Liverpool left in limbo after Europa League sorrow
A lone magpie was visible on Liverpool’s Anfield pitch for much of last night’s clash with Atlético Madrid. One for sorrow, so they say. They were right.
It probably sums up Liverpool’s mess of a season that their latest failure actually came in a win. Alberto Aquilani’s expertly taken first half effort put the Reds ahead on the night, and when Yossi Benayoun put them ahead on aggregate in the early stages of extra time, supporters felt that they were within touching distance of the Hamburg final. Then Diego Forlàn struck.
The Uruguayan hit the only away goal of either tie, profiting from mistakes in defence in a season that has been littered with them. The forward was left in so much space that he could barely miss, and while the Reds tried to respond in the second half of extra time, their shattered players couldn’t muster the energy, while substitutes Nabil El Zhar, Dani Pacheco and Philipp Degen were always unlikely to come up with a telling moment of quality.
So there will be no face-saving, glorious sun-filled afternoon in Hamburg for the Europa League final, and Liverpool’s campaign can be safely written off as an abject failure now. Those who were concerned that their jokes – made so often, and with so much good reason, about Liverpool this season – might carry a little less weight should the Reds have won Europe’s second tier trophy needn’t have worried. Failure has been achieved quite spectacularly now.
As for what happens next, no-one seems to know, least of all the man in charge.
Rafael Benitez gave no assurances over his future last night. The Spaniard stated that he’s not looking beyond the Chelsea game on Sunday, and when pressed on what happens after that, his response was simple – Hull away on the last day of the season.
He did go a little further by confirming Liverpool’s need for a complete squad overhaul in the summer, but whether or not he’ll still be around to oversee that is unclear.
By referring to the club as a “company” in his post-match press conference last night, the manager once again made a subtle hint at how financial restrictions have hampered his plans this season. Whether or not he’s there for the next campaign would seem to hinge on how quickly the club can find a buyer. Things simply can’t go on like this.
With the Reds very much in limbo, a fourth consecutive trophyless season confirmed and now possessing a squad high on endeavour but low on quality, the season’s end can’t come quickly enough for Benitez, his players and their supporters.
The current malaise at Liverpool goes on, and until they make drastic changes – either in the boardroom, the dugout, on the pitch or a combination of all three – then the sorrow is likely to continue.
That magpie was onto something.
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