Woeful finishing costs us again! Spurs 2 Liverpool 1

Report by David Douglas - dedlfc

When Rodgers made the poor judgement to play Downing at left back vs the likes of Bale and Lennon it gave Spurs the confidence to start the game on the front foot. This confidence was turned into an early 6th minute lead for Spurs with Gareth Bale assisting Lennon to score from close range.

The one player in the LFC squad you do not want a chance to equalise to fall to at the moment is Jordan Henderson as he is a player who has only just returned to the side and has been devoid of any confidence and composure to make any opportunities turn into goals.  This was again evident when after a mix-up between Lloris and Walker created an open goal opportunity which Henderson inexplicably chipped wide of the target.  From the ensuing Spurs attack after 16 mins our former number one summer transfer target Dempsey dived and won a free kick which Bale shot straight at the wall which then swerved massively to leave Reina totally wrong footed.

From the moment we went two down when then preceded to create chance after chance but to no avail until half time couldn't take any of them.

The main chance after the Henderson shocking miss was when Gerrard went down after 33 mins under a Dembele challenge and within the same sequence of play a Suarez shot was cleared off the line.

Our stats at half time summed up our season with Spurs having 31 passes in the final third whereas we had 81 passes but again seem to over-pass and did not provide any penetrative passing which is the area we've lacked in all season.

In the second half we again showed more urgency, but again were poor to the extreme with our final ball. 

Bale nearly got a third goal for Spurs from another free kick which just went wide.  Within two minutes we had our first lucky break when an attempted clearance from a LFC corner by Lennon went straight into Bale's face and then dropped into the Spurs goal for a bizarre own goal and a vital lifeline which we thoroughly deserved.  We desperately sought an equaliser, but sadly in vain the closest we came with 10 mins left was when Suarez struck a shot just over from 10 yards.

 After the game Rodgers again stated his usual "we were magnificent!" post match interview this time it was justified but it is becoming a little irritating when we do not get wins to back up his total faith in our performances.

 Man of the Match: Glen Johnson - Another excellent display by Glen who again showed why he is such a highly rated attacking right sided player who has the adaptability to also cause problems on the left.

Negatives: Rodgers gave Downing a second start in a row at left back despite his poor display against Swansea and his faith in Downing backfired with Downing constantly showing the lack of confidence and his lack of knowledge playing at left back encouraged Lennon and Bale to attack that flank.

The lack of an extra striking option like Adam Morgan or Yesil that can be thrown on just to get a sniff of a chance with minutes to go is very frustrating with us now always putting two defensive options on the bench but no attackers.

We need to get a winning run going not draws and we will shoot up the table and then Rodgers can spout how magnificent we are until his heart is content !!

Swansea 0 Liverpool 0

In what was always going to be a difficult game away to Swansea, Brendan Rodgers returning home with his charges, came into the match unbeaten in 7 Premiership games looking to put themselves into a position to compete for a European place. Jordan Henderson came in for a midfield berth after impressing recently and Downing re-entered the fray for the injured Wisdom.

Liverpool were impressive in the first -half against a team renowned for keeping possession we carried a threat with Suarez buzzing around Williams and his cohorts. The Swansea defender had stated in his book that he had wanted to “knock out” Suarez in last seasons game at Anfield because of his diving.

Sterling, who once again showed a maturity beyond his years in getting back to provide cover in the right back position on numerous occasions, rattled the bar with a thunderous volley which left Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel stranded. Glen Johnson who continues to play with an attacking joie de vivre should have put Liverpool in front when he danced through the Swansea backline, but to be fair Tremmel saved well.

On another day Jose Enrique’s disallowed goal to which he ghosted in on the end of a delightful Suarez chipped cross could have been given with the advantage normally going to the attacker.  The decision, albeit the correct one, was marginal in the extreme. Routledge kept Pepe Reina on his mettle with a sharp shot which he turned away at the near post which was Swansea’s only meaningful effort of the half.

If the first-half was open at full of vitality and vigour without any real cutting edge on both sides of the fence, the second was a more sedate affair with both sides seemingly aware that losing was not an option.  Williams connected well with a header from De Guzman’s corner which Allen cleared off the line defending the far post.  Although Hernandez stinging free-kick from outside the area saw Reina save well after Joe Allen’s mistimed tackle, it was the away team that found the impetus to raise ahead of steam in the last quarter of the match.

