25th October, 2009. If that date doesn’t mean anything to you, then you obviously don’t follow Liverpool as closely as I thought. That date of course marks Liverpool’s 2-0 league victory over Manchester United. Since that glorious afternoon, Liverpool have gone through a house of horrors, falling or drawing in three consecutive league matches.
Whilst that run of form may be common for most mid-table clubs, it’s quite obvious that it was just not good enough for a club as big as Liverpool. Amidst the despair of falling out of the Champions League and losing our grasp on top four football in the league, it became bitterly clear that the depth of the squad was exposing Rafa’s squad at the worst time.
Sunday’s derby encounter with Everton provided the club with quite possibly their best chance to make up ground on the competition, after Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham failed to record three points over the weekend. And for the first time in a while, Liverpool managed to get a couple of bounces to go their way.
Rafael Benitez has named his starting line up to face Everton at Goodison Park today, using the same team that faced Debrecen in midweek.
Another week, another glimmer of hope rained on. Liverpool fans are, on the whole, an optimistic bunch, but a second successive 2-2 home draw – this time against potential Champions League rivals Manchester City – left many heading out of Anfield boasting only of apathy and indifference. The optimism was gathering pace ahead of a lunchtime kick off in the November wind and rain. The sight of a substitutes’ bench containing Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera and Alberto Aquilani warmed the hearts of many within Anfield, even if the weather threatened to freeze them to their seats.
Liverpool need to beat Debrecen and other results to go in their favour to stand a chance of progressing in the Champion’s League; however if you are wondering if we can make it through; watch this video of Liverpool v Olympiakos in which a win by two goals was needed; then disaster struck when Rivaldo curled in a free kick to give the Greek side the lead. We all know what happened next…
Wondering how Liverpool can make it through the group stages this year? Not sure what result is needed in the other game between Lyon and Fiorentina? Look no further…
Liverpool have announced their squad to face Debrecen in their make or break tie in the Champion’s League this week; with Rafa only naming two strikers in his squad – Kuyt & N’Gog. There is no place for Voronin even to warm the bench after his failure to impress in Lyon.
Jamie Redknapp is the latest former player to come out and criticise Rafa Benitez by claiming the manager manipulates Liverpool fans. Redknapp should get himself to his local GP; as it seems he has a case of verbal Diarrhoea.
Rafa Benitez has named his starting 11 to face Man City at Anfield today, with Glen Johnson not making the bench. There is however; a rare start for Ryan Babel.
Liverpool face Man City at Anfield today after the break for Internationals, needing nothing less than a win. Rafa is still without Torres but after some treatment in Serbia; Riera, Benayoun, Aurelio and Johnson are fit to play – but who do you think should be in the starting line up when the match kicks off at 12:45?
And here you thought Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was the only one getting this special treatment. Ahead of Saturday’s critical clash between Liverpool and Manchester City, Rafa Benitez is pulling out all the stops to make sure his squad is healthy enough to field a squad without the name Voronin inserted into the starting XI.
Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera, and Yossi Benayoun are all doubts for the match. Instead of pulling out his Rosary beads or praying to the Man upstairs, Rafa has decided to go drastic with the help of placenta. Horse placenta, to be precise.
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