeat to Sunderland thanks to a deflection from a beach ball only served to highlight the manner of the shock performance against the Black Cats where they were played off the pitch completely.

Worrying Trend Developing at Liverpool, Inability to Beat Good Teams

And following their defeat to Lyon in the group stages of European football’s elite trophy they now stare down the barrel of a gun and could go out of the competition at such an early stage.

The added distraction that the Liverpool faithful are beginning to show their displeasure by booing his decision to take Yossi Benayoun, their best player against Lyon, off with six minutes to go at 1-1 to rest him for Saturday.

As far as the Champions League is concerned, the Anfield giants must win in Lyon on Nov. 4. If they fail to come away with all three points the remaining fixtures will be carved up between Fiorentina and Lyon and they will exit the competition.

On the pitch the team look a shambles of the side who pushed Manchester United to the limit last season.

And that is with only one real change to the starting team following Xabi Alonso’s transfer to Real Madrid for £30 million.

On paper it is only one change, Alonso for Lucas.

But in reality the change has had a catastrophic effect on Liverpool as an attacking entity.

When Alonso was in the side, he acted as a link between defence and attack, starting many attacks with his pinpoint passing. His style brought out the best in Javier Mascherano, who was happy to sit in midfield closing down spaces the opposition would dare wander into.

As a forward going player, the Argentinian offers nothing whatsoever, so when Alonso moved on to pastures new, and was replaced by young Brazilian Lucas the dynamic of the team changed completely as Lucas is closer in style to Mascherano than Alonso.

This simple change meant that Liverpool’s most potent attacking player, Steven Gerrard, was forced to come deeper, effectively neutralising him against good opposition who happily shepherded him into less dangerous positions.

Of course, Benitez is the architect of his midfield’s demise in more ways than one.

For a start, it was he who forced Alonso out of the team after he made it known he was chasing Manchester City’s Gareth Barry as the Spaniard’s replacement. When the deal with Barry’s old team, Aston Villa, collapsed he was forced to make do with Alonso for at least one more season.

Alonso Transfer Piles Pressure on Benitez to Produce or Else…

And when Alonso went looking for a transfer from the club last summer, Steven Gerrard approached his manager to try and talk him out of letting Alonso leave, to no avail. Because Benitez had his replacement already lined up.

This is where the first and second major mistakes entwine as new signing Alberto Aquilani was injured and unavailable for the first three months of the season.

Elsewhere, other problems have come into focus, namely Liverpool’s now shaky defense and complete lack of squad depth.

As far as the defense concerned, Liverpool have made two big changes in the fullback positions, where both Glen Johnson and Emiliano Insua have come in. Both are effectively better players than any of Liverpool’s fullbacks last year, but they are significantly different in one important area.

They are both attacking fullbacks, whereas last year they were defenders first.

With both players bombing on, spaces have been left behind and Liverpool’s slow centre halves have been caught out and isolated by teams with good strikers.

Jamie Carragher’s form has seen many column inches donated in the debate over whether he is finished at this level or not. But in all reality he is the same player as last year except this time around he is being exposed by the gaps his full backs are leaving on the side but also the gaps that Lucas is not covering through the centre.

This is now where the lack of squad depth is coming into focus, simply put, Liverpool do not have a squad capable of challenging for the league.

The lack of cover for Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard only gives credence to the “two-man team” theory that has been doing the rounds for some years.

Without one or the other or both, Liverpool are not the same team. They are a team who are more than the sum of their parts, especially when the world class duo are on the pitch.

With them in the team Liverpool are capable of beating anyone. Less than one year ago, they hammered four goals past both Real Madrid and Liverpool in the space of a week.

The stats back up the theory emphatically.

When Gerrard and Torres play together, Liverpool win 79 percent of their matches.

Without either that drops to 54 percent.

This stat emphasises the lack of squad depth at Liverpool. In short it brings Rafael Benitez’s transfer record to book.

In six seasons at the club Benitez has spent £210 million on 48 players.

Rafael Benitez, Arsene Wenger, and Alex Ferguson’s Transfer History

He has spent a vast amount of money rebuilding Gerard Houillier’s squad, but it would now appear as if there is little to show for it.

And his excuses of losing because his best players were not available just don’t wash, not when he has signed almost 50 players in a little over five years.

