What is the highlight of the season so far? Luis Suarez's amazing form? Martin Skrtel's resurrection? The rampant annihilation of Everton? All three are are contenders, but for me, nothing beats the sheer joy of witnessing Manchester United's downward spiral into glorious mediocrity, an ongoing source of pleasure that, hopefully, will not be arrested by the arrival of Juan Mata. Unfortunately, no matter how badly United perform in the league, a nightmare scenario exists that could undo all of Liverpool's hard work, and kill the club's season.
Quite simply, if Liverpool finish fourth in the Premier League, and Manchester United win the Champions League, the Reds will be unceremoniously dumped into the lower qualifying rounds to make way for United.
Yes, given the teams left in the competition, a Champions League triumph for Man United doesn't seem possible, but it's definitely probable. Indeed, very few people thought Chelsea would win the competition two years ago, and look what happened.
The irony here is that in 2005, Everton finished 4th in the league, but Liverpool won the Champions League, and stole Everton's place in the competition. Now, the roles could reversed, with Brendan Rodgers' team on the receiving end of this cruel twist of fate.
It happened once, it can happen again, and Liverpool would have no choice but to suck it up and accept it. After all, in light of the Everton situation in 2005, it's not as if the club could complain about the decision.
Just imagine if this did actually happen, and Liverpool consequently ended up losing Luis Suarez (!) There would be blood on the streets. Also, Everton crashed out in the qualifying stage, and ended up having a poor season overall.
Let's think positive, though. The only way to completely remove the possibility of LFC being dumped out of the Champions League is to finish third, and let some other team worry about it.
Is third possible? Absolutely; and with Chelsea and Man City still due at Anfield this season, there will undoubtedly be further twists and turns before the year is out.
Author: Jaimie K
Quite simply, if Liverpool finish fourth in the Premier League, and Manchester United win the Champions League, the Reds will be unceremoniously dumped into the lower qualifying rounds to make way for United.
Yes, given the teams left in the competition, a Champions League triumph for Man United doesn't seem possible, but it's definitely probable. Indeed, very few people thought Chelsea would win the competition two years ago, and look what happened.
The irony here is that in 2005, Everton finished 4th in the league, but Liverpool won the Champions League, and stole Everton's place in the competition. Now, the roles could reversed, with Brendan Rodgers' team on the receiving end of this cruel twist of fate.
It happened once, it can happen again, and Liverpool would have no choice but to suck it up and accept it. After all, in light of the Everton situation in 2005, it's not as if the club could complain about the decision.
Just imagine if this did actually happen, and Liverpool consequently ended up losing Luis Suarez (!) There would be blood on the streets. Also, Everton crashed out in the qualifying stage, and ended up having a poor season overall.
Let's think positive, though. The only way to completely remove the possibility of LFC being dumped out of the Champions League is to finish third, and let some other team worry about it.
Is third possible? Absolutely; and with Chelsea and Man City still due at Anfield this season, there will undoubtedly be further twists and turns before the year is out.
Author: Jaimie K
Everton didn't get dumped out they got our place and we started from the 1st qualifying round
ReplyDeleteI think Everton were allowed to enter that season, they just went out against Villarreal in the qualifying rounds. We just entered as a fifth English club. And anyway, we will beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Citeh at home and win the league and qualify outright as champions. As it should be.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool didn't steal Everton's CL spot in 2005 !
ReplyDeleteThe way I remember it, Liverpool didn't take Everton's place in the Champions League. Everton entered where the fourth placed club would normally enter, and Liverpool were allowed to enter at the first qualifying round.
ReplyDeleteExactly. They found someone else to be bitter about that time. Colina.
ReplyDeleteHow not?
ReplyDeleteLiverpool didn't steal Everton's Champions League place in 2005. They were awarded an extra spot. Liverpool were supposed to play in the EUFA cup but lobbied vehemently for Everton's place. The FA had stated earlier that season when asked specifically about what they would do in this scenario that the fourth placed team would go to the CL and the other to the EUFA cup, no matter what scenario. After this the rule was changed so that the CL winner should be awarded a CL spot instead of the lowest placed team to qualify.
