Are we in crisis?

How has it all gone so wrong for us lately?  No, we didn’t lose in Lyon, but the manner of the game left it feeling like a defeat. A win could have, and would have, sparked our season, particularly given Rafa’s European priorities..

One win in eight games is shocking in anybodies book, but for Liverpool it is the worst possible nightmare.

Now is a time to remain calm and be patient. Rash decisions could have severe implications for the club with long-lasting consequences.  Right now, there is no obvious way out except for Rafa and the team to get their heads down, work hard and try to carve out a result that will get us fans smiling once again.

Gerrard’s return from injury is unknown, he could be back on Monday, he could be back a week on Monday, and it is looking highly likely that El Nino will be facing a surgical operation and thus a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

We’re into November and the next two months are damage limitation, only in January can we build for the future.

Hicks and Gillett must now spend to get this club back to where it belongs, despite Aquilani making his debut recently, it is clear that we need a top quality centre-back to be a long term replacement for Carragher.

Somebody like Brede Hangelaand of Fulham or Michael Turner of Sunderland or Gary Cahill of Bolton, someone committed and dedicated. Skrtel and Agger are both good, very good, but injury prone and their positional play is not that of a world class defender.

We also need another top quality striker, Babel’s goal against Lyon, rather than delight us, annoyed us as it showed just what he can do. But it happens so rarely is he actually worth it? We really need another striker to support Torres. Robbie Keane was never given a chance, but we need someone, and someone good.

A fully fit Dean Ashton would be the perfect foil, the ideal man between Gerrard and Torres, Carlton Cole too, could be a good fit. Both Ashton and Cole are tall, strong, good in the air but both are as good as any striker when playing it on the deck.

The next eight weeks are not about performances, it is about determined, scrappy games but which end with the right result. January will show Benitez in his true colours, can he really take us up to the next level? He must spend, and spend well.

As mentioned.  A defender and a striker is a must, even it it’s a combined cost of £30m, something has to be done. If anything to increase strength in depth, which, when you really look at it, is very poor even compared to teams like Everton, Tottenham and Sunderland.

While not a lot can be done right now, apart from just giving it everything. It is the work behind the scenes, off the pitch that could have the biggest impact. Plans for the January sales, who to sell and more importantly, who to buy is crucial.

If we are not careful, we could lose all of the built-up momentum, the two Champions League finals, the runner-up spots in the Premier League, and find ourselves going one step forward, and two steps back.

By Richard Marsh

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