If ever he was going to restore the club to its former glory after two decades of misery, it was going to be the season before the one just completed, when Liverpool somehow let slip a double-figure lead to their bitter rivals.
That season, with Fernando Torres in full flow, Steven Gerrard bombing on beyond him, Xabi Alonso pinging the ball around with unerring precision, Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuijt having career-best seasons and the fullbacks finally offering offensive integration, Benitez’s men dished up some of the most flowing football you are likely to see.
Only Barcelona, La Liga and European Champions that season, were in the same league. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Wolfsburg didn’t come close.
And it still wasn’t enough. We all know the story about too many draws at home, and the remarkable run from Manchester United after the mid-season Club World Championship.
Benitez and his team gave it everything, physically and mentally, dominated the top four league within the league, and, somehow, still came up short.
There was very little chance he could motivate the players to do it all again, with the realistic chance they could put all that physical and mental effort in, and come up short again.
To have any chance, he would need to strengthen his squad and relieve some of the workload from Messrs Gerrard and Torres.
As I wrote at the time on The Roar, Benitez had to keep Alonso and find another front-man to take some of the scoring burden off Torres.
Little else, truth be told, needed tinkering.
But, because the club was suffering financially, funds weren’t readily available.
He had to sell one of his prize assets in order to finance any purchases.
So, after shopping Alonso around 12 months earlier, he sold his main link-up man. Alonso was off to Real Madrid.
With him went Spaniard right back Alvaro Arbeloa, coming off his best season in red, one in which he proved he can be an attacking weapon as well as a solid defender.
Benitez finally had the money he kept claiming his owners wouldn’t give him.
But what was his plan? How would he replace Alonso? Which big-name striker would come in to compliment Torres and add depth to the front-line?
David Villa maybe? Carlos Tevez? Even David Silva?
No, Benitez spent eighteen million Euros on right back in Glen Johnson and another 20 million on an injured Italian attacking midfielder, Alberto Aquilani, who wouldn’t be available till October.
Outrageous waste of money, just as it had been for much of his six year tenure.
Even at the start of the most recent season it was clear Liverpool didn’t have the depth to challenge for the title, and in a World Cup season, how on earth could you expect an injury prone Torres to forage alone up front?
Oh, Andriy Voronin was back, and David N’gog was emerging!
Little wonder Liverpool finished seventh when you consider that Tottenham could choose between Peter Crouch, Jermaine Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane.
Manchester City could start Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy, and still bring Roque Santa Cruz off the bench.
Even Aston Villa had more depth in Gabi Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and John Carew.
Season after season it’s been the same compliant from Benitez; give me money to invest on players.
And season after season he has failed in the transfer market.
Truth is money has never really been the problem. It has been his poor use of it, failure to develop players and an obsession with conservative tactics.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Thanks Tony for your thoughts..
Tony Tannous
Expert
AF, Liverpool have said they won't rush into anything, possibly even to see what comes out of the World Cup. I wouldn't necessarily think a Liverpool legend would get the job done at this level, against the likes of Ancelotti, Sir Alex and Wenger. It might have an immediate motivating effect, which might last for a while, but will it sustain? Of the English based candidates, you'd probably favour Hodgson ahead of O'Neill, but I'd even be looking for an overseas manager with proven ability to not only get a club winning, but consistently playing the type of football that is synonymous with LFC. I never felt that Rafa was quite able to do this, other than in the season I described in this story. He was too conservative. What I believe Liverpool need is a manager who can make the right technical calls and get the team playing positively. Every technical decision is guided by an ideal, and that is to have Liverpool playing attacking football. Someone proven like a van Gaal or Hiddink, if available (Hiddink is joining Turkey), or a younger guy like Rijkaard or Quique Flores. But if they wait till after the World Cup, maybe they'll have a few more options.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Tony, who is the likely manager in waiting..? I think they may resort to a Liverpool legend. _____ AF
Tony Tannous
Expert
from 77 signings I think the figure is.
FP
Guest
Cheque-book manager. In six years Rafa Benitez spent £266m and only signed four top players : Torres, Reina, Xabi Alonso and Mascherano.
clayton
Guest
huh, huh, that`s funny. you used the word "misery". oh, you were being serious. oh.