Internal disputes have not helped matters either. Only last June KPMG warned that Liverpool were in danger of becoming the next Leeds United after they failed to service their debt.

KPMG Warn That Liverpool Could Become the Next Leeds

All of these issues have combined to leave Liverpool with their worst start to a season since 1963, a year in which they ironically won the league after a similar start to the season.

In this era the chances of that happening again are remote in the slightest. Especially with the resources available to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

And now with six defeats in all competitions and their title aspirations hanging in shreds, Rafael Benitez faces possibly his toughest task to date, holding onto his job.

The Premiership title is a pipe dream, so Liverpool’s future as a club is hanging on the Champions League, perhaps it always was, as the CL can contribute some £50 million to a club without having to reach the final.

Going out in the group stages would be tantamount to financial suicide to the club so heavily leveraged in debt.

Another revelation regarding Fernando Torres’ future at the club has also come to light after Liverpool turned down a £70 million bid from Manchester City in the summer after an 11th hour re-structuring to their debt by Royal Bank of Scotland who were afraid of the backlash they would receive from putting one of football’s leading lights into administration.

Without the vital income of the Champions League, the clubs wages cannot be met alone through gate receipts and Liverpool as a club would be forced to downsize considerably. As Manchester City’s wealth pushes them towards the summit of the Premiership, Liverpool would find it almost impossible to get back into the “top four.”

It is the countdown to that Nov. 4 game against Lyon that now hangs over Rafael Benitez like a shadow.

Between now and then Liverpool face the small hurdles of Manchester United (H), Arsenal (A), and Fulham (A).

With morale as low as it has been for decades, these are not three fixtures Liverpool will be looking forward to, especially without Gerrard and Torres, should they fail to return from injury. Remember the stats?

Lose one or more of these three games and the board will have to decide if Rafael Benitez is the right man to lead them into battle against Lyon in that crunch game.

Twenty days later, just after the international break for the playoffs, Liverpool travel to Hungary to take on Debrechen in a game they should easily win on paper. Either side of that CL tie they take on Manchester City (H) and Everton (A).

Two factors come into play concerning Benitez’s future at the club. The first being Liverpool’s considerable debt, and the question as to if the board have the resources to compensate him adequately should they decide to part company, especially as he only signed a substantial new contract last season.

The other factor is that Benitez undoubadly deserves time to put things right. He has done enough over his time in charge to suggest that he can get them back into winning ways, winning the title is another question entirely.

And they did go very close to winning that elusive title last year, which in all probability magnifies this seeming collapse this year.

Rafael Benitez’s future at the club he brought an historic Champions League win in 2005 is in peril, he’s partly the architect of his own downfall, and now he has one month to save his job, and possibly save the club from financial ruin.

Dimitar Berbatov: Worst Signing Ever? or Player on the Verge of Greatness?

by  Willie Gannon… It would be fair to say that since Dimitar Berbatov’s £30.75 million pound move to Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur, that he has not set the world alight.

Before heading to Old Trafford, Berbatov’s goal-scoring was formidable to say the least. At international level he had scored 41 goals in 67 games, and with Spurs he had converted 46 goals in 102 games over two seasons, a brilliant record with almost a goal every two games.

That record has dulled somewhat since his move to the Red Devils though. In a little over one season at the club, Berbatov has returned only 17 goals from 54 games between Premiership and European action, a record of 1:3.

Many United fans would argue that the Bulgarian international had to endure being played out of position for the most part in his first season, but the truth of the matter is that he was almost exclusively used as the upper-most forward in Ferguson’s schemes while Rooney, Ronaldo, and lest we forget Carlos Tevez did the main rotating.

Red Devils fans have only seen glimpses of his undoubted ability in a red shirt, most notably a superb turn against West Ham last season. The fact that such instances have to be dredged up is a sure sign that the Bulgarian is not firing on all cylinders.

But while he is more than capable of the sublime, he can also contribute his fair share of lazy blunders, like his poor penalty against Everton in the FA Cup Semi-final last season, that cost United a chance at a historic quadruple.

So what is the problem with Berbatov?

Well according to himself, nothing at all.

“You know,” he says, “when someone has great qualities sometimes they don’t have to put much effort into things. Sometimes the things I do look effortless but it’s not like that. It’s very difficult, but because of my style of play I make it look easy.”

Berbatov is described like this on Manchester United’s official website.