ReplyDeleteWon't happen not a chance!!!
ReplyDeleteJaimie! I want your current, objective opinion on who's going to get that 4th spot. I invite you to analyse each of the four contenders!
ReplyDeleteI can see Manure 4th this season, i can also see us lose Suarez, It will all be down to our failure in the transfer market and Rodgers' experimenting with Gerrard as holding midfielder.
ReplyDeleteIf a club outside top 4 in PL wins the CL , I thought the 4 th club goes into the Europa Cup - remember Spurs losing out 2 years ago to Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteArsenal
ReplyDeleteIf Liverpool dont finish top 4 Br should be sacked. Any team that cant even get fourth despite having SAS and the 40-50 goals a season they bring needs to be broken up, starting with the manager.
ReplyDeleteWhat a senseless un-researched article!
ReplyDeletethey changed the rule after liverpool had to qualify from stage 1, everton didnt lose there spot they werent good enough and got knocked out by villareal. spurs would be feeling hard done by chelsea took there spot.
ReplyDelete?? I'm talking about 4th here!
ReplyDeleteWow! Talk about delusional. Why not first or second or the double - dream on. If we can't beat West Brom, then we'll be lucky to finish behind the Peoples Club.
ReplyDeletetalk about delusional
ReplyDeleteEverton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never stole Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a total farce. The Europa league is an even bigger farce and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL. Just shows what a bunch of clowns there are ta UEFA.
By the way, Utd will not going to win the CL under Moyes :-)
Yes, Arsenal. It will be 1. Liverpool 2. Chelsea 3. Citeh 4. Arsenal 5. Spurs 6. Toffees 7. former champions
ReplyDeleteEverton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never stole Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a total farce. The Europa league is an even bigger farce and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL.
By the way, Utd will not going to win the CL under Moyes :-)
Everton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never stole Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a joke. The Europa league is an even bigger farce and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL.
Utd will not going to win the CL under Moyes...
Everton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never stole Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a joke. The Europa league is also a farce and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL.
Utd will not win it this season.
Everton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never stole Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a joke. The Europa league is also a joke and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL.
Utd will not win it this season.
Everton played in the 2005/2006 Champions League third qualifying round but were knocked out so LFC never took Everton's place that season. 5 EPL teams were allowed to compete in 05/06.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing of not being able to feature in the competition when you have earned the right to be there is a joke. The Europa league is also a joke and a waste of time as teams who get knocked out of the CL get a chance to win it and if they win the Europa League then they qualify for the CL.
Utd will not win it this season.
one game at a time...
ReplyDeleteI'm not certain but I think the Europa League winners will qualify for the CL in the future, I don't think it is effective right now.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how it's a joke or waste of time at all, especially if the winners qualify for the bigger competition, the CL, a lot of clubs would take it seriously. Atletico won it twice in recent years and it has propelled them forward.
come on, let's be serious now!
ReplyDeleteI think United have more chance of overtaking us in the league, to be honest. And they'll have to improve considerably for that to happen. This is totally off topic I realise, but does anybody else think that Swansea's decision to sack Laudrup is beyond ridiculous? 9th place finish last season, a cup win and European football to boot. A legend as a player (which in turn can surely have benefits for attracting good players) who has continued swansea's attractive style of play with success. The signs are that this guy will be a top coach in the years to come. Sure, form has dipped a bit recently, no doubt worsened by some injuries to key players, but they're still currently in 12th place. Does Huw Griffiths honestly think he can get better? It's an abysmal decision.
ReplyDeleteThere's two sides to it. Only the 3rd placed team in the CL groups drop down. The Europa League grants smaller clubs a lot of exposure, clubs that would otherwise stand no chance if there was a super CL and no Europa league. But I do agree it's not exactly fair. Madrid is a good example for you, but it's worth noting the performance of the two Manchester clubs in the EL when they were knocked out of the CL a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteIf we make it, we may be seeded 4th! Even if we are seeded third we would be handed a really tough group. If we don't get through, it's unfair to just brand us a failure, and if that is the case I would like to see the club take the Europa League seriously.