Jonjo Shelvey, coming on to replace Henderson late on, unleashed a tremendous angled drive which Tremmel diving to his right palmed away.  It was the last meaningful action of a match where possession was divided evenly.

Kop-Post Man of the Match:  Raheem Sterling – The England winger was unlucky not to score with a powerful which struck the upright.  But, the most impressive part of his play was his tracking back.  Time and time again, he went back to support Glen Johnson making tackles and interceptions, picking the ball up on occasions running the ball out or passing to colleagues to set up attacks.  He is showing maturity beyond his years and augurs well in his progression to the upper echelons of the game if he keeps this level of demeanour.

Team:  25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 37 Skrtel, 8 Gerrard, 14 Henderson (Shelvey – 77’), 19 Henderson (Cole -77’), 19 Downing (Cole – 77’),  24 Allen, 31 Sterling, 7 Suarez

Subs: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 23 Carragher, 4 Sahin, 10 Cole, 33 Shelvey, 30 Suso

Late equaliser leaves hopes hanging by a thread -Liverpool 2 Young Boys 2

Report by David Douglas - dedlfc


After the positive result of Anzhi winning earlier in the evening we went into the game knowing a win would put us through.

In the pre match interview by our manager, Rodgers he stated that due to the fact we have 4 games in the next 10 days he would be using the whole squad.

The decision to play Shelvey up front was a gamble with no natural front man - my concern going into the first of the aforementioned 4 games is that the other strikers/forwards are just not utilised enough.

From the kick off Young Boys went straight for the jugular and nearly scored after 9 secs with a sweeping move easily saved by Reina. An excellent one-two with Suso and Assaidi got us our first corner but nothing came of it.

Another quick counter attack from Young Boys brought another save to keep Reina's hands warm! Shelvey then played a nice through ball to Cole which he shot just wide after 16 mins.

An excellent flick shortly afterwards by Shelvey leading the line well put Henderson through on goal but he again lacked the confidence and convinction and his shot was tipped wide.

The whole crowd then stood to applaud the unveiling by the visiting Young Boys fans of a banner that stated "In Memory of Hillsborough" they were a class act all evening.

Unfortunately due to an injury to Andre Wisdom, Gerrard started warming up after 29 mins , Wisdom produced the best cross of the night from the right which didn't surmount to nothing just before he was brought off for Gerrard.

The deadlock was finally broken through a brilliant interchange between Suso playing the ball to Cole who chipped the keeper for Shelvey to head home for the lead.

Suso who was again having an excellent game and had a good run and shot just wide shortly afterwards. A clear chance then fell to Cole whose shot ricochet off Skrtel and then was cleared off the line. Another through ball from Cole to Suso went unpunished when the youngster again pulled his shot wide.

So at half-time with a 1-0 lead we were almost there into the next round.

The summary of the first half was that we had chances to wrap up the game with Suso, Cole and Shelvey being the stand-out performers.

The second half started quite cagey until Cole missed a great chance to double the lead and then from the counter attack Henderson now playing as the emergency right back got caught too far up the pitch with the ball dropping over his head and Young Boys striker Bobadilla thudded a shot past Reina before he could blink to equalise and silence the Anfield crowd.

The equaliser prompted Rodgers to bring on our talisman Suarez who we are trying to wrap him in cotton wool and play him in all the league games until January when we can get reinforcements to assist him rather than subject him to having to save our Euro league skins!

With our top scorer now on the pitch we showed more vigour and movement and got a deserved second goal after some neat work by Gerrard with the rejuvenated Joe Cole finishing with aplomb!

Cole was taken off for Sterling after 71 minutes to a standing ovation for the first time that I can remember in a LFC shirt and it may be a sign of things to come, that finally that he is prepared to fight for his place or a determination to impress prospective buyers in January.

Liverpool pushed for a third goal but were found wanting by their naivety with seconds to go with Suarez losing the ball and the Young Boys quick counter attack leading to a smash and grab equaliser in the 88th minute from just outside the area from Zverotic.

Same old story from our team not getting the win at home by not having the experience to either take the ball into a corner and run down the clock or keeping possession to complete a vital win.

Man of the Match - Joe Cole - showed glimpses of the player we thought we had bought two years ago.

