Echo match report..

[owenthomas]

thought there was a few bits in this that could be interesting to discuss..

 

THERE was a warm feeling of familiarity at the end of Liverpool's final home game of the season. A points tally comparable with many of the club's title campaigns, records breaking with more regularity than the bones in England play-ers' feet, and the traditional farewell to The Kop representing more 'au revoir', as the FA Cup Final awaits the true climax of the season.

 

Many of the club's most recent campaigns couldn't end soon enough. Whatever the outcome in Cardiff in a fortnight, aching limbs aside, this one concludes prematurely as Liverpool continue yet another winning streak. But for the all gallons of optimism swigged over the past eight months, no-one recognises more than Rafa Benitez his side has merely taken a giant step in the right direction this term. Greater leaps are required if he's even going to get a chance to chuck a Premiership winners' medal into the crowd.

 

The numerous achievements this year will make next season more challenging. When Liverpool's fans departed Anfield in similar circumstances in the summer of 2002, the statements from the club's players and officials were eerily similar to now. The foundations were in place and all that was required was a slight tweak in a couple of positions. "You can trust us," was the message swallowed, as the process of signing World Cup duds began.

 

Over the course of the following closed season, a justified air of self-confidence was replaced by catastrophic arrogance. It was as if the club had become intoxicated by the positive vibes and lost the sound judgement which led them there. It's taken four years and millions of pounds for Liverpool to get back to where they are now. A team which may still be two or three world class players away from mounting a sustained Premiership assault.

 

Both Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier can argue with justification that, in league terms, Benitez has merely emulated them in leading Liverpool to their current position. He's restored stability, broken into the top three and built a formidable cup team. It was during the course of taking the next step his predecessors tripped up. That's why, for all the outstanding work completed so far, the hard bit is still to come.

 

There are inherent dangers ahead for Benitez, which makes the next few months the most important of his reign. If he sought advice from Evans or Houllier, they'd probably tell him his next round of signings and sales will define his Liverpool career. The accolades which are delivered on a daily basis when quality replaces recent mediocrity become less frequent when a high standard has already been set.

 

From next August, Benitez can no longer be judged against the failings of the old regime. His Liverpool record will be compared to itself. By any standards, a 79 points haul, which may yet become 82, is exceptional.

 

Indeed, Liverpool's last league title was achieved with the total they reached with victory over Aston Villa. This was by no means one of Liverpool's best home performances of the season, but the ease with which they moved into a higher gear when threatened with a draw was still impressive. Even when they're below par, Benitez's men have a capacity to outclass most of the league.

 

Had this game really mattered, Fernando Morientes' early strike could have been the catalyst for a rout which would have sliced Manchester United's superior goal difference. Morientes took his goal with sublime skill, but sadly flattered to deceive for the remainder of the game. If this is to be his last appearance at Anfield, it summed up his Liverpool career. His undoubted class was shown all-too-briefly. For the majority of time, he looked like a player clearly capable of more.

 

Gareth Barry did the game a favour by equalising, as Liverpool woke from their slumber and finished in style. Steven Gerrard took his goal tally to 21 for the season, and the last fifteen minutes could have yielded the six goals which seemed inevitable in the early stages. With such an outstanding strike record, why on earth would you consider playing Gerrard anchorman for England this summer? Amid all the public mourning over Wayne Rooney's foot, at least there may be an opportunity for Gerrard to play in his best position for England now. Rooney's possible absence means one of the few other world class players in the England side accepting added responsibility.

 

It's in those circumstances Gerrard usually thrives, rather than when he's told to sacrifice his natural instincts in order to indulge inferior others like Beckham and Lampard. An altogether different Liverpool skipper joined the lap of honour this weekend, contrasting with the one who was unsure if he was saying farewell for the last two years.

 

For a few others, this really was goodbye to Anfield. At least they have an opportunity to bow out in style. Thankfully, Benitez has made it clear he isn't one of them as he plots a route to bring the scenes witnessed at Stamford Bridge a couple of hundred miles north.

 

All he'll want is the same tremendous financial backing both Evans and Houllier received when they were in this position, seeking to reduce a big, but not insurmountable gap between Liverpool and the champions. Both broke the club's transfer record during summers dominated by pre-season Anfield title predictions. If Benitez is given an opportunity to the do same, the sense of familiarity at the club will remain encouraging. If not, next year's feelings of deja vu may prove far less welcome.

------------

 

the next lot of signings brought into the club are possibly the most important of recent times.. getting the right men for the job won't be easy but if we can get them, and they live up to expectation, i seriously do believe we will win the league.. we are now a confident well oiled machine ("the ease with which they moved up a gear..") that, with a few tweaks here and there, we will be so much stronger.. the final paragraph there makes a lot of sense - Liverpool have to give the manager some serious backing this summer cos if we get it wrong by going for cheaper alternatives it could be another few years before we get back challenging and next year will be our best opportunity for years..

 

..i also agree with the assessment of Morientes - im gutted his signing hasn't really worked out.. i was really excited by his signature..

 

..Gerrard has been immense this season - prior to the start of the season when he handed in his transfer request i totally lost faith in the modern day footballer - thankfully the boy's gone and restored that faith ten fold by becoming a true captain and putting in some awesome performances.. quite rightly, he deserves his player of the year award - he is now, without doubt, the best midfielder in the world..

[Extraordinary Swindle]

"the ease with which they moved up a gear.."

 

It's all in Pako Lloret's book - There are exciting times ahead.

[IcelandicFan]

Moving up a gear with ease is the stuff of champions. How often have I seen Man Utd (some seasons ago) or Chelsea (in recent seasons) concede an equaliser goal, especially at home, and then just take total control of the match and go on and win the game ?

 

Very often I tells ya. I hope we can continue this good form onto the next season because we will need a very good start !

[wacko]

Moving up a gear with ease is the stuff of champions. How often have I seen Man Utd (some seasons ago) or Chelsea (in recent seasons) concede an equaliser goal, especially at home, and then just take total control of the match and go on and win the game ?

 

Very often I tells ya. I hope we can continue this good form onto the next season because we will need a very good start !

Too right. This season we've really started to see the team make the other side their bitch, much as Valencia did to us in the CL. The Newcastle game at Anfield stands out for me in this regard. Okay, it's only Newcastle, but they hardly got near the ball. With a bit more quality in the side, particularly up front (where Houllier and Evans were so blessed), we're be a truly formidable side.

[Guest Makaveli Smith]

Yep, for the first time in years we've seen spurts of championship form from liverpool. We've gone on winning runs that really did deserve at least 2nd so lets hope it goes that way and hope to build on it in the next season or 2.

 

Of course I do think that we should be challenging for the premiership next term, but as said above... the right signings have to be made. I mean It's easy enough to make a decent team if you've got the money, but Rafa now has to make a great team, a team that ultimately has to be better than the likes or man utd arsenal and chelsea with less to spend than any of them...

 

Good luck

[fyds]

Houllier gambled with what he had on his signings and lost. Evans for all his plus points never really had a clue about signing consistently good and great players.

 

History does not repeat itself, people repeat history. Benitez is not Houllier or Evans. More than any manager since Shankly and Paisley, this one knows what he is about, and has a clear idea of how to achieve it. He will get the backing he requires - possibly not as much as some of us think he needs, which is in the end irrelevant - but what HE thinks HE needs.

[magneto]

Post-world cup season....this is what Rafa will be judged on for many years (till the next world cup )

[_00_deathscar]

Ah but by then we'll have 22 League Championships and 9 European Cups.

[boohog]

I mean It's easy enough to make a decent team if you've got the money,

 

Interesting, you might want to ask Newcastle fans if that's the case

[G Richards]

If we do break our record this summer then it will probably be Torres, since I think Kuyt and Owen will both cost around £12M, and I can't think of anyone else we might be in for who would cost more than Cisse's £14M.