Rafael Benítez looks to be heading to Italy after all. How different history would have treated him had he steered Liverpool across the Premier League line a year ago, a season in which his league graph peaked agonisingly short of Manchester United's.
The near miss was seen as the catalyst to a first title since 1990. The momentum was with them. Chelsea were under new management, United weakened by the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez and Arsenal by the loss of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré.
For reasons known Liverpool did not kick on. It was an excruciating unravelling, with Benítez seeking to protect himself before his team. He will consider a multi-million pound pay-off and an interview with the European champions a smart week's work. Benítez is clearly a front-rank coach.
A fifth European Cup for Liverpool, two Champions League finals and an FA Cup victory are proof of that. His assault on United a year ago demonstrated his mettle, facts and all.
The leveraged purchase by sporting speculators brought Liverpool low, not the manager. He made eccentric buys, but who has not? Sir Alex Ferguson bought Eric Djemba Djemba and Kleberson, for goodness' sake.
The chat rooms are largely positive towards Benítez. Anger is absorbed by anti-American sentiment. Benítez has left, but fans know the problem will not go until George Gillett and Tom Hicks follow him out of the door.
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