Benitez secures contract victory

Good news for the club, players, and the fans.
Lets push on now and have a strong end to the season.

The league will be tough, bit all to play for in champions league.

Come on the Pool

good news for the other big 3 clubs

looks like liverpool will not be challenging for premier league for another 5 years

well done rafa and good on tom hicks and george gillett for giving in this clowns demands on transfer policy

lol@lucas haha

way back in the 1998/9 season SAF had a horrendous week of three defeats, including the dreadful southampton game, and everyone assumed fergies magic was over...

don't for one minute assume that because LFC have had a fantastic week, at uniteds' expense, united will roll over and die

there's more to do than simply winning all their games...
Chelsea are still above them,
and there's that small matter of united dropping seven points more than Liverpool, in the run-in.

this is NOT Liverpools' year, but (as every liverpool fan always tells us every august)
"next year, maybe!"

Good blog Phil.

Thanks Phil for regurgitating the news in your blog........

Benitez will not see out that contract, he certainly won't win the league during this time either.

What signs are there that he understands the mentality and the tactics required to prevail over 38 games? None

I beileve Liverpool have tkaen 13/15 points from the Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea, this should be enough to win a title with but Benetiz still wont change the way he plays to beat Fulham, Boro etc.

Always a problem with long contracts, people get too comfortable and very easy to lose you way. People work better when they have a contract to perform for.

Frequently you see players only get the best out of them selves when their contracts are one or two years...most five years deals correspond with player/Managers pullng it oput of the bag in the last year....

Despite what you think Phil most Liverpool fans wonts be overly happy Benitez with be around for some time yet

As already mentioned this is good news for Chelsea,Man Utd and Arsenal because for ever result Benitez gets like the ManU he gets 2 like Boro/Hull/Fulham/Stoke.

Everyone seems to be forgetting Liverpool lead the league and his management threw that away.

Don'tArgueWithMe - is this the same "clown" that brought in Xabi Alonso (one of the best passers in the game) has brought a new found maturity to Steven Gerrard and brought in a certain Fernando Torres???

He's had bad buys I agree but he's got some gems in aswell. I'm over the moon that Rafa has signed. He's got closer to the league than any Liverpool manager in the last 18 years, we have progressed under him and I can see us progressing further. If he can get the same intensity out of the players against the "smaller" clubs, there is no reason we can't win the Premiership under him

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As a United fan this week has not been great. But this news is so good for any supporter of a club that might be challenging for the title in the next 5 years.

Yes Liverpool will keep their excellent record in Europe (1 European cup in more than 20 years!), but even if they buy 10 new world class players in the summer, with Benitez's usual negativity there is no chance of them winning the EPL.

This news has given me a boost after the weekend, lets hope the United players can feed off it too!

'He now has five more years to bring the Premier League back to Liverpool, presuming he does not fashion a remarkable title triumph this season.'

We haven't won the premier league... yet.

Liverpool have improved with Rafa but we need a bigger stadium to create the revenue to compete with Man United's income.

Great news! I think we all know, even the mancs, that benitez will eventually... although I know, not this year, deliver the premier league title.

He now needs the backing the owners in the transfer market to buy the few more players we need to really challenge for the title.

Money is really all that matters here, I often wonder how well Alex Ferguson would have done without the huge amounts of cash he's had available.

Utd, like Chelsea have been buying the league all these years.

In the days when Liverpool were struggling to find £8m or so for Heskey, Utd were splashing out £30m+ on defenders and useless Argentinians.

Its as simple as that.

Benitez has done very well with limited funds and if now he gets the financial clout his genius deserves I believe the trophies will start rolling in.

Great news!

We're a work in progress and Rafa has been saying this since he arrived. We've only shown improvement under his direction and when we show no signs of advancement that is when we should consider replacing him. He has also done this with less money than Man Ure and Chelski and had to settle with the players that Parry could only manage to get, apparently.

To all those 'next season' bashers, yep us scousers have been guilty of a fair amount of Geordie-like optimism for a very long time but these past few years I challenge anyone to say that we're not moving in the right direction on the pitch, off the pitch being another matter. My point is, with Rafa the team is now realistically challenging for the Premier league, our 'bread and butter' as Shankly described it. So I think I can quite justifiably say that if not this year then maybe, just maybe,next year we'll be celebrating number 19.

due to rafa blaming everyone for his bad transfers. let all pool fans blame parry for sighning torres. also blame him for no sellin alonso and gettin barry instead

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Good news I hope, but let's see if the results are ground out. Looking forward to the weekend fixtures that's for sure! An interesting run-in to come.
Whoa, the pundit monkeys have landed and are having their say! I'm laughing my socks off already.

Phil, given that you're an Everton fan, I could be forgiven for thinking that you've got something of a Napoleon complex when it comes to Liverpool. Its all you seem to write about.

Contrary to a lot of the '12-yr-olds' on here who critise your blogging style or knowledge, you can write very good, interesting and informative stuff. However, you are the beeb's chief football writer. There are lots of other football clubs out there, so may I ask you to write about something different: what about the most exciting premiership relegation battle for yonks or something about the championship promotion. Maybe a piece focusing on the fact that two of the biggest ex-premier league clubs around - Southampton and Charlton - are on the verge of doing a Leeds. Maybe you could use some of your inside knowledge to highlight to people what relegation might mean for the future stability of these clubs.


the closest relegation battle that

funny how your apparent obsession with blogging about Liverpool makes so many assume that you're a follower

Tick Tock- How did we get there in the first place, lucky lotto numbers or something?????

