Reds boss Rafa Benitez has already talked up Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League title this season, claiming his sides stability will give them the advantage this season. He claims whilst other clubs are struggling to hold onto their top players, he is fully focused on bringing in new signings.
It is a known fact that Liverpool, constantly underachieve in the league, everyone knows it. They do well in Europe, decently in the cups and fail miserably when it comes to the league. Last season they finished just 11 points off United in first place, a success for them considering they finished 21 points behind United the season before.
When it comes to spending his transfer budget Benitez never spends his money wisely. Ok, I admit the signing of Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid last summer was terrific but look at some of his other signings in recent months and years. Benitez spent £5 million on Yossi Benayoun from West Ham last summer, who in my view, should be playing for someone like Wigan, with all due respect to Wigan.
He spent £8 million on Jermain Pennant a few years back, who has never shown any kind of consistent spell of form, yet Benitez sticks by him. When you look at the signings of some of Benitez' main rivals, for instance Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United. Ferguson spent £7 million on Nemanja Vidic two years ago and look how good that purchase has turned out.
Ferguson buying Cristiano Ronaldo for £12 million three years back was surely one of the best signings ever. Benitez pulls off the odd transfer coup but he doesn't sign good players on a consistent basis. Another reason why Liverpool won't win the Premier League this season is that they rely too heavily on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
The pair scored a massive 53 of Liverpool's 116 goals last season. That's nearly a half of all Liverpool's goals in the 2007/2008 campaign. They need to go out and buy another Fernando Torres and the talk at the moment is that Robbie Keane could heading for Anfield. Keane is good but personally I don't think he's anywhere near as good as Torres.
My last reason for thinking Liverpool won't win the title next season is their failure to perform in the big matches, ie, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. Last season they picked up a massive 4 points out of a possible 18 in all six games against the rest of the "Big 4". Now I don't know about you, but that doesn't make very good reading for Liverpool.
Liverpool are currently 13/2 with most bookies, however I feel they may as well be 33/1. Yes, I am afraid it's going to be another promising season for Liverpool that will inevitably fizzle away to a miserable 4th place finish in the league, a Champions League quarter-final, a semi-final appearances in the FA Cup and an early exit from the Carling Cup.
