First of all, they haven't won the league for 18 years now and it will probably stay like that for the next 18 years.
Liverpool dominated the 80's and they won everything possible during that decade. They gained the respect of the whole footballing world and teams coming to Anfield, would come in fear.Now, Liverpool aren't even challenging for the Premier League, they save themselves for the Champions League while other teams (United, Chelsea and Arsenal) slug it out at the top of the table and that seems a bit unfair in my opinion.
Rafa Benitez blatantly gave up on the league back in November when he continuously rotated his squad. Thats fine by me. Rotating is almost a new trend in football but most teams, while rotating, play their star players every game "that matters."
For instance, in a game versus Reading, they went 3-1 behind in the second half and what does Rafa do in response? He takes off, Gerrard and Torres! And why? Liverpool had an "important" CL tie three days later.
When the game doesn't matter much, like recently versus Birmingham and Fulham. I can understand resting players, in order to have them fit and fresh for the upcoming European game.
While the other top sides usually push hard after Boxing day to ensure they stay at the top till the end, this is usually the time Liverpool come up short.
After Liverpool beat Derby at the end of December, they went on a run that saw them win ONE in six matches. That's four draws, one defeat and one win. They gained seven points.
Compare that with the other teams at the top. After Chelsea beat Newcastle at the end of December, they went on to win the next eight games before a draw against Portsmouth brought an end to that run. Over the same six games, Chelsea gained maximum points—18 points.
When Arsenal beat Everton at the end of December. They went on to win seven out of the next nine games, drawing the other two. Arsenal gained maximum points too, over the same period of games.
When United lost to West Ham at the end of December. They went to win their next six matches, which saw them pick up 18 points.
So it's easy to see where Liverpool fell behind this year. Quite frankly, it's like that most years.
Had Torres played every game he was available, I believe Liverpool would have been a lot closer to United and Chelsea, plus he would have probably been a lot closer to Ronaldo's amount of goals.
There could be a lot of other contributing factors which I'm not aware of, but from an outsider looking in, it seems as though, they give up on the title way too early.
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from 6 days ago
Salomon, before fourth was settled, Torres only missed out on two starts when fit and available - Birmingham at home (0-0) and Fulham at home (he came off the bench and scored, final result 2-0).
I can see the point of your article but some sweeping statements ("probaly won't win it for the next 18 years") don't carry much water with me.
Chelsea hadn't won it in 50 years before their 04-05 success and went on to win it the next season as well. 18 years is a long time in football - and Liverpool fans know that more than most.
Every team has a bad spell in the league - it just happens Liverpool's was over the winter period. Man Utd got off to a bad start and Arsenal had a torrid run following 'that' Birmingham match.
I can see this article stirring quite a bit of controversy, so in that respect you can say it's a good piece. I just don't agree with the sentiment.
from 6 days ago
Jonathan, Chelsea weren't a big team and probably never have been until the 04/05 season. We still pipped you to the final CL spot the year before Roman bought the club.
I am merely an outsider looking in and from that perspective, Rafa comes across like he doesn't give a damn about the league ...
from 6 days ago
I think Liverpool fans hope every year that their team push for the league and well...it just doesnt happen. I think Benitez has a lot to do with it obviously with rotation. But what I cant understand is the players he buys. Fair enough Torres was a brilliant buy. But Voronin? What was he thinking. How can you expect to push for the league and hope to rotate successfully when the players coming off the bench are pretty shit.
So maybe thats one of the reasons they are not achieving what the fans expect. Every time i see the Liverpool team gutted and built up again with new transfers, its to the same result. They still are not good enough or consistant enough.
Gerrard is only getting older aswell, Carragher needs to be replaced(although Skrtel and Agger seem capable), Crouch wants to leave it seems, and Pennant and Benyoun are not good enough. Thats a daunting task for any manger to have that many problems to remedy.
I dont think it will be 18 years till they challenge again, but it wont be next season for sure or even the season after that.
from 6 days ago
Every team rotates Keith. But most teams keep the star players in the team every game.
from 6 days ago
So are Arsenal, who finished fourth in 2006 and 2007 not worthy of a Champion's league spot either? The year they reached the final, they finished 4th, 24 points off the top and 15 points behind Liverpool. They clearly weren't trying as hard in the league that year.