Fantastic news for any liverpool supporter. I speak to a lot of reds fans in and around liverpool and I am yet to hear of one who would be unhappy at hearing this news.

Any fans of Liverpools rivals spouting off the usual nonsense such as "Another 5 years without winning the title" amuse me greatly, can noone look at the situation with any clarity or common sense?

Rafa has transformed Liverpool in the last 5 years into a side that can challenge anyone domestically and in europe. Ranked highest in Europe and joint second in the Premiership speaks volumes of the progress made, which, after all, is what fans of any team want...progress. Man utd are deservedly top of the table, they have the best squad in england and possibly the world. They have had years of success that have brought financial benefits which have enabled them to build such a squad that has that quality that every manager wants..."strength in depth". Benitez has spent a lot, he could not have done what he has without spending cash, however, his current squad value pails an insignificance to the value of Man Utd's.

Benitez is not far off however...a few more signings in the summer and they will be even more of a force next season. A couple of those 1 point games into 3 point games is all it takes, just a little more improvement needed.

He has improved and improved LFC over the last 5 seasons, the team performances in the past 10 days have proved that.

If rival fans think that the fact he has yet to win the Premier League as damning evidence that he will not do so then they are hugely naieve.

After all, it took SAF 6 years to win the championship...

LFC1402 has made a great point on the financial side of things; something United fans regularly overlook; but a fair point I'm sure they'll agree.

We've done pretty well in my opinion with our 'ordinary team' this season without regular involvement from Torres and Gerrard - and IF they had started most games this season without injuries there it's completely feasible that we 'could' have won the league this season.

I have got no idea why this would be a surprise to anyone. Benitez has always indicated that he will sign a new deal, and just because the football media make a mountain out of every little mole hill to try and talk up their own relevance that does not mean Benitez was ever going to walk away.

I won't bother arguing with the assumptions made about his so-called tactical excellence (although I believe they are overstated and largely nonsense) because that's been done to death lately. Equally it's a bit odd to claim this to be good news for United, Chelsea and Arsenal - who knows what will happen in the seasons to come. After all, if Nemanja Vidic can be out-manouvred by Fernando Torres then anything is possible.

Put simply, this changes nothing. Not even Alan Hansen's incredible statement that Liverpool are "the team to beat" in the Champions League. No they aren't Alan, United and Barcelona are the teams to beat, in fact. You need to take a closer look at Liverpool's record in the competition methinks, like how they actually progressed over the last few seasons. You could do worse than starting with how they faired in their group this season, rather than just where they finished in it. They are there for the taking.

Frankly I can't see this as news that has other teams in the league quivering in their boots.
Benitez has shown that much like the over-vaunted Kop end it's easy getting players up for the top European games but come a Tuesday night against Stoke they just can't be bothered.

Man Utd will win the league this year with a squad that cost £160, lets hope Benitez gets the same backing

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Graet news for us. What people seem to overlook id the youth team established in Rafa's reign. 2 Youth cups, we are semi finalists this year, and we did the reserve treble last year with many young players. Players like Jay Spearing definitly have potential and now its just a case of Rafa seeing the job though

lfc1402
do you even think before saying or rather writing anything.it 's not always about buying you idiot, look at the no of players that have come through the youth academy even ronaldo for instance was bought for something around 12 13 mil and it was here under fergie that he has really flourished

As for rafa signing a new contract as a united fan i think it's a great news for us obviously

To shinyAllspark - when you ironically ask "is this the same "clown" that brought in Xabi Alonso" - sure Alonso is a geat passer but that didn't stop Benitez trying to sell him in the summer....

It's a good thing, this issue being resolved. Parry, whilst an obvious L'pool fan, also obviously loused up various transfer dealings, and rightly or wrongly, it should be the manager who dictates what players he acquires. The Acadamy also hasn't had the effect which was hoped for, to Rafa's clear frustration and allied to, I imagine, his now clear line in future transfer dealings now means he has clear command of the club. What it also means is that there is now no-one else to blame if things go breasts skywards.

Personally, I think it's a good job he has almost total ctrl of the running of the club. He had a similar freedom at Valencia, at least until they hit the skids financially, and they were probably the best team in Europe for about 2/3 years.

Like all LFC fans, I await the future with optimism!

To all the Rafa bashers here, you need to get your arguments straight. On the one hand, everyone agrees that Liverpool do not have the strength in depth of Man U, Chelsea or even Arsenal. Yet here we are in the thick of the title race. Yes, Man U will win it, but Liverpool (and Chelsea) are closer than anyone else. To my mind, that can only be down to good coaching.
Yet, all we hear are complaints about how Rafa has cost the team the title this season. That's pure hogwash. Yes, they've underperformed in some games and all those draws at home have proved expensive. But if you are going to blame the manager for disappointing results against the likes of Stoke, then surely he deserves credit for taking full points off Man U and Chelsea, and for sustaining a challenge despite the injury troubles of Torres and Gerrard.
Rafa has certainly made Liverpool a stronger team in his five years at the helm, especially considering that he has had to build an entirely new squad over time without Chelsea-like money. Of the squad he inherited in 04, only Gerrard, Carragher and Hyppia remain. That's a lot of new faces spread over 4 years. But there's no doubt that he's getting closer to the title.