“Dimitar Berbatov is a classy and complete centre-forward, pairing the ability to ruthlessly and regularly find the net inside the box with an aptitude to create moments of sheer magic outside it.

“Sir Alex likes players with plenty of charisma in the way they play, and the Bulgarian’s languid style is instantly recognisable on the field. It’s also an approach that has drawn comparisons with former United talisman Eric Cantona.”

Typical spiel that you would find about any player on their teams website, but it is one that some Manchester United fans fervently believe.

For a start, Berbatov is nowhere near being a complete centre-forward, for that you only have to look across other teams in the Premiership. Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and even Wayne Rooney, are far more complete players than the ex-Spurs player, with Torres in particular being one of the greatest if not the greatest exponent of forward play in the world today.

What Berbatov does have over these players is a creative side that verges on genius. His ability to pick out a seemingly impossible pass from nowhere gives him an edge over his “lone striker” rivals in that he is slightly more versatile.

That versatility is what made Alex Ferguson move for him in the first place, but when push came to shove, Berbatov proved to be versatile in only two positions instead of the three or four that his new manager had hoped.

With a distinct lack of pace over long or short distances, Berbatov is instantly redundant out wide, so in playing to his strengths, Ferguson plays him as a direct centre-forward or just off it.

Conventional wisdom would say that Manchester United had a phenomenal season last year, being pipped at the post on their historic journey for four trophies. And it was, but they had to carry an unhappy Ronaldo and a misfiring Berbatov through many matches, often leaving the team with only nine outfield players trying.

Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez were direct contrasts to each other last season, in more ways than one.

One player worked his guts out every week in trying to secure a new contract, to the extent that Manchester United’s fans even turned against their manager for a few brief moments when they called for him to sign the Argentinian.

Meanwhile, Berbatov seemed happy to have finally arrived at one of the worlds great clubs, and forgot that the real hard work was only starting.

Tevez was not alone in the way he approached the game at Old Trafford. Alex Ferguson has had many players like him who subscribe to the basic fundamentals of the game.

Players like Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, and John O’Shea, these players have only one agenda when they step onto a pitch and that’s to win the ball, and the game in that order.

It’s this basic truth and essential part of the game that makes it so hard to understand why Ferguson continues to indulge Dimitar Berbatov, particularly when it is so obvious to everyone that every time he steps out onto the pitch that he can give so much more and is not playing at 100 percent, or that he is denying a place for someone who could make a difference.

Last season ended disappointingly for Berbatov. The player we saw on the pitch was not the final piece of the never-ending jigsaw that everyone thought he would be.

Perhaps it was having to indulge the antics of Ronaldo who refused to allow anyone else at United take the alpha role at the club, or perhaps it was the massive transfer fee and the pressure of playing for a great club.

It would seem that all of the above played their part in his below par season.

Berbatov for the first time has spoken of his self-doubt, and of insecurity and how he was “plagued by United’s former legends”.

“In my first year I was disappointed in myself. I need to say that. It was a big pressure for me and maybe I failed myself. I think I wanted to prove myself to these supporters.

“You must remember, they are used to Best, Charlton, Cantona. I am just Dimitar.”

Regarding the dissatisfaction of some United supporters with his work rate, effectiveness and attitude on the pitch, and some allegations that he is a “Berbasloth,” the Bulgarian put on a defiant face, saying “that is my fault, not theirs. It is me who must change”.

With such an introspective view of how last season went, many United fans are still in hope that this season goes well for the player who was voted the second worst English transfer of all time.

But this season has been a continuation of last year if anything.

It would seem that Fergie and Berbatov have something of a trust issue going on, if the first eight games to the Premiership season are to go by.

Of an available 720 minutes (eight matches), Berbatov has only played 515 minutes, including three full games, which means that he has failed to play the full 90 in over half the matches this year.

His best performance to date was in Manchester United’s 5-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic where he seemed to cut the Latics to pieces. The following weekend he was dropped to the bench for the Red Devils biggest game of the season so far when United entertained title rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Does Ferguson see Berbatov as being central to United’s cause, or just another cog in the machine?

The jury is still out on Dimitar Berbatov’s time at Old Trafford, and that’s what makes it so infuriating.

He is a player who has all the assets needed to play at the highest level, but it is his attitude that lets him down time and time again.