Now he is without the pace to get past players, but possesses the experience to pick out decent passes to team mates. For his sake I just hope it's a turning point in his LFC career as he seems determined to succeed.

Negatives
With Anzhi already through, there is now a three-way fight for the remaining qualifying place - we now need to win in Italy in a couple of weeks time which will not be easy.

The game should have been dead and buried with us again not having the killer instinct to finish our numerous chances and again being sucker punched which could now mean we will be out of Europe unless we better Young Boys result in the last group game.

The reliance on Suarez is again a major worry as Gerrard no longer looks a goal threat and only Shelvey looks able to get regular goals in this squad.

Imperious Suarez Provides Liverpool’s Cutting Edge

Pepe Reina returned to the starting line-up for the unlucky Brad Jones and Suso after his impressive cameo against Chelsea returned with Sahin named as a substitute with Jonjo Shelvey having recovered from injury.

The opening moments saw the teams sizing each other up until the impressive Enrique stepping in from his wide berth, nipped in to take the ball of the pedestrian Kone and the scrabbling Watson, drove forward to shoot just wide.  Enrique again stepping in set Suarez free to cross which was almost knocked in for an own goal by Watson. Agger met Gerrard’s corner with a firm header which was deflected just past the upright.

Wigan were happy to play the role of the counter-puncher. Arouma Kone taking up one opportunity to run from his own half cutting in sprightly from the left, to let go a speculative drive from 35 yards which was comfortably saved by Pepe Reina.  Gerrard’s quick ball found Suarez, who though brought down by Ramis from behind, managed to flick the ball on for Suso who shot was erratically palmed away by Al-Habsi.
 
The combative parts of Sterling’s game are not  often remarked upon, but  Ben Watson now knows the power of this pocket battleship which left him sprawled on the green beige.  Unfortunately his awkward landing left the Wigan midfielder with a fractured leg.

The accidental nature of the incident was borne out from Sterling later tweeting, "I didn't realise it was serious as that I'll be praying for speedy recovery."  As we all do as Watson in an intergral part of the Wigan game with his all-round excellence.

Liverpool should have taken the lead when Johnson produced a superb left-footed cross on the run, but Suso’s mis-timed header sailed over. Suso was then replaced by Jordan Henderson after picking up an early knock from a challenge from behind by Figueroa – although the move looked to hastened by a tactical change.  A sweeping break saw Suarez attempt to go down the inside channel thwarted with Gerrard screwing his shot wide of the far post.  Another excellent move saw Gerrard play Suarez through in the inside right position, where his cross come shot was gathered on the second attempt by Al-Habsi with Enrique almost poking the ball home.

While the first half ended with the usual lack of cutting edge in the final third, the second starting with bang. Sterling, moving like a rapier into the area and doing what sets him apart from so many others, lifting his head to pick out Suarez in a better position. The Uruguayan needed no invitation to sweep the ball high into the net.  Sterling on his bike again had his cross cleared only, for Henderson to hit a difficult volley just past the post.

Just on the hour Enrique produced a determined run, shrugging off two defenders before cultivating a lovely through ball,  which Suarez dispatched on the run with the outside of his mercurial right boot.

Liverpool were now toying with Wigan with Sterling scything through from the right playing a one-two with Suarez and seeing his shot saved with Enrique tapping in for a well deserved goal for the Spaniard.  He continued his stunning form, playing a glorious chip pass to Henderson who should have scored will the goal at is mercy.  Wigan almost pulled a goal back having a Beausejour drive deflected against the post by Kone from an off-side position.

Glen Johnson running from the left with at least three Liverpool runners ahead of him, taking defenders every which way, drove his shot inches wide.  Enrique as is he wont again cut in from the left to release Suarez, who should have been celebrating another hat-trick, screwed his angled left-footed shot wide.  That was the last act for the very impressive Uruguayan before being replaced by Shelvey.

Liverpool have now gone 7 Premiership games without defeat beating Wigan who had beaten Spurs away from home recently. The question is should we throw all our eggs into the one basket and concentrate on the Premiership?

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Luis Suarez – carrying the Liverpool attack on his shoulders didn’t stop him from producing emphatic finishes.  The finishes were those of a no 9 and the types of chances which he would often fluff last season.  He now has ten goals in the Premiership this season making him the leading scorer.  His work rate was sensational and his link-up play with Raheem Sterling who was excellent is coming on a treat.
 
