Liverpool need a Euro break in Champions League draw in last throw of the dice for Benitez and Crouch

13 April 2012

If one moment could sum up the frustration of an entire club, it was the sight of Peter Crouch launching himself into a reckless two-footed challenge on John Mikel Obi at Stamford Bridge.

The usually mild-mannered striker may blame his sendingoff on the way the Nigerian first provoked and then reacted to the situation, but it certainly seemed as though his uncharacteristic loss of self-control was the moment that months of pent-up anger bubbled to the surface.

Benitez: I'm quite at ease'

Off-form, out of favour with his boss and facing an uncertain future, Crouch is in the same boat as Rafael Benitez.

Together, they are the unhappy epitome of all that has gone wrong at Anfield this season.

Who stays around longer remains to be seen but it is clear that Liverpool are a club in crisis.

Although the American owners may have papered over their public fall- out with Benitez after he allowed his own frustration to boil over a month ago, it is a very fragile peace.

Successive Barclays Premier League defeats to Reading and — crucially — Manchester United have hardly strengthened the manager's hand while Wednesday's Carling Cup loss at Chelsea served only as a reminder that Liverpool are still some way short of their main rivals.

Not for the first time, Benitez is increasingly reliant on the Champions League, having dug himself out of a significant hole to qualify for the knockout stages.

Finishing second place in their group means that one of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla or the two Milan giants await in today's draw.

Even by Liverpool's heroic European standards under Benitez, they are doing it the hard way.

A supporters' poll showed 37 per cent shared Fernando Torres's desire to face Madrid and Benitez showed a remarkable knowledge of the statistics yesterday as he chose an odd time to discuss the possibility of a contract extension.

'Forty thousand signatures on the internet supported me to continue at the Liverpool helm,' Benitez was quoted as saying in the Spanish media.

' The signatures came from ustralia or from Asia. Many supporters of Liverpool around the world are supporting a coach who has won major titles for the club.

'I am quite at ease. I would like to fulfil my contract and extend it if possible. My family has settled very well and, to me, the respect and appreciation of the public in England is incredible.

'We are already very close to winning the Premier League. We are now eight points ahead of what we had last year and we have made progress in the Champions League. We are in a good position.'

That upbeat message was supported yesterday by Torres, who said: 'We lost to Manchester United but we can't dwell on that, there is no time. There are many competitions ahead and you cannot let it go to your head.

'Liverpool are a great club — they do not lack anything. The first afternoon I was here I realised the magnitude.

'I am at the club with the most domestic titles and at times many people forget them. Perhaps many believe that there are other clubs in front and that they are bigger but the one that is truly the largest at all levels is Liverpool.'

It might take more than the combined Spanish fighting talk of manager and player to convince the ever-watchful power axis of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

For all the talk of harmony after Benitez sat down for a long overdue meeting with the owners, a parting of the ways still appears to be the most likely outcome next summer.

Although the manager may be able to sidestep the transfer restrictions placed on him to sign Sevilla's left back Jose Manuel Casado in January, the issue of securing Javier Mascherano on a permanent basis — which sparked last month's row — is in the balance with sources saying that it is 50-50 whether the Argentina midfielder stays on Merseyside or heads for Barcelona.

The financial squeeze has also affected plans for a new stadium, with Liverpool having to modify their grand design earlier this week in an attempt to bring down costs.

Benitez tried to defuse the row with the owners further yesterday, saying: 'It has been a little exaggerated. The Americans want the best for the club and so do I.

'I am calm. I am confident that things are going to settle and we will succeed.'

There are concerns that the strain Benitez has shown in recent weeks is a clear sign that he has taken on too much.

A fall-out with his longtime assistant Pako Ayesteran signalled the end of an 11-year working relationship between the two and deprived Benitez of the last of his trusted Spanish back-room team.

Curious substitutions — from taking off Steven Gerrard and Torres with his side losing at Reading a fortnight ago, to Wednesday night's decision to send on 21-year-old Moroccan Nabil El Zhar — have raised questions over his tactics.

Some date the problems back to a goalless draw with Portsmouth in September when Liverpool's flying start to the season ground to a halt at Fratton Park.

Benitez left Gerrard and Torres on the bench, and when they came on they were unable to change the course of the game.

A frustrated Crouch made way for the Spaniard that day, a rare start ending after little more than an hour.

Liverpool face Portsmouth again tomorrow with Crouch's fortunes showing no sign of improving.

Pompey, Manchester City and Middlesbrough are all willing to pay £9million for him in the transfer window.

If Liverpool insist on £15m, it seems likely that he will see out the rest of his contract and eventually leave for free.

Either way, it promises to be an exit every bit as untidy as his departure at Stamford Bridge.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in