Luis Suarez was superb for Liverpool in 2013/14. (Image: Getty)
said “over my dead body.” has argued the goals and wins will soon come again. Wild optimists craving a title race have cited Kevin Keegan’s or Brendan Rodgers’ as hope that The Reds may collapse so that can take them to the wire.
But as on Wednesday night, having again deployed Mikel Merino in a makeshift striker role, the Spaniard’s post-match resolve defied the brutal reality.
We are only in February, yet it is all over now.
’s title ambitions, that is. For all the debate surrounding their injury list, not to mention fan derision over referring decisions perceived to have gone against them, the reality is that the repeat of a fatal transfer mistake has cost them dear.
Rewind to the summer of 2013, and was almost certain to leave after publicly declaring his desire for Champions League football. His fallout at Anfield came in the midst of an FA ban for his latest biting controversy, and and were in pole position to capitalise.
What followed was as farcical as it was fantasy. Believing they needed to bid north of £40million to trigger a transfer clause, Stan Kroenke sanctioned an offer of exactly £1 above that.
Arsenal offered £40million for Ollie Watkins in January. (Image: Getty)
It led to owner John W Henry famously quipping: “What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?.” Forget the smoking, after Anfield bosses refused to embrace the nonsense, and Rodgers persuaded Suarez into an unlikely u-turn, what were left eating was humble pie.
That season, the Uruguayan so nearly inspired Rodgers and co to an unlikely title win. Ultimately, Manuel Pellegrini’s eminently beatable side lifted the crown, with Wenger’s team fourth after being accused of lacking a clinical edge.
Sound familiar? The decision to rush through a late £40m bid for Ollie Watkins in January signified a club that hadn’t taken heed of past mistakes. Like with Suarez, a serious offer, as opposed to a derisory token effort, may well have salvaged this campaign which instead lies on the brink of again ending in disappointment.
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Instead, the hierarchy finds themselves in the same firing line as they did nigh-on 12 years ago. Accused of lacking foresight and urgency – and acting simply to appease a frustrated fan base instead of indulging what they’ve long called for.
Come May, the latest failed title bid shouldn’t simply be blamed on a hamstring issue, breaking down in Dubai, Gabriel Martinelli and Jesus being sidelined, or even the loan signing of .
As with Suarez all those years ago, it’s been the improbable seeking of a shortcut to sign an elite finisher that has seriously cost and dear.