Thursday, June 04, 2009

Tuncay Won't Win Rafa The Champions League - But Neither Will Gerrard And Torres Either


If Rafael Benitez didn't know he was in trouble before, he does now. Gareth Barry set off the alarm bells, forsaking Champions League football with Liverpool for the cash of Manchester City.

Glen Johnson is making them ring louder as he is set to spurn a move to Anfield too, heading back to Chelsea instead, and the club's prospect for next season have already dulled. And it is only June.

Benitez has about £25 million to spend before player sales and with the figures his club's so-called rivals (which now must include City) in the Premier League and Europe are ready to spend that will not be enough.

Given the manager's record of bad buys, the transfer fund will have even less impact and if last season showed anything, it was that Liverpool's squad lacked strength in depth.

Relying so heavily on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres leaves them exposed and the folly of selling out to George Gillett and Tom Hicks two years ago will again be hammered home.

For Liverpool to capitalise on the small steps they have taken they need to improve their squad but, not for the first time, they are set to be left behind.

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