Decent blog Phil giving the pro's and con's of the situation...

It seems as though everyone is happy.

Liverpool have secured Benitez' services for another 5 years which gives him the opportunity to show how good he is.

Man Utd, Chelsea and Aresenal fans seem equally happy at the thought of Benitezs in charge as he still has a long way to go to prove himself in the Premier League.

Needless to say alot of Champions league opponents may be a little dismayed at the news.

Only time will tell I guess.....

Totally agree with comment number 16, this is the 3rd or 4th topic in the last 10 days by Phil all of them about Liverpool. Its boring.

There's so much going on in football yet all you and Alan Hansen blog about are Liverpool and the other top 4.

What about the relegation battle? How are Villa going to end their bad run? What's going on in the championship? Steve Coppell's 1000th match? The fall from grace of Southampton and Charlton? etc etc. But no Liverpool liverpool liverpool.

My how fickle pro football is. Just a few weeks ago Benitez is close to a nervous breakdown Keeganesque style, ranting insanely at some perceived misguided injustices and leaving for pastures new. A few weeks later and just two wins of note and he has signed a new contract and everything in the garden is rosy.
What is going to happen next week as Romance and Tragedy walk hand in hand.
The intensity is too much for me, I'm off to watch a bit of snooker.
A word of warning. Man Utd were playing a flat and largely second string midfield and had a key player sent off. Bit too soon to get too Chipper.
Nevertheless a good win to watch in Manchester for the blue half.

I don't think Liverpool had much of much of a choice here. If Rafa had left then you argue that Liverpool's spanish contingent, who roughly make up half their squad would have gone too and that would have been a disaster.

I'm not a fan of Benitez but nobody can deny the man's success in Europe. The way he took Real Madrid by surprise was breathtaking to watch. Even if he doesn't win the league, I'd imagine Pool fans will be more than happy with a European Cup or two.

And to the poster above who claims Man Utd "bought" their titles - may I remind you that Rafa has spent more than Fergie in these last five years. Its a fact you know. A lot of scousers seem to be conveniently ignorant of this. Hmm...

'well done rafa and good on tom hicks and george gillett for giving in this clowns demands on transfer policy

lol@lucas haha'

wow, how original. bless...

Phil and the BBC.........I am sorry this is becoming a joke.

There are now more regular articles about Liverpool Football Club on the BBC website, that on the actual official club website.

Whilst it is a well known fact to supporters of other clubs that the Media are obsessed with Liverpool, this level of coverage by the BBC surpasses all possible expectations.

There are plenty of other more interesting football storylines that could have been covered, this really is a poor show from the BBC, or should we now re-name you the LBC.

re: Yogibear20

"1 European cup in more than 20 years!"

As opposed to 2 in 40 years?

You could do worse than starting with how they faired in their group this season - Liverpool finished top of their group.

They are there for the taking - Funniest thing on here so far.

re: Rotterdam

"You need to take a closer look at Liverpool's record in the competition methinks, like how they actually progressed over the last few seasons."

Would that be when they got to a final and then a semi-final? A terrible record.

What im seeing here is something which happened before.A club creeping their way toward the top barring that they had a moment of uncertainty.The rise of Sir Alex was not the same at all but similar.As a united fan Im just afraid wuth the continuity that Rafa has had and a new manager coming in for us after Sir Alex retires Liverpool could dominate the english game again.

Ok - the Xabi Alonso example was not the best but what about Torres & an improved Steven Gerrard?? Skyrtl has proved himself a quality centre back, Reina (apart from his game against Man U) has proved to be one of the best keepers in the Premiership.

He its in wide positions Benitez doesn't seem to get it right. Babel, Benayoun & Reira have all been too inconsistent.

Some of the comments from Utd fans on here are an absolute joke, talking about this ensures that Liverpool will not be challenging for another 5 years.

Can I take this opportunity to remind them that it took fergie over 5 years just to win a throphy at utd and his win percentege in league games in those first five years was a woeful 38% compared to Rafa's 59% which is actually better than Bill Shankleys record and we all know what he achieved at LFC.

And also I think these people who appear to know nothing about football will find that LFC are challenging this season, we have been top of the league for vast parts of the campaign have done the league double over chelsea and Utd and are currenty 4 points adrift with 27 to play for so if that is not putting up a fight i dont know what is!!

I dont agree with everything Rafa does however i am sure utd, arsenal and chelsea fans dont always agree with there managers. the point is if you stick with someone and show some faith it is usually repaid I cannot think of anyone I would rather see take the club forward than Rafa we have progresed every season under him and this season is far from over.

So my advise to these utd fans is get your facts straight and watch your backs as it is only a matter of time before we win the prem and you will all be eating your words then.

YNWA

Great news for all Evertonians, United fans and even Chelski fans, 5 more years before Liverpool challenge for the title. Seriously he would probably have spent half a billion by the time this new contract ends poor old Hicks and Gillet as blind sighted as the Kopites. What happens if Liverpool go out next round of CL, they wont win the league despite freak result last weekend. Is that progress, has the man made any progress apart from relying on steven gerrard to win one off football matches? I suppose coming back from 3-0 down against milan was tactical genius nothing to do with Stevie G. They have 2 great players only 1 of which he bought or moulded, Liverpool dont win without torres or gerrard because Benitez has spent ridiculous money on very average players

It makes me laugh at how the Manchester United and Chelsea fans are despise Liverpool. The progress the club has made this season is mindblowing. They've beaten all the big clubs and put in great performances against their peers. The only thing lacking from the domestic campaign this season has been the victories against the smaller clubs.

