Sandwiched in between a run of potentially winnable games over the next month or so is a tough New Year’s Day clash against table toppers Chelski and the visit of our dearest friends from across the M6. These games have extra significance and will provide a barometer of how far we are from being able to challenge the top 3. Having already beaten Arsenal at home, and having one of the best home records in the Country, victory in these games should help convince our Captain that the grass isn’t greener on the other side and inspire him to remain at Anfield beyond his current deal and help us challenge for honours for many years to come.
Generally speaking, Rafa has been unlucky as we have suffered with countless injuries to a squad already lacking in depth and despite this we have produced moments that will live long in the memory such as the victories over Monaco and Olympiakos in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premiership. Special praise must also be heaped upon the mixture of reserves and youngsters who have progressed to the semi Finals of the Carling Cup. A superb achievement given the opposition they have overcome along the way such as the tricky away tie at Millwall, disposing of the holders Middlesbrough who fielded a more experienced side than ours at Anfield and of course the penalty shoot-out win against a full-strength Spurs side at White Hart Lane. What remains to be seen is whether Rafa will keep faith with the young guns against Watford and if we manage to progress to the Final against likely opponents Chelsea- where a Herculian effort would be needed to triumph in a match that would be synonymous with David and Goliath.
Despite all the positives that have materialised under Benitez, there are also a few concerns that continue to bother me. His insistence on freshening up the team when a full strength side is required following impressive victories often backfires and results in us taking two steps forward, one step back. The defeat at Goodison has stuck in every Reds fans throat, not because the fair result would have been a draw in a drab affair, but because Rafa seemed to misunderstand the importance of the derby and fielded a weakened side against Everton who were nine points ahead of us in the league and about to play their “Cup Final”. Dropping Alonso in favour of the ineffective Diao was a bizarre error of judgment as was the decision to replace the improving Steve Finnan in favour of the out of sorts Josemi who had never experienced the unique occasion of a Merseyside derby before.
Events in the first half of the season have just reiterated that we need to improve the squad and hopefully Benitez has realised that he cannot rely upon the current fringe players to effectively fill in for the first team in high profile matches like he could at Valencia.
Realistically the coffers may not stretch too far given our inability to find suitable investment in the club. Whether you think this is because the board are being too proud or Morgan has hidden agendas, the simple fact is that we do need to do something to keep up with the Chelsea’s of this world, particularly as EVEN Everton now seem set for a cash injection prior to the January Transfer window.
The squad is thin which is particularly evident when we have a number of injuries, but we also have a number of moderate players who simply aren’t good enough. It depends how astute Rafa is when acquiring quality players on the cheap, hopefully he is the Spanish version of Harry Redknapp and contemplates using players such as Diao, Luzi, Otsemobor, Partridge, Diouf and Cheyrou as makeweights in any potential deals to help reduce the financial layout.
Whether the small but significant signs that we are improving under Benitez become greater strides towards the end of the season remains to be seen but it certainly seems like Liverpool are slowly awakening and we look set for an intriguing 2005.
A Happy New Year to you all!
" - CGGY
