Danny Murphy

Liverpool exit no disaster

Thu Nov 26 12:44PM

At this stage of the season, I don't think it is a disaster for Liverpool to be knocked out of the Champions League.

They will admit by their own standards it was a very disappointing campaign, but there is still time left in the campaign to recapture the form we know they can produce and pick up some silverware.

There are always big expectations at a club like Liverpool but they have to be realistic about their ambitions for the season ahead now. All teams occasionally suffer setbacks but they can really prove their worth based on how they respond.

A presence in the Europa League is all dependent on your club's ambitions. Liverpool are used to routinely competing in the Champions League and it will come as a shock to their system to now compete in the Europa League.

The fact that half the teams eliminated from the Champions League group stages go on to compete in the Europa League is fantastic for the latter competition. It raises the overall standard and gives other sides the opportunity to play renowned clubs such as Liverpool.

Liverpool have been supportive of Rafa Benitez and rightly so, given the advances they made up to the end of last season when they came very close to the title. As the manager, he must accept responsibility, along with the players, for the poor start they have had this campaign.

There are a number of underlying reasons at the club that have contributed to this poor start by Liverpool's standards, but a long-term managerial presence is a key factor towards the long-term success of a football club.

On the back of their exit from the Champions League, I don't think the players will be overly concerned about the financial implications of not progressing. Looking towards the future, they must ensure they stamp their authority on the competition at the next opportunity. In the club's long-term interests, they must be seen to be competing at the very top level of world club football in order to appeal to the world's best players.

The apparent ownership issue at the club may have contributed to the poor start made by the team. In order to move forward, I am in no doubt that Liverpool will seek greater investment and I am sure there will be no shortage of individuals keen to get involved with such a fantastic club.

Again, it comes back to the importance of consistency throughout the club. With that secure platform behind the scenes, it is always easier for players to focus on their responsibilities on the pitch.

Despite Liverpool's exit, I am still convinced we will see two English clubs present in the last four in this season's Champions League, and we will continue to see an English dominance of the competition in years to come.