Imagine, Manchester United fans, when that happens you will be at least 10 points behind Liverpool. I can't believe how people seem to overlook that fact. I agree the league isn't won against the top 3, it's won over the rest of the 37 teams, but just think that when Benitez develops into more of a league manager (clearly already one of the best managers in European competitions) and begins to understand how to beat the minnows in the league, there's no reason why Liverpool won't be a force domestically.

Everyone seems to forget where Liverpool finished last season and how much deadly they've been this season. Credit where it's due: Manchester United deserve to win the league this season - their clean sheet record alone has been astounding - but Liverpool have definitely put in the effort they haven't been exercising over the past few seasons.

Hopefully Benitez will use his head in the transfer window and provide an even bigger challenge to the rest of the elite clubs in the EPL for a few seasons to come.

Liverpool have every right to be proud of this seasons performances and yet everyone seem's to think they've done just as bad as ever. It's called progression. Where were Man United back in the day when Liverpool won everything? Swings and rounabouts, and it takes time to overhaul the dominant force in any competition.

It's just logic when it comes down to it. Should haves and could haves aren't good enough, but potential is.

Liverpool have achieved a fair amount of success under Rafa Benitez, considering the time he's been there. SAF delivered the EPL after approx 6 seasons, winning the FA & CWC along the way. Using SAF as a yardstick, Rafa Benitez needs to land the EPL next season, assuming they don't win it this season (unlikely). Using that reasoning next year should be interesting to say the least.

First off, I don't support either club (Bromley FC all the way)

For some people to say Man Utd have bought the league all these years is ludicrous....Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, O'shea of the later years... earlier teams made up of the likes of Irwin / Pallister / Parker etc, hardly big money signings eh? Man utd teams always seem to have a balance of youth and experience - something no other team has managed to have consistently over a sustained period of time.

And to state that Liverpool will not win the league in the next 5 years is equally baffling. Sure the guy has made some dodgy signing but, the guy does not operate on the same financial playing field as SAF... he has more money than say 16 of the other clubs but not Man U and has bought some great players in that time...all managers buy duds from time to time.... Veron anyone? Reyes? Keane (whinger) Morientes?

Liverpool have made great strides in recent times and the stability this brings will make future PL seasons exciting for the neutral.... Giving managers time ultimately ends in trophies -- Wenger / Ferguson / Benitez.... Oneill will be next on the list

Here's to 5 years of top entertainment.

Phil

To anwer your question in post#42

Not one iota. I am not a Benitez fan I'm a Liverpool fan, big difference. I only started posting on your blog after your piece on Rick Parry and made my feelings clear then.

However, the contract issue is now resolved and we all need to take the pragmatic view that he is the Manager so lets get behind him for the rest of the season because there may well be a few twists and turns yet,.

The next five years? Who knows? as I have said before on here the big crunch for Liverpool is in July when the Banks review the loans situation which, if turns sour for the Yanks, means that all the uncertainty returns for everyone connected with the Club.

Finally, just got home from working in Manchester today, YOU CAN SMELL THE FEAR!

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So I wonder what excuse Benitez and his fans will come up with if he fails to win the league next year? Or the year after? He now has more control than any other manager in the PL if the roumers are right (stuff like bonuses etc even Fergie doesn't meddle in) it really is now time for Him to put up or shut up! As a Utd fan I hope that in 5 years time he is still moaning about "I just need one more season and one more quality player!"

It's quite tiresome how often you blog on Liverpool. You're obviously a fan, but could we have a little variation please? It's the same topic practically every week!

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Hi Xavierneville,

"Despite what you think Phil most Liverpool fans wonts be overly happy Benitez with be around for some time yet".

In fact, the complete opposite is true. As a regular match-going fan I can promise you that the vast majority of genuine Liverpool fans are absolutely delighted at this news. In Madrid (before the recent 3 great victories against Madrid & Utd and when rumours of his departure were ciculating) his name was sung loudly and proudly for 10 minutes non-stop.

Alas, many of the radio phone-ins are blighted by armchair critics who do not represent real fans views and give a false impression of fans opinions. So (without meaning to sound patronising) I can fully understand why you would think this.

Yes, there will be a small minority who don't like Rafa signing. But listen to the crowd reaction against Villa on Sunday, the people who pay the money at the turnstiles...that will tell you all you need to know.

lfc1402 would have us all believe that united's and chelsea's title successes have identical stories behind them. Well done there lad, good thinking.

Love the way Man Utd fans say its great news hes signed....why do ye like gettin beat 4-1 at home do we?... or havin the double done over ye.... must make ye feel even worse havin done by a manager that you all say is laughable..... you know what makes people laugh most.... when there nervous and thats exactly what Utd fans are. Having ye team ripped apart must have been a shock to the system and now worry that Rafa will be around for another 5 years to finish what he started.

Liverpool has a shallow bench, they badly need a second star striker, until they show consistency they are just Man U. wannabees.

Great news! With Benitez in charge Liverpools drought of the Premiership Trophy is set to continue. What a result for the rest of the big three!!!

Whilst manager of Liverpool, Benitez has already brought in 60 new players to Liverpool, and he still hasn't got the squad right.

So can anyone truly be confident that it be any different in the future?

