Liverpool FC Forum

[A.B.]

WHEN Rafa Benitez makes a final cold assessment of Liverpool's failure to qualify for the Champions League, it will be the intense pressures from their miracle European run in the final weeks of the campaign that will really be the cause.

The Anfield manager admits home draws against Tottenham and Middlesbrough proved the difference between Liverpool and fourth-placed Everton, separated in the end by just three points.

In the month between home victories against Juventus and Chelsea the limitations of Benitez's squad were exposed.

Benitez said: "We have a clear idea of what to do, we don't want to fight to be in the top four we want to do more than that."

The irony of Liverpool's season is that they have picked up more merit money - TV cash and the automatic cash for being in the Premiership - than Everton..

Everton know they get nothing from UEFA for being in the Champions League third-qualifying round come August, only if they qualify for the group stages.

Liverpool have taken £22.23m from their Premiership season while for Everton it is £21.09m.

Both clubs automatically get £8.8m for actually being in the top flight. Liverpool took £7.6m for finishing fifth and £5.83m TV money.

Everton also had the £8.8m plus £8.07m for finishing fourth and £4.22m from TV revenue.

We've earned a fair amount of money this year (with the Champions League and everything) which is good to hear after the 20 million loss we had.

[JBG]

You can also take into consideration that Smicer is definitely going (freeing up £25-30,000 a week), Diouff will go as will a few others, so there will be a bit of leeway to spend in the summer!

[Cool Hand Luke]

This money is mostly likely used to contribute towards running costs.

[115-1073096938]

Joaquin, Owen and Robinson anyone?

[A.B.]

Stu, Owen? No doubt that he's class but can we move on with our lives. Real Madrid have screwed us plenty of times in the transfer market and I have no doubt that they would want to make money on Owen so therefore we would end up paying more for him than what we sold him for, that would be bad business.

[A.B.]

You can also take into consideration that Smicer is definitely going (freeing up £25-30,000 a week), Diouff will go as will a few others, so there will be a bit of leeway to spend in the summer!

If we sell Baros and Kewell than that will help us even more.

[PrestonLaaa]

If we sell Baros and Kewell than that will help us even more.

I'll offer you a tenner 4 Kewell then!

[Alonso_Rulz]

give kewell one more season...

[Starbridge42]

Only if he takes a wage cut

[Alonso_Rulz]

agreed, but dun think iti s possible at all... all i can tell is if he doesn't perform again.. we can realli ssay byebye to him... right now, we just duno how much the injury he is having is affecting him.. but he is just not the kewell we tot he is.. one more season.. it makes more sense.. selling him now will do liverpool more harm than gd.. dun think we are goin to get a 5 million fee for him.. why not keep him for one more season, then if he performs than stay, if not, say byebye..

[azriahmad]

Give Kewell one more season to do what? I think he has had more than enough time and has been on too high a wage level to justify another crack. he can get another crack but at a substantial pay cut with performance bonuses to bing the new wage to old parity if he performs.

However, I think Kewell should be let go as he has disappointed with his low work rate and his "mental health" in not wanting to play for the crucial CL matches when asked to.

[jonnymac1979]

agreed, but dun think iti s possible at all... all i can tell is if he doesn't perform again.. we can realli ssay byebye to him... right now, we just duno how much the injury he is having is affecting him.. but he is just not the kewell we tot he is.. one more season.. it makes more sense.. selling him now will do liverpool more harm than gd.. dun think we are goin to get a 5 million fee for him.. why not keep him for one more season, then if he performs than stay, if not, say byebye..

Dude, have you filled my poll in?

jonnymac1979's poll

[MilitiaRusher]

How much will we win if we lift the trophy in Istanbul?

[LiverpoolMadman]

I think with this money , we can afford players like Defoe and Aimar

[joependo]

I reckon we shud be able to get Aimar, Madman.If we sell Baros(If Valencia are interested)we cud do part-exchange with Baros and some money.Defoe would be hard to get as Arsenal and Chelsea are in it i think,but with them being Derbys he might not go.