One problem with this article
ReplyDeleteLiverpool will not finish fourth but sixth Repeat sixth
You heard it first here
A bit harsh. He is wrong about Everton and he got probable and possible the wrong way round but his main point is that Liverpool could lose a CL place if Manu win it this year. I have seen that mentioned elsewhere. I don't know if it's true do you? It would seem mad to me if the winners were not allowed to defend the trophy.
ReplyDeleteIf it was still the UEFA Cup then by all means take it seriously. That was a top competition.
ReplyDeleteNow you get to play in competition with a pathetic prize money amount and you have to travel to the other side of the world on a cold Thursday night vs some unknown team and risk injuries etc. For what?
The only thing the Europa League has become useful for is giving your youngsters a chance to gain valuable experience.
Ericworld - it has a ring about it
ReplyDeleteYou lost the Allen argument when he returned from injury a while ago. Wait for him to return from injury again ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Jaimie just read this and thought you would be interested.
ReplyDeleteDnipro official Rusol is also convinced that, with enough time, a transfer can finally be sorted.
"I am a thousand per cent sure that Liverpool will try again in the
summer and then we'll let him go," he is quoted as telling Ukrainian
media outlets.
"Money was not the problem, the problem was that Liverpool came too late.
"But in the summer everything will be fine. If Liverpool, in the summer, report to us, Yevhen will still go to this club."
Rusol also dismissed suggestions that Dnipro president Igor
Kolomoisky had vetoed the deal, insisting that the club were ready to do
business.
He added: "Igor Kolomoisky gave the go-ahead immediately. It is not
our fault, Liverpool representatives could have arrived a day or two
earlier.
"Up to the deadline we were waiting for the transfer of money from Liverpool. But this did not happen."
Dunno if it proves it was a panic buy but certainly proves that it was very late in the day and pretty incompetent from LFC.
I thought Allen would become our little midfield maestro, I love the idea of a pass master in the team - but it just wasn't to be and one or two decent games won't change my opinion. He's been nothing other than a squad player and unfortunately during that time he has picked up a few injuries. But the table is still set for my pie ;)
ReplyDeleteThe only effective change Rodgers has implemented is up front, our best performing midfielders and defenders are still Benitez/Dalglish players
Jaimie third paragraph second line you have probable and possible the wrong way round.
ReplyDeleteWhat about your hat?.....
ReplyDeleteMy hat?
ReplyDeleteAllen replaced Lucas and now with Stevie playing as the deeper midfielder, Allen should be partnering Henderson as soon as he returns from injury again.
ReplyDeleteHumble pie, mark my words.
It's true. It happened to Spurs when Chelsea won the CL.
ReplyDeleteLucas is better than Allen and IMO it's a tactical error to continue with Gerrard in such a deep role. Stevie is no Pirlo, his days are numbered and counting down fast. The better midfield is what we watched at Spurs, no Gerrard.
ReplyDeleteThis is why drawing with Villa and WBA are really losses. We can't afford losing points to lesser teams...ever. I find it inexplicable that we don't play with the same intensity or intelligence against lesser teams that we seem to do against big rivals. Champions play with that intensity every time regardless of the opponent. Those sweating qualification don't...and that's why we sweat.
ReplyDeleteI am serious my friend. We are eight points behind Arsenal and six behind Chelsea and Citeh. We have all three to play still at home. I believe we can win those matches which would put us five, three and three behind them. They also still have to play each other. I'm sure Chelsea and Citeh will beat Arsenal so that puts us one point ahead of Arsenal. Citeh and Chelsea then draw against each other which puts us within a point of them. Everton, Man U and the Champions League will take care of the rest for us.
ReplyDeleteBut you wouldn't want to be in the Europa League if you could be in the CL would you?
ReplyDeleteEuropa is not a joke, but the money made does not seem to be worth the wear and tear on the players whose teams are fighting in their own leagues to gain UCL qualification. Nor does the money made in Europa League pay for the quality of players needed to get to the UCL.
