Events on the pitch during Monday’s nights Premiership encounter with Aston Villa seemed to take second stage to the vocal demonstrations of support for Rafa Benitez being played out in the stands of Anfield.
This overwhelming showing of unity for the Liverpool manager is a more than commendable act, and one that suggests that the object of the fans' ire lies elsewhere. However, is it entirely fair for the club’s supporters to place the blame for Liverpool’s faltering season squarely at the door of the club’s now despised American owners?
Taking a look at the Premiership table today is less than pleasant reading for those of a red persuasion on Merseyside. The club finds itself fourteen points behind the league’s pacesetters Manchester United and Arsenal, two points behind bitter local rivals Everton, and yet again out of the title race long before the end of the season.
Even analysing the Reds' Champions League campaign, so often the source of Rafa Benitez’s salvation, shows a season in which Liverpool made incredibly hard work of a more than elementary qualifying group, and are now faced with the daunting prospect of facing Italian giants Inter Milan. As such, it is not inconceivable for Benitez’s side to be out of the two competitions he would have most dearly liked to compete for come the beginning of March.
With players of the calibre of Fernando Torres, Andrei Voronin, Ryan Babel, Yossi Bennayoun and Lucas Leiva joining the club during the summer, the reality of Liverpool’s progress in the 2007/08 season comes as a shattering blow to the optimism generated by Hicks and Gillets' £45m spending spree.
One of the major reasons for such stunted progress this season can be clearly linked to Benitez’s warped view of what it takes to win the Premier League. Whilst managers such as Wenger, Ferguson, Mourinho and even Avram Grant have quickly learnt that the Premiership title race now resembles a sprint from start to finish, Benitez’s safety first approach has severely hampered Liverpool’s title aspirations.
Perplexing decisions, such as resting Fernando Torres for the home draw against Birmingham City in September then playing him in the Carling Cup against Reading, have drawn warranted criticism. Furthermore, Benitez’s reluctance to play the exciting Ryan Babel regularly, whilst still selecting a criminally out of form Harry Kewell, have denied his team a much needed source of attacking inspiration.
Benitez’s lack of attacking desire has also denied his team crucial points. Whilst Sir Alex Ferguson has been more than happy to withdraw defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves as soon as Manchester United have needed a goal, Benitez has been severely reluctant to do the same. For example, as Liverpool pressed Manchester City in the closing stages of their 0-0 draw in December, Javier Mascherano remained on the pitch, talisman Steven Gerrard played a deep lying midfield role, and supplementary striker Peter Crouch didn’t even enter the fray until the last 10 minutes of the game.
Another hallmark of Liverpool’s season has been a failure to push home any advantage over an opponent. Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa highlighted this, with Liverpool beginning the game well, scoring the opening goal, then sitting back and allowing Martin O’Neill’s side to come in to the match.
Furthermore, Liverpool have yet again failed to compete with their ‘Big Four’ rivals head to head this season. While a terrible refereeing decision cost the Reds victory against Chelsea, Arsenal dominated proceedings during the 1-1 Anfield draw, and the limp home defeat to Manchester United showed a Liverpool side devoid of any attacking gusto. Indeed, only two points from a possible nine at Anfield against such teams has played a major role in Liverpool’s non-existent title challenge.
Another worrying aspect of Liverpool’s season has been the fact that even lowly Sunderland have won more home games (5) this season than Liverpool (4). Such poor home form should be a problem in itself, but when this is compared with their strong home record in previous campaigns a worrying lack of consistency can be seen.
As such it would seem that the un-wavering support of a major portion of the Anfield faithful towards their beleaguered manager would seem almost misguided. Whilst it is impossible to defend the underhand antics of the club’s American owners, it is an obvious fact that such moves would not have occurred if everything was playing out perfectly on the pitch.
If Rafa Benitez is going to quell the doubts emanating from the Anfield boardroom, it is essential that Liverpool are seen to be competing with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premiership title, instead of merely scrapping for the fourth Champions League qualifying position with Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Only then will Benitez be able to rely on the support of Gillett and Hicks in the same way he can rely on those of his loyal supporters.
