So our Champions’ League dream is over for another year! Our campaign has been fairly indicative of our entire season. Individual errors have hurt us badly. Of our poor results, only the Fiorentina reverse was deserved. We should have emerged with more than a single point from our 2 games against Lyon. An injury time winner at Anfield from Delgado, and a last minute equaliser by Lisandro have ultimately condemned us to the Europa League.
A club like Liverpool should never have been in the position of having to rely on other results going our way to keep alive our chances of progression, but that is where we found ourselves last night. It did not go our way, and no amount of changes made by Rafa in Hungary would have lead to a goal in Florence. Giving Aquilani more game time would not have increased his chances of scoring for Lyon and may have lead to us conceding an equaliser as Rafa would have withdrawn Stevie G earlier.
This is not a time for recriminations. We must move on, and back players and staff alike. We are club that do not do negativity. The Champions’ League door may have shut firmly but the Europa League door is now open and hopefully we can get all the away to Hamburg and lift the trophy. We are club whose business is winning silverware, and we have been lacking that crucial ingredient for too long now.
Before we can think about Hamburg, we have the small concern of a derby with the Bitter Blues on Sunday. If ever Rafa needed a result, it’s this weekend. Beat Everton and he will keep the fans on side. Fail and the tide will keep ebbing away. Loyal fans like myself will stay but I am afraid that there will be fewer and fewer who share my ideals.
YNWA
Julian