Comment:  Enrique for the second game in succession was excellent in a more advance left-sided position.  On another day would have been man of the match with the timing of his runs, nipping in for interceptions and providing support to those ahead gives a new dimension to his play and with Glen Johnson also in imperious form offers Rodgers food for thought going forward.

Special mention: Jordan Henderson - the much maligned midfielder came on for Suso before half-time, adding drive and stability to the midfield and should have added his name to the score sheet. Showed game mentality as Rafa would say...

Brendan Rogers:  "Luis is a very big part of this team," said Rodgers. "His first goal was a wonderful finish and for the second one there was a nice little off-the-shoulder run and finish.

"He is a master marksman, absolutely outstanding, and we are thrilled to have him."

Rodgers also rejected claims that the burden of goals may be too much for Suarez.

He continued: "Of course you want other support around but he thrives on it.

"He is enjoying the freedom of being a loose striker."

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1

The two minutes silence before the game to remember the lives of those lost in service of the country, put things into perspective in terms of as important of as football is to us, their are some things up and beyond sport.

Liverpool came into the game unbeaten in five Premiership games n the calendar year, without Martin Skrtel (ill) and again Pepe Reina still out with a thigh injury. With members of the Arm Forces looking on, Liverpool’s old war horse Jamie Carragher returned in a back three and Sahin keeping out the unlucky Shelvey, with his technical creativity seen conducive against the brilliance of Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Ramirez.

Chelsea could have taken the lead early on with Joe Allan caught in possession. The resultant through ball was clipped just over by Oscar with Carragher caught out of position with arms up flailing for off-side. Liverppol slipped into the usual style these days dominating possession early on with 68 per cent of possession in the first 15 minutes without being able to get the ball into Sterling playing through the middle.

Chelsea with almost no possession to speak off, took the lead when Agger lost Terry from a free-kick which left him unmarked to guide his header home. Hazard’s sparkling feet danced through from centre field before releasing Torres for a shot, well saved by Jones which Hazard volleying the rebound wide. Joe Allen, once again found it difficult to impose himself in an attacking sense and with Gerrard given more of a roving role, he has to take more responsibility instead of playing continuous percentage balls.

A nice move worked down the left between Gerrard and Enrique resulted in our first real shot in anger with Sahin’s drive going wide of the far post. In a collision with Suarez, Chelsea captain Terry was stretchered off in what looked a serious knee injury. On half-time as had been the way right through out Chelsea strolled through the Liverpool midfield, with Mata blazing when one expected his cultured left foot to end the game as contest given our ineffectiveness as a creative force.

Chelsea turned the screws in the 2nd half dominating possession, giving Liverpool very little opportunity to launch a revival and Brad Jones produced a sharp save from a Torres header to keep us in the game. Suso’s arrival for Sahin, could have read Allan or even Carragher, the vice-captain seemingly playing from memory – Liverpool moved to a conventional flat back four. Even captain fantastic, was strangely subdued as he went about his business on his 601st appearance for the club.

With the game becoming more stretched Liverpool began to come into the game and from a Suso corner, the unlikely creative force that is Jamie Carragher provided a dream flick on for Suarez to head home almost under the bar. Gerrard moving back centrally began spraying the ball around with Suso’s movement and close control given Liverpool an assemblance of control.

Gerrard breaking up a Chelsea attack side-stepped the challenge to thread an eye of a needle pass through to Sterling. The young winger cut the ball back to Suso who sliced his shot wide. Liverpool were now on the ascendency and three minutes from time Suarez was a toe-end from taking the ball around Chec from a first time ball from the impressive Enrique. Enrique almost won the game with a near post drive after Sterling, moved back to the wing and Suarez had worked the opening

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Jose Enrique - after some unimpressive displays this season, the Liverpool left-back showed the form which had him vying for player of the season in the first-half of last season. He was strong in the tackle and provided an option going forward.

Comment: Liverpool showed resilience having gone a goal down and ended the game looking the likely winners. Brad Jones was quality assured in goal, with Glen Johnson, like Enrique looking strong both ways.

