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Blackburn v Liverpool the game in point. Excellent formation but wrong striker to carry out the job of lone front man. Peter Crouch’s appearance hints at what could have been had he and not Kuyt started the game up front. His greater propensity to win 1st and 2nd balls would have allowed the likes of Gerrard, Benayoun and Babel to carry more threat. As it stands we drop to seventh and the title is getting further and further away.

Benitez’ stubborness will see him lose his job as Liverpool manager eventually. It won’t be at the end of this season, but it will be after the following season. Unless there is a monumental shift in his attitude towards the way he sets up his teams (including the players he chooses in his starting XI), Liverpool will not even compete, let alone win the Premier League. The signing of Kuyt has been one of his biggest failures. A limited player, but nevertheless………a Benitez kind of player. Hard worker, industrial etc. And that says it all.

The reason Benitez opts for Kuyt and not Crouch is because Dirk can drop into midfield and “cover”. It is all to do with Rafa’s caution and lack of confidence. He wants to “control” everything, treating his players almost like chess pieces. How much freedom Rafa gives his players as a collective, and more importantly as individuals is questionable. The fact that we are undefeated is simply a smoke screen. Liverpool are lounging in seventh, 6 points behind the Manchester United, albeit with a game in hand.

Liverpool simply find it difficult to score goals. Its glaringly obvious. Rafa has not achieved the necessary balance. Our attacking players, it can be argued, do not possess the same quality of movement in the attacking third, relative to Manchester United and Arsenal. This is perhaps the biggest reason why we don’t carry much threat up front. Babel will be a good player, but it will take time.

Liverpool DON’T have time. How long can our wait for the title continue? It is weighing the club, its fans and everybody associated with LFC down with a heavy heart. In reality Benitez is not enough of a proactive coach, not in the Mourinho way, and look who’s had the more success in the Premiership (can’t really level money at it). The introduction of Crouch 12 minutes from time in the CHAMPIONS LEAUGE final the perfect case in point.

Ironically Benitez needs even more money to spend this upcoming summer. The addition of Villa and not (Alfonso Alves, Hunteelar blah blah blah) would help. Villa and Torres as our two world class strikers with Peter Crouch as an alternative. Thats the way forward for any club aspiring to really…..and i mean REALLY win the title. Sell Kuyt. Voronin……give him another season. We sometimes judge players far too quickly, so with that said Voronin should have his fair “crack at the whip” at the very least.

Having said all of that, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Benitez will continue to let us down as far as the league is concerned. Rick Parry will have a major say in what will happen to Rafa. Alternatives such as Scolari, Del Bosque, Capello, Mourinho, Dalglish, Ancelotti, Spaletti, Rijjkard would need to be sought after if they’re available of course. Any manger coming to replace Benitez would need to have some sort of record of success (and not the Steve Mclaren kind of success at that).

What’s your thoughts on Benitez and is his job at Liverpool becoming untenable?