Re: Poltergeist23 "Liverpool's spanish contingent, who roughly make up half their squad".

I'm interested in how you reached that figure. In the first team squad of some 30 players or so, we have 4 Spanish players - Alonso, Reina, Arbeloa & Riera.

If you're including players that are out on loan, then we have one more: Miki Roque (at FC Cartagena until the end of the season). That means that including the 15 players out on loan, we have 5 Spanish players out of about 46 or so (just less than 11% of players).

Of course, you can start including the youth team if you like, but for every group that you add on, there are always more non-spanish players to mess your argument up. So, tell me - how does one in every nine players equate to 'half'?

Of the squad he inherited in 04, only Gerrard, Carragher and Hyppia remain. That's a lot of new faces spread over 4 years. But there's no doubt that he's getting closer to the title.
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Yes,I noticed that the more he has changed the squad the less you've won.
Started with Cl then changed a few and it was the FA Cup and then he changed some more and won nothing and then he changed some more and won nothing again and this season I'm sure will be nothing again.I'm not sure how 3rd again is closer than his previous 3rds though.

You can't buy that sort of progress.

but just think that when Benitez develops into more of a league manager (clearly already one of the best managers in European competitions) and begins to understand how to beat the minnows in the league, there's no reason why Liverpool won't be a force domestically.
***************************************************

I think it's safe to say that if you can't learn in 5 years you ain't ever going to learn.

I think most fans of the other clubs in the League will be happy at this news. Whilst Liverpool fans seem a bit schizophrenic.
Firstly, all due credit, two fantastic results against Real and Manchester United, the latter being truly jaw dropping.
However, let us put some points into perspective. Allot of people are posting about Rafas signings. I think most have been truly awful, his handling of the fullbacks and centre backs positions in particular.
Alonso, I would say is in the top ten central midfielders in Europe now. Yet, Rafa was happy to sell him in August to raise funds (to purchase a player (Barry) most people would recognise of being similar in talent). Torres, was a given, even my Gran would have signed him. However, for every Torres, there is a Kuyt (playing on the wing?) or a Babel (playing on the wing or riding the pine). I don't think it's something to re-joice over, if this man has been given greater control. That is without bringing up the topic of Robbie Keane, which at a £8m loss and currently seeing Ngog and El Zhar as direct replacements for times when Torres is injured or rested; you cannot explain the logic there.
As for the League, yes Liverpool are in the hunt, more so than in recent memory. However, how much of that is down to inept performances from the other big four? How often will you expect to beat Manchester United twice in a year? How often will Chelsea implode off the field like this year and how long before Arsenal finally match confidence with ability on the pitch? This is without, impressive performances from Villa and Everton (given their circumstances) and the looming threat that will be Manchester City in years to come. I honestly do not believe that Liverpool have made strides forward. Again, the cracks in the team and tactical selections of Rafa are papered over by the odd result against deadly rivals (this year Man Utd, previously Chelsea) and a run in the Champions League.

"It [is] must be safely assumed that Benitez has been satisfied on [the] all the points troubling him - chain of command, transfer policy, influence over the academy, his position under new ownership - to have agreed to sign his deal."

I think there maybe two typos here. Otherwise fab writing. Thanks Phil.

I'm a Liverpool fan and to be honest this does not mean 'fantastic' for the other clubs because Benitez is a fantastic manager. I think the last week or so will have proved to him how Liverpool need to play if we are going to win the league. We sat back against Boro and tried to hit them on the break, that was effectively our game plan, or maybe get a sneaky goal from a defensive error or what not. Against Middlesborough, a team that hadn't scored or won in god knows how long and we sat back and defended. 3 points lost. We then went and played Real Madrid and Manchester United within 4 days. Did we sit back? No, we played with fluency, flair and attacking intent. Result: 4-0, 4-1. Two of the best teams in the world, and we easily beat them. So I'm not gonna defend Benitez and say that money is why United are winning the title as that is only half of the story. However half of the story is still a massive chunk, even though we lost 2-0 to Boro, we played players such as N'Gog and El Zhar, who are our reserves, who cost next to nothing. When you put this into comparison with United, they can call upon any 3 of a strikeforce of Ronaldo, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov, and even Tosic (wo cost along with another Serbian around £16m as far as I understand). Our front line, we can call upon Kuyt, Torres, Babel, N'Gog, El Zhar, and before hand Keane. Total cost inc Keane - around 65m. Total cost of United's if Tevez is bought - around £135m, thats over double. And thats just the strikeforce.
Liverpools midfield depth - Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Riera, Benayoun, Plessis. Total cost - around £50m.
Man United midfield depth - Anderson, Scholes, Giggs, Carrick, Hargreaves, Gibson, Possebon, Park, Fletcher. Although there are several home grown here which I realise - Total cost - around £60m.
That may only be around £10m, but add that to the 70 of strikers = £80m.
Defence: Liverpool - Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Arbeloa, Agger, Insua, Degen. Total cost - around £25m.
Defence: Man United - Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fabio, Rafael, Brown, Neville, Evans, O'Shea. - Total cost - just over £40m
Add that £15m difference to the 80 already and thats nearly £100m in difference in spending. Now i'm not gonna say this is entirely the reason, but when United had a build up to a big week - Inter and Liverpool - they could leave out Berbatov and Rooney and bring in the likes of Tevez and Nani, instead of Liverpool's options - N'Gog and El Zhar. Bit of a difference. I still hand it to Fergie he's a good manager but I don't like anyone that says Benitez cant win the league. He can, maybe not this season, but you can guarantee each year we'll come back bigger and stronger until we get there. Come on Rafa and you Red army. YNWA

"the Real Madrid result merely emphasised what we already knew" - Oh come ON! NO-one ANYwhere predicted FOUR-NIL, and 5-0 on aggregate!


