ANOTHER two points dropped, another late goal conceded and another raft of unfavourable headlines – Liverpool must finally be out of the race for the Champions League.
Funny to think, then, that after the latest round of Premier League matches, Liverpool’s prospects of clambering back into the top four have actually improved ever so slightly, as their rivals all squandered points.
Though Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have taken maximum advantage of the Reds’ travails this season, the same cannot be said of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
When Liverpool left the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon, having failed to turn a battling performance into three points, I’m sure the players would have been fearing the worst when they looked at the fixture list.
Those who like to do a coupon would have made Tottenham certainties to beat Hull and Villa to see off West Ham United, while many would have fancied City to get a result of some sort against Everton, given their excellent form.
For all three to fail, however, shows they are going to be vulnerable in the remainder of the season and when the pressure is on them, they might end up slipping on many more occasions.
If that allows Liverpool to profit, they can have only themselves to blame and I’m still absolutely convinced the Reds will turn the situation around by leapfrogging them all between now and May 9.
It hasn’t been a great season, to put it mildly, but there is just a suggestion now that things are starting to turn and the attitude and commitment of the side that played at Stoke was excellent; their effort and desire could not be faulted.
What’s more, it’s not a disaster ‘only’ taking a point home from the Britannia – that is one of the most intimidating grounds in the Premier League and plenty of teams have done – and will do – leave empty-handed.
So it’s important to put things into context and that draw will look even better if we can beat Tottenham.
They will arrive here looking to cause us real problems and it’s not a game we can afford to lose but I don’t think we will; after all, Liverpool are still right in the race.
Why a move for Kenwyne Jones makes perfect sense
IT is of no surprise that Kenwyne Jones is high on Liverpool’s wanted list as he’s a player of real quality.
Some people might have been a little bit surprised when they heard Rafa Benitez wanted to sign the Trinidad & Tobago striker but it would of been a shrewd piece of business.
Rafa needs a quick fix, given Fernando Torres is injured, he needs someone who knows the Premier League and, above all, he requires a big presence.
Jones has ticks in all those boxes and, given that money is tight, a loan move until the end of the season would of fit the bill for the Reds.
David Ngog is not quite ready yet for the Premier League, while Dirk Kuyt has other duties, so Jones would of been a welcome addition.
Liverpool FC must cash in on Ryan Babel
IT is has been another bad week for Ryan Babel and I can’t really see how he can turn his Liverpool career around now.
He has done himself no favours in falling out with Rafa Benitez; you can’t breach dressing room trust by telling the world 24 hours before a game that he had been axed from the squad.
Once a player is out of sorts and starts bemoaning life at a club, it is very difficult to turn the situation around, even if they have rich talent.
Babel can clearly play football but his heart is not in it for Liverpool and a move away looks best for all parties.
Carragher shows his true class
A lot has been said about last week’s hugely disappointing exit from the FA Cup and there is no point in re-opening old wounds.
It was as bad as Liverpool have played this season, even though they still had enough chances to win the tie and to miss out on a trip to Wembley is so frustrating.
But, at the same time, it would be wrong to overlook how well Reading played in both games and they deserve their place in the fourth round against Burnley this weekend.
When you play for Liverpool, it is imperative that you be a good loser as well as a good winner, so it was really good to see Jamie Carragher show a touch of class and pay tribute to Reading.
He will have been hurting badly so to come out and give them credit spoke volumes for him.
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