ReplyDeleteLucas defensive midfielder. Allen has been asked to play in that position many times and did a very good job. Allen is not a defensive midfielder.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to things like mobility, pressing, getting forward, winning the ball back etc then Lucas loses hands down so whether Lucas is a better player is up for debate.
Tour assumption, of course, is that we quit dropping points to lesser teams. We haven't shown the ability to do that this season.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely love your positivity - wish I could share it but hope you're right.
ReplyDeleteMidfield maestro = Ander Herrera
ReplyDeleteXabi Alonso MK II
I thought in an earlier article you said you'd eat your hat but perhaps that was someone else. Either way there could be a lot of people with indigestion.
ReplyDeleteFair enough but you can look at it that way just to shoe horn Allen into the team. Gerrard is not a defensive midfielder yet ironically you're happy to see him play that role. Equally Lucas is not an advanced midfielder so Allen would be better suited for any advanced role.
ReplyDeleteOf course we will drop points too but it's not likely that the three teams above us will only drop points against each other either. Arsenal drew 1-1 at the Hawthorns too, Chelsea just drew against West Ham and City lost to Villa and Sunderland. The only fault in my logic, I just found, is that Chelsea and Citeh have already played each other twice. I didn't realise that. Still, it could happen. We were top of the league at Christmas and lost it because we dropped points against both Citeh and Chelsea so why could we not reclaim it after we beat them?
ReplyDeleteObviously you never watched Allen in his days at Swansea. Well I did.
ReplyDelete"When I joined the club, playing further forward was a role that I played consistently for two years at Swansea, so I guess that was always my number one aim.
"I had a chance before the injury at Chelsea to have a few games in that role and really enjoyed it, so now I'm over this injury it's a case of getting back to training and performing well wherever I'm asked to play and I'm happy to do that.
These quotes were from an Allen interview on our official website on the 2nd of Feb 2014.
I have told you before and will tell you again, Humble Pie will be served.
Couldn't agree more. It's even more disappointing when the teams behind you drop points, giving you an ideal opportunity to put space between you and them, and you don't capitalise on it. There's no point raising your game against your big rivals just to drop points regularly against teams you should be beating.
ReplyDeleteObviously Allen is your love child. I did watch him but I would say Leon Britton was on par with Allen.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to clarify, I was and am not against Allen as a player. My original argument going back 18 months now was that Allen should not play while Henderson sat on the bench. Henderson eventually came out on top and still Allen struggles somewhat. I found it unfair that Rodgers had a favourite while a better player was unused. Not to mention the 15M was grossly inflated. Now it seems they can play in the same team, argument over. Anti-Hendo cronies have vanished.
All you've ever done and continue to do is chop and change your opinions to suit what Rodgers is doing. The level of irony is humorous, you're happy to see Gerrard at DM because that's what Rodgers wants, yet Allen can't be criticised when played in DM. Lucas gets the boot because he would have to play out of position if captain fantastic is just hero worshipped and shoe horned into the team on no justifiable basis.
If Allen plays well against Arsenal of course it's humble pie for everyone, Logan wins, you get a one up on everyone right? You miss the point of the discussion.
Rusol contradicts himself almost in the same breath by saying 'money was not the problem' and then saying 'we were waiting for the money but it never came.'
ReplyDeleteThis is the last fear we should have. Mancs winning the CL is like fulham finishing in EL this season! The fear should be our own team and BR with his deluded tactics at times, mignolet toure cissokho, gerrard as a dm, no depth, sturridge massive selfishness, suarez struggling to make big impact in big games, many injuries, and a poor away form, these are my fears, and unfortunately I cant see us finishing 4th tbh. Im trying hard, but the team lets me down quite often, we just lack the mentality of CL, thats it. There some teams that we just cant beat them such as arsenal home ( 8 years no win, wow) mancs away, southampton. Must break this hoodoo just like we did at spurs and stoke! If we fail to win this weekend, cl is gone for me.
ReplyDeleteI have been one of Henderson's number one fans.
ReplyDeleteTo compare Britton with Allen is again like comparing Lucas with Allen. They are not the same type of players.
I have not chopped and changed my view to suit Rodgers in any way. You are just making things up again.
I would love to hope we should be aiming for 3rd or higher. However, on reflection, and especially for every Everton performance, we follow-up with the ones like West Brom and Villa, I don't think we can achieve anything higher that 4th.
ReplyDeleteBR is right to aim for 76 points which equates to an average 2 points per game. This target is way above most of our expectations, given where we have finished over the past 4 years. But alas, this will only produce 4th.
And even with the big guns still to play at Anfield, if we can put away a poor West Brom side, how will we cope against a rampant City or Chelsea? The result against the Gunners will be a good indication of what we can expect for the rest of the season.
I think we need to go back to a European competition for only the league winners - and all the glory that goes with that.
ReplyDeleteAnd another one (eg Europa) for teams 2-4 plus cup-winners.
Europa unfortunately is an unwanted add-on until you reach the latter stages, when the teams with the bigger squads then take it a bit more seriously.
Jamie you just gave me goosebumps...
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to think of this.
Finally a post from you that I can agree with.
ReplyDeleteWho's going to overtake us? Spurs, Everton, Utd? The only threat is Utd, because we have to play them away. But I actually think we'll smash them when the time comes. No way their defensive organisation can cope with our attack, especially because they are obliged to "attack attack attack" at home. It'll be like Spurs / Everton in my view.
ReplyDeleteHah, logan, never change :)
ReplyDeleteI agree about Britton, think he's a lovely player, but he's what 8 years older than Allen?
ReplyDeleteThat's the people's club who also couldn't beat West Brom when they played them in August, right? Just like Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, and Man Utd have all been unable to beat West Brom this season?
ReplyDeleteEric you are now my favourite poster here. Have a badge. I think we'll be second personally, level on points and goal difference with City, but will lose on goals scored. Yes I am going to be that specific.
ReplyDeleteLaudrup unfortunately didn't give a toss and was going to do one in the summer.
ReplyDeleteHuw Jenkins...but apparently Welsh football team owners, Vincent Tan, are an odd lot.
ReplyDeleteThey had a right to be bitter there though,
ReplyDelete"I'm coming out of retirement for one game!"
...
"Oh shit, I've fucked it up...see you later folks!"
Man Utd traditionally finish strong - i wouldnt rule them out just yet. Once Mata is bedded in properly and rooney and rvp positions are sorted i wouldnt be surprised if they do have a strong run.
ReplyDeleteWe cant rest on our laurels and thats why the transfer window was disappointing. It wasnt just that we missed out but the fact that we didnt see fit even to target a dm or am and went for a couple of wingers. Then we wouldnt compete for Salah but would go and pay 15-18 million for the ukranian - when salah could have been had for 12 million. Worse still we didnt even try to compete for Mata who would have been ideal for the way we play.
The sad part is that City,Chelsea and Arsenal are all taking advantage of utd's poor season - whereas we havent and i just hope at the end of the season we dont pay for it. Clubs wont just come in for Suarez but Sturridge too.
Not necessarily a contradiction fee may have been agreed between both parties but the actual transfer of said money was not completed in time. Something the Echo says Liverpool denies and they have seen proof of.
ReplyDeleteUtter drivel. And replace him with who? Rodgers has improved us ten fold in the relatively short period of time he's been in charge and under much stricter financial constraints than the likes of dalglish and Benitez. Liverpool are very much still a work in progress. I feel we may need a new defensive coach and maybe even goalkeeping coach but anyone calling for Rodgers to be sacked have got 2 brain cells working in shifts
ReplyDeleteDon,t worry about it neither those things will happen, united out lpool 6th
ReplyDeleteYou're making Liverpool sound like a horse in a race who's timed itself to absolute perfection. Don't start too fast, don't start to slow.
ReplyDeleteI f**king hope you're right.