United’s supporters have been patient during his 54 games at the club and some would point to his slightly better performances this season as being the green shoots of a newer better Berbatov.

But his time at United is running out. Alex Ferguson is famous for giving his players chances, especially if he feels they are capable of much more. Berbatov definitely fits into this category.

Unless his performances dramatically improve, he might find himself on the long list of players who have failed under the shadows of some of the games greats at the Theatre of Dreams.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Modric To Replace Paul Scholes at Manchester United?

by Willie Gannon… Luka Modric has a growing set of admirers, his performances for Tottenham Hotspur since signing from Dinamo Zagreb for £16.5 million, have set him apart at White Hart Lane as their only potential world class player. And just as Harry has the team humming, it seems that the little maestro from Zaton could be a transfer target for Manchester United.

Modric first came to prominence in England after he orchestrated Croatia’s famous victories over the Three Lions in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, which culminated in Steve McLaren being sacked as England boss after they failed to qualify for the final tournament.

During Euro 2008, Modric was named in the team of the tournament by Gerard Houillier, who had this to say about the player.

“Not only is he a very hard worker, he has a good brain and he provided some calmness and composure to the midfield. His passing was neat and his contribution was outstanding.

“He was not only winning the ball, he was passing well. We thought that he was very influential. He did not just work hard, he made the other people play well around him.”

It was only a matter of time before one of Europe’s big guns came in for the play-maker but it was Spurs under the stewardship of Juande Ramos that snook in under every-ones noses and signed him to a six year contract.

Spurs under Ramos were a far cry from the organized team that Harry Redknapp now employs, although the Spaniard was handcuffed to some extent by, ex-Director of Football, Damien Comolli’s transfer sales at the club.

After pinpointing Modric as the attacking fulcrum for his team, Ramos soon discovered that he had not received any of his other targets in addition to that he also lost both of his strikers, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.

Without his forwards, Ramos had to change his starting XI around and Modric was forced to switch position from attacking midfielder just behind the front two to a more combative role in central midfield.

After an unbeaten preseason, but now without their forward line, Spurs got off to their worst start since 1912. Modric was a lone figure in a team that had lost some of it’s best players.

Unfamiliar to this new position, his form dipped and the English media, always quick to find weakness, poured scorn on the “lightweight” Modric as a central midfielder, not knowing that while more than capable in filling a void, Modric was being used out of position.

Since Redknapp took over in October of 2008, Modric has found himself again out of his favoured position, as Redknapp prefers a straight 442, but in acknowledging the Croatian’s genius on the ball, Harry has allowed him a free role that has seen him pop up all over the pitch, but usually behind the front two.

“He has been great, he comes in off the left and finds space,’ Redknapp said of his play-making midfielder. ‘It seems to have suited him and he has slotted into that position fantastically.

“He can play anywhere really, he’s that good. ‘When you’re playing with smaller players you are looking to pass and play your way in, and Luka pops up in that inside position and it’s a problem for full-backs.

“He has even played centrally and was great. He’s a fantastic talent.”

Before his injury, Modric was in such rare form that many managers were left scratching their heads in trying to figure out how to mark him out of the game.

That headache was taken out of the equation for both Carlo Ancellotti and Alex Ferguson after Luka broke his leg against Birmingham, and it is no small coincidence that Spurs were such easy pushovers in those two matches without Modric’s influence.

The instruction for the rest of the team is simple—get Modric on the ball.

“That’s what I tell them,” Redknapp said. “We’ve got to keep giving him the ball because you get him on the ball and he makes things happen.”

In returning to form under Redknapp, Modric has again begun to catch the eye of some of Europe’s most well known teams and managers. Capable of playing anywhere across midfield and with technique second to none, Modric would be an exquisite addition to any team.

Over the past six months Alex Ferguson has spoken of his admiration for the Croat playmaker time and time again, and as late as last August Modric was linked in a player plus cash deal involving Michael Carrick as Fergie steps up his attempts to find an heir to Paul Scholes.

Both Giggs and Scholes are in the twilight of their careers, and had United not been defeated by Barcelona in last seasons Champions League final they most probably would have retired.

That date was put off as United embark on another mission to capture European footballs elite trophy, but the duo do not have long left at the top.

Giggs is perhaps in a better position than Scholes as he is far more versatile, but Scholes influence in the middle of the pitch is just as important, if not more.

