Rafa’s Liverpool Expects Victory

I feel for Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez, I really do. It seems he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He has brought some clever and genuine gifted players to Liverpool, has the side playing some decent quality week-in-week-out and pushed them into a top 3 position in the Premiership. Tonight, The Reds face Real Madrid in the 2nd leg of the last 16 in the Champions League. Liverpool have the advantage of an away goal ahead of the tie as they lead 1-0 from the first leg. Yet, he still gets stick!

Liverpool’s American owners, stated when they first took over the club, that they were buying it to restore Liverpool to its former, rightful place as the top team in England. This was Rafa’s task – Premiership Champions. Never mind the facts that he (Rafa) delivered the Champions League to the club and also got them to a previous final within his timeframe – to many, this is secondary sliverware.

Liverpool are currently level pegging with Chelsea, in the Premiership, 7 pts behind United. Now, to me that is progression. If Liverpool can capture 2nd this year in the Premiership, then they have taken an almighty step forward. If they can get through tonight’s tie, without too much strain and pressure, Rafa, can proudly look at the closing stages of the season as a success. And perhaps his critics can get off his back and let him get on with the job of giving Liverpool Football Club its much needed respect back.