THE obituaries have been written, the last rites performed, and it seems I can reach for my black tie in memory of our title hopes until hope springs reborn once more at the start of next season.
The gap between five points and seven points in arrears somehow seems much more than the mathematical two; a challenging yet not impossible task now becomes a daunting one, and even the prospect of humbling United on their own ground in a few weeks’ time might yield more frustration than satisfaction: a potential demonstration of what might, or even should have, been this season.
And instead of being buoyed by anticipation as we prepare for another epic European battle this evening, it’s hard not to feel some trepidation as we face the prospect of having our season finished early for another year, with only the pursuit of the false god of Champions League qualification to keep us interested.
If all this seems unnecessarily depressing, then it’s just a reflection of the hopes that have been raised so high at various points of the season (the win at Chelsea after an eternity of suffering at the Bridge; the long-awaited defeat of United; the many thrilling comebacks) only to see them dashed on the pragmatic but uninspiring rocks of Stoke, Hull and the rest who have made off with frequently deserved points from our so-called Anfield fortress.
Our inability to display the ingenuity and attacking ruthlessness has been apparent for ages, and we seem no nearer to solving it now than several years ago.
And the failure of the manager to address this fundamental problem is beginning to raise questions among fans as to whether it ever will be.
Rafa cannot have failed to notice that there was only one lacklustre show of support for him on Sunday and the increasingly tiresome contract wrangle between him and the club is beginning to gnaw away at the fans’ patience.
The criticism from pundits and six-o-sixers alike on Sunday about Rafa’s team selection was wide of the mark. Does anyone really think that playing Aurelio instead of Dossena or Lucas would have made a significant difference?
The real question to ask was whether there was anyone on the bench who would have made a difference?
In the absence of Gerrard and Alonso, the lack of potential goalscorers among the substitutes compounded the similar problems among the starting XI. Babel is now so predictable defenders just take up position along the penalty area and wait for him to run into them, and El Zhar and Ngog may have potential but are not yet likely to strike fear.
Which of course brings us back to Robbie Keane, and why a proven Premier League goalscorer was practically hounded out of the club when far lesser talents have been given many more opportunities.
Should Benitez’s days as manager prove to be numbered, the stone marking his departure might well read R.I.P. – Robbie Isn’t Playing.
