Liverpool Fiorentina Will It Distract From Our 19th Title

Fiorentina awaits us tonight at their ground and once again we would probably have to play a blinder, hit a few past the Italians, keep a clean sheet and get a few of their players sent off before the press will acknowledge our achievements or basically be blind to everything our lads have achieved against all the odds. While most of the pre-match talk has been on the on-again feud between Hicks and Gillett as new potential suitors emerge from the Middle East, I am just concerned that Fiorentina could quite easily overwhelm us on the field. They aren’t the best team in Italy, but have been quite consistent the past two or three seasons at least and despite all that media talk about the Serie A being one of the backwaters of European football now, they still know how to defend and many of their lesser known teams have often sent our famous Premiership buddies into their own wilderness. From what I’ve seen of Fiorentina, a very organised side and can be quite capable of playing some delicious football too. Good thing Gilardino is out but with the kind of excellent defending Rafa has been instilling in our lads, I wouldn’t consider a clean sheet a certainty. It will all again depend on Torres and Gerrard and whether they can come up with some magic to keep us in the game throughout the proceedings. Wouldn’t be too bad if a draw is the final result but I wouldn’t rule out us losing on the day too. Keep the faith as we always say but it is a possibility.

Watching the Man City Hammers game last night, I finally get why Rafa wanted Barry. Without Barry, Man City won’t be half the team they are now. He’s holding them up and organising them. While he still isn’t worth the money Rafa was prepared to pay for him, on hindsight we sorely need a player like him now. Masch does a good job at destroying stuff but he doesn’t have the distribution qualities that Barry has which would be of great help to Stevie G and Torres. Of course Alonso filled that part in the past but Barry has the extra dimension of being able to tackle better. His passing might not be anywhere near the class of Alonso but now that the boy has left, gosh what a hole that gapes ever so wide. Lucas? I know just about ever Liverpool fan has little regard for him, but he can be a useful player if only Rafa freed him from having to be a water carrier. He never was one to begin with and looks a totally different player than when he first arrived. And that’s a real pity.

So we all love these European nights and always have a chance, especially with Rafa in charge. But should we really pay too much attention to it? Sometimes, I wonder if the truth is that we are better equipped to win the Champions League than the league. The one off situations bring the best out of the lads and yes the whole competition is much shorter than a league of course which is more of a grind. But while last season was a great improvement, why can’t our lads be more consistent like those Mancunians or glamour Londoners? But take nothing away from their effort and achievements, they will only get better. As long as Rafa gets the money to bring in better players. Which doesn’t look like happening since he’ll only have 20m to spend each season which also includes any salary raises to be paid to those who want more money. Let’s say Masch asks for a better package when Barca comes acalling again next summer. That’d be enough to wipe out half the 20 million. Just what Hicks and Gillett are thinking I don’t know – why all the power struggle? The Saudis are coming in with much more than they spent originally – take the money and run since they aren’t gonna be making any consistent income from the club the way they are running it. Ok I get it – they’re just using it to lay their own debts on the club. Which is why I hope the fans continue their vocal demonstrations against them. Sponsors won’t like it? Well they would like it better once those two are out of the way and the oil money are flowing into the club.

Anyway here’s what I think’s gonna happen tonight and some of you won’t like it – Fiorentina might just sneak past us and there’d be more media nonsense after that about a new crisis at Anfield. Maybe it might lead to an early exit, maybe not. But whatever it is, I hope we do prioritise the league as the 19th title is just calling out to us and wants to return to its’ rightful home that is Anfield!