Andy Gray - Sky Sports Expert

Mersey beat?

Posted: 04th January 2008 12:38

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Gerrard Steven

Gerrard: trudges off after 1-1 draw with Wigan at Anfield

Often a team reflects the manager and I do think that if there is one criticism of Benitez as Liverpool manger it is that he is a little too cautious at times.

Andy Gray
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After two wins from six and 13 dropped points at home already, there's a fair chance that Liverpool are out of the title race.

It's very difficult to see Manchester United and Arsenal dropping enough points for Liverpool to catch up.

And Rafa Benitez's team haven't suggested that they can go on a good enough run to close that gap.

I think there is still the question of whether Arsenal can avoid dropping points as they are young and, with the exception of Kolo Toure and William Gallas, they haven't been in this position before.

It's more likely that Arsenal will drop more points than Manchester United, but for me it's unlikely that Liverpool can put in a consistent enough run to get back in it.

You're going to be very hard pressed to find a Liverpool fan who truly believes that from this position - 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand - they can go on and win the Premier League.

They've been sloppy at Anfield there's no doubt about that. I saw the draws at home to Birmingham and Wigan, both of them games you would expect them to win.

It's difficult to put your finger on where they've been going wrong. At Anfield teams have made it difficult and said to them 'come on, come and break us down.'

And in all honesty, apart from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, you just wonder if there are enough goals in the side.

Cautious

Often a team reflects the manager and I do think that if there is one criticism of Benitez as Liverpool manger it is that he is a little too cautious at times.

It would be very difficult for someone to say that he isn't the right man to win Liverpool the Premier League, as this is a guy who won La Liga twice in three years.

But I do think he is too cautious and is a little too obsessed with rotation and the fitness levels of his players, which both influence his selection process.

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I don't for the life of me understand why, at home against Wigan, Liverpool would go in with just one up front.

I've watched Gerrard play for years and he's never at his best when he plays off a lone front man. Yes, off two strikers, he has put in fantastic performances, but off one? No.

To take a striker, be it Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin or even Ryan Babbel, out of the team and play Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano - two players unlikely to get you a goal - just doesn't make sense to me.

Inconsistent

The publicly-aired conflict between Benitez and the club's owners obviously didn't do anything to help the team's cause but if that affected the players in any way then it shouldn't have.

Players shouldn't get involved or worry about matters off the pitch. I've been at enough clubs over the years to understand what happens.

As a footballer you're employed by the club, you play for the club and the supporters - and that should be your only concern.

The Champions League and FA Cup, where they face Luton in the third round, may be the best avenues for success for Liverpool now.

But they have a tough tie in the Champions League against Inter, which will take a lot of hard work to get through. Having said that, they do know how to go about winning the Champions League.

As for the Premier League - the bread and butter, and something the club hasn't won for 18 years - I'm not so sure.

It will take some doing for them to get back in the title race. They will try their hardest there's no doubt about that but I think they're still too inconsistent, as they've shown already this season.

To have dropped 13 points from a possible 30 at home already this season is far too many for a team with serious title ambitions.

Comments

Matthew Banks (Liverpool fan) says...

What Liverpool need to do to be percieved as geniune title challengers is to 1. Scrap the rotation policy : it only works if a team has strength in depth Liverpool dont if either Gerrard or Torres are missing they cant replace. 2. Stick to a consistent formation and Line-up. 3.Play a attacking mentality , it will get goals and why not get Liverpool fans their money worth? 4. Sign only either young , promising players or proven talent. Voronin , Pennant , Arbeloa etc are simply not Liverpool standard. 5. Revatilise the youth system , where are the young , talented local lads that provide the identity of the club?

Posted 18:28 28th August 2008

Kyle Dean (Liverpool fan) says...

it PAINS me to see so many negative reds fans on these boards! Sure we've had a bad time as of late, but nobody apitamises the story of the underdog than Liverpool FC. How long did it take Ferguson to make something of the scum? A lot longer than it took Rafa to mastermind our 5th European Cup! 4th place or even 3rd is not beyond us, a win of our game in hand puts us 8 points behind the chavs, sure their record at the bridge is sensational, but records are there to be broken. I fully expect us to complete the season in at least 4th place and add another trophy to our already bursting trophy room! YNWA!

Posted 11:07 5th February 2008

Raz Brotherhood (Manchester United fan) says...