Joe Allan was poor in the extreme. He provides very little to help the team in an attacking sense often passing sideways rather than looking to set the attack rolling from his quarter-back position. His is in a key position, but beginning to look overwhelmed in the position and with the spectre of Lucas on the horizon he must improve. Sahin is an undoubted quality player, but one feels that he hasn’t as yet come to terms with the undoubted physicality of the English game and it was Suso who helped Liverpool regain composure and control with Gerrard moving back in the middle.

Carragher assist was excellent, but defensively he was very shaky, although he improved the last quarter. Raheem Sterling was again impressive, often being starved off possession.

Suarez, quite simply world-class. Scored a poachers goal, which is not normally in his locker and in the last 30 minutes terrified the Chelsea defence with his clever movement and continuous running.

Anzhi 1 Liverpool 0

Same old feeling of frustration as a LFC fan where we control games to an extent but fail to put away chances.

In a game we hoped to get at least a point we came away empty handed.

The chances were down to a bare minimum in the first half with several incidents standing out,  a mistake by Wisdom being one,  giving Samuel Eto a chance saved by Jones (again deputising for the injured Reina) pushing the ball over acrobatically.

Just on the stroke of half time a  through ball to Traore found  Coates out of position, Traore chipped the ball over him to beat an advancing Jones with a lob for a 1-0 lead.

The team had played relatively well without looking threatening throughout the first half except for a intricate move which Morgan laid a smart pass through to Henderson who again when through on goal showed a lack of confidence by trying a return pass when it was more easier to take a shot at goal.

The second half we showed a bit more promise with good movement from Morgan after a neat pass by Cole creating a half chance which he hit into the side netting - being critical of our young striker I would instruct him to hit the shots across the keeper rather than at his near post.

We then had to be wary of a chance made out of nothing by the 6ft 8in striker Traore but the shot went just wide - with that threat on goal we brought on both Suso and Pacheco.

Traore had a further two chances in the game, first with a bullet header well saved by Jones and with the goal at his mercy, Traore screwed his shot wide before being substituted which Coates must have been relieved about as he struggled with Traore's ungainliness.

Suso was outstanding as a sub and had a snap shot bounce off the keeper to Cole who hit the rebound straight at the keeper and behind.

We had a chance late on which Henderson ballooned over and summed up his continued lack of confidence.

Man of the Match - Jonjo Shelvey - always available throughout the game played like a veteran and has continued to improve as a midfielder every week - he needs to continue to curb his over-enthusiasm when tackling as he picks up yellow cards too frequently.

Positives - Suso - extremely talented stylish player who just oozes class and will continue to make an impression as the players get better around him.

Morgan showed more promise and movement in half a game today than Borini has shown since signing for us.

Negatives - We continue to lose games despite playing well and the excuses from Rodgers are beginning to wear thin every game we do not win!

Henderson never lived up to his promise to prove he deserved to get back into the first team as he just kept things simple like Joe Allen and is not forcing Rodgers hand when he gets a chance by playing like Shelvey and forcibly attacking.

Another drawn stalemate vs the Magpies - Liverpool 1 Newcastle 1

David Douglas (dedlfc)

After the disappointment of a home cup exit to Brendan Rodgers former side Swansea in midweek
Liverpool went into the home game against Newcastle hoping for a morale boosting victory.

We made a very fast start and after ten mins with Sterling in particular very bright and with Newcastle forced onto the back foot, the only thing missing was a goal to assist our hard endeavours.

It took 14 mins for a first shot from Demba Ba to wake up Newcastle. A curling free kick from Suarez after 19 mins was so far the closest we got to breaking the deadlock despite controlling the game. Very good save by Krul with his feet a minute later caused more panic in the Newcastle defence.

There was no more threat to either goal until Ben Arfa broke down the right and crossed with Cabaye scoring a powerful volley with Jones having no chance.

Yet another home game with us dominating a game and not getting the rewards for good play.

The first half ended with Suarez being the main culprit of not looking up and trying to find team mates thinking that he was the only player on the pitch.

The sprinkler system malfunctioned at half time which resulted in soaking our fans wet which summed up the thoughts of our fans with the Newcastle goal dampening their spirits.

The second half started quite evenly until Shelvey on for Sahin came on and provided a more seared cutting edge going forward. We feared one of those days when we would not get any reward for our hard work until after 66 mins a long hopeful ball from Enrique played into the box for Suarez was controlled beautifully on his chest and almost in one movement the miracle worker went around the keeper to equalise for his 7th league goal this season. (His first home league goal of this league campaign) What a player!

