IF Liverpool finish 3rd and win the Champions League (again), is there doubt this will be progress and the best season under Rafa?
*team that knocked Liverpool out in brackets
2004/5
Premiership : 5th
Champion League : Winners
Carling Cup : Runners-Up (to Chelsea)
FA Cup : 3rd Round (Burnley)
2005/6
Premiership : 3rd
Champion League : Last Sixteen (Benfica)
Carling Cup : 3rd Round (Crystal Palace)
FA Cup : Winners
UEFA Super Cup : Winners
FIFA CWC : Runners-Up (to Sao Paolo)
2006/7
Premiership : 3rd (current)
Champion League : QF/SF/Winners?
Carling Cup : QF (Arsenal)
FA Cup : 3rd Round (Arsenal)
Community Shield : Winners
And of course what will be minimum requirement/aim for Rafa next season? Premiership runners-up? Champions? I said that Houllier needed to make a real title challenge in his 3rd or 4th season so unlesss Rafa should be cut some slack for winning trophies then he should surely be subject to the same timescale for success? Houllier didn't exactly leave Liverpool potless as it were, even if Rafa has landed a much bigger pot (or maybe two......................)