Liverpool have not won the league since 1989-90 – that’s approaching 18 years since Liverpool Football club last won the title, and we are constantly told, “a club like Liverpool should be winning the league”. I don’t really understand these types of statements – after all, just because someone does something a couple of times it doesn’t give them an automatic right to be able to do it again, never more so than in football. Using this analogy, I might try and get into Goodison for free next week. I could always use the excuse that I have been going in there for nearly 40 years.

The latest manager to try to break this cycle is Rafa Benitez. In the four years he has been in charge of Liverpool, he has spent an absolute fortune on players.

It is reported he has spent a total of £150million and has a net spend of approaching £90million. He has won a couple of cups (so I believe). In his first season in charge, although it wasn’t his group of players, he did take the team to the European Cup final. Even though they looked totally outclassed for a vast majority of the game, they showed great spirit to come back from 3-0 down at half-time and win on penalties.

‘... many Reds do not consider what Rafa has done as real progress – he has turned “the worst team ever to win the Champions League” into a team who now struggle to beat Birmingham at home.’


But since that night things have taken a bit of a constant dive downwards. They reached another Champions League final last season, but were outclassed and really shouldn’t have graced such a final, if all things were equal. They just weren’t good enough.

Also. they have won an FA Cup, funnily enough on penalties again – there seems to be a bit of a theme here, but all things considered many Reds do not regard what Rafa has done as real progress – he has turned “the Worst Team ever to win the Champions League” into a team who now struggle to beat Birmingham at home. And all at a huge cost of £150million.

When he took over, he did have some quality players in his squad and he has brought in no less than 48, striving to find the gems he needs to challenge the top teams, but unable to mount a serious title bid. His latest attempts to do this seem a bit more successful after he spent more than £20million on Fernando Torres, who looks a great player – but I suppose if you throw enough darts at the board eventually you’ll hit the bull’s-eye.

Torres looks a world-class performer – put him alongside Gerrard and the one-man team argument against Liverpool can be thrown out the window. But let's be honest here, would you be happy if after four years a team who was lucky enough to win the Champions League is currently struggling to even qualify for next season’s competition? And the only two players you have who might get into the other top teams are Torres and Steven Gerrard, who was already at the club when the manager arrived. All this at a huge financial cost. Is Rafa a tactician or a gambler? You decide, but one thing is for certain Liverpool are not a one-man team any more, they are a two-man team. Well done, Rafa.