7 Games that will define Liverpool’s Future

After the Man U game on Sunday, a feeling of resignation set in the likes of which hasn’t happened many times over the years I have been supporting Liverpool. I know a lot of fans are feeling the same way about the current predicament the club finds itself and the situation certainly looks very bleak. For all those optimists out there, you only have to look at the league table to see where our problem lies. It’s not just the fact that there are three other teams in contention for fourth place but they all in a better position than we are going into the final stretch of the season. Tottenham have a game in hand and are already four points ahead, Man City have two games in hand  and are already two points ahead while Aston Villa are a point behind us but do have two games in hand over us.

You are asking a hell of a lot of favours for three teams to slip up that much and it makes the likelihood of the Reds finishing fourth very unlikely at the moment. One saving grace for Rafa and the team is that apart from Chelsea, Liverpool don’t have to play any of the big boys until the end of the season, something that should work in our favour. Sunderland, Fulham and West Ham at home and Birmingham, Burnley and Hull away is not a bad run in and should see quite a few points being accrued in the final weeks.

Another positive is the fact that our rivals for fourth do have far harder run ins and will drop points before the final match in May. One of the crucial matches will no doubt be the encounter between Manchester City and Tottenham. I think every Liverpool supporter will be praying for a draw in this match, but there are many other difficult matches that our rivals face. Spurs also have to face Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa before May, while Roberto Mancini’s men also have to play the same three sides. Out of their last 8 matches, half of them will be difficult to get maximum points from. As shown above, Villa have to play both Man City and Tottenham in their games left, and it will surely be the case of each team tripping over the other in their struggle for fourth spot. It is something that Rafa Benitez is counting on. On the race for Champions League football, the Liverpool manager commented:

“It’s difficult but there’s still seven games to play. We have to keep going because still it’s a long race. We know we have to perform and win our games, and it’s clear that the other teams will drop some points and lose some games. How many they drop is the key. We have the belief we can finish in the top four but we have to keep going. Every game is important for us.”

Certainly how many they drop is going to be key because Liverpool’s destiny is firmly out of their hands. The only thing, as Rafa says, the Reds can do is win their remaining games and hope it will be enough. To do this Rafa must throw his beloved caution to the wind or there is absolutely no chance of Champions League football next season. Games at home to Sunderland, Fulham and West Ham should be straightforward but the matches away against Birmingham, Burnley and Hull are going to be the crucial ones. Recent negative displays away at Wolves, Wigan and Man U will not be good enough in these matches and good attacking, vibrant displays are the only performances which should be coming from the Reds considering the importance of the matches.

The importance of such matches will be equally felt off the pitch as well as on it and at the end of the campaign, attention will certainly be drawn back to the owners and speculation over new investment. According to the Guardian, the Rhône Group has included a transfer budget in its offer for a 40% stake in the club, but it seems that the size of this budget will depend on whether the team secures a top-four finish. Of course, whether this is true or not is up for debate, but what isn’t in question is if Champions League Football isn’t coming back to Anfield next season then any reconstruction of the team to build a title winning side will go out of the window. The massive hole in the budget caused by the lack of top tier European action will surely divert the money from the new sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered away from Rafa Benitez. It will also reduce the club’s attractiveness to new investors for although it might reduce Hicks and Gillett’s valuation of the club, the state of the club’s finances will put off many potential buyers. So much depends on these seven games, it is hard to underestimate the importance of the decisions that Rafa makes tactically in the coming weeks.