As a response to Andi Watsham, "I do acknowledge that we have not been able to spend as Man U and Chelsea have done." Have a look at the amount of money that Houllier and Benitez have spent before making ridiculous statements about Liverpool not spending.

Posted 12:58 3rd February 2008

Dan Fowler (Liverpool fan) says...

Why O Why are we spending so many millions on a new 71,000 capacity stadium when we're playing so pooly. Will 71,000 people want to see liverpool play like this? Judging from Liverpool's recent performances, It pains me to say it, but I think Everton have got a better chance of the winning title!!! Liverpool will even struggle to get a UEFA cup place if they keep playing like this. Everton, Villa, City, Pompy and even Rovers are looking better at the moment. We should stick by Raffa. Hicks and Gillette just need a little faith in him and his CRAZY team selections. He'll get it right one day. Hopefully!

Posted 14:38 25th January 2008

Dean Rhodes (Liverpool fan) says...

Liverpools title challenge has 100% ended now! I saw the shambles against Villa. I cant honestly believe how bad are home form has got 4 wins out of 12 and losing to Marseille in the champions league, its just not good enough! We have too many poor players Leto, Lucas, Kuyt, Voronin, Kewell, Aurelio, Mascherano... i think they are all average or worse - some would struggle to get in derbies team! For Liverpool this is not good enough! A couple of seasons ago we looked capable of winning it what with Garcia coming in off the wings to get goals, Cisse hitting 22 in that season and our defence solid(7 home goals conceded all season) we've already conceded more this season than then! Torres has been a bonus but he has come to late, with our team now, the worse since our champions league win in 2005. Other than Gerrard who is absolutely TOP draw, Torres who is a quality young lad who has even more to come and the reliability of Cara at the back, we really do lack quality which the rest of the top 3 have. I really rate Alonso and Agger who are the 2 players this season who have been missed most, Mascherano is useless and 17 million is an absolute discrace of a price when even 5 would be a joke in my opinion. I think we need a real shake up because right now the only way is down for this team!

Posted 01:13 22nd January 2008

Kieran Whelan (Liverpool fan) says...

Undeniably Liverpool are well off the pace to make a realistic challenge for the title. Liverpool supporters know that on our day we can beat anyone in Europe. Our short comings have been failing to beat the so called lesser teams at home and not being able to boast a particularly successful record against Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United. We cannot deny that we are frustrated when Rafa 'rests' Torres, but the more intelluctual supporters understand (although we may not agree). However, the thing that is really starting to annoy me now is the drivel that commentators and 'experts' are spouting. It really frustrates me that they cannot find anything new to talk about. Are they not clever enough to think for themselves or do they just prefer hiding behing the boring cliches they are so ready to 'entertain' us with? The rotation policy... Torres and Gerrard being rested.... Liverpool are a one/two man team... Problems with the board... Can I just clarify that Liverpool have scored more goals than Manchester United this season (10 more to be exact). Our goals have come from all over the pitch. Commentators find it easy to say that our goals only come from Torres and Gerrard and then in the same breath rave about the impact Rooney and Ronaldo have in the Manchester United side. Sorry, but you can't have it both ways lads! You take Rooney and Ronaldo side and can you tell me where their goals will come from? You find it easy to say how wonderful these players are but then refuse to say the Manchester Uniter are reliant on these players. If you say it about Torres and Gerrard you have to say it about Ronaldo and Rooney.

Posted 10:40 17th January 2008

Dave Collins (Manchester United fan) says...

Some of these liverpool fans need to realise that sacking benitez will not be the right thing to do - okay his rotation policy is baffling sometimes but by bringing in mourinho will not improve the situation in your eyes because i seem to remember most fans say he is a manger whose teams play boring football - if he were to take over their would be calls for his head within 3 months. - in relation to mike husseys comments the board are hardly wiling to part with anymore money now they will not go and completeley revamp the team - you also stated that babel should not be starting after ONE poor game, he has been good recently and bring in nasri because nasri is young and attacking, forgive me for thinking this but i am sure babel is both young and also very attack minded and you would almost certainly be saying the same about nasri without time to both mature and adapt to the english game. A certain Ronaldo wasnt dazzling in his first 18 months bar one or two good performances at the start of the season. Liverpool fans need to be more patient and get behind the team just like we should do at Old Trafford against lesser teams and not call for the managers head after one or two dodgy performances

Posted 12:28 9th January 2008

Maz Red4ever (Liverpool fan) says...

