Reds Badly In Need Of Champions League Spark

The poisoned chalice that is finishing runners-up in the Premier League seems to be rearing its ugly head once again for Liverpool, with a title challenge now out of sight.

When Liverpool finished second in 2002 and 2009, both following seasons were extremely underwhelming, with finishes outside the top four that spelled the end for both Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez (Houllier hung on for another season but 2002/03 ensured the inevitable sacking in 2003/04).

Brendan Rodgers is unlikely to be removed as Liverpool manager even if the Reds fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. However, certainly it is a situation that he would rather avoid, ensuring a reduction in the risk of damaging his status at Anfield.

The Champions League campaign this season is a luxury. Barring an incredible run akin to the triumph in 2005, the chances of bringing home Europe’s most coveted trophy is remote at best.

Yet that does not mean that the competition should be dismissed entirely. Any Champions League win is massive, albeit Liverpool stretched that significance to the limit with an unconvincing last minute win over Ludogorets.

Benitez’s sides were often described as Jekyll and Hyde, with brilliant wins over the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Chelsea in the Champions League followed by disappointing defeats to Fulham in the Premier League. Conversely, the 2008/09 season saw Liverpool become inspired, rather than inconsistent, by their exploits in Europe.

Their 3-1 home victory over PSV was followed by four successive wins in the league, including away victories over Manchester City and Chelsea and a comeback win at home to Wigan Athletic.

Nevertheless, the prime example of this formula was after Liverpool’s stunning 5-0 aggregate win over Real Madrid. That shockwave around world football saw the Reds go on to play their best football under Benitez, with the 4-1 away win over bitter rivals Manchester United and the 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa part of a monumental run of form which almost resulted in the Premier League title.

Champions League nights, especially those at Anfield, do carry a powerful and emotional edge. There are those that state bluntly that any Champions League match is special for every club and that Anfield carries nothing special.

They are both right and wrong.

Of course any club playing in Europe’s premier club competition will look to enjoy and treasure the experience, as will the fans. But Anfield has history attached permanently to this competition.

You think of some of the fabulous sides that have played on that turf, the football that has been witnessed and the last gasp triumphs that have left most Reds in tears of joy. Saint-Etienne and Olympiacos immediately come to mind.

It is not just Anfield – there are many other grounds that have the same aura once that Champions League music is blaring out, such as the Nou Camp for Barcelona.

Anfield is also not the destination for the game against FC Basel, one which would give the Reds a degree of control over their own destiny regarding a passage to the knockout stage.

What is arguably just as important however is the consequences it could have for Liverpool’s form in the Premier League. Basel may not be the team of previous years, having been stripped of prize assets such as Xherdan Shaqiri, but they are organised and carry a certain pedigree. The Swiss outfit defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season and previously knocked Manchester United out at the group stage in 2011.

After the trip to Switzerland comes the double header against reigning champions Real Madrid, so a win in Basel would ease the pressure on the Reds going into those two mammoth games.

With only seven points collected from their first six league games, Liverpool have been a shadow of themselves this season in the Premier League, but maybe a couple of wins in the Champions League will set the Reds alight.

This season is one of consolidation given the number of changes made this summer in the transfer market. Top four is the paramount target for the Reds. Reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League and winning a trophy are cherries on top of the cake.

Who knows – another Real double header could be the catalyst needed to inspire a run of form in the league. However, if Brendan Rodgers can use the power of the Champions League at Anfield to inspire some memorable results, then another season in the competition may beckon once again.

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