This is where Ferguson sees Modric, a direct replacement for one of the ageing duo.

After their Carling Cup Final victory over Spurs last season, Alex Ferguson was quick to commiserate with losing manager Redknapp, but he also let him know how big of an admirer of Modric he was.

Ferguson has already lost one talismanic figure in Cristiano Ronaldo, but received £80 million in compensation for the Portuguese. That money now lies relatively untouched in the vaults at Old Trafford and United now face the prospect of losing two of their most important players with nothing to show for it.

Ferguson could be forced to bring in a replacement in January so he would have time to settle before next season.

The Croatian Cryuff has settled into the frentic pace of the Premiership with Spurs, and with the players like Wilson Palacios in the team Modric now has the perfect foundation in place for him to perform to the heights he is capable of.

Spurs are benefiting thus far, but they will have a battle on their hands if and when Alex Ferguson comes inquiring.

Lifeless England Well Beaten by Ukraine as Robert Green Sees Red in Qualifier

by Willie Gannon… Ten man England lost their 100 percent record in Group Six of the World Cup Qualifiers going down 1-0 to Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk, after Robert Green became the first-ever English goalkeeper to be sent off in an international fixture.

The West Ham stopper saw red in the 13th minute for bringing down Artem Milevskiy who was clear on goal after Rio Ferdinand’s defensive error.

Andrei Shevchenko stepped up to take the resulting penalty and sent substitute ‘keeper David James the wrong way only to see his effort cannon off the post and out.

The winning goal came from a deflected shot from Sergiy Nazarenko in the 30th minute, Ashley Cole’s touch taking the ball well away from the outstretched James, who had no chance.

It was all the hosts deserved as they took the game to England in a very hostile atmosphere, which could leave the Ukrainian FA facing severe sanctions from UEFA after the referee had to stop the match twice to clear flares from the pitch.

The crucial win sees Ukraine leapfrog Croatia into a potential playoff place with only one game to go. The result seems a foregone conclusion as Ukraine travel to lowly Andorra, who are still without a point and who have so far conceded 33 goals from only nine matches.

Should Ukraine qualify for the playoffs as expected, they will face one from France, Russia, Portugal, or Greece, after FIFA changed the playoff rules last week to favour the higher ranking teams so they could not draw each other.

The sending off had immediate ramifications for Tottenham Hotspur’s Aaron Lennon, who Capello immediately withdrew despite his good start to the game.

With England down to ten men, and employing a 4-3-2 formation, Ukraine unsurprisingly dominated possession.

Rio Ferdinand, playing only his third game for England in the last 12 months, carried his club form into the international arena and put in a display that will possibly leave Fabio Capello looking for answers elsewhere as he puts his team together for their assault on South Africa.

Ukraine dictated the flow of the game, but they didn’t really create much before Nazarenko’s goal. It sparked some life into England though as Frank Lampard’s shot went agonizingly close to finding the angle of the goal as it sailed wide.

But Milevskiy came close to doubling Ukraine’s lead when his rising shot smashed off the upright, with James well beaten again.

The goalkeeping situation for Capello is almost reaching boiling point. Ben Foster is low on confidence and does not have the required concentration for international football, Robert Green is in a similar boat to Foster so that leaves James, who was never top class, and at 39 has seen his best days go by.

For England there were few highlights in the first half other than Glen Johnson’s penetrating runs up the right.

Steven Gerrard made way for Aston Villa’s James Milner at half time, after the Liverpool man appeared to pick up a knock in a challenge by Kobin in injury time.

His club manager will be sweating on the physio report as Liverpool embark on their toughest run of fixtures over the coming weeks. Without Gerrard, their title ambitions would be severely hampered.

England were more composed after the break, the foundation in formation that Milner gave over Gerrard seemed to suit the team better and they started to get slightly on top.

They still had to be on their toes though, as David James pulled off a wonder save that denied Ukraine a certain goal as he tipped Rakitskiy’s 40-yard thunderbolt over the bar.

The Three Lions continued to have good possession, but they created very little in chances, and they had James to thank again late on after he blocked a shot from Yarmolenko following a swift counter-attack after Johnson had lost possession.

It was a very poor performance by England. Having gained qualification last month, this game was an important one as it would have sent a signal to all of England’s rivals that they were a force to be reckoned with.