Jon red totally right! It was when Paco left that things started to go downhill. We were playing like a different team at the start of the season...remember the Chelsea game at Anfield? Rafa's doing ok...give him more time and he'll bring the right players in if he's given the money...and then play them where they are needed.

Posted 22:18 8th January 2008

Billy Jones says...

James Worthington as a (true Liverpool fan) do you accept 4th place? Do you really believe Rafa can win the premiership not just once but several times? Can you not see that Man Utd are close to winning more league titles than Liverpool and that Alex Ferguson will retire the minute he acheives that single goal? Can you not see that the team we have now is way below the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea? That everytime we play another team from any league we (the TRUE fans) wonder if we will actually win the game? Can you not see that, Kuyt, Sissoko, Alonso, Pennent, Hyppia, Veronin, Kewell to name a few all need to be sold to finance a younger, more ambitious, hungry team with flair and confidence? That we need, Kevin Nolan, Leroy Lita. Jermaine Defoe, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, David Bentley, Matt Derbyshire, and the like? It's great to see loyalty, but in your case it's misplaced, take your head out the sand and see things the way they really are. Liverpool NEED a new manager! And his name is Jose Mourhino. Sadly, I have no confidence in Ricky Parry, Mr Hicks or Mr Gillett. Those three are making millions out of a great club with wonderful supporters but they don't care about anything other than their own pockets. The TRUE don't and never will accept, 4th, 3rd or 2nd place! We want to be number one! Sack Rafa. Ricky Parry Resign. Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett get out of LFC and lets see some people who REALLY DO care about LFC and can take us back to the top.

Posted 18:14 8th January 2008

Billy Jones says...

Once Rafa and has gone along with Rick Parry (hopefully) I'd sell. Kuyt. Pennent. Veronin. Alonso (he's a luxury we don't need and we'd get great money for him) Harry Kewell. Aurelio. Arebola. Sissoko. Leto. Le Tallac. Insua. ... in fact most of the foreigners. And then go out and buy ... English players like ... the massively underrated Kevin Nolan (at Bolton) Leroy Leta. Matt Derbyshire. David Bentley. Get Danny Guthrie back from Bolton. Gabriel Agbonlahor (at all costs) Shorey from Reading at left back to compete with Riise. James Milner. Ashley Young ... with the money we would make from those sold (and it will be plenty) we'd easily get those I think we should buy perhaps with some to spare. But more to the point, let's blood some young Liverpool born players. Sorry Michael Owen, you're past it mate. Where's the strikers I've named are young, hungry for goals and ready to shine. Oh yeah, we need Chinedum Onuoha (Man City) at the back, before some other big club comes along and snaps him up. All the best to all the LFC fans, hope it's a great year for you in 2008 regardless of football.

Posted 20:58 7th January 2008

Kevin Nelson (Liverpool fan) says...

What some people quickly need to grasp is just because "certain fans" want benitez to go doesn't mean that they are turning their back on benitez, they want what every "real" liverpool fan wants and that is the title. I really can not have a pop at benitez because I genuinely believe he has the clubs best interest at heart but does love win you titles?? The last straw for me was on wednesday at anfield. I know Gerrard is world class without a shadow of a doubt but one thing he isn't is a forward or a player who plays just behind "one striker" simply because he tracks back constantly, makes so many tackles in midfield and is so used to playing there. One up front against a really poor wigan side this season at home is embarassing. Not only that but we were flat and struggled for 90% of the game to break wigan down and never really looked like beating them. As I have said i like benitez and yes he has done good things for the club but is he the man to break this barron run?? Sorry but for me the answer is no. Just like Voronin & Kuyt shouldn't be wearing the liverpool colours. Kuyt for some reason loves playing in midfield and voronin, he seems to get the ball and run towards the corner flag, thank god he was free. I think we need a couple of quality defenders, a full back and centre half, maybe one brilliant, proven, winger and without a doubt another top quality forward, not to mention new blood at the helm because I for one am not one bit happy with scraping 4th or 3rd every season.

Posted 18:37 7th January 2008

Mike Dinku (Liverpool fan) says...

