The end of a truly dismal season should provide Liverpool fans with some much-needed relief.
The Anfield club’s season came to a whimpering end with a goalless draw at Hull City last Sunday. Alberto Aquilani and Nabil El Zhar came close to unlocking an unreliable Tiger’s defence but fittingly the match ended in frustration for the Reds, in line with the reoccurring theme of the whole season.
It has been a campaign riddled with disappointment.
In recent weeks Rafael Benítez has defended his side claiming the expectations were too high last August. However a second place finish in the previous season coupled with a club record Premier League points tally, the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford and an in-form Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were inevitably going to sweep optimism across Merseyside.
The sale of Xabi Alonso, a host of poor acquisitions, disputes with the hierarchy at the club have all been cited as factors which have led to the culmination of an abysmal season. The hefty charge that the owners have placed hovering over the club has only added to the sense of impending doom.
This summer will be vital for Liverpool. The willingness of George Gillette and Tom Hicks to sell the club means that club will be facing a potential overhaul in the coming months. Martin Broughton, the newly installed chairman, has warned that the process of finding investors could take the best part of 12 months.
But it does provide the supporters with at least some hope that the current financial uncertainty at the club can be stabilised.
The debate is raging over whether Benítez should remain on as Liverpool manager. Juventus had entered the fray as potential suitors to the Spanish manager but in recent days the 50-year-old seems to have rebuked their advances.
“I want to stay it would never be easy to leave this club,” he said after the Hull match. “I had a meeting with the chairman the other day and it was positive, hopefully we will have another meeting this week and see if it gets done and dusted.”
So will the powers that be at Anfield be willing to delve into the already-stretched coffers and provide Benítez with funds for much needed investment in playing staff? The former Valencia manager has been widely criticised for his signings during his five year tenure.
For every Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, there have been three or four hapless flops. Names like Josemi, Jan Kromkamp and Andrea Dossena make the illustrious list. The futures of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are far from secured with the departure of Liverpool’s prized jewels a real possibility.
According to The Guardian, the financial situation is perilous at Anfield and the Premier League has sought assurances that Liverpool will be able to fulfil their fixtures next season and not go bust. Recent figures suggest the five-time European champions are £350 million in debt.
Clearly then a new investor in urgently needed to steady the club. Liverpool must be stabilised over the summer in order to avoid another dysfunctional season.
The Anfield club’s season came to a whimpering end with a goalless draw at Hull City last Sunday. Alberto Aquilani and Nabil El Zhar came close to unlocking an unreliable Tiger’s defence but fittingly the match ended in frustration for the Reds, in line with the reoccurring theme of the whole season.
It has been a campaign riddled with disappointment.
In recent weeks Rafael Benítez has defended his side claiming the expectations were too high last August. However a second place finish in the previous season coupled with a club record Premier League points tally, the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford and an in-form Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were inevitably going to sweep optimism across Merseyside.
The sale of Xabi Alonso, a host of poor acquisitions, disputes with the hierarchy at the club have all been cited as factors which have led to the culmination of an abysmal season. The hefty charge that the owners have placed hovering over the club has only added to the sense of impending doom.
This summer will be vital for Liverpool. The willingness of George Gillette and Tom Hicks to sell the club means that club will be facing a potential overhaul in the coming months. Martin Broughton, the newly installed chairman, has warned that the process of finding investors could take the best part of 12 months.
But it does provide the supporters with at least some hope that the current financial uncertainty at the club can be stabilised.
The debate is raging over whether Benítez should remain on as Liverpool manager. Juventus had entered the fray as potential suitors to the Spanish manager but in recent days the 50-year-old seems to have rebuked their advances.
“I want to stay it would never be easy to leave this club,” he said after the Hull match. “I had a meeting with the chairman the other day and it was positive, hopefully we will have another meeting this week and see if it gets done and dusted.”
So will the powers that be at Anfield be willing to delve into the already-stretched coffers and provide Benítez with funds for much needed investment in playing staff? The former Valencia manager has been widely criticised for his signings during his five year tenure.
For every Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, there have been three or four hapless flops. Names like Josemi, Jan Kromkamp and Andrea Dossena make the illustrious list. The futures of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are far from secured with the departure of Liverpool’s prized jewels a real possibility.
According to The Guardian, the financial situation is perilous at Anfield and the Premier League has sought assurances that Liverpool will be able to fulfil their fixtures next season and not go bust. Recent figures suggest the five-time European champions are £350 million in debt.
Clearly then a new investor in urgently needed to steady the club. Liverpool must be stabilised over the summer in order to avoid another dysfunctional season.
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