But the manner of their performance will leave Capello scratching his head as to what went wrong. Important players throughout the team, particularly defence, put in sub-standard performances, and only the indomitable Wayne Rooney can hold his head high.

Not one defender merited a performance award higher than a six, and Rio Ferdinand was someway behind that again.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were somewhat subdued in the 4-3-2 formation, that obviously had a large effect on England’s forward play.

The vast majority of the 23-man World Cup squad picks itself, but Capello will have some huge decisions to make concerning some key positions, and there could be some massive casualties as players get left out of the squad.

Namely Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender has only played three times under Capello in the last year, and is so clearly lacking match fitness at this level, despite claiming he is fully fit.

With players like Gary Cahill knocking on the door and others like Everton’s Phil Jagielka still to come back from injury, Ferdinand could have a battle on his hands if his form does not improve between now and next April.

South Africa beckons.

EPL Review: Chelsea Stuff Liverpool, Arsenal Get Six, Spurs Get 12, and Hull!

by Willie Gannon… Week eight of the EPL season doubled the amount of draws we’ve had so far. Didier Drogba took Jamie Carragher apart, Arsenal scored six against Blackburn, Spurs brought their tally of goalscorers this season to 12, and Hull pulled off a massively needed win against Wigan.

Portsmouth…in the midst of their 16th takeover this season and without a point from the first seven games, travelled to Molineaux in a relegation six pointer. French youngster Yebda scored the only goal of the game to give Pompey and Paul Hart a deserved first win.

Mick McCarthy summed it up well after the game, “I know Paul Hart well, but I’m not happy for him. I can’t be. I wanted to heap more misery on him today. Sympathy is in short supply here…”

Manchester United scored in injury time for the third time this year, as a 94th minute equalizer robbed Steve Bruce of his first win over Alex Ferguson in 13 attempts.

In the Black Cats midfield Andy Reid put on a real show in the 2-2 win…but his recent brilliant form hasn’t been good enough to get him back into the Ireland squad, Trappatoni preferring to go for Martin Rowland of QPR…

Hull pulled off the unthinkable by beating Wigan 2-1 at the KC. If there is one team to stay away from when betting it’s Wigan. They beat Villa away, and Chelsea, and then lose to Hull.

It was such a monumental occasion, not because of the win, but because Phil Brown actually looks to be finally learning.

“Is it a relief? No. Joy springs to mind but I don’t feel relief. It’s more that I’m pleased for the players.”Yep, that’s right, he isn’t just pleased for himself.

The Clarets continued their impressive home form with a well deserved 2-1 win over lacklustre Birmingham. The Blues have been strangely defensive in their approach to most games this year. McLeish often uses one man up front, even at home, and on this evidence it is no small wonder that they scored so few in the Championship last year.

Continue to play the way they do and they’ll be back there next season.

The final Saturday fixture saw Spurs out-Bolton Bolton. Two longs balls led to Lillywhites scoring twice as two thirds of Tottenham’s Croatian connection scored. The real story was that Vedran Corluka was Spurs’ 12th goal-scorer of the season.

The draw was a good result on paper, but as with all of Saturday’s matches the standard was bloody awful. A pain to sit through, and everyone prayed that Sunday’s games would be better.

The Sabbath day started well with another 2-2 draw between West Ham and 10-man Fulham. It was a desperate result for both teams who are struggling near the relegation zone, add that to the rumours that the Hammers are close to going into administration and the winter could be a tough one for little Gianfranco.

Then Everton played Stoke. I felt like gouging my eyes out. 1-1. Good goal by Osman though.

The appetiser was at the Emirates as a very open Blackburn tried to take Arsenal on at their own game.

And despite the 6-2 scoreline they almost succeeded. Arsenal played very well, the football was as you would expect. Nice, intricate, flowing.

But at 3-2 down Blackburn had a blatant penalty turned down, and then at 4-2 down they hit the post.

In the end the six different scorers of Arsenal took home the three points. One should point out that Fabregas had five assists and scored the other himself.

Then came the main course.

Liverpool had been struggling of late but they fancied their chances against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. After all, it was the Reds who ended Chelsea’s 86 game unbeaten run at the ground last year with a 1-0 win which was inspired by Robbie Keane.