MVDave
Guest
As a Man Utd fan it just breaks my heart to see Liverpool in such turmoil... :)
Axel V
Guest
Surely the millions they lose from not qualifying for the Champions League would be worth it? something like 30-50 million for the club for Champions League qualification? this is the money that makes the 'big 4' the big 4, there is only 4 champions league spots, and they cling on to them for dear life. otherwise they might end up like Newcastle.
whiskeymac
Guest
hodgson or oneill according to the UK papers with Dalgliesh as interim. both wld be great managers for Liverpool and hard for their current clubs to replace.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
couldn't agree with you more on this Tony. I don't think any Liverpool fan ( I'm one of them ) will be disappointed at all. This is the start of what will be a rebuilding stage. As you mentioned we were screaming out for another top striker in Villa or Silva and he spends a motza on Glen Johnson ???. The Robbie Keane signing was his biggest howler, that deal cost us 10 million. Rafa is not a good evaluator of talent, questionable tactician and is a moaner by nature. The lost title in 08/09 was the end of him. We drew twice with Stoke that season and that was the difference. He has been Dining out on Dudek's heroics for 5 seasons now. He has a hard act to follow if he succeeds the special one at Inter. As for our new gafa, Martin O'Neill or Roy Hodgson would do me.
Phil E Buster
Guest
They realised how much it would cost them after they signed him up for a new five year contract last year. They had to figure out a way to cut him loose with as little compensation as possible. Liverpool can hardly barely afford the several million in payout and many more millions for the new manager.
Axel V
Guest
I was predicting that he could and should be sacked before Christmas 2009, what took them so long?
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I remember the games you are talking about because I was in London that Christmas visiting relatives. I was able to watch all the games because they were in prime time. I remember Robbie Keane scoring a pretty good goal in one of those games to break his duck for Liverpool. Yes they missed a lot of chances and they do control games against lower teams. However, that is not their preferred way to play and thus they are not as good at it. They are better when team come at them, which is why they are a pretty good record against the "better" teams. Surely you can understand my rationale.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Why do you think Liverpool are so hot and cold against the lesser teams? Because they didn't have another high-quality sharp shooter (finisher) whenever Torres was out injured. I point to three games, at home, against lower opposition, around Xmas, where LFC totally dominated, had all the ball, had about 1000 shots to 2, and came away with draws. I remember thinking/saying at the time, "this will come back to haunt" I agree with your general point, but I'm talking about 2008-2009, not before, not since
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I'm not talking about results; I'm talking about possession. IMO attractive football involves controlling possession of the ball, moving the opposition around with movement off the ball to create space and then exploiting that space with incisive passing. Compared to Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea, Liverpool are poor at this. Why do you think Liverpool are so hot and cold against the lesser teams? It's because the tactics they employ are dependent on catching teams out of position and using the pace of Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun to capitalise. Yes Man Utd, are the best exponents of counter attack, but they can pass their way through or around defences as well. Liverpool need teams to make mistakes to score goals. IMO until they fix this, they will never be a great team.
Colin N
Guest
"that season, just that they didn’t pick up full points in about 10 of the games they completely dominated." Yes, and that was there perrenial problem over the season. If they were so dominant, they should have put the smaller teams away. They lacked that spark to put away 'lesser' opposition. Manchester United struggled against both Bolton and Stoke away from home, but managed to find that crucial extra edge to overcome those hurdles, Liverpool were simply outmuscled at the Britania stadium and didn't like it.
Tony Tannous
Expert
You must have been watching a different season to I. LFC totally controlled the other "big 3", and everyone else, that season, just that they didn't pick up full points in about 10 of the games they completely dominated. This season they were very very boring an very very average.
Eddie
Guest
Good comment Stormin Red, unfortunately for liverpool it's very unlikely a World Class manager will come in to replace Rafa.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I know what season you are talking about. I know they were way ahead at one point. But Man Utd went to the FIFA World Club Cup and when they came back Liverpool had failed to capitalise on their lead. If you actually watch Liverpool play, you understand what I mean. They are boring to watch. Even when Liverpool beat Man Utd 4 games in a row, Utd controlled possession in those games. Most of Liverpool's goals came from howling mistakes by Utd. Look up that stats, when was the last time Liverpool had more possession when they played a "big 4" team?
Tony Tannous
Expert
No fantasy Magnificent. We're talking about 2008-2009 here, not 2009-2010. They were terrible this past season.