Suarez continued in the same vain going around the Newcastle defence a couple of mins later and set up Shelvey who missed an open goal.

After 75 mins danger man Suarez broke away and laid a ball to the right for Sterling who hits a deflected shot wide.

Collocini's red card after 83 mins with a studs high tackle on Suarez was deserved for serious foul play.

Shelvey missed another great chance with a volley straight at Krul, and the same player construed to miss another great chance by heading the ball straight at the keeper a few minutes later.

The last chance arrived with a Suarez free kick missing Shelvey's back header and looping over the bar.

The final whistle went with Liverpool again having to rue missed chances for a 1-1 final score.

Man of the match - Luis Suarez a world class finish from a world class player who tries to do things too much by himself but is a fantastic talent who we would really struggle without.

Negatives - the goal we scored today came from a direct punt up the field rather than the intricate football that Rodgers is hoping for. He needs to realise football is about scoring goals not just possession- we need to get more support to assist Suarez getting goals and even though he missed three gilt edged chances today I feel Shelvey offers more going forward than any of our midfielders including Gerrard and therefore should now be first choice instead of Sahin.

Capital One title surrendered vs Swans - Liverpool 1 Swansea 3

David Douglas (dedlfc)

With the bitter memory of the goal that wasn't given in Sunday's derby still fresh in the minds Rodgers had the personal visit of his former employers Swansea to try and get us into the quarter- finals.

He decided to give Suarez and Gerrard a rest and started with Yesil and Cole. He also played with three at the back as that formation seemed to work in the second half of the league game vs Everton.

The problem we seemed to face tonight was the fact that we do not have a striker to hold the ball up and for the team to work around whereas Laudrup has smartly picked up for a bargain a striker/midfielder named Michu.

Michu was the outstanding talent on show and he totally terrorised our defence. With Joe Cole not making any impact and Joe Allen having a more subdued approach to our game. Swansea totally dominated the first half with the type of expressive football Rodgers had hoped Liverpool would now be able to produce and took a deserved first half lead through a headed goal which was disappointedly defended by our team Flores doing the damage.

Rodgers hand had now been forced and his first choice players Suarez and Gerrard were brought on to try and change the game but to no avail as Swansea again dominated the second half with the ultra talented Michu again leading the line magnificently.

Swansea took a 2-0 lead through Nathan Dyer after further excellent build up from Michu and Hernandez, Rodgers must have sat there regretting not bringing across further players from his old club.

The enigmatic Suarez then scored another glancing touch from a Gerrard free kick and then missed a glaring chance to take the game to extra time after Gerrard had previously tested the strength of the woodwork with a trademark pile driver.

The Swans sealed the win 1-3 with another incisive counter attack this time with Michu laying the ball across for an easy tap-in for Guzman to complete a comfortable win for Swansea and give Rodgers and Liverpool a reality check on where they really are at the moment.

LFC Man of the Match - Suarez came on and again showed why he is one and only goal threat but not clinical enough to produce the required goals of a 25 - 30 goal clinical poacher.

Negatives: The Rodgers philosophy is constant movement with angles and a pressing game showed by Swansea to a tee. To get us playing to that level will take time but how much patience and effort it will take is going to be more down to the owners than the fans as finishing 10th this season may be acceptable to some fans but the owners agenda is going to be something we can not predict.

As we constantly state on the blog we need more assistance for Suarez up front and it just looks to me like we need a reliable goal scorer with experience like a Huntelaar or Soldado even if it costs 20m having one of these two players as the head of our attack will give us the base to start our attacks. We need a player that if we play the ball up to them can keep possession of it and then get midfielders to drive forward from their possession.

The reality is that Reina has under-performed without any top level competitive keeper to train with on a day to day basis - with this not being addressed we may never again see the best of Reina as he is now just too complacent - When he is out of the side we then see how poor the reserve keepers are - with Jones getting a couple of games in Reina's absence he is not the answer to getting Reina to produce his top level performances on a more regular basis again.

Without Champions League football going into another year there is a real chance we will lose our better players such as Suarez, Reina and Agger, the owners will need to show even more ambition or be faced with mid-table mediocrity in a 60,000 capacity stadium!