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Well the peaple of liverpool should rise against the american filth that are putting this great club through all this turmoil.seasoned kopites should stop attending games and make it quite clear to the doughnut munching muppets that their is no room at the inn for them anymore.this constant bickering and lack of partnership is outrageous and stripping football of what once was a fantastic club.come on start the revolution get them out and get someone with true passion and a great sense of direction.
From garylegname on Thu Nov 26 01:02PM
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lol danny of course champs league exit is not an issue. neither is the 5 defeats in EPL. nor the poor squad. nor the huge over-reliance on 2 key players. nor the manager who spends bad and selects worse. it wouldnt be a disaster if they didnt make the top 4 either. coz everything is rosy in lalaliverpool land
From bobo.spamble on Thu Nov 26 01:06PM
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you Play for Fulham now cant you talk about anything else other than Liverpool no wonder the number of comments on your blogs are so low compared to the other bloggers on this site. I mean Parker has to mention Utd in every article but at least he can talk about other subjects god almight Murphy
From liamhorne007 on Thu Nov 26 01:07PM
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From liamhorne007 on Thu Nov 26 01:07PM
IN RESPONSE TO YOU LIAMO...SURE HE'S GETING PLENTY OF RESPONSE FROM THE SPAMMERS, YEEHAW !!!!!!!!!
From mjelliott72 on Thu Nov 26 01:45PM
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How can you start an article with that headline....Yes it is danny boy...lets not forget this man has spent near enough 200mill and what does he have to show for it....NOTHING..he inherited the team which won the champs league, fair enough its was his selection that guided but how many of them players dide he purchase?? Not many is my guess....the bottom line is that he has waisted money but yet seems to think that dropping the names of Hicks and Gillitte will divert attention from him. The silly Liverpool fans follow this but not the rest of the nations football fans. The Liverpool fans need a new manager...simple as that....gerrard is ageing, torres is injury prone...and....he spent 18 million on Kuyt who was top scorer in holland and initially brought as a striker and complains that he's short on the attacking front....durrrrrrrrr....why did u but Kuyt...He's run out of excuses as far as im concerned and should go.
From ashley.payne99 on Thu Nov 26 01:47PM
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SHUT UP!!!! No disaster £30m lost!!! More more lost next year as Spurs, City, Villa have no Europe this season so Liverpool will be struggling for 4th place
From markspence03 on Thu Nov 26 01:52PM
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lucyyu39, are you actually asking for help?
From bobo.spamble on Thu Nov 26 02:18PM
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Probably the best long term thing that could happen is to for Liverpool to win nothing this year, and qualify for nothing next.
The americans would get rid of their failed investment, and the club could start again with real investors
From kmcottrell on Thu Nov 26 02:28PM
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Not a disaster when Benitez put ALL his effort into winning the ECL???
Most Liverpool fans would rather see them winning the EPL. Sadly that wont happen either!
Mr Murphy what exactly is a disaster for Liverpool when they wont win any BIG silverware?
From jonathangrosskopf on Thu Nov 26 02:32PM
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I am normally very supportive of your articles Danny and have critised those that have abused your articles.
However, I think this time you are wrong. Of course it is a disaster for Liverpool not qualifying for the knockout stages. Not only financially, but because they are an English team, and I want to see as many English teams qualifying as possible. I cannot see that Liverpool have made any progress over the past few seasons. Fot me, Benitez is too defence minded usually playing just one up front. But then he has a dearth of top quality strikers having let Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch go without giving them the time and matches to prove their worth. Liverpool need at least two more world class strikers.
From mayhewkenneth on Thu Nov 26 02:35PM
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please shut up about liverpool Murphy! you play for Fulham now, remember?!!
Rubbish article
From baydo12 on Thu Nov 26 02:39PM
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I agree with Danny..you have to act in the situation youre in..not go over and over about what might have been etc.LFC players need to go out and show the character of the club they play for and the city they represent.Taking a turn for the worst is always going to happen at some stage or another and its about uniting and fighting on together.We in Liverpool know all about this mentality. We are either Red or Blue .. not fans who move on when we start to lose.
From andrewyoung63 on Thu Nov 26 02:40PM
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Danny - always a red!
YNWA
From prodigy84bg on Thu Nov 26 02:57PM
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common danny ist disaster for liverpool who are in debt and did you see smile on fergy"s face that grin wa sthere caus eliverpool went out.....
i cannot understand benetiz coaching methods and how he sees palyers performance as supporter who regulary goes to liverpool to watch them play
I find it hard to coach does not learn from mistakes our defence continues to let in goals cause we dont put men on post but rather in box to cause more confusion rather than helping defence...why kuyt still plays when he 2nd touch is awful he doesnt deserve to be regular he has no skill no tackling ability at least babel takes people on and taks shots from outsdie no matter how bad they are one in five is betther than dwell on ball and not take responsibilty to do something with ball....and that lucas is pathetic against man city he missed a open header and he failed to pass a thru ball to caragher who was clear .....what @#$% players we have
From shabs127 on Thu Nov 26 03:22PM
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The retention of Benitez is costing the club millions in lost revenue and that alone should be sufficient for him to be sacked!
From mambles on Thu Nov 26 03:33PM
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#1 on the agenda: persuade everyone to stop calling it the europa league and start calling it the uefa cup again. what idiot decided to call it the europa league anyway?
From richardsxsix on Thu Nov 26 03:48PM
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Everyone knows Danny Murphy is a scouser, he used to play for Liverpool, and no doubt wishes he was still there. He is still playing in the Premier League, so he can't really be too stinging, or he will get on the wrong side of his old team mates and friends. But if Liverpool are still a massive club (on the level of Real, Barca, Man U, AC Milan, Juventus) then playing in the Europa League should be considered an embarrasment, and not making the last 16 is a real failure. I'm sure a lot of Liverpool fans look at this column and shake their heads. Tell it like it is Danny, or dont bother doing it at all.
From chrisziffo on Thu Nov 26 04:04PM
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If any downfall is self-induced then Liverpool's has to be the biggest of all time.
All the money that has passed through Benitez's hands with the comings and goings of the last few years and he has virtually turned a full circle. He has a team on his hands that is poorer than the team he inherited when he joined. All a result of mis-management of players, dreadful signings, and crazy tactics. As Redknapp says Benitez has hoodwinked the supporters and convinced them he is irreplaceable, but he doesn't fool anyone who really knows his football. He is a joke and will never be a threat to the top four teams as he hasn't got the capabilities of sorting the mess out.
From bensafrimboy on Thu Nov 26 04:18PM
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As a Manchester United fan ( yeah please booo ) I found this blog so funny. Now if the boot was on the other foot that I think it will be when Sir alex goes United fans would have the manger out in minutes.
Sorry Liverpool but you need to start again and that means with a new manager.
From benbear00 on Thu Nov 26 04:33PM
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neither is your exist old son Fulham are doing great without their captain son.
From johndaviesd2005 on Thu Nov 26 04:57PM
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Murphy, you really are not living in this world are you? Being knocked out of CL in November, being knocked out of the Carling Cup in November and out of the title race a month before Christmas is not a disaster is it? What a plonker.
From tony.lambert52 on Thu Nov 26 05:35PM
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Sycophantic drivel. Again.
From lawrence43 on Thu Nov 26 05:44PM
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HAHAHAHA GOOD WAN BOBO ME AULD MUCKAR.
From donneymcclain on Thu Nov 26 06:06PM
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Wow, I think this is the first time you write an article without ever mentioning Fulham a little bit. I guess you already forgot that you're playing for Fulham, not Liverpool! You are not helping Fulham now due to injury, and yes, we are doing well without you. -Fulham fan-
From esaezzatinor on Thu Nov 26 06:21PM
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Well said. I agree.
From oquioko on Thu Nov 26 06:57PM
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YWNA.YWNA.YWNA. Liverpool para siempre.
From gigin5704 on Thu Nov 26 07:07PM
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You can't blame the Americans for poor management and player selection, that one belongs to "The mad scientist" Benitez. He has proven over the last few years that he really doesn't know how to pick talent, but yet he wants all the control...sack him and find an attacking manager please!
From mytor1962 on Thu Nov 26 07:20PM
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liverpool are now walking alone.lol
From ava3121 on Thu Nov 26 07:31PM
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Mr Murphy,
Yes it is a disaster.
you know why?
because a team with their budget should be after the group stages & not in 8th.
Pure business.
From jobeirut on Thu Nov 26 07:53PM
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I hope danny murphy reads this. Liverpool at the moment are a disaster out of europes premier competition at the hands of supposedly lesser teams. 7th in the league and struggling badly.A manager WHO IS CLEARLY OUT OF HIS DEPTH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. A manager who has made costly mistakes when liverpool legends and fans can clearly see. Danny Murphy if this is not a disaster and it carries on Liverpool are going to be damaged for a long while so shut up and admit your wrong Murphy. As someone has stated on here the best thing is for Liverpool to get rid of Randolf and Mortimer, rid of benitez, and all this will happen after a DISASTEROUS SEASON.
From alancoverdale795 on Thu Nov 26 07:59PM
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