The Scouse and the Restless
David J. WarnerPosted Oct 25th 2007 1:00PM by David J. Warner
Filed under: Soccer, Featured Stories
If you think Tottenham Hotspur is the Premier League club with the most dashed expectations thus far this year ... well, you've never been to Anfield.
Liverpool had dreams of a Premier League title and another Champions League run this year, but a spate of subpar performances topped off by yesterday's 2-1 loss to Turkish club Besiktas in Istanbul -- the site of Liverpool's greatest European Cup win, ironically enough -- have left the club in two precarious positions. Liverpool has only one point in three Champions League matches, which puts them in last place in Group A.
More importantly, though, Liverpool is mired in fourth place on the Premier League table, already six points behind first-place Arsenal and with four clubs -- Chelsea, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Newcastle -- breathing down their necks and ready to leapfrog them into that fourth and final Champions League spot. That could happen as soon as Sunday; Liverpool face Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday in a game that could very well ruin their league title hopes right then and there.
That could be the deepest cut for Liverpool supporters, who had high hopes this season for their first domestic league title since 1990. Just finishing in the top four and winning another Champions League berth may not be enough for them this year
A more competitive Premier League, though, now has some fans wondering if even a top-four finish is in jeopardy. Manchester City came from out of nowhere to contend for a Champions League spot. Portsmouth has gotten past the toughest part of its schedule early and appears to be running past everyone else to score. Newcastle seems re-energized under new manager Sam Allerdyce. Let's not forget Chelsea, either, as much as every other contender would like to do just that.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez still believes his team can get through to the knockout stage of the Champions League, but they have to win their last three group stage matches to have a chance. What's more, club co-owner Tom Hicks has given Benitez the dreaded vote of confidence.
"We back Rafael. He's the right manager. Rafael's rotation has been his policy for three years. Rafael's ability to coach and manage in the Champions League should be unquestioned. We had a disappointing loss because we got outplayed by the Turks."
The only problem with that is that Besiktas had never won at home against an English opponent in the Champions League, and "outplayed by the Turks" is not the kind of phrase that the Anfield faithful want to hear. "Outplayed by Arsenal" is a phrase that will irk them even more, and judging by both club's recent performances, that's not unlikely.
Sunday's Liverpool v. Arsenal match could prove to be a referendum on Benitez and the direction in which he's taking this club. If Liverpool finishes the day looking up at Portsmouth, Blackburn or Newcastle, the fact that there are still 28 games left might not matter. The Scousers will be screaming for Rafael's head right now.
