It wasn't a poor team, I agree with you on that. You had a great midfield two, one of which Rafa managed to p*ss off. Alonso is easily one of the best midfielders in the world. Huge loss for your team, not unlike United's loss of Ronaldo in terms of importance to the team. It was time to go for Rafa, you were going backward. Not having won anything for 4 years. Not good enough for Liverpool football club. Move on, get a new a manager who can deliver what the fans want/deserve. 20 years and counting.

Pig in goal for United and Obertan starts. Still no Nani. Feeling today will be tricky.

Your right Alonso was a massive loss and I remember saying on here we won't win the title now he's gone.

Yes Rafa might of peed him off but would he of said no to Real either way?

Probably. Must be kicking yourselves not getting a Sneijder or Van der vaart back in the deal. There were rumours there were being offered but I'm guessing your wonderful owners wanted pure cash.

Your team with Alonso was considerably stronger than the team the next season. You had 4 world class players back then and a Carragher that could still cut it. Reina is still playing well but Gerrard isn't playing like he was a couple of years ago and Torres would be on the first flight out of Liverpool he could get this month.

Whatever went on behind the scenes after Rafa's "FACCCHHHTS" speech is what killed his reign. I seem to remember you being well clear at that point and then the wheels fell off. Though you did stuff Utd at OT. The decline after that speech and then the departure of Alonso killed the momentum Benitez had built. Choosing to replace Alonso with an injured Aquilani was a strange choice. Torres and Gerrard missed games and lost form last season, Carragher started looking his age. Throw in Benitez's love of internal politics and you have an untenable position.

Got Soccer Saturday on where they agree this Liverpool squad is poor . I'm jumping in the bath kid as we are going round in circles.

Happy New Year.

Feel sorry for Preston. Bottom of the Championship, sacked their manager and then his dad has an even bigger childish paddy fit than Wayne Rooney and recalls two of their players back to Man Utd who will never even get any game time.

Wouldn't be surprised if no-one wants to employ Darren Ferguson if that is going to happen all the time.

Re the Liverpool situation: why do people keep saying they want Kenny back? Yes, he's a legend at the club, an icon, a figurehead, but those times have passed now. He won't be the guy the get us back up there. We need a fresh start, different tactics, players playing in the right positions, new training methods. I don't feel Kenny can bring that to the table.

A few people have been discussing Rijkaard as a possible replacement. He's had a few jobs that have lasted only a year or so (Holland, Sparta Rotterdam, Galatasaray) and his only success came with Barcelona. He is known for playing attacking football, IIRC he's a big fan of the diamond formation.

He is available, but the only sticking point would be having to give out compensation for sacking Woy because he's not going to quit, the only way out will be for him to get fired.

Some classic little snippets of interviews with Liverpool fans on the radio earlier,unfortunately you can't get across the thick docile scouse accent in text, but youve all heard what a whiney scouser sounds like, so here goes;

'i don't like seein my club like dis, dis great club, we got a manager dats dun nu'in, dis club needs turning round, get Kenny in, its de only way to do it, get Kenny in now'.

Obsessed

Yes, you are indeed.

Indeed. Job done though.