I have read all you guys have said about our beloved club Liverpool. Pls could the press stay off rafa now. The guy should be given time to prove himself. Just look at Man U and Arsenal, their managers were allowed time. Sir Alex did not win any trophy with/ for Manu U util after his 7 or 8 season. why not Liverpool? Rafa is the only guy who has won the only club big cup in modern history

Posted 16:31 7th January 2008

James Worthington (Liverpool fan) says...

I'd like to take this opportunity to show my support for Rafa, I can't believe that certain Liverpool fans would be calling for his head, how easy you forget what this man has done for the club? We have had some poor games of late, however it's the constant media negativity and speculation that I feel has contributed to the added pressure the club finds itself in - I don't remember Utd being slagged off in the papers when they played bad or lost games this season (more than l'pool) nor did they call for Fergie's head! I am a realist, yes we need to kill games off, and another quality stiker is certainly needed, six draws is the clear problem - however as a true Liverpool fan we have to have faith, blind faith sometimes but most of all we need to show unity and support for the manager and players. The season is only half way through, lets suck up that pressure, stop moaning and get behind the most succesful team this country has ever seen!

Posted 09:55 7th January 2008

Lawrence Lugolobi (Liverpool fan) says...

All has been said but its time up for Rafa,playing Kuyt on the wing against Luton town at the weekend just shows you the coach is not going to accept his mistakes he has done before. He has done it all;played gerrrard out of position,rested torres when he is gaining form,played cautious at anfield yet he knows teams go there looking for a point,Kuyt and Voronin(strikers) are played in the wings,TINKERING all the time. yes he won us silverware before but the premiership is just not his. LETS SAY THANK YOU to the spaniard and get us a credible coach coz this biz of looking for luck all the time just wont work.I mean chelsea played good soccer under gullit,ranieri, and still had to get a better coach...jose. Now we aint playing any good football and you want us to win the league......not with arsenal,manU around.

Posted 08:19 7th January 2008

Andi Watsham (liverpool fan) (Liverpool fan) says...

Billy Jones I agree with everything you say other than the Phil Thompson bit. I too have been a fan for around 35 years and I do acknowledge that we have not been able to spend as Man U and Chelsea have done. However, Arsenal prove the point that with a good manager you can play good football even when spending relatively little. Rafa would be better to stop sulking and play a settled team like in the start of the season and yes, put Babel up front with Torres. He seems to have many excuses and is happy with his players effort whether they win lose or draw. Can you imagine Alex Ferguson being continuously happy with Man U drawing against lesser teams? Of course not!! Get Mourinho in NOW, he will be a legend at Liverpool I guarantee it! No more wishy-washy play and players like under Houllier and Rafa!

Posted 04:23 7th January 2008

Mike Hussey (Liverpool fan) says...

Oh my goodness me did u guys see the poorest performance in england 2day by us reds against Luton Town in the FA Cup? I was shocked, i couldn't belive my eyes, well i dont think any Liverpool fans could believe there eyes. I mean we r talking about winning the league & stuff but we can even win a very favourable draw in the FA Cup against a League 1 side. I mean there was no belief in the side, no attacking mentality at all, passing was very poor and we were absolutly dominated in possesion. whats all that about? i mean we only had really 2 players missing thats gerrard and torres well 3 because of mascherano but Alonso is there so thats better 4 us in a attacking sense. I mean im sorry to say but babel was poor after the 1st 30 seconds of the match he isn't really a first team player, he is not effective enough he need to be on the bench & come in after 60 odds mins of the match & penitrate the oppositions diffence; thats where he is affective not from the start. i mean kuyt was poor. i mean we shud really sell kuyt, voronin, pennant, leto, Sissoko ( so about 23 or 28 million is made from selling them so money is not an issue) because they r poor players & get sum decent players in like Rafael Van Der Vaart, Roque Santa Cruz, Samir Nasri & Michael Owen those r good players okay Samir Nasri is unproven; but hes 20 for god sake & he is an attacking midfielder so maybe if we signed him he could also in 1 season or 2 play 4 us in the premiership regularly because we need cover 4 gerrard and we dont have that hence the nagative tactics by benitez and poor results. We need 3 good strikers and owen & santa cruz (torres 3rd striker) would just be perfect for us. But first me must sign javier mascherano we have 2 hes impressed me with is passing, tackling & possioning 2. I think we would be lucky if we finished 3rd but more likely 4th forget 1st NOW lol...

Posted 00:44 7th January 2008

Roy Kroft (Liverpool fan) says...

