Euro glory can relieve Liverpool's pain in the Arsenal
After being dumped out of both domestic cup competitions, and with the Premiership title out of range, Rafael Benitez has one last throw of the dice in the Champions League. Can he pull off a miracle? As déjà vu sets in and Liverpool fall to Arsenal twice in four days and for the third time this season, one has to ponder on the mindset of Rafael Benitez. Has the French professor [Arsene Wenger] got the measure of him?
The wisdom in fielding a lightweight squad going into one of Liverpool's last few opportunities of silverware this season has to be questioned. The most startling inclusion has to be Jerzy Dudek, who, Istanbul heroics aside, has somehow forgotten the art of saving goals. Today, if he decided to end his misery by diving in front of a bus, I’m pretty sure even the bus would slip though his fingers.Benitez is a man of his word, and he promised Dudek he’d play him in the domestic Cups. Very expensive promises they turned out to be as the keeper flapped his way out of the hearts of the Kop. I think it is safe to say that Liverpool need a new, improved second-choice keeper, someone who would be able to keep Pepe Reina on his toes, someone to challenge him for the Number 1 jerzy (excuse the pun). Something Dudek seems incapable of, judging by recent form.
Another problem seems to be the huge gap between the first team and reserves. Somehow the youngsters seem out of depth when called up for first-team action. This is something Wenger seems to have mastered, as all his young charges seem well equipped for the transition from the youth squad. This is something the Liverpool staff should be aspiring to.
Thierry Henry’s comments on the electric atmosphere at Anfield had Koppites dreaming of a fairytale move for Mr Va-va Voom to Merseyside. But this is, of course, highly unlikely. Wenger’s young side have been moulded around Henry, and he seems destined to end his career at the Emirates. It is fair to say he saves his best performances for the Gunners, as he tends plays a less influential role for his native France.
Benitez will most probably stick with his own formula that proved to be successful for him at Valencia, and more recently with Liverpool in the Champions League and FA Cup respectively. Benitez may be the 'King of Cups', but his two chances of domestic silverware have slipped through his fingers. The Kop will be screaming for a go at the league, which seems out of reach for Liverpool at this stage. Maybe in future seasons this could be a reality, but with the new players only fully functioning recently, Anfield fans will have to patient.
There is one plus point in all of this. Liverpool now have the opportunity to concentrate fully on the Champions league and every player will be able to target his energy to bringing a sixth European Cup home. And in Barcelona, there’s no escaping the fact that the Reds are underdogs in the tie, and that’s when they perform beyond themselves.
The return of Samuel Et’o coincides with the return of the 'new Patrick Vieira' in Mohamed Sissoko, who with his bite in the centre of midfield undoubtedly leaves Rafa will selection problems -- the kind he’d be really pleased to have. The Liverpool injury curse continues with Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia out of the fray. Sissoko's return means Xabi Alonso might have to give way or Steven Gerrard might return to the graveyard shift on the right. "The only thing I can do is say sorry to our supporters because they are the best in the game," Benitez said after the Arsenal fiasco. Fans will demand more, however, and rightly so.
After being dumped out of both domestic cup competitions, and with the Premiership title out of range, Rafael Benitez has one last throw of the dice in the Champions League. Can he pull off a miracle? As déjà vu sets in and Liverpool fall to Arsenal twice in four days and for the third time this season, one has to ponder on the mindset of Rafael Benitez. Has the French professor [Arsene Wenger] got the measure of him?
The wisdom in fielding a lightweight squad going into one of Liverpool's last few opportunities of silverware this season has to be questioned. The most startling inclusion has to be Jerzy Dudek, who, Istanbul heroics aside, has somehow forgotten the art of saving goals. Today, if he decided to end his misery by diving in front of a bus, I’m pretty sure even the bus would slip though his fingers.Benitez is a man of his word, and he promised Dudek he’d play him in the domestic Cups. Very expensive promises they turned out to be as the keeper flapped his way out of the hearts of the Kop. I think it is safe to say that Liverpool need a new, improved second-choice keeper, someone who would be able to keep Pepe Reina on his toes, someone to challenge him for the Number 1 jerzy (excuse the pun). Something Dudek seems incapable of, judging by recent form.
Another problem seems to be the huge gap between the first team and reserves. Somehow the youngsters seem out of depth when called up for first-team action. This is something Wenger seems to have mastered, as all his young charges seem well equipped for the transition from the youth squad. This is something the Liverpool staff should be aspiring to.
Thierry Henry’s comments on the electric atmosphere at Anfield had Koppites dreaming of a fairytale move for Mr Va-va Voom to Merseyside. But this is, of course, highly unlikely. Wenger’s young side have been moulded around Henry, and he seems destined to end his career at the Emirates. It is fair to say he saves his best performances for the Gunners, as he tends plays a less influential role for his native France.
Benitez will most probably stick with his own formula that proved to be successful for him at Valencia, and more recently with Liverpool in the Champions League and FA Cup respectively. Benitez may be the 'King of Cups', but his two chances of domestic silverware have slipped through his fingers. The Kop will be screaming for a go at the league, which seems out of reach for Liverpool at this stage. Maybe in future seasons this could be a reality, but with the new players only fully functioning recently, Anfield fans will have to patient.
There is one plus point in all of this. Liverpool now have the opportunity to concentrate fully on the Champions league and every player will be able to target his energy to bringing a sixth European Cup home. And in Barcelona, there’s no escaping the fact that the Reds are underdogs in the tie, and that’s when they perform beyond themselves.
The return of Samuel Et’o coincides with the return of the 'new Patrick Vieira' in Mohamed Sissoko, who with his bite in the centre of midfield undoubtedly leaves Rafa will selection problems -- the kind he’d be really pleased to have. The Liverpool injury curse continues with Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia out of the fray. Sissoko's return means Xabi Alonso might have to give way or Steven Gerrard might return to the graveyard shift on the right. "The only thing I can do is say sorry to our supporters because they are the best in the game," Benitez said after the Arsenal fiasco. Fans will demand more, however, and rightly so.
posted by Ejaz Khan at 12:14 AM
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