Of course, articles like this weren't written about Arsenal, because there isn't a virtual cottage industry of hatred of them as there is surrounding Liverpool.
When people scream, ad nauseum, that Liverpool aren't worthy, and are no longer a threat, you can bet that the truth is - They know that they ARE!
from 6 days ago
So Salomon, haven't you got a response to this point? Why do you include Arsenal in the teams that are worthy of a Champion's League spot because they "slug it out at the top of the table", when that isn't in fact the case at all. Why didn't your specious reasoning apply in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons, when Arsenal finished 4th, behind Liverpool? In particular, in 2006 when they reached the CL final, they did terribly in the Premiership.
In fact, it's not much better this season. You delcare with undisguised glee, that "After Liverpool beat Derby at the end of December, they went on a run that saw them win ONE in six matches. Thats 4 draws, 1 defeat and 1 win. They gained 7 points."
So what?
After Arsenal beat Blackburn in the middle of February, they went on a run that saw them win ONE in EIGHT matches. Thats 5 draws, 2 defeats and 1 win. They gained 8 points from a possible 24. That's a FAR worse record than the one you site as evidence that Liverpool don't try in the league and therefore aren't worthy of a CL place.
Why does your ridiculous argument not apply to Arsenal? Why didn't you write this article about them?
I'll tell you why. It's because you're part of the sports media bandwagon that now makes a living out of slagging off Liverpool. That's why.
from 5 days ago
Well Jerry, The reason why I pick on Liverpool only and not Arsenal is because, they won it just recently. in 2004 and a couple of times before that. Liverpool last won the league nearly TWO decades ago.
Arsenal are now only 4 points off the top and only last week did it become mathematically impossible for them to win it. Arsenal do not save themselves for the CL, which is probably why they've never gotten past the quater finals (in 7 straight attempts i think) before 2006..
Lastly, I DONT make a living out of writing for Bleacher Report so your last point is INVALID lol......
from 4 days ago
The whole point of your article was that Liverpool are not worthy of a place in the CL because they do not compete in the Premiership. They only do well in the CL at the expense of their Prem campaign. They are only capable of competing in ONE of the competitions at a time and Benitez chooses to focus on the CL.
The exact same argument applies to Arsenal.
When they do well in the Prem, they do poorly in the CL and vice versa. They are only capable of performing in ONE of the two at a time. Prior to 2006, they focused on the Prem and did poorly in the CL. Recently, they've done the opposite. The same principle applies. This year, their Premiership campaign collapsed at the exact same time that they played in the first knockout stages of the CL. That is NOT a coincidence. The point at which it became "mathematically impossible" to win the Prem is totally irrelevant. It only became "mathematically impossible" for Liverpool to win it 4 weeks ago, but we both know they were out of it long before that. The same is true of Arsenal after their disasterous run of 8 games I outlined above.
The fact is, your stupid reasoning applies equally to Arsenal, but you don't want to admit it because that would detract from your undisguised hatred of Liverpool. I didn't say YOU make a living out of slagging off Liverpool. I said the sports media currently does. You may not make any money out of this, but you have mindlessly jumped on that bandwagon. This is evidenced by the obvious fact that this peice is so poorly thought out and clearly influenced by the deluge of similarly stupid, bitter articles about LFC to be found online recently.
Finally, you seem to be clinging to the argument that because Liverpool "last won the league nearly TWO decades ago", they shouldn't be in the CL. Tell me, did Chelsea deserve their CL spots prior to 2005? After all, at that stage they hadn't won the league for FIFTY YEARS.
There is no way in hell, back in 2005, when Chelsea reached the semi-final against us, that you would have used this reasoning to argue that they didn't deserve to be there. Not a chance.
from 4 days ago
Jerry - With all due respect Arsenal's first priority has always been the premier league. So to fail in the CL but do well in the league, is not a bad thing. Why? Well, because they have earned the right to participate in the CL every year, EVEN IF they dont do well when they get there...