Well said Andy Gray. There is absoloutely no chance of us winning the league under this man. He came to Liverpool with the reputation in Spain of being a 'lucky' manager and somehow winning the CL against the odds in his first season has confirmed this and papered over the cracks with a lot of fans. Let's face it Everton play more attractive football than we do. All Rafa's tacticts involve are launching it long to Crouch and trying to win the first ball, when it drops. I frankly find his comments after games as embarraasing, the guy has no class or dignity: 'It is clear no? It was the opposition/referee/etc'... look at yourself Benitez and accept the blame yourself for rotating players at the wrong time, or playing the better players out of position. Challenge Man U or Arsenal? in the words of Ricky Gervais 'E's havin a laugh. You avin a laugh?'

Posted 20:50 6th January 2008

Chris Lakey (Liverpool fan) says...

I am a kopite and never miss a game and I am ecstatic at the prospect of rafa going, he is doing the club a great disservice. Once again the season is over so early on. The man recently come out and said "we need more luck", well spaniard (I wont say the mans name as he frustrates me so much) need to be sacked immediately. Did Shanks, Paisley, Fagan ever say anything about luck? No they didnt!! As for master tactician, he is now resorting to 4-5-1 at home and that is the biggest crime ever. We are Liverpool FC at Anfield, a one time fortress where no one could get a result from us. With the spaniard he is just fast becoming another one like the frenchman. So come on Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett remove Rick Parry and the spaniard and bring two big guns in to sort it out. Kenny Dalglish with John Aldridge as assistant perhaps? Mourinho if we really have to. We can become a great team almost overnight once we get some steel at the top, a manager who can manage. A chief exectuive who can make us great again, where has all the money gone, for years we were the biggest team in Europe, we have been to two European Cup Finals in three years and all we can muster up is Torres being purchased. He is awesome on the field but with the funds generated there should be 11 of them on the pitch. Yes the spaniard won la liga but that aint the premiership, it takes a special one to do that.

Posted 14:48 6th January 2008

Tony Savage (Manchester United fan) says...

I agree with a lot of Andy Gray's comments, but i also saw Liverpool play Chelsea at the start of the season, where they tore them to shreds, and played with confidence and imposed their game on them. Therefore, I do think they are capable of mounting a title challenge if Rafa Benitez stops withe the tinkering. I also believe that they need more fire power upfront and on the wings. Voronin and Kuyt I dont believe have up to ten goals between them. And Peter Crouch does not get enough games to see how he can affect the team in terms of goals and pssibly assists. I think he may need to go back into the market to get more quality and match winners with which to mount a serious challenge. But the rift with the owners may make this more difficult to happen. Therefore, assuming he cant buy any players this transfer window, I think he would have to go with his best team every game until the end of the season, none of the rotation, to mount a serious title challenge. What man utd and arsenal have over liverpool is an attacking philosophy, which often guarantees goals. This is why they are in the position they find themselves in at the moment. Liverpool are more wrokman like and seemingly always look to stifle, as opposed to attack. This is a problem, as they might not concede many goals, but they wont score many either. All in all, I believe they have a starting eleven, if not a squad, to mount a title challenge. What they need is a freedom to express themselves, like they have done on several occasions this season, and if possible, buy more matchwinners into the squad.

Posted 13:14 6th January 2008

Alan Davies (Liverpool fan) says...

Well said Tony Briggs, We need to get behind Rafa, Rafa has achieved his success on a shoe string in comparison to the money Utd and Chelsea have spent, how can we be expected to compete when we make one £20 million signing whilst the Champions Man Utd sign Tevez, Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani each for around that sum all in the same year. Thats not backing Benitez. Get Realistic. With the Funds our Yank Board are providing we're going nowhere, Rafa needs to be backed starting with Mascharano, if we miss out on the Monstor it just represents the ambition of our Board and why they are here. If we do we must call for their Heads, along with the Worst Chief Executive in the Prem Rick Parry. He was brought to our club to make Liverpool a marketed enterprise, God knows how he manages to sleep at night with the lack of impact he has had in our overseas exploits, he should have made so much more of Liverpool FC when we were Champions of Europe, not to mention the fact he nearly lost Gerrard two seasons in a row and was one of the key reasons this unambitious profit hungry board came to Liverpool. Sack the Board Not Rafa.

Posted 12:21 6th January 2008

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