There was to be no repeat. Chelsea controlled the game and bullied Liverpool for the most part. The 2-0 win was a fair result in the end and now struggling Liverpool take on Sunderland, United, Lyon, and Arsenal over their next four games.

Rafa will be praying to any God that listens that Steve G and Torres come through the international window unscathed.

In actual fact, the final game of the weekend was probably the most interesting. Both Gareth Barry and Richard Dunne were playing against the clubs they used to captain. And while one left for money, the other was forced to leave.

Dunne drew first blood when he out-jumped Barry to power home his header from Young’s corner. He put in a magnificent performance, and even showed a touch of class when he refused to celebrate against his old team.

Showing Garry Cook that his dignity is not for sale.

10 statements about week 8-

1) Hull’s win over Wigan was only their 3rd in 30 games, they still look doomed.

2) Liverpool’s next six games are against Sunderland (a), Lyon (h), Man Utd (h), Arsenal (a), Fulham (a), Lyon (a).

By mid November they will be out of the running for the Premier League and quite possibly the Champions League too.

3) Rafa is a great bet to be sacked before Christmas.

4) Fergie made too many changes, and then tried to cover it up with his poor comment about the referee’s fitness.

5) Fair play to Richard Dunne.

6) Would you buy Pompey?

7) Did Harry use tax-evasion or tax-avoidance?

Arsenal need a pivotal player in the Adebayor mould if they are to challenge for the league.

9) Only 8 draws from 76 games so far means that bookies are losing millions.

10) Four teams in the top five are playing without their first choice goalkeepers at the moment.

Worrying Trend Developing at Liverpool, Inability To Beat Good Teams…

by Willie Gannon… Liverpool have played 11 matches this season, four of them against decent opposition and they have lost all four. Is a trend beginning to develop at Anfield that could deny the club of that coveted Premiership title?

Liverpool slumped to their 4th defeat in 11 games with a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge against high flying Chelsea. The result leaves them just outside the top four and with an uphill battle if they are to have any say in the direction of the title this season.

The loss at Chelsea was always likely, neither side have been playing well over the last couple of weeks, but the Pensioners have a much stronger squad and when push came to shove their experience and guile pulled them through.

It was the manner of the defeat that will hurt most Liverpool fans though. The Reds only threatened occasionally and both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were expertly marshaled out of the game by a clever Chelsea side.

It was similar in the first game of the season when Liverpool travelled to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham. The Reds had hammered Spurs 3-1 at Anfield in the last game of last season and more was expected this time around.

But a new look Spurs took the game to Liverpool, and again both star players were ushered out of the game before Spurs took complete control to inflict the first defeat of the season on Rafael Benitez’s team.

The following weekend Liverpool were to taste defeat again. This time Martin O’Neill’s struggling Aston Villa travelled to Anfield. They produced a perfect smash and grab performance to win 3-2.

Again Liverpool struggled to create much, and found it very difficult to deal with Villa’s counter attacking game.

The end result meant that after three games of the new season, Liverpool had lost as many games as they had in the entire of the previous one.

Both Villa and Spurs are expected to challenge for the Europa League positions this season (5th to 7th), and are decent teams, but they were challenging for the same positions last season, and teams with title ambitions like Liverpool, United, and Chelsea should be putting these type teams to the sword.

A good run of results against the weaker teams in the EPL saw Liverpool win four games on the bounce and score a credible 16 goals, which set them up with their best goal difference start to the league of all time.

In reality though, Liverpool were showing signs of weakness.

In between those four Premiership games, Liverpool took on Debrechen from Hungary in their first game of this seasons Champions League group stage. The Hungarian champions, the only actual champions in group E, were expected to be cannon fodder for the Reds.

Over the course of their 1-0 win Liverpool continued to struggle to break down their opposition. Debrechen came with a game plan, and left it up to the Reds to break them down, again Liverpool struggled.

Their next game was against Gianfranco Zola’s struggling West Ham side. The first half was a very tense affair but the class of Fernando Torres widened the gulf between the two teams as Liverpool moved to a 3-2 win.

Next was Leeds in the Carling Cup. A 1-0 win for the reserves over Leeds was enough to see Liverpool through to the next round against Arsenal but baring in mind that Leeds are a League One team, the difference in class of the opposing teams was not very apparent.

A return to form against relegation bound Hull City saw Fernando Torres run them ragged with a fantastic hattrick as the Anfield giants roared to an impressive 6-1 win.