Arsenal have recently fallen short in the title race and surely thats a problem that needs to be addressed. Your right about that, but ONLY of they keep going in this direction. United too went two seasons finishing 3rd but the season that followed they finished 2nd and the one that followed that they won the league.
When Chelsea pipped Liverpool to 4th spot, the year before Roman came, I admit we were not worthy of a CL spot nor were we anywhere near good enough to compete in it. We eventually reached the semi finals, but that was because Roman had bought the club during the summer and purchased a host of players. The team that secured CL place and the team that competed were totally different...
I guess the point I am trying to make has nothing to do with Liverpool really. The point I'm trying to make is the fact that teams that finish 4th place (probably 3rd too) shouldnt be in the CL. It just so happens that Liverpool are the ones constantly in this situation.
Uefa should change the rules BECAUSE we have teams knowing they CANT win the league, aspiring to finish FOURTH. Everton are a good example of that.
Anyways, Thanks for your comments Jerry....
from 4 days ago
Quote - "I guess the point I am trying to make has nothing to do with Liverpool really. The point I'm trying to make is the fact that teams that finish 4th place (probably 3rd too) shouldnt be in the CL. It just so happens that Liverpool are the ones constantly in this situation."
I wouldn't necessarily disagree that teams that finish 3rd and 4th don't deserve to be in the CL. My problem with your article is that you single out Liverpool. Arsenal have not competed in the Prem since 2004. They finished behind us in 2006 and 2007. Even this season, they flattered to decieve. Their campaign really finished in mid February, not much later than Liverpool's. Yet you include them among the teams that "slug it out at the top of the table". That is totally unfair.
If you had written a general article about how 3rd/4th isn't good enough for the CL, I'd have no problem with that. You didn't. You're entire artcle is about how Liverpool, specifically, aren't worthy.
Arsenal's PL pedigree four years ago is totally irrelevant. They are a completely different team now. Overall, for the last four years, they've been worse than Liverpool in BOTH the PL and the CL. It is ridiculous to say that the CURRENT Arsenal team deserve their CL place and Liverpool don't.
Finally, you are making an unfounded assumption that Liverpool and Rafa KNOWINGLY fail in the Premiership every season. That is absolute garbage. Just like Arsenal, United and Chelsea, we rotate our squad to compete in both competitions. Unfortunately, neither Arsenal nor our squad is good enough to do this. Rafa only started resting players before CL matches this season, after it became clear that we had a better chance in the CL than the Prem. The reason we did so poorly in the early stages of the CL this season is BECAUSE we were up near the top of the Prem at the time. We simply aren't good enough to compete in both competitions yet and at some point Rafa has to realistically prioritize. It doesn't follow that he goes into each Prem season knowing he isn't going to try. He doesn't aspire to finish fouth. That's ridiculous. He would however, be a complete moron, if he gave up, mid season, on a competition that he can still realistically win, in favour of a competition that he is all but out of.
Basically, if you want to argue that only 1st and 2nd place in the Prem should qualify for the CL, go ahead, but don't try and say that ONLY Liverpool are unworthy under this criteria. That is demonstrably untrue.
from 6 days ago
well it seems awfully strange, but unlike the previous seasons, Liverpool started off quite well, but slumped after Christmas. In 2006, they had won 12 games after Christmas on the trot despite a bad start, and we ended up 3rd and with the FA Cup. Arsenal won nothing, Man Utd won the Carling Cup (i think) and Chelsea took the title..
Now, two years down the line, we failed to win any silverware, but so did Arsenal, despite having better funding and a stable boardroom.. So why pick on Liverpool and not Arsenal?? While the CL spot goes, who else is worthy of it? Everton? they ended their CL campaign in the first qualifying round itself when they did get the chance (while we were defending champs). We have made 3 semifinals in 4 years, of which we advanced twice to the finals, winning once. So do we deserve Champions League football?? HELL YEAH!!!
But in the end, it doesnt matter what the columnists say. They are either critics or frustrated fans. If the players learn to believe that they can go all the way, then there's no stopping them. And mind you, they are just learning to believe... YNWA
from 6 days ago
Everton dont have the quality to challenge for the title, Liverpool DO. In that respect, why aren't they challenging for the title? For a team, who are more than capable of challenging for the title, it is rather odd, how they fade away after the turn of the year. As I keep saying, from an outsider looking in, it seems to me like Rafa doesn't care about the league.
