Source: Telegraph
Liverpool likely to follow Arsenal blueprint for staying in the Premier League's top four
Inadvertently, Steven Gerrard offered Liverpool supporters a glimpse into the stark reality of the club's predicament as he mulled over defeat to Fiorentina, and elimination from the Champions League, this week. Asked if the club must now focus on fourth place in the Premier League, the England international replied: "Of course, that is always the priority at this club."[LNB]He meant, of course, that Liverpool's stature relies upon their continuing presence among the continent's elite, that the club could not run the risk of the financial shortfall of missing out altogether, that their desire to challenge Europe's elite for the signatures of the world's best players is predicated upon offering them the lure of Champions League football. [LNB] Related ArticlesEnglish set for a lessonBenítez 'turns down volume' as criticism gets louderTorres will tear into ArsenalLiverpool and Benítez will give Arsenal the full montyKlinsmann: Liverpool lack quality and consistencySport on televisionIt sounded, though, as a damning indictment of Liverpool Football Club, class of 2009. At a club which, as Bill Shankly said, existed solely to win trophies, it is now the taking part that counts. [LNB]That Liverpool are operating under such severe financial constraints that to demand any more would be churlish is well-documented. The club hope to find an investor, or investors, to take a 25 per cent stake of Anfield by the end of the season. [LNB]The £100 million cash injection would help kick-start the building of the new stadium on Stanley Park, as well as allowing manager Rafael Benítez more leeway in the transfer market. [LNB]Even that injection of capital is unlikely to bridge the gap between Liverpool and the petrol parvenus of Chelsea and Manchester City, or the Old Trafford marketing juggernaut. [LNB]Liverpool's wage bill is the fifth highest in the Premier League. Figures suggest that factor determines league finish with almost unerring accuracy. Unlike City, Liverpool must live within their means. Until those means increase, they can hope for little better. [LNB]Benítez knows he must adapt or die, just as his opponent today, Arsène Wenger, did. Indeed, where once United were Liverpool's blueprint, now Arsenal are the role-models. Daniel Pacheco and Stephen Darby, against Fiorentina, followed in the footsteps of Nathan Eccleston, Martin Kelly and Daniel Ayala in making the step from youth to first team this season. It is a trend Benítez has been tasked with perpetuating. [LNB]"When I signed the extension of my contract [in March]," he said, "one of the things was to have an influence at the Academy, so we are working really hard to improve it, produce our own players and save some money. Arsenal are doing this but they're spending big, big money with young players. We have to consider our options but I think there is more money available. [LNB]"The idea, the philosophy of Arsenal, though, is to try and bring young players through and improve them through the system. We have to do something similar, because you can see the different financial processes of teams like Chelsea and United."[LNB]It is a struggle Wenger knows well. Although Arsenal have a higher wage bill than their hosts today, they rely on qualification for the Champions League, three seasons out of every four, to meet their budgets despite the corporate and ticket revenues of the Emirates Stadium. Like Liverpool, who lost £2.4 million by not reaching the last 16 this season and would miss out on a further £10 million should they finish outside the top four this year, they need to be in the Champions League. [LNB]It lends Arsenal's visit to Anfield an air of the season's first relegation play-off, a clash between the two potential drop-outs of the Big Four mini-league. Yet, just as Gerrard's slip of the tongue afforded Liverpool fans a glimpse into the reality of their present, Arsenal may offer them a vision of their future. [LNB]KEY CLASH Steven Gerrard v Cesc Fabregas. It is time for the captains to come to the fore. Gerrard is likely to have Fernando Torres, his favoured partner-in-crime, available, and will be cheered by the prospect of Alberto Aquilani playing some part, albeit most likely as a substitute. Fabregas, meanwhile, will have to shake off the attentions of Javier Mascherano if, in the absence of Robin van Persie, he is to help Andrei Arshavin continue to enjoy Anfield, home of his remarkable four-goal haul here last year. [LNB]TACTICAL DUEL Liverpool's great weakness this season has been against sides packed with power to trouble a nervy defence, but the problems posed by Arsenal are likely to be altogether different. Deprived of their specialist strikers, the visitors will look to the pace and ingenuity of Arshavin, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri. While their visitors are not noted for their physical prowess, set-pieces, from which both Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas present a threat, remain a weakness for Benitez's side, despite his switch to a man-to-man marking system on free kicks. [LNB]TOUCHLINE BATTLE Rafael Benitez v Arsene Wenger The Spaniard has never lost to his counterpart in the league at Anfield, a record he will need to maintain if he is to alleviate some of the pressure Liverpool's poor season has attracted. Wenger's only victories against Liverpool since 2006 have come in the Carling Cup, invariably in clashes between weakened teams. Both games were drawn last season, and both Premier League fixtures finished 1-1 the season before that, suggesting the smart money would be on a stalemate. That one point is of little use to either side, though, may change the emphasis of what is traditionally a closely-fought, balanced encounter. [LNB]
