Transfer Window Shuts With A Whimper

So far, Liverpool's stuttering form has been at the very least a little inconvenient for anyone who wishes to argue that we don't need Alonso to win the title this season. Many have argued that without him our midfield lacks the balance and creativity that it had last season, and go on to suggest that without him, our two main men up front are starved of service. Furthermore Lucas Leiva, Alonso's replacement in Liverpool's current starting XI, has been written off. At the weekend, BBC 606's Alan Green (privately a Red) went so far as to say Lucas would "never make it in the Premier League". But although I've been as frustrated with Liverpool's performances so far this season as any Liverpool fan, with Lucas to the fore of my concerns, surely it's a bit early to be make such rash judgments. For example, at the start of the 2007/2008 campaign, Liverpool went into the international break with a 100% record culminating in a 6-0 demolition of Derby County. At the same stage, Man Utd had 5 points from a possible 12. We finished the season in 4th place and the Mancs won the title. In other words, it's early days.

Having said that, I felt at the end of last season that we needed to keep hold of our key players and add a striker to the squad do what Robbie Keane (for whatever reason) could not. We have achieved neither of these objectives, and although I don't wish to berate players who wear the red shirt, there are quite a few still on the books that were clearly for sale at the right price. Last season our form stuttered in the first half of the season as we suffered injuries to Fernando Torres, because Robbie Keane was not able to carry the burden of playing up front alone. Fortunately, once he was sold Torres remained largely injury free and formed a devastating partnership with Gerrard that fired us back into the title race. But what will we do this season if Torres' has more hamstring trouble or even worse suffers a more serious injury?

Even without Alonso, Liverpool's starting XI is as good as anything in the Premier League if not better. But although it's a cliché, the league is won by the team with the best squad, and I'd like to have a few of Aston Villa, Spurs and Man City's substitutes, never mind those from the so-called Big Four. So while I don't want to start preaching doom and gloom on the basis of a slow start to the season, and I'm aware that Man Utd and Arsenal have spent even less than us this summer, I do worry that a few more bad results will see us in a dog-fight for 4th.

Gillett and Hicks are clearly up to their eye-balls in debt, and the fact that Rafa Benitez has been unable to spend without selling first shows that we are struggling to pay the interest. If we don't finish 4th, thus securing the all-important Champions League revenue, the outlook is totally bleak. So I for one am praying for no injuries during the international break and a good win against Burnley to get things going again.