They Will Never Walk Alone

It must be excruciating times for Liverpool fans; with the ignominy of being dumped out of the ‘less prestigious’ League Cup by League Two side, Northampton, on Wednesday after a bitter loss at Old Trafford three days earlier. The Kop must be wondering what’s gone wrong fro them this season. As a staunch Manchester United fan, every Liverpool defeat calls for celebration; nothing is more soothing to know that the Red half of Merseyside (now Misery-side) are going through turbulent times both on and off the pitch. The rivalry between United and Liverpool lost some of its venom with the exit of Rafa Benitez and the enthronement of the lovable Roy Hodgson. Benitez gave Sir Alex Ferguson a lot to talk about during his time at Anfield and vice-versa. To say the pair saw eye-to-eye would be an irony; while the former has relocated to the Italian Serie A, the great Scotsman still deems it fit to direct some salvo at the Spaniard. SAF blames Liverpool’s current form on Benitez and I will like to agree with ‘The Boss.’

 The new face of Liverpool………shock, disbelief  and uncertainty!!!

Benitez’s transfer policy and his aimless rants has left the Kop with nothing more than just another side in the English Premier League. Not in the distant future Liverpool may be spoken in the same breath with no disrespect to the likes of Bolton and Stoke City. The exit of players like Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise, Sammi Hyypia amongst others severely weakened the team without adequate cover or replacements.  One of Benitez’s gaffe at Anfield was the purchase of Robbie Keane; the Irishman never had the chance to prove his worth before he was chipped back to Tottenham at a knock-down price, lest I mention the Aquilani saga!? I won’t fault Gerard Houllier when he said he built the Liverpool team that won the 2005 Champions League. Houllier did lay the foundation and Benitez only reaped the dividends. What the Kop needed during Rafa’s time was a League title and the Spaniard could only manage a second spot finish.

 He let them down……and that’s a fact.

Poor Roy Hodgson has to take the blame for Benitez’s misgivings but the gentleman of English football will turn things around pretty soon. In my honest opinion, the Mighty Reds will not finish among the top four this season but their role will be pivotal on who ascends those lofty stairs to Europe. With the little issue of Manchester United settled last week, Chelsea and Arsenal should be wary of the threat posed by the wounded and reeling Liverpool. Sunderland are in for a backlash this weekend and it will be no surprise to see the Black Cats  beaten black and blue. That might just be the tonic the Kop have been craving and who knows what Liverpool may go on to achieve this season.

 Happier times, Stevie G and Nando…the dynamic duo!

Fernando Torres doesn’t necessarily need to play well for Liverpool to play well, the players should have the belief and look back at the great ‘Liverpool traditional’-if I may borrow SAF’s phrase. My concern for Liverpool is that they lack depth in squad and that may be their bane this season unless something radical is done during the January transfer window. Steven Gerard has been Captain Marvellous for the Anfield side but Liverpool can only field one Stevie G, I dread to think what would happen to Liverpool should Stevie be side-lined for a few week with a knock!

Liverpool should not be taken for granted despite their poor start to the season and with the scheming Hodgson in charge, the Kop will find it voice soon and maybe they won’t walk alone after all.