Oops, sorry, the Real chairman predicted 5-0...
...for Real!

My dream has come true!.. thanks god...
With RAFA around Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal would be champions for the next 5 years...

Was this piece really written by a football journalist?!!!

Who are these hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans that Benitez is so popular with?!!

The majority of Liverpool fans, whilst respecting Benitez's achievements are very upset at the way such a fantastic chance to win the league this season was thrown away by Benitez. His "rant" plus his willingness to go public in his contract negotions have embarrassed him this season, and there's no doubt his tactics, team selections and a number of player signings have been suspect during his reign.

His stock is high right now, and no one will be disappointed that the contract is signed, but equally, if he'd walked away in the summer and talk had turned to Mourinho I don't think Benitez would have been missed for long.

Don't agree with the analysis, Benitez isn't a bad manager, but whether he's the right man given the goings-on, is disputable. Let's hope that providence proves me wrong, I'd (Mr McNulty) be very careful before declaring all are happy, this is far from the case. We await the next draw and puzzling 1252 line up............................

I read the "Kane's" comments, how true. Respect, just what I was thinking, especially the other teams (and fans will be best pleased) I fear a better (not worse) relation of the Houllier reign, all the signs are there, somehow the club won some nice titles under both, but you can see the parallels, buying and selling players (like Owen at his best under GH), Ihope I'm proved wrong but I can't see it unfortunately!

To RiotInAGraveYard

You forgot to add a certain Fernando Torres to that list of yours. Anyhow I don't just mean the spaniards, you could also add the argentines plus the likes of Kuyt, Agger who reportedly have been waiting for Benitez to sign up before committing.

On a side note, I didn't know your first team squad has 30 players registered. I couldn't count more than 20 so I guess I'm still wrong with my "half the squad" estimation.

roll on the champions league draw so liverpool get manu and put an end to their 5 trophies they tried so desperately hard to buy!

im not giving up hope of liverpool winning the prem either, only a few goals away on goal difference now, and looking at the games coming up and who people have at end of the season, doesnt look too rosey for manu, they'll be under pressure big time from all their gobby players and manager comments, and up against relegation teams and teams fighting for 4th and eufa cup places will make it very hard for them, this is the time of season teams will attack manu and they just saw what happens when liverpool did that.

manus last 3 games of season are against manc arsenal and hull, all them teams will have to win, manc will want to win for sake of it, arsenal be fighting villa for 4th, hull fighting relegation, manu would of dropped atleast 4 points before them 3 games come.

manu got it all to lose and thats exactly whats going to happen.

"The majority of Liverpool fans and former players will greet the decision with delight and a measure of relief at seeing another potential strand of instability removed by Benitez."

As an Everton fan, it works out nicely either way for me. If he went, we would have seen the upheaval of a new managers arrival, probably bringing with it the departure of several key players and therefore the need to build a new team. Not easy.
Now that he's signed, we can rest assured that his bizarre domestic tactics will continue to bungle any chance of supplying the title that has been desperately eluding the reds for the last 2 decades. Give him a 10 year contract I say.
Who knows. If the Blues got some investment under the grand leadership of Moyes, it's more likely we will see the league title at Goodison than across the park whilst the gaffe-er is at the helm.

some comedy gold classics on this blog, as ever!

firstly the point about Liverpool winning the league if they'd done better against the smaller teams. kihiro87 says to United fans imagine where United would be if that was them. well son, take a quick look at United's results from last season and you will see that the only points we dropped from the 18 available were from a last minute scabbed equaliser at Arsenal and a very late debateable penalty at Chelsea at the end of the season. and guess what, despite our great record against the other top 4 sides we still won the league and the champions league.


secondly the point about spending on players. there are statistics that show that Liverpool's net spend during Benitez's time in charge is actually more than United in the same period. the other thing to bear in mind is that United are a more attractive proposition for many top players because we play attacking football and win trophies. above all you should factor in United Tax - United traditionally are forced to pay more than the going rate for many of their transfer targets. this is not opinion, it is fact.

bleating about having such a feeble bench is hardly credible on a blog praising benitez when you consider it is Benitez who sold Keane just 6 months after buying him and telling the world him and Torres would be brilliant together. similarly, bleating about United resting players is hardly credible when you consider the fixture lists of the two teams (and indeed of Real Madrid) over the past fortnight or so.

