Kenny Dalglish

There was massive excitement around Liverpool leading into this years Premier league campaign. The fans were expecting wonderful things for the season ahead with Kenny Dalglish back at the helm and a host of new signings to bolster the team. Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and Jordan Henderson all came in to add to the January signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Steven Gerrard  has been injured for much of the season so far and his absence has left the reds with no real leader on the pitch. As a result of this the team seems to be just ticking over and waiting for someone to take the wheel and drive them forward. Gerrard has done exactly that for almost ten years now and because of that there seems to be some kind of belief that no matter who else is playing, Liverpool just can’t do it without him.

The results this season have been hot and cold to say the least but it has been a case of the same old story at Anfield. Games like Swansea and Norwich at home should be bread and butter stuff to a club of Liverpool’s stature but that hasn’t been the case. Failure to put these teams away on their own patch will leave Liverpool exactly where they have been for the past twenty years, football limbo.

In contrast they have shown some hints that this team can grow and compete. The performances against Manchester United at home and Arsenal away were admirable from a neutral point of view, but again this is what people have come to expect from Liverpool sides over the years. When they step out against the big sides they have an ability to up their game and compete with anybody.

Consistency is still the big issue at Liverpool and whether they can achieve it or not. The way to accomplish it is to play with the same eleven every week and find a formation that suits that eleven. This season Liverpool have a chance to do exactly that as they have no European football and should not need to rest players to keep them fit.

For the long suffering Liverpool faithful it looks like another season of being in the shadows as the team shows a lack of killer instinct in front of goal. Luis Suarez has been praised for his performances and work rate this season but he has been most guilty of squandering chances to put games out of reach for opponents. Games against Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich, Man Utd and Swansea could have all been filed away in the win column had Suarez been more clinical in front of goal.

The feeling at the moment seems to be that if Suarez doesn’t score then Liverpool won’t win and it shows in the teams performances. This kind of dependence on one or two players is the reason for Liverpool’s failures in recent seasons (Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard) and unless they get their whole first team squad to step up and take equal responsibility they will remain in  football limbo for some time to come.

Wenger was once compared to Basil Fawlty by an Irish TV pundit for his antics during a game and his running of Arsenal at the moment is reminiscent of Basil’s disastrous management of Fawlty towers.

The decisions to allow Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Eboue and Vela to leave all in one transfer window is beyond ridiculous. Add to this the fact that Robin Van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Thomas Rosicky are rarely ever 100% fit and you are left with a worrying scenario at the Emirates this season.

Wenger’s faith in young players really is a great credit to the Arsenal manager but it also seems to be his greatest downfall. The fact he has let the bulk of his best and most experienced first team players leave at once is testament to his faith in youth.

Unfortunately his faith has not been repaid in trophies and the Gunners faithful it seems have had enough. The time for Arsenal to strengthen their squad was two months ago and now it seems it just too late. At this stage of the transfer window it really isn’t easy to bring in top quality players and it is especially hard when you aren’t willing to splash the cash.

Manchester Utd, Liverpool and Manchester City have spent big in this window to ensure that they can compete for trophies and Arsenal have been left a long way off the pace as a result of this.

Wenger I’m sure will be kicking himself in May if the young guns he has groomed finally win some silverware as it will be in the Blue of Manchester City. His former captain Cesc Fabregas has already picked up two winners medals in his short time at back at Barcelona and that fact could point the few remaining stars at Arsenal to follow suit and head for the Emirates exit door.