THE BIGGEST problem for Liverpool now is that Manchester City are looking very good to finish fourth in the Premier League.
The Eastlands side managed to buy the best set of players last summer they could, without the lure of Champions League football, so just imagine who they will sign at the end of the season with that added incentive.
With the strong possibility City will make it into Europe’s premier club competition, the landscape of the transfer market completely changes.
Even if Liverpool find the £80m Rafael Benitez claims they need to strengthen the squad, who are they going to be able to attract?
The club would once more have to sell the club on its history and supporters; as great as they are the draw of Champions League football and bigger wages will win out in the end.
Manchester City look like a team progressing whilst Liverpool look like they are stagnating.
Not finishing in the top four this season will provide one or two players with a get-out strategy as well.
Fernando Torres certainly understands the tradition of the club but mainly it was the belief he would be playing in the Champions League and winning major honours which brought him to the club.
Not only does it give Fernando an excuse, but also Steven Gerrard.
Of course I am not saying the captain is set to leave Anfield but if he decided playing Champions League football was a must, and Liverpool could not offer him that, then you could not blame him for looking for the exit.
Nobody could accuse him of being a turncoat after what he has given to the club over the last 10 years; he could have gone to Chelsea but stayed.
Being able to boast the two clubs you represented in your career were Liverpool and say, Real Madrid, does not look too shabby on the CV does it?
All this of course stems from what happened on Sunday at Anfield; after the display against Benfica, it was really a dismal performance against Fulham.
Without Fernando Torres Liverpool were unable to break Roy Hodgson’s men down; the only positive aspect to come from the game is that it may now have taken the pressure off the manager and players.
If Torres is to be missing in anymore games between now and the end of the season then I would go much more attacking, especially in the league.
If I were Rafael then I would be saying ‘Let’s have a real go, we’ve got nothing to lose’.
It now doesn’t really matter if Liverpool finish sixth or seventh because they are out of the Champions League.
