Pressure on Benitez at Liverpool
Manager under Threat at Anfield in Crucial Champions League Game
Rafa Benitez faces the most crucial game of his time as manager of Liverpool. The result of the Champions League game at Marseille could determine his future at the club
Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez is facing possibly the most crucial match of his Anfield career as he takes his team into the final group game of the Champions League at Marseille. In spite of his successful record since taking over as manager of Liverpool in June, 2004 Benitez has been under pressure to deliver a League title to the club.
Benitez Successes at Liverpool
In his first season at Liverpool the club won an amazing Champions League Final, coming from three goals down to defeat AC Milan on penalties. They also reached the Carling Cup Final but lost to Chelsea. The next year, 2006, Liverpool won the FA Cup Final beating West Ham United on penalties after being two goals down and still a goal behind in injury time. In 2007, Benitez had to be content with reaching the Final of the Champions League where AC Milan gained revenge for their defeat two seasons earlier.
American Owners
Benitez has been at odds with the new owners, American co-chairmen, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, over possible transfer dealings in the January transfer window. However, Benitez was provided with substantial funds during the summer to finance a challenge for the League title and he was able to bring Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid, Ryan Babel from Ajax, Andrey Veronin from Bayer Leverkusen and Yossi Benayoun from West Ham United to the club at a cost of over £45 million.
League Challenge
It is incredible that Liverpool have not won the League title since season 1989 - 90 and Saturday’s first league defeat of the season at Reading, coupled with poor results in the opening Champions League group games has only added to the pressure facing the manager.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal and four behind Chelsea in third place.
Champions League Battle
Defeat to Marseille in France would mean an early exit from the Champions League, a competition in which Liverpool have a proud record. Having lost to Marseille in the home game, Liverpool then lost to Besiktas in Turkey and found themselves with only one point at the half-way point of the group stage. They set about redressing the situation with a resounding 8-0 win over Besiktas and a further rout of Porto at Anfield.
In a complicated group, Liverpool need to win to be assured of qualification while a defeat will mean the end of the European road. A draw would see Marseille qualify as long as Besiktas don’t defeat Porto, as the French club won the game at Anfield. However, if Besiktas defeat Porto, they will qualify along with Liverpool who have a better goal difference in the games between the other three teams.
Rafa Benitez and Liverpool face a nervous and anxious evening in France as they endeavour to overcome the odds and gain qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League. The outcome of this game may also determine the future of Benitez at Liverpool.