The only reason (I think) that you've been doing so well in the CL, is the fact that you've been so poor in the league over the years, bar a few years...
from 6 days ago
can u tell me how man utd. and chelsea managed to get 24 points from 6 games???is that even possible??at least proof read your article you fool before you go on to criticize the champion team that Liverpool is!!
from 6 days ago
haha Thanks for the correction. However, if you resort to name calling then that just proves that YOUR the fool, not me ....
from 6 days ago
It just hurts when people don't think before they write an article with a catchy headline and make no sense throughout. You failed to mention how much chelsea and man utd, keep spending season after season to get to and stay where they are. Do you even remember how long it took Sir alex to win anything of note when he first took charge of the club. Liverpool dont always fall away in the new year infact the liverpool trend has always been to start off bad and catch momentum and finish strong in the new year. Again you just went by this seasons results. And as Jonathan pointed out every team goes through a bad patch during the season, and what Liverpool achieved this season, keeping in mind the board room stuff that has been going on behind the scenes, has been amazing.
from 6 days ago
Ankit - Liverpool havent won anything for nearly TWO decades. Thats hardly a 'big' team record. With Benitez buying players like Veronin, Benayoun and Arbeloa, Its not hard to see why you haven't been challenging.
I am merely saying that from an outsider looking in, Rafa does not seem to value the league and he comes across as someone who doesn't give a damn. From that perpective, it looks that Rafa doesn't think you can win it. Which brings me onto another point. If Liverpool dont challenge for the title and are quite happy to sit comfortably in 3rd or 4th, then in MY opinion, you are not worthy of a CL place.
For a team that has the resources to buy big, it begs the question why Liverpool dont challenge for the title. And as I said, there may be other contributing factors that I am not aware of but FROM AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN, Liverpool give up on the title waay too early...
from 5 days ago
Saloman your last post shows what a moron you are, Liverpool have won more than Chelsea in the last 18 years after we last won the league. Look at some facts.
The run you quoted was at the same time the owners started talking about Klinsman and being pratts, that might also have contributed to a dip in form and to finish a season so strongly after that crap has to be down to Rafa.
The last point i want to make is that there as so many non Liverpool fans who write lengthy articles about Liverpool. I'm sure there is a reason for this but it eludes me at the moment.
from 5 days ago
AGAIN, if you resort to name calling, then your the moron, not me. Just make something clear, I was on about the League, not the CL,FA Cup, Carling Cup, Uefa Cup or Charity shield...
from 5 days ago
Perhaps I should write an article about Chelsea. But then there would not be much to write.
I won't deny that Liverpool save themselves for the CL, but considering they are only 11 points off the leaders, I don't think that accusation carries much weight. Liverpool have 13 draws. If six of them had been converted, they would be sitting pretty. Some of those draws, such as the ones against Portsmouth, Wigan, Birmingham (twice) should have been converted into wins. But they weren't though with only four losses, I think you'd have to be pretty daft to think this team hasn't improved.
Look at Liverpools line up. Only 3 of the players would have been part of the Chelsea line up - Torres, Gerrard and Carra. Wonderkid Malouda cost more than Pennant and Crouch combined. And I think Liverpool matched Chelsea for most of the match - certianly for the first 180 min.
For a team that spent 30m on Shevchenko, I don't think you can call Liverpool big spenders. We paid 20m for Torres. Thats how much Man U is currently bidding for Berbatov. Nani cost 20m - so did many Chelsea players who dont even hold a candle to Torres.