Phil, you asked what Liverpool fans think of Gillett and Hicks. I am a Liverpool fan living in Toronto. I get to hear from George Gillett. My local sports radio was the one that broke the "Hicks/Gillett breakdown" story. My perspective on these guys is that they got into this with a limited understanding of the game, and little or no knowledge of its history. Even now after three years or so, when I hear Gillett talk about football (he regularly appears on Bob McCowns radio show), its clear he is limited, to be kind. He is a nice guy, though and his heart is in the right place. Hicks is another story, he is a tough guy. He was right about Parry, and most fans jumped to Parrys defence when Hicks called for his dismissal, as I recall. I digress. In realtion to the contract of Benitez. They had to get stability, and they had to keep the fans happy. What they dont realise is that the ground is full, because its Liverpool, not because of Benitez. Also they have both grown up in North American sport, were winning, while clearly the aim, and highly valued, is not the be all and end all for most "franchises". The Yankees, the Red Wings and the Cowboys, are the exception in their pursuit of first place. The teams these guys run, are satisfied with being better than local rivals and part of the elite. To them Benitez is delivering. Contrast that to Abramhovic, who wants the prem every year, and lost patience with Mourinho for not winning the CL. As an aside, I believe that United will fall into this kind of stasis, when Fergie quits. He is the guy driving this success, the fans have no power and the owners just do whatever Fergie wants.

oh dear ! another LFC blog ! another of my disgracfull comments, such as this one removed! History repeats itself indeed

goldenelnino9 - couldn't agree more and it is nice to see some intelligent points (and the voice of reason).

Rafa has got closer to the premiership leaders every single year. He has taken us to 2 European Cup Finals and a semi final in his 4 years in charge and won us the FA Cup.

He has done all this whilst having to change almost every player at the club. Fergie, Wenger and the Chelsea conveyer have had the luxury of adding one or two players at almost any cost. Rafa has generally bought and sold very well and managed to restock the academy at the same time.

We are now considered the best team in Europe and, if progression continues, we'll get closer and closer to the top of the Premiership.

Many of our draws this year have been due to an inability to put the ball in the back of the net even though we dominate early parts of the game. This is followed by a drop in pace and a drop in confidence as the game goes on, followed by a late push. It is clear that, with only one top class striker (missing for most of the season) we are going to struggle against teams who park the bus.
Looking at Man Utd without Ronaldo and Liverpool without Torres and you can see that Liverpool's results are far superior. It is just a shame that we had to do without Torres for so much of this season.

Still, I am delighted that Rafa has signed and I look forward to the continued progression of the team. With any luck we'll beat Chelsea and Barcelona and meet Man Utd in the final. I feel another 4-1 coming.

Viva la Rafalution!

Let's bury this myth about the Premier League - it is no longer the trophy to win - that's the Champions League - this is the competition that really brings in the kudos . the big bucks and investment.
If you could get Benitez,Wenger,Hiddinck and Ferguson to say what trophy they crave above all others it would be the Champions League.
The Premiership has simply become a means of qualifying for the Champions League - at least until a European League is introduced and then the Champions League Trophy will become a European FA Cup.

why so many mancs commenting on Rafa's deal, "he wont win the league" usual drivel, go on a manc board and discuss your "player of the year" being made to look amateur by torres last weekend. Great news for the Club. a Long term manager is the best thing for any club, were getting better each season domesticaly and Eurpoe speaks for itself. I'll even use united as the example, it has'nt always been plain sailing for Fergie but sticking with him has proved successful, and how can all you mancs be so sure Benitez will never win the league, negative this, poor squad that, its a building process and LFC have the right man for the job....

57. At 7:15pm on 19 Mar 2009, RiotInAGraveyard wrote:
we have 4 Spanish players - Alonso, Reina, Arbeloa & Riera.
-----------------------------------------------------------

What is torres than german or something???
anyways united vs pool in champs league final
go united

I must protest, ' the club's under-achieving youth academy at Kirkby '
3 youth Cup finals in a row, twice winner, semi final this year, winner of the reserve team championship last year.
Supplied Carra Stevie , Micheal , Macca, and God. If thats underperforming heaven help the rest when it starts to perform.

Good news finally this circus off the field will be over and we can concentrate of football for a second, it was always coming as soon as Parry announced he was leaving Rafa's battle was over. I would like to think that he would have a person in place like a chief executive or sporting director preferably and old player who is respected at the club to ratify any transfer dealing, any true red knows that we have signed some stinkers in the past. Have to laugh at the people who bet on Rafa being the next out, the bookies must be laughing their heads off.


What doesn't surprise me is the constant garbage posted on this blog by Man U 'Fans' and I use that word in the loosest possible sense, maybe they should concentrate on their own team or look back in history to find that when Fergie first came to United they got stuffed by City and he nearly got them relegated, but these 'Fans' wouldn't know that because they still supported Leeds at this point.

oldtimekopite

your bang on their mate, the trophies speak for themselves and to win the reserve league with a team with the average age of 20 speaks volumes for the youth at the club. The 96 (as far as I remember) youth cup winning team gave us Carra and Michael Owen, if we get 1 player of that calibre from this team were laughin but from what I have seen of the youths spearing, Nemeth, Pacheo, Darby all look like quality, not to mention Jack Hobbs who has been a revelation at Leceister this season and El Zahr and Insua are already showing quality, bodes well for the future, take no notice of these fans claiming we have no youth, they just dont know anything about our club

United fans supported Leeds in 1989/90?

what a load of absolute unmitigated rubbish you talk kid

to all those idiots comparing fergie's first 5 yrs to rafa's did you bother to think that when fergie came untied were going nowhere and he had to rebuilt everything whereas rafa got a club which was already a top 3 or 4 club so he didn't have to do anything really.so stop talking rubbish, rafa is nothing and never will be anything compared to fergie.