Liverpool then had to travel to Florence to take on Italy’s 4th placed team, Fiorentina. This was to be their biggest test since the Aston Villa game. Their first real opposition since then.

A dreadful performance saw the Viola run out well deserved 2-0 winners with Montenegro’s striker Stevan Jovetic bagging both goals.

Four days later the Reds travelled to Stamford Bridge to take on their fourth good team this season, and the rest is history,

The Liverpool unit of this season are a very different beast from the team last year. League wise, the Reds only lost twice last year, to Spurs and Middlesbrough.

They did start slowly last year with a run of poor performances against Middlesbrough and Sunderland amongst others, but as the best teams often do, they prevailed against the weaker opposition and emerged as real title contenders after Christmas.

They put in an incredible run of results from March that saw them thump not only Real Madrid but also Manchester United on the way to winning 10 games and only drawing once from March.

They were expected to kick on in the same vein this year.

But there are huge differences between this seasons Liverpool team and the team who finished 2nd last year. And the club have a few problem areas.

The defence:

On paper, the right full back problem has been finally cured.

Fair enough, Rafael Benitez did overpay for Johnson, a sum of £18 million was exchanged between Liverpool and Portsmouth for the players services. For the exorbitant fee, Rafa gained the best attacking full back in the EPL. But also one who is not a great defender.

His marauding runs are creating havoc for opposing teams but when Liverpool are hit on the counter as they often are as favourites, the lack of pace in their central duo is being exposed. Jamie Carragher in particular is coming under intense scrutiny for the manner of his performances this year.

On the left, Emiliano Insua is still learning his trade, but that is scant consolation for a team that needs every player up to speed straight away.

The midfield:

There have been as many column inches written about how Liverpool were going to miss Xabi Alonso’s influence as there were when he was a player. Alonso was always a player who came in under the radar. A players player. He did the simple things that others would not. Little passes, little tackles, little runs. Alonso was an excellent player. One the team could not afford to lose.

But lose him they did. It says much about the respect that his fellow players at Liverpool had for him when Steven Gerrard went to Benitez before the transfer begging him not to sell the player. After the sale, by Benitez, Gerrard told his manager of how he was “utterly disconsolate” at losing his midfield maestro.

Young Lucas Leivia had big boots to fill. And he has failed to do so.

Javier Mascherano looks less of a player without Alonso, so too does Gerrard, who now spends much of his time backtracking to pick up the ball when he was used to picking up Alonso’s forward passes.

The squad:

Liverpool’s squad is paper thin. Considering that Rafael Benitez has spent some £200 million over five seasons on 48 players, so the squad should definitely be stronger. But when you go through the seven substitutes on the bench against Spurs it makes grim reading.

Cavalieri, Kelly, Dossena, Benayoun, Spearing, Ayala, and Voronin. Of this group of players only Yossi Benayoun stands out as a player of high enough calibre to play for a club like Liverpool.

The manager:

Like it or not, and most Liverpool fans will not. Rafa is one of the problems at the club, or at least the owners see him as one of the problems. His transfer record has come under intense scrutiny in recent times and led to Rafa only being given a couple of million to spend last summer.

As recent as last year, Jurgen Klinsmann was sounded out by Rick Parry about becoming the next Liverpool manager, and twice in the last nine months bookmakers have closed the book on Rafa being sacked.

What you can take from this is that there is no smoke without fire and somebody of high ranking power within the club wants Rafa out, and is beginning to hamper him in running the club by withholding transfer funds.

Less than one week after the transfer window closed, the club announced a record £80 million sponsorship deal. And none of that money has been earmarked for transfers.

Benitez is under intense pressure to produce a Premier League title, but with three league defeats from their first eight games it looks most unlikely.

If there is a club who could do it though it will be Liverpool.

The only other team to win win the league title with three losses from their first eight games was Liverpool, in 1899.

Football has changed since then, and now Rafa needs his team to rediscover their form against decent opposition.

Last season Liverpool went unbeaten against fellow top four opposition. Winning four and drawing twice. They have already lost once to them this year and will now have to win the other five games to have any chance of winning the league.

It looks a tall order at this early stage of the season and Rafael Benitez has his work cut out if Liverpool are to win the league this year.

« Previous Page — Next Page »