Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The figures That Reveal Why Liverpool Will Fall Short Of A Champions League Place This Season

The party will carry on, but Liverpool will not be invited. As the Champions League draw is made for next season, the Reds' name will surely be missing, after a miserable Premier League campaign.

Sunday's draw with Fulham at Anfield effectively ended Rafael Benitez's side's hopes of sneaking into the top four, with both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur boasting points, and games, in hand, and Liverpool seemingly unable to string together the run of wins required.

But it wasn't the stalemate in the sun last weekend which cost Benitez's men; Goal.com UK examines the numbers which have consigned English football's most decorated club to another season in the Europa League...

56 - Liverpool have picked up 56 points so far this season, which is six fewer than fourth placed Manchester City. At this stage last season, the Reds had mustered 74 points.

1.6 - At 1.6 points per game, Liverpool's average is well down on last season, when they managed 2.2 points per game.

4 - Benitez's side have picked up just four wins on their travels this season, and lost a shocking eight away fixtures - at the likes of Wigan, Fulham and Sunderland.

14 - Just 14 goals scored away from Anfield may explain the above statistic. Liverpool's goal record on the road is worse than that of Burnley, who have found the net 15 times.

21 - Liverpool's goal difference of +21 is decent, but compared to Arsenal (+41), Manchester United (+50), and Chelsea (+54) they are trailing behind.

12 - The number of league games Fernando Torres has missed this season. The Spaniard is currently awaiting news on a knee injury, so could yet add to that total before the end of the season.

7 - Goals scored in the Premier League by Steven Gerrard - his worst return since Gerard Houllier's last season in charge, 2003-04. The Reds' captain netted 16 league goals last term.

0 - Premier League goals from regular central midfield pairing Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano. The reliance on Gerrard and Torres is overstated, but it certainly exists.

12 - Different defenders used by Benitez this season. Little wonder the Reds found keeping a clean sheet so tough in the early weeks of the season.

-£8m - Liverpool's net transfer spend this season. When your hands are tied, there is only so much you can do.

£1m - Interest repayments due on the £237m worth of club debt every nine days.

3 or 4 - New players needed this summer, according to both Benitez and Torres.

And a few stats which offer some hope for the future...

2005 - The last time Liverpool missed out on qualification, they would win the Champions League a couple of weeks later. With Atletico Madrid waiting in the Europa League semi-finals later this month, the chance is there for another European trophy.

6 - Months in which Barclays Capital, employed by co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, have to find a suitable buyer for the club.

6 - Years for which Pepe Reina has signed up, after agreeing a contract extension. The Spanish 'keeper is currently in the running for the Premier League's 'Golden Gloves' award, after keeping 14 clean sheets this season.

5 - Academy graduates to make their Premier League debut this season. The likes of Daniel Pacheco, Daniel Ayala and Martin Kelly are highly-rated by many at the club, and Liverpool will be hoping they can fulfil their obvious potential.

18 - League goals managed by Torres this term. Injuries aside, he would surely be competing for the Golden Boot with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

2 - Victories over Everton. Even in the midst of a crisis, Liverpool remain top dogs on Merseyside.

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