Off the field uncertainties continue to hamper Liverpool’s fortunes

Jan 1 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE are some lingering doubts about Liverpool’s on-field fortunes in 2008.

But what worries me more is the off-field issues. Not so much will Rafael Benitez still be with Liverpool at the end of the season, but will the Americans?

I’m not totally convinced about the way things appear to be running at the moment. Everybody knows that if you look at Manchester United under American ownership, David Gill runs things.

Yes, he has financial guidelines from the Glazers but he is the man in charge.

I don’t get that impression with Rick Parry – he seems to be allowed to do his job only up to a point.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett don’t seem sure what they want to do and the re-working of the stadium plans suggests to me that the financial side is becoming a real millstone for them.

All of which doesn’t help Benitez. I can’t see for the life of me how he is going to get the money for the players good enough to turn them into title challengers.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have been the top players for years and now Fernando Torres has joined that bracket.

But they need two or three more of them now and unless that happens I can see 2008 ending the same way as it starts – Liverpool no closer to that 19th title.