On a separate note I don't think Chelsea belong in the same bracket as Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U. These are pedigree clubs, not mercenary clubs. Torres took a pay cut for Liverpool. Fabregas probably deserves a lot more than he earns. Gerrard stayed at Liverpool despite Chelsea's millions. Man U, Ronaldo and a few others notwithstanding, have players like Ferdinand, Scholes and Gigges who will not leave. But can you say that about Chelsea? Kewell earns more than players who feature regularly for Liverpool, but how often do you hear similar complaints? The fact that Drogba wants to leave says it all about the bond between player and club. Terry and Lampard might just be the only ones who takes genuine pride, and yet there is speculation about the latter.
from 5 days ago
Slight error there... accidentally deleted a line about how Terry and Lampard needed their contracts negotiated when they learnt that Ballack and Sheva were earning more than them. Hence the "Kewell earns more than players who feature regularly for Liverpool, but how often do you hear similar complaints?" line.
from 5 days ago
K - Your very welcome to write an article about Chelsea, In fact there would lots to write about...
"I won't deny that Liverpool save themselves for the CL" - Whether thats an accusation or not its a FACT since you admitted it yourself. So that fact alone says alot about Liverpool...
I never said Chelsea were a big team, I merely pointed out the fact that Liverpool (or should I say Rafa) do not seem to WANT to win the league. Thats of course unless they're NOT participating in the CL, which then leaves them with only ONE major trophy and rest assured Liverpool WOULD go for it and probably put up a bigger fight than they are now....
The reason why I pick on Liverpool only and not Arsenal is because, they won it just recently. in 2004 and a couple of times before that. Liverpool last won the league nearly TWO decades ago.
Arsenal are now only 4 points off the top and only last week did it become mathematically impossible for them to win it. Arsenal do not save themselves for the CL, which is probably why they've never gotten past the quater finals (in 7 straight attempts i think) before 2006..
First of all, Gerrard 'despite Chelsea's millions' ? - How big was the improved contract that they offered him? £120,000 right? Are you telling me Liverpool would have offered him that EVEN if Chelsea DIDNT come in for him?
Lastly, I never said your team hasnt improved, but as i keep saying to everybody. From an outsider looking in, its seems to me like Rafa doesn't value the league and from that perpective, Liverpool are not worthy of the CL spot...
from 4 days ago
Salomon you said this not me
QUOTE
Now you are saying its about the league, well the league isn't the only thing you win. Granted we have not won the league for a while but to say that Rafa does not want it is a lie. We are getting better and Rafa will win us the league but the Club needs to sort the ownership issue out. Our bad run came at the time when Klinsman was approached this wasn't coincidence it actually hurt the confidence of the players. The 11 point gap would be a lot less with 4 or 5 of our draws in this period converted to wins.
Rafa has done wonders at Liverpool and don't underestimate him, your lot just about got through the CL and we gave you an away goal in the dieing seconds at Anfield. He has finally got to a stage where the team does not need too many additions and exits, it has taken a while but houlier did leave quite a mess. watch out next season if the ownership issue is sorted and Rafa is backed with a 2-3 transfers.
from 4 days ago
The quote was meant to read "Liverpool haven't won anything for nearly TWO decades. Thats hardly a 'big' team record." seems i did something wrong
from 4 days ago
Look Chris, When I was writing this article I only had the league in mind. I am well aware of the countless trophies you've won. I also recall Liverpool so-called "FIVE trophies" in a season. People just happen to keep forgetting that those 5 trophies included the charity shield, super cup and carling cup (worthington cup, in those days)...
Im not stating any real reasons for Liverpool's failure but merely pointed out WHERE they fell behind. Seeing Liverpool is such a HUGE club but haven't challenged for the league for a long, long time, I can only assume that EITHER you dont aspire to win the league OR you have other priorities (CL).
Am I right in that, Chris?
My whole point of the article was to say Liverpool are not worthy of a CL spot BECAUSE, they dont seem (in my view) to WANT to win the league. Thats not to say Im picking on them because ANY team who are comfortable sitting 3rd or 4th every year, DO NOT deserve to be in the CL.
Liverpool have it easy, because they know that they'll be in the CL every year, even if they dont come anywhere near the title for the next 5 years....
Anyway, as I keep saying. From an outsider looking in, I came to the conclusion that Rafa doesn't want to win the league OR would rather win the CL, because maybe thats where he thinks you have a better chance...
from 4 days ago
I am not going to post a long reply on this article explaining where its wrong and where its right. Suffice to say that its wrong on so many levels, I am just fed up with correcting basic errors about Liverpool and bored of talking about it.