Oltimekopite #78

Spot on lad. While the new contract offers stability, albeit shorterm, Rafa has to realise that some of his plans and thinking need to be amended if he seriously wants to make us Premiership challengers instead of a cup side.
It is increasingly apparent that the doubts about his ability stem from fans of a certain agegroup, fans who know and have seen what it takes to win a title and the pride and kudos that goes with it (real Man U fans will know what I'm talking about). Not this younger generation who have beatified Benitez after the miracle of Istanbul.
Because you play teams home and away in the Premirship doesn't mean that away goals count the same way as they do in Europe. Empower the players to attack the opposition more, God knows they've proved they can do it with their last two results.
He should also do away with the notion that La Liga is the only breeding ground for talent. Oldtimekopite summed that point up perfectly. it concerns me that he now has tighter control over the Academy, Heighway should never have been allowed to leave the way he did. Too much shades of Paco.
Like I said before, he's signed, he's the manager so lets back him but there cannot be anymore tantrums and excuses if there is failure, just go in a dignified manner. I don't care what others may say or snigger. This is Liverpool Football Club we're talking about, no others come close.

Eh hold on

Liverpool fans two faced? Hitting the air waves? What absolute rubbish.

Liverpool fans have been loyal to Rafa. Those that phone in are in the serious serious serious minority. And any real Liverpool fan would not criticse the club in public. Phil you are seriously out of touch.

This is a non story. Rafa will still work within a structure and will not have full control.

This really should not be an article.

And to add, I am a serious Liverpool fan and I have not followed Rafa blindly liek some have. That said, I will always support him 100% because he is the manager of our club.

I believe that Rafa can be a hero and a great manager if he can adapt and show more of the type of approach he has been showing recently.

Also, no one man is bigger than the club. The club structure is important because managers will come and go and it is important to esnrue continuity. Perhaps our process was a bit weak under Parry. If so then any positive change is a good change for the club.

funnyvivalarasa

How can Fergie and Rafa not be comparable? Fergie came into a club, fair enough not placed as highly LFC but full of individual talent, McGrath, Strachan, Whiteside, Stapleton to name a few, he wanted to put his own stamp on the club which culminated in a clear out and after 5 odd years he wins the league.
Rafa comes into LFC, (the club in a higher league position than utd then when Fergie took over). A squad with some great individuals and some poor players, manages to win the CL with this squad, then over the next 4 years has a clear out (only Alonso, gerrard, Cara and Hyppia remain from the CL winning side) and now 5 years on is making a serious challenge for the league and gets a new contract for another 5 years.... seems pretty similar to me, your statement that he had pretty much nothing to do is ridiculous as you can plainly see he transformed the squad into the squad he wanted, all of it on a limited budget in comparison to Fergie, and as for claiming Rafa is nothing, your entitled to your opinion but it's just plain Rafa bashing and has no real meaning or value.
I am in no way demeaning Fergie here, he's a top manager and his record proves it, it also proves that sticking with one manager tends to work ergo new contract for Rafa.... Happy days.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Some of these posts do make me laugh, why bad mouth a great manager, who else in any of the English leagues have won the champions league in there first season with a club, and not to forget that Liverpool are in fact the most successful club in Great Briton. Look it up it's there for all you ill educated fools out there! Maybe knocking Benitez is just they're way of hiding they're fear of a great club and a great Manager. Come on Benitez show these fools what Liverpool football club is all about...

One other thing I'd like to say to all the Man-U fans out there who like to post comments about how bad Liverpool and the Manager are, all I can say is what are the Magic numbers, are they 4-1 and at home not a defeat that's happened for 17 years, I bet that's left a bad taste in every Man-u fans mouth, so before you run it off with noncese get your facts right, I believe most of Man-U's sucsess is down to the fact that they have some one on the board who just happens to be on the FA's board and I think he may just be putting the pressure on the Ref's in Man-U's favour, funny how they normally get all the decisions going they're way, well until Benitez brought it into the public eye, funny that don't you think, next time we play them it's on a level playing field and we hammer them into next week, with a defeat not seen at Old Trafford for 17 years, 4-1 read and weep Man-u, nothing in my script but the truth... Who are yeah!!!!

Rose tinted propoganda from the Liverpool media machine, the feel good factor, glossing over the realities. Big debt to be repaid in summer 2009. Keane purchased for way too much. Benitez has inherited the world's best player in Gerrard, won a knockout competition with Houllier's team, finished 4th most years, got Referee's assistance last year against the Gunners, has spent nearly as much as Fergie, he's signed Torres which is about the only great thing that he can truely claim for himself. Taste the truth in the eating of the pudding, you can run, but you can't hide Benitez.

Would you agree Phil that if Man Utd win the EPL again this season, allthough there must be some doubt about that given their last 2 results,
the EPL is having more of a look like the SPL given that only 2 clubs will have won it in the last 5 years.I know the competition in the EPL is far most intense,which would make that even more remarkable.Do you also see any significant change occuring next season and if so why?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This is the BBC Governors to Phil McNulty

There are teams other than Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

SAY NO TO CENSORSHIP BY THOSE WHO CANNOT HANDLE DISSENTING OPINION. ABOLISH THE LICENCE FEE THAT HAS TO BE PAID ON PAIN OF IMPRISONMENT.....

Just to educate funnyvivalarasa

Man Utd's final league placings prior to Ferguson's appointment at the end of 1986

1981-2 - 3rd
1982-3 - 3rd
1983-4 - 4th
1984-5 - 4th
1985-6 - 4th

and it took him 7 years (and God only knows how much cash, relative to the spend of that era) to take them to 1st place