The Malaysian Insider

NOV 21 — If there is one thing that Rafa Benitez has learnt over the past two years, it is recognising the missing link in his Liverpool squad. Prior to the start of last season, he bought Robbie Keane with a purpose.

Keane was to be at the end of a formation which included Gareth Barry in midfield. Unfortunately, as Benitez revealed recently, when Barry failed to arrive, the whole Keane purchase also turned pear-shaped with the striker just not fitting into the alternative style of play.

NOV 14 — News of the death of Robert Enke is a tragic and unnecessary reminder that football is a sideshow for most of us. Football, we can joke, is more important than life and death, but we know that that famous line uttered by the great Bill Shankly was a joke and that the opposite is, or at least should be, true.

Enke, who was in the running to be Germany’s starting goalkeeper at next year’s World Cup in South Africa killed himself by throwing himself in front of a moving train.

Out of respect for his family and a nation in shock, the German national team called off their friendly with Chile this weekend.

NOV 8 — It seems like there is no end to the woes surrounding Liverpool. One week they are getting further away from the elusive league title, the next they are almost eliminated from the Champions League.

This weekend, thanks to their turn on the Sky Sports Monday night football slot in the UK, the Reds have got a few more days than their once-fellow title challengers to prepare for the start of their season-salvaging campaign, playing host to Birmingham City.

While we eagerly anticipate that match, the match-of-the-week tonight has to be gotten out of the way first. It is after all a top-of-the-table clash between league leaders Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester United (MU). No small matter here.

NOV 7 — A poll in Britain once rated Arsene Wenger the most influential manager in the English Premier League. Not to take the shine away from another successful manager in England, but the main reason that Wenger edged that other fellow was he brought about a structural change to the way a football club is run. Not to mention, he won the league title in his first full season, something