To suggest a team (or manager) 'doesn't want to win the league' is frankly absurd. I will just enjoy it all the more when Liverpool win the league under Rafa in the next three years and all you armchair pundits who seem to obsess about Liverpool's perceived failures are proved profoundly wrong.
from 1 day ago
I have a sneak feeling that Liverpool wont the league with Rafa at the helm....
from 2 days ago
firstly, if you knew anything about the liverpool fans and players you would know that the trophy they want to win most is by far the premier league, so you claiming that we give up on the prem so early in the season is ridiculous. And why we do so well in the CL has nothing to do with 'giving up on the league', it's because european nights at anfield are so special, and that we have one of the best cup managers in the world.
And saying that only the top 2 should qualify for europe is also ridiculous, as in the past 3 years every single one of the top 4 has made it to a champions league final!
from 2 days ago
I never said anything about the players or fans. If your going to write a comment like that, I suggest you read the article properly first, otherwise you'll just come across as stupid.
I said Rafa doesnt seem to value the league as much as he should. And if Liverpool poor league form has nothing to do with the Cl, just how do you explain your poor league form? Are you going to blame it on the circus you call 'your board'? Or the constant rotation your team suffered earlier in the season? The fact is Liverpool started the league really well and the CL really poor. They're poor league form coincided with the good CL form, where you simply HAD to win your games to get through. They played well in the CL ever since and your league form only picked up recently...
In MY VIEW, Liverpool seem to save themselves for the CL, which isnt good for their title ambitions. And when a top team like Liverpool seem to be happy settling with 3rd or 4th every year, I THINK, they aint worthy of a CL place. Not JUST Liverpool but ANY TEAM, that are happy with 3rd or 4th arent worthy of a CL spot.....
from 2 days ago
I do feel that Everton push much harder than Liverpool when it comes to the title race...wont be long before Everton come fourth and Liverpool fail to qualify for the UCL.
from 1 day ago
Everton push harder than Liverpool in the title race? Mate, Everton are never IN the title race.....
from 1 day ago
let me rephrase that,the race for fourth spot.
When the hell were liverpool in the title race since 1990..??
from about 17 hours ago
I guess they werent, but I know for sure that they've a lot closer than Everton every year...
from about 7 hours ago
If Liverpool are apparently competing for 4th place by being 11 points ahead of Everton, then by that logic they are competing for 1st place by being 11 points behind Man U.
from about 6 hours ago
Mate, as I said in one of my comments above. Liverpool are pretty much secure, in the sense that they will probably easily qualify for CL every year for the next 5-7 years. My problem, however is that they seem happy to settle with 3rd or 4th place every year. Im sure im not the only one that got that impression.
from 1 day ago
I have to agree with most of what Salomon has said. Benitez is a cup manager, like a lot of the Spanish managers. He prepares his team for each game in a rigid manner and they seem to change their team and tactics from game to game. The fact is that you need stable teams and tactics when it comes to giving yourself a chance to win the Premier League, so I feel that whoever he brings in, he will simply rotate the team to death until they're out of it again.
Benitez's priority has always been the UCL.. He's already won that with Liverpool, why can't he go for the league? I guess he feels that his team can't last the marathon. That's the only explanation.
from about 7 hours ago
He doesnt rotate much more than any other top teams, he just doesnt have the same quality in the rest of his squad. If the players he was rotating were all quality it wouldnt be a problem. Like Chelsea and ManU have millions and millions of pounds worth of players on the bench.
Have you never thought he knows his current squad cant last the marathon in the league, and is concentrating on the UCL to make the money to build a squad that can compete for the league?
As for the main point of this whole article, dont you think you should leave it upto UEFA to decide if the highest seeded english team is worthy of entering the competition.
from about 6 hours ago
Do Liverpool need to save money from the CL in order to "build" a squad? Ive always had the impression that Liverpool were among the rich clubs in the world. Actually, Im SURE they are..
Your right though, it is upto UEFA to decide the seedings for the CL BUT they wont. I was merely putting my thoughts across....
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