The Champions of Europe 5
Last but definitely not the least is Liverpool. What a campaign for them last season. Starting with that thrilling finish against Olimpiacos with that Gerrard thunderbolt and playing with elimination. Then going to Torino to get a result when nobody put a bet on them. Then surprising everybody by defeating the West Londoners and then toppling Milan. They won it with the most difficult draw to the final and that is what usually happens. Milan won it with the most difficult route to the final starting from MD 1. Hence if you want your team to have a shot at winning the Cup with the Big Ears, start praying for a death wish draw in the knock-out. :tongue: I'm not kidding ... just do it.
Liverpool have a moral responsibility to do well as they are not entrants but the team that has the most prestigious club trophy out there. The problem for Liverpool is what every champion in the UCL has faced. No team has been able to successfully defend the title as yet. Milan came close in '95 by reaching the final and losing the final by a goal and then Ajax came close in '96 and losing the final on penalties. That's the closest any teams have come to defending their title. The QF is the death stage for Liverpool. They have to be very very careful at that stage as that is the stage where there are lots of banana skins to make you slip. History doesnot favour Liverpool and karma is not on their side this time around. It will be a tough thing to retain it however the good news is that there is a pretty good chance of getting to the knock-outs as all the champions have made that stage. From there on in starts a new tournament so anything goes.
Offence
-> Morientes
-> Pongolle
-> Cisse
-> Crouch
-> Mellor
That is a weak line-up for the European Champions. Morientes is not working as Liverpool don't have the wings to take advantage of his aerial ability. Makes one wonder, why did they purchase him when they didn't want to play to his strength? Crouch is just ok. Cisse should be starring in Guy Ritchie's sequel to
"Revolver" if he ever makes it.Mellor was awesome. The poor lad got injured but he left an impression on me and that isn't easy. Pongolle should be given more time on the pitch. He would improve that offence for sure and well ... Owen would've for sure. Take out Crouch, Cisse and Morientes (if you don't want to play the crossing game) and then bring in Owen. The offence looks sharper even with 1 guy replacing 3.
Midfield
1/2
-> Gerrard
-> Alonso
-> Garcia
-> Sissoko
-> Hamann
-> Zenden
-> Kewell (what's he doing here after the MOM performance in the final?)
That midfield is very sound defensively but it can lack punch offensively. It needs more balance and strength offensively to add to it. That is why Liverpool suffer from the drought. They can do better from the midfield. The main reason would be the impotence up front but the midfield I believe should be doing more. There is too much limitation on the players. The instant more than 1 crosses the line there are calls for organisation and getting back to position. It is a strict regime which makes them sound so defensively as a team but struggling for the goals up front.
Defence
-> Carragher
-> Hyypia
-> Josemi
-> Traore
-> Riise
-> Warnock
-> Finnan
The defence works well as a unit. I think that Rafa is trying to fix Pool not conceding any goals as his objective and once that is there he will look at things offensively. Things are still good in Europe so there is not much to worry about as long as that defence keeps soaking up the pressure.
Goalkeeper
-> Reina
Made a good save off Robben's shot. Improvement over Dudek.
Starting Line-Up
4-1-3-2
----------------------Reina-------------------------
---Finnan------Carra--------Hyypia------Traore------
---------------------Hamann-------------------------
--------Garcia--------Gerrard--------Alonso----------
--------------Pongolle---------Crouch---------------
So far Rafa has changed his shape according to the team and the opponent but it is looking like he does plan to play a 2 striker system up front thereby limiting his midfield to mainly 4 men. Hamann will not be playing every game due to his fitness so Alonso and Sissoko could be a central partnership with Alonso taking over the anchor role and Sissoko being the B2B. Liverpool needs to play more of Pongolle and ship off the movie star pimp. They need a goalscorer up front. That thumb-sucking baby imitating Garcia always gets the goals for them while the strikers don't and a goalscorer would do them a world of good. Pongolle has that edge. It can be seen in his game. Crouch is like those talking trees in the Lord of the Rings. Mellor was good .... get him back asap.
Conclusion
I am sorry but it is doom and gloom. Not because your team is not amongst the best but purely because you are European Champions. I go by the history book a lot and it has not happened. A QF is quite probable and then it comes down to 3 games after that. If Liverpool have that special thing in them, they will make it but I wouldn't bet on a European Champions defending the title. It is far too difficult and only the really exceptionally great sides have managed to do that. You can count them on your hands.