This overwhelming showing of unity for the Liverpool manager is a more than commendable act, and one that suggests that the object of the fans' ire lies elsewhere. However, is it entirely fair for the club’s supporters to place the blame for Liverpool’s faltering season squarely at the door of the club’s now despised American owners?
Taking a look at the Premiership table today is less than pleasant reading for those of a red persuasion on Merseyside. The club finds itself fourteen points behind the league’s pacesetters Manchester United and Arsenal, two points behind bitter local rivals Everton, and yet again out of the title race long before the end of the season.
Even analysing the Reds' Champions League campaign, so often the source of Rafa Benitez’s salvation, shows a season in which Liverpool made incredibly hard work of a more than elementary qualifying group, and are now faced with the daunting prospect of facing Italian giants Inter Milan. As such, it is not inconceivable for Benitez’s side to be out of the two competitions he would have most dearly liked to compete for come the beginning of March.
With players of the calibre of Fernando Torres, Andrei Voronin, Ryan Babel, Yossi Bennayoun and Lucas Leiva joining the club during the summer, the reality of Liverpool’s progress in the 2007/08 season comes as a shattering blow to the optimism generated by Hicks and Gillets' £45m spending spree.
One of the major reasons for such stunted progress this season can be clearly linked to Benitez’s warped view of what it takes to win the Premier League. Whilst managers such as Wenger, Ferguson, Mourinho and even Avram Grant have quickly learnt that the Premiership title race now resembles a sprint from start to finish, Benitez’s safety first approach has severely hampered Liverpool’s title aspirations.
Perplexing decisions, such as resting Fernando Torres for the home draw against Birmingham City in September then playing him in the Carling Cup against Reading, have drawn warranted criticism. Furthermore, Benitez’s reluctance to play the exciting Ryan Babel regularly, whilst still selecting a criminally out of form Harry Kewell, have denied his team a much needed source of attacking inspiration.
Benitez’s lack of attacking desire has also denied his team crucial points. Whilst Sir Alex Ferguson has been more than happy to withdraw defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves as soon as Manchester United have needed a goal, Benitez has been severely reluctant to do the same. For example, as Liverpool pressed Manchester City in the closing stages of their 0-0 draw in December, Javier Mascherano remained on the pitch, talisman Steven Gerrard played a deep lying midfield role, and supplementary striker Peter Crouch didn’t even enter the fray until the last 10 minutes of the game.
Another hallmark of Liverpool’s season has been a failure to push home any advantage over an opponent. Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa highlighted this, with Liverpool beginning the game well, scoring the opening goal, then sitting back and allowing Martin O’Neill’s side to come in to the match.
Furthermore, Liverpool have yet again failed to compete with their ‘Big Four’ rivals head to head this season. While a terrible refereeing decision cost the Reds victory against Chelsea, Arsenal dominated proceedings during the 1-1 Anfield draw, and the limp home defeat to Manchester United showed a Liverpool side devoid of any attacking gusto. Indeed, only two points from a possible nine at Anfield against such teams has played a major role in Liverpool’s non-existent title challenge.
Another worrying aspect of Liverpool’s season has been the fact that even lowly Sunderland have won more home games (5) this season than Liverpool (4). Such poor home form should be a problem in itself, but when this is compared with their strong home record in previous campaigns a worrying lack of consistency can be seen.
As such it would seem that the un-wavering support of a major portion of the Anfield faithful towards their beleaguered manager would seem almost misguided. Whilst it is impossible to defend the underhand antics of the club’s American owners, it is an obvious fact that such moves would not have occurred if everything was playing out perfectly on the pitch.
If Rafa Benitez is going to quell the doubts emanating from the Anfield boardroom, it is essential that Liverpool are seen to be competing with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premiership title, instead of merely scrapping for the fourth Champions League qualifying position with Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Only then will Benitez be able to rely on the support of Gillett and Hicks in the same way he can rely on those of his loyal supporters.
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