VIEW FROM THE STANDS: Haunted by same old ghosts

Jan 5 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

CHRISTMAS has come and gone but at Anfield on Wednesday you could be forgiven if you had a quick look over your shoulder as ghosts of Christmases past yet again rattled their chains.

We were once again visited by a familiar spectre, in our case the Ghost of Missed Opportunities. Trouble is, he doesn’t limit his visits to just Christmas time, he continues to haunt us throughout the season.

If we had picked up the number of points our general play has deserved so far, we would sit comfortably on top of the pile.

However, over-reliance on Torres and Gerrard costs us. If they don’t deliver, who does?

True, we spent a lot of money in the summer but Manchester United are the current Champions and they spent more than we did.

While that continues, the gap between us will never be bridged. Maybe Gillett and Hicks would benefit from a nocturnal visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future where the Big Four have become the Big Three and Liverpool are merely also-rans.

The trip to Luton should provide both manager and players the opportunity to put league woes aside for a while. I say should, as Rafa often seems determined to make life difficult for himself by making changes galore.

We’ve already gone out of the Carling Cup by fielding a weakened side and although Luton are far from being as tough a proposition as Chelsea, this is one game we simply must win. As things stand, the FA Cup may well be our one real shot at silverware this season as we fall further behind in the league and have yet to face a strong Inter Milan side in the Champions League.

So remember Burnley, Rafa.