Having won a gruelling internal scrap, Rafa Benitez can finally concentrate on throwing Liverpool's most powerful punches exclusively at his rivals.
It comes as a blessed relief on Merseyside that instead of worrying about another spat between manager, chief executive or absentee owners, the Anfield combat lines are more appropriately drawn.
Benitez has been forced to exhaust too much energy applying his Machiavellian wisdom to a process of self-preservation. He's now entirely focused on sending Sir Alex Ferguson into unhappy retirement.
Liverpool versus Manchester United part two is a skirmish Don King would love to promote. It went the distance last season, and the The Kop will be relishing an equally bitter clash in the months ahead.
The rest of the football world may embark on an eyebrow raising exhibition as the Rafa versus Fergie feud is reignited, but Liverpool will be comforted if the mud continues to be slung beyond the boundaries of their own patch.
Don't underestimate how thrilling it is for a Scouser to hear Ferguson so motivated to keep the Merseysiders 'off their perch' for another season.
Until Benitez's enduring challenge last May, Fergie had become so unflustered by Liverpool's top four presence he wouldn't even mention the Merseysiders' when discussing possible threats.
Worse still, Benitez's predecessors suffered the ultimate indignation of being regularly praised by the United boss. That's the surest sign of Liverpool's unthreatening behaviour at the business end of a campaign (Fergie's Spring tributes are reserved for Arsene Wenger these days).
Fergie and Rafa can't even spit out each others' name without getting a blister on their tongue now.
Liverpool will have no difficulty assessing their chances this time. The more Ferguson mentions them or launches co-ordinated anti-Rafa attacks with allies like Sam Allardyce, the more dangerous they're being perceived.
Equally, the first gentle jab by Benitez about fixture lists, refereeing standards and Old Trafford penalty decisions will be ample proof of his buoyant mood as the season progresses. There should still be caution before declaring Liverpool's internal squabbles gone for good, though.
Liverpool's appetite for a self-destructing bust-up has recently seemed as feverish as an outbreak of swine flu.
Benitez's greatest triumph last year wasn't merely to withstand the pressure from his ex-board (50 per cent of which had wanted him sacked). It was to keep the tide of opinion swinging ferociously his way through an exceptional league performance, earning a long-term contract and seeing off his backroom irritants in the process.
But the recent declarations of unity within Anfield still won't sound convincing until the takeover saga ends.
Financially vulnerable Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr have tolerated each other rather than buried their differences.
And although Benitez has established a working relationship with newly appointed directors and assumed greater control over a broad range of club matters, the curious cases of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano are testimony that tensions can flare up at the merest hint of an agent's briefing.
The new broom currently working its way through the corridors of Anfield power has not yet swept away all the debris of a traumatic few years.
As usual, the on-field hopes of The Kop rest with the formidable spine of the team. Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Dirk Kuyt tend to avoid the rotation process, and the outcome of the Alonso and Mascherano sagas undoubtedly impact on the months to come. The rest of Benitez's squad form a methodical, but formidable unit.
Glen Johnson's arrival should be the catalyst for him to not only cement his place as England's best right back, but develop into a world class one.
Inevitably, Benitez himself will take centre stage as he bids to justify his view of Liverpool as a work of meticulously designed progress edging ever closer to its goal.
There's a little of something for everyone in a portrait of Rafa.
The glass is two-thirds full when recalling the league doubles over United and Chelsea last season, allied to those memorable European campaigns which allowed successive owners to cheekily quadruple the club's value since his arrival in 2004.
The glass half empty brigade recoil at the thought of the failure to beat Stoke, the defeat to Middlesbrough and the home draws with Fulham and West Ham.
There remains a chameleon-like style to this Liverpool side. They absorb the qualities of their opponent, no matter how brilliant or indifferent. It's a regular occurrence for Liverpool to beat Manchester United or Real Madrid, while struggling against a relegation certainty a few days later.
That's because Benitez's analytical, scrupulous approach means the rough and smooth walk hand in hand.
He'll labour over the tactical intricacies of Tony Pulis' mind as much as if he was facing Jose Mourinho.
That's one of Benitez's biggest strengths as a manager, but to those of a bygone era who believe weaker teams should be brushed aside without the need for a clip board on the touchline, it's also a source of disquiet.
Cynics peddle the idea Liverpool continue to fall agonisingly short because of unnecessary meddling against lowly opponents.
Rafa's staunchest supporters will say it's been an extraordinary effort to become so competitive, and it was only the regular absence of either Torres or Gerrard that cost Liverpool the four more points they needed last season.
The conflict-ridden debate about Rafa's true place in the club's history will only be resolved when his methods bring more silverware. It will be four years in May since their last trophy, and that's Liverpool's longest drought since the early 70s.
But if Benitez wins the title, he'll be rightly elevated to the ranks of Anfield immortals Shankly and Paisley.
Such an achievement may even be regarded Liverpool's greatest of all given the silver-spooned opponents he's had to overcome, and the restrictive in-fighting which has plagued his reign.
It comes as a blessed relief on Merseyside that instead of worrying about another spat between manager, chief executive or absentee owners, the Anfield combat lines are more appropriately drawn.
