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Phil McNulty - BBC Sport

Listed below are comments made by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport between Monday, 23rd November 2009 and Wednesday, 25th November 2009.

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Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 7:18pm on 25 Nov 2009 To thehonorarytitle...no way can Liverpool simply ignore the Europa League and focus on the top four. They are not good enough to pick and choose targets and ignore the possibility of winning silverware in Europe.

What was it the late former chairman Sir John Smith used to say? "Liverpool exists only for the purpose of winning trophies." As mottos go, that sounds ok to me.
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 5:20pm on 25 Nov 2009 Tp The Midland 20 and others asking about my title prediction. I,to put it diplomatically, revisited it in a Q&A blog I did a couple of weeks ago and admitted Liverpool were not going to win the league.

I also think people going on about the squad Rafael Benitez inherited from Gerard Houllier - a man who won three trophies in one season at Liverpool remember - should be a little careful. I don't recall too many saying it was effectively Houllier's squad that won the Champions League in 2005, which it was.

I am not taking credit away from Benitez but let's give a little more to Houllier for what he did at Liverpool. And don't forget the squad, and the egoes, Houllier inherited. He gave Liverpool supporters some great occasions to remember.

I do think Benitez needs to examine all aspects of Liverpool's scouting and recruitment, which I presume he does on a regular basis with the help of his staff. Liverpool's squad simply must be stronger and the return of Kenny Dalglish as wise counsel will be a huge help.

Liverpool fans - what about the fact that it is the Merseyside derby coming up at Goodison Park on Sunday? A good or bad thing?

And to davidgilmourthe3rd...I may take emergency action to have you banned for the insinuations in post 234!
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 4:10pm on 25 Nov 2009 Many thanks for all the posts. Just arrived in Manchester for the second half of my Champions League double bill at Old Trafford.

I asked about potential signings for January and BigLRed (post 94) suggested Ruud van Nistelrooy in January. Would that be Liverpool's equivalent of Manchester United signing Michael Owen? What do you think of that? Would cause a stir wouldn't it?

OWENISARED (post 112) questions the lack of young talent coming through at Liverpool and he has a point. Where are the top-class local products? I'd love to know from Liverpool fans who they are and are there any you feel should be introduced now? Jay Spearing has had a taste of the action but is he good enough? I have not seen enough so you tell me.

Some posters question whether Liverpool are missing Sami Hyypia while another namechecks Robbie Keane. There's a thing. Would Liverpool be better off if Keane was still there.

The Keane affair remains, for me, one of the oddest episodes in recent Liverpool history. He looked a lost soul for much of his time at Anfield and I doubt he would ever have come good given the circumstances, but what do you think?
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 12:01pm on 25 Nov 2009 To poster 68...I am not denigrating the Europa League, but no-one can argue with the statement that it is a poor second to the Champions League, in terms of profile, prestige and finance.

And while Liverpool are now there, it is not where they want to be. I do not believe for one second the Europa League figured in their thoughts for a single second this season.

There has been a peculiar lethargy about their performances in Europe this season? Where was the urgency of past campaigns? Even when I saw them beat Debrecen at Anfield - and yes I thought they would get through their group so wrong again (remind me to steer clear of Liverpool predictions in future) - they were lack-lustre.

To BigLRed...excellent and constructive post. You're right about confidence. I interviewed one former player who said it was, in some respects, the most vital commodity in football. He asked: "Where does it come from and where does it go?"

I share your bemusement at the decision to sign Aquilani when he was clearly still recovering from a bad injury, and also the recent failure to introduce him into games.

And on Lucas and Mascherano - I do think they are too alike as a destructive midfield pair. I also feel it is only fair to state that, in my opinion, Lucas has developed a lot this season. He has been, by no means, the worst player at Liverpool this season.

It looks like Liverpool will be rifling through the transfer bargain basement in January. Are there any players out there at the lower end of the market Liverpool fans think could help their cause?
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 11:04am on 25 Nov 2009 To Nick Balaam...just to pick up on some of your remarks. Is Fabio Aurelio accustomed to playing in central midfield for Liverpool? In a vital Champions League game? Was the move a success? I think not.

I think I have watched Liverpool enough to make a judgement. Do you not think fans will question Benitez if he finishes outside the top four this season? I wiould and if you don't you should be given the money he has spent?

And of course Torres and Gerrard would be missed by anyone, a point I made very clearly in the blog, but in an interview I did with Alan Hansen recently he made an interesting point.

He said if any team lost their top two players it would have an effect, but not as much as what he called the "catastrophic" effect it has on Liverpool.

On other posts - yes of course Hicks and Gillett have played their part in Liverpool's recent difficulties, but let's not escape from the fact that many of the problems are also of Benitez's making. He cannot hide behind the unpopularity of the owners.

And yes, I share concerns about the Alberto Aquilani affair. It is not great that Liverpool's major summer signing, at £20m, will now only appear with the Champions League gone and the Premier League going, if not gone.

To Liverpool fans - the club are standing by Benitez, so how can he turn this around?
Man City will regret lack of ambition 12:12pm on 23 Nov 2009 davidgilmourthe3rd in admitting he was a "tad harsh" shocker.

On a wider point, how big a threat are Spurs to the established top four of previous seasons? I watched them at Arsenal recently and still felt there was work to do - but they have a real opportunity this season.
Man City will regret lack of ambition 11:34am on 23 Nov 2009 Is there a worry among City fans that the influx of big-money arrivals will start to have an adverse affect on what has been a magnificent academy system at the club? I am sure Mark Hughes would want this to flourish, but will the hierarchy want bigger/more marketable names?
Man City will regret lack of ambition 10:41am on 23 Nov 2009 So there's a simple question for City fans. Are you missing Richard Dunne, not just as a player but as a leader?

And here are some expert thoughts from someone who knows on both Liverpool and City.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/6629839/Alan-Hansen-Mark-Hughes-has-Manchester-City-on-right-track-but--Liverpool-will-win-fight-for-fourth.html
Man City will regret lack of ambition 10:03am on 23 Nov 2009 To Goluboy...going back in time a little but agree re. Old Trafford injury time. The time was not just added on for Manchester United to score, it was there for City as well. One team took it as a chance to win and the other to cling on - with inevitable results.

On Tevez, his physical strength and industry certainly troubled Liverpool when he came on. I was also disappointed City didn't get Craig Bellamy into the game more. Is his best position out wide? It may have to be because things are a bit crowded when it comes to fighting for places down the middle of City's attack.

Not sure he will hand in a transfer request by the end of the season though. Bit early for that sort of talk.
Man City will regret lack of ambition 09:18am on 23 Nov 2009 To Goluboy...what do other Manchester City supporters think of the situation re. Micah Richards. I have to say I think he has gone backwards alarmingly in the last year or so. If he had been put up for sale a couple of years ago every one of the so-called "big four" would have tried to buy him. Not now.

And what do you make of this quote from Mark Hughes about Carlos Tevez: "Once we went behind it was time to introduce him It was always my intention to bring him on at some point, because of the impact he can have from the bench."

I feel it supports my theory of City took a very conservative approach at Anfield. And will Tevez have to get used to being used as an impact substitute - a situation that led to some of his discontent at Manchester United? Interesting.

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Phil McNulty - BBC Sport