Liverpool are reaching their peak at just the right time and have been made the bookies' favourites to lift the European Cup for the sixth time. Rafa Benitez's tactical superiority is showing as the competition goes on; the tactics used in the elimination of Barcelona were breathtaking and the demolition of PSV, the current Dutch champions and league leaders, was comprehensive.

Some people may say that Liverpool deserve little credit for the win in Eindhoven because Ronald Koeman's men played so badly. But PSV started out with 11 men behind the ball, a tactic that Liverpool would have had problems with in previous years, This time Rafa's boys attacked, got their goal and then PSV had to come forward - leaving Liverpool to exploit the space and simply destroy the Dutch champions. It was a tactical battle won by Benitez over Koeman, long-time tormentor of English football and conqueror of Liverpool and Manchester United last season and of Arsenal this year.

If Liverpool do lift the Champions League title again this year, it will be a huge addition to the Anfield trophy cabinet. But it is still not the trophy that all Reds fans across the globe yearn for. The Premiership is the only cup that has eluded Liverpool, and piles of pressure has been applied to every manager that has attempted to bring it to Anfield.

'Benitez is on the verge of being given the transfer funds to compete with the big boys; with this money he should be able to buy a squad capable of winning the Premiership'


Graeme Souness, Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier all came close but failed to get there. Benitez is a different proposition; he has proved that on his limited funds he can bring together a squad capable of winning the Champions League and other cup competitions. And there we have the problem - you really only need a starting 11 to win a cup game but to win a league title, you need a squad of great players.

After the introduction of Roman's roubles, the game changed forever in England. No longer is it good enough to have a starting 11 of great players; Chelski have upped the standard by having 20-plus players of international standard and have been able to introduce star players with fresh legs when needed throughout the league season when players get tired.

Thankfully they have not had a manager capable of repeating the feat in Europe, but other teams must follow the Chelski route to stay in the title race. Manchester United have been able to do this but Liverpool and Arsenal have so far been left behind. Benitez, however, is on the verge of being given the transfer funds to compete with the big boys; with this money he should be able to buy a squad capable of winning the Premiership.

Samuel Eto'o has just said he loves Liverpool and this is a very big step forward for the club. To get the best players, no matter what money you offer, the club has to match the players' ambitions. Now Liverpool are being seen as a team on the up throughout Europe, and with Rafa's summer transfer funds we should at last be able to bring in the quality players to complete a full squad of players capable of winning the holy grail.

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