Peter Crouch underlined the extent of Liverpool's disarray yesterday by admitting they had a fight on their hands to qualify for next season's Champions League — let alone the Barclays Premier League title.
Liverpool's recent decline may not have been as pronounced as the nosedive on the world's financial markets that appeared to leave a question mark over Tom Hicks and George Gillett's hopes of pulling off a £350million refinancing deal.
Despite misgivings over another credit squeeze in America, though, the American owners remain confident of securing the rescue package in time to meet the early-February deadline for repaying loans.
Crouch, however, is more concerned with falling returns on the pitch that have forced Rafa Benitez's players to lower their sights and concentrate on salvaging fourth place.
Four successive draws in the League have left them 14 points behind leaders Manchester United and Jamie Carragher has already accepted that top spot has eluded them for another year.
But Crouch paints an even bleaker picture. The England striker said: 'First and foremost, we have to cement a Champions League spot. That is the minimum we have to strive for, but it is clear we are going to have to do better after the disappointments of the past few weeks.
'For a club like ours, with the sort of squad we've got, it is nothing like good enough. At the start of the season, we all felt we could mount a serious bid for the title, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen now.'
Liverpool's recent decline may not have been as pronounced as the nosedive on the world's financial markets that appeared to leave a question mark over Tom Hicks and George Gillett's hopes of pulling off a £350million refinancing deal.
Despite misgivings over another credit squeeze in America, though, the American owners remain confident of securing the rescue package in time to meet the early-February deadline for repaying loans.
Crouch, however, is more concerned with falling returns on the pitch that have forced Rafa Benitez's players to lower their sights and concentrate on salvaging fourth place.
Four successive draws in the League have left them 14 points behind leaders Manchester United and Jamie Carragher has already accepted that top spot has eluded them for another year.
But Crouch paints an even bleaker picture. The England striker said: 'First and foremost, we have to cement a Champions League spot. That is the minimum we have to strive for, but it is clear we are going to have to do better after the disappointments of the past few weeks.
'For a club like ours, with the sort of squad we've got, it is nothing like good enough. At the start of the season, we all felt we could mount a serious bid for the title, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen now.'
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