Part 1- English Premier League: Losers of the 7th weekend
The mighty have truly fallen in the seventh weekend of the English Premier League. Liverpool are the mighty team in question and their defeat at the hands of Blackpool has signalled perhaps their worst start to the English Premier
League season in well over half a century. Liverpool are currently in the bottom half of the English Premier League table and are in relegation trouble. There was a time when Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton fans used to wish such stuff jokingly. However,
the comedy circus that Liverpool has turned into is also a sign of how volatile football as become.
In the 1980's Liverpool were the dominant force in English football. They won back to back titles, won European cups, and became the pride of English football in European competitions as they defeated the likes of Real Madrid and
Juventus to clinch European Cups under Shankly and Paisley. Just five years ago in Istanbul, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League after defeating A.C Milan on penalties in one of the most captivating matches ever held in club football. Two years ago under
Rafael Benitez’s management, Liverpool came second to the 2008-2009 league winners, Manchester United. Before that they managed to reach the final of the UEFA Champions League in the 2006-2007 season.
Last season, Liverpool finished seventh in the English Premier League and after losing at Anfield in their latest English league match to Blackpool by a score line of two goals to nil, the Reds are 18th in the English
Premier League table enjoying the company of Wolverhampton Wanderers in 19th and West Ham United in 20th place. In the summer transfer window, Liverpool brought in Roy Hodgson to replace their departing manager, Rafael Benitez. Since
Roy’s arrival, Liverpool have brought in several players such as Poulsen, Mereiles and Joe Cole but these stars have failed to perform so far.
Liverpool’s off the field troubles have only added to their on-the-field disasters as the club might go into administration following financial mismanagement at the hands of George Gillet and Tom Hicks. The American owners have
burdened the club with millions of pounds of debt. Despite all these troubles, Liverpool certainly cannot be considered as real relegation candidates but they are in danger becoming a perfect example of how big things go bad when mishandled. There are voices
of discontent in Liverpool’s administrative hierarchy already which are asking for Roy’s dismissal as he has been responsible for Liverpool’s dip in form. But in reality, this dip has been in effect since late last season and there are no present signs that
this slump will end soon.
When Hodgson was appointed as Liverpool’s first team manager way back in July 2010, Martin Broughton, Liverpool’s chairman told the press that Hodgson had the track record to improve the team and build towards a “better future”.
Future in the relegation zone is nothing to savour and it is certainly not better than the title race or European football. Another point of worry for Liverpool’s fans is the fact that their star striker is injured yet again. Fernando Torres is set to miss
Liverpool’s next game due to the injury he suffered within the first ten minutes of their contest against Blackpool.
Fernando’s fragility can only be realized and fully understood by the fact that he has started an average of 23 games per season ever since his move to English football with Liverpool. Such a record means that the Spaniard striker
misses one game for every two he plays for the Merseyside Reds. With Liverpool’s next match against their derby rivals, Everton, a defeat would surely add insult to injury but a win can do them a world of good as troubles of all sorts take their toll on England’s
most successful football club.
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