We are all disappointed as the last chance to grab the fourth place has gone, we will not play any Champions League football next season but let us take a step back and think this out objectively.
First of all, ask any Liverpool supporter on which trophy they would rather win, the Premier League or the Champions League and I can guarantee that most of them would want the Premier League. So why are we so upset in not playing in a competition that is not our top priority?
Good to note also that fourth place does not guarantee a place in the Champions League proper (the group stage), the fourth place team has to play a though qualifier in August. Because of the Platini rules that took effect this season, the qualifier can be against teams such as Benfica, Glasgow Rangers, Celtic or Sporting Lisbon to name a few. With a record number of Liverpool players heading to the World Cup this summer you can easily predict that some of them might be there into July, this would mean that by the time they return to Melwood and are fully fit it might be late August or early September.
Some might fear that without Champions League football we might not attract top talent, I would dispute that. City did not have Champions League football this season, yet they attracted some world class players, it is all about money unfortunately. On the money side of things the news today sounds positive and if Rafa gets a £60 million war chest then I can see Stevie G lifting the Premier League Trophy in 13 months.
Y.N.W.A.
-Antoine