Benitez has been forced to exhaust too much energy applying his Machiavellian wisdom to a process of self-preservation. He's now entirely focused on sending Sir Alex Ferguson into unhappy retirement.
Liverpool versus Manchester United part two is a skirmish Don King would love to promote. It went the distance last season, and the The Kop will be relishing an equally bitter clash in the months ahead.
The rest of the football world may embark on an eyebrow raising exhibition as the Rafa versus Fergie feud is reignited, but Liverpool will be comforted if the mud continues to be slung beyond the boundaries of their own patch.
Don't underestimate how thrilling it is for a Scouser to hear Ferguson so motivated to keep the Merseysiders 'off their perch' for another season.
Until Benitez's enduring challenge last May, Fergie had become so unflustered by Liverpool's top four presence he wouldn't even mention the Merseysiders' when discussing possible threats.
Worse still, Benitez's predecessors suffered the ultimate indignation of being regularly praised by the United boss. That's the surest sign of Liverpool's unthreatening behaviour at the business end of a campaign (Fergie's Spring tributes are reserved for Arsene Wenger these days).
Fergie and Rafa can't even spit out each others' name without getting a blister on their tongue now.
Liverpool will have no difficulty assessing their chances this time. The more Ferguson mentions them or launches co-ordinated anti-Rafa attacks with allies like Sam Allardyce, the more dangerous they're being perceived.
Equally, the first gentle jab by Benitez about fixture lists, refereeing standards and Old Trafford penalty decisions will be ample proof of his buoyant mood as the season progresses. There should still be caution before declaring Liverpool's internal squabbles gone for good, though.
Liverpool's appetite for a self-destructing bust-up has recently seemed as feverish as an outbreak of swine flu.
Benitez's greatest triumph last year wasn't merely to withstand the pressure from his ex-board (50 per cent of which had wanted him sacked). It was to keep the tide of opinion swinging ferociously his way through an exceptional league performance, earning a long-term contract and seeing off his backroom irritants in the process.
But the recent declarations of unity within Anfield still won't sound convincing until the takeover saga ends.
Financially vulnerable Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr have tolerated each other rather than buried their differences.
And although Benitez has established a working relationship with newly appointed directors and assumed greater control over a broad range of club matters, the curious cases of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano are testimony that tensions can flare up at the merest hint of an agent's briefing.
The new broom currently working its way through the corridors of Anfield power has not yet swept away all the debris of a traumatic few years.
As usual, the on-field hopes of The Kop rest with the formidable spine of the team. Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Dirk Kuyt tend to avoid the rotation process, and the outcome of the Alonso and Mascherano sagas undoubtedly impact on the months to come. The rest of Benitez's squad form a methodical, but formidable unit.
Glen Johnson's arrival should be the catalyst for him to not only cement his place as England's best right back, but develop into a world class one.
Inevitably, Benitez himself will take centre stage as he bids to justify his view of Liverpool as a work of meticulously designed progress edging ever closer to its goal.
There's a little of something for everyone in a portrait of Rafa.
The glass is two-thirds full when recalling the league doubles over United and Chelsea last season, allied to those memorable European campaigns which allowed successive owners to cheekily quadruple the club's value since his arrival in 2004.
The glass half empty brigade recoil at the thought of the failure to beat Stoke, the defeat to Middlesbrough and the home draws with Fulham and West Ham.
There remains a chameleon-like style to this Liverpool side. They absorb the qualities of their opponent, no matter how brilliant or indifferent. It's a regular occurrence for Liverpool to beat Manchester United or Real Madrid, while struggling against a relegation certainty a few days later.
That's because Benitez's analytical, scrupulous approach means the rough and smooth walk hand in hand.
He'll labour over the tactical intricacies of Tony Pulis' mind as much as if he was facing Jose Mourinho.
That's one of Benitez's biggest strengths as a manager, but to those of a bygone era who believe weaker teams should be brushed aside without the need for a clip board on the touchline, it's also a source of disquiet.
Cynics peddle the idea Liverpool continue to fall agonisingly short because of unnecessary meddling against lowly opponents.
Rafa's staunchest supporters will say it's been an extraordinary effort to become so competitive, and it was only the regular absence of either Torres or Gerrard that cost Liverpool the four more points they needed last season.
The conflict-ridden debate about Rafa's true place in the club's history will only be resolved when his methods bring more silverware. It will be four years in May since their last trophy, and that's Liverpool's longest drought since the early 70s.
But if Benitez wins the title, he'll be rightly elevated to the ranks of Anfield immortals Shankly and Paisley.
Such an achievement may even be regarded Liverpool's greatest of all given the silver-spooned opponents he's had to overcome, and the restrictive in-fighting which has plagued his reign.
1 comment:
Excellent post - good point about the 'chameleon-like' qualities of the current side, I agree that they have a tendency to get dragged down to the level of 'lesser' sides.
I wonder whether we need a 'tub thumper' in the backroom team - basically someone who can move away from the tactical side and just say 'Come on lads, let's have 'em'.
I really rate Benitez but don't imagine him to be giving Winston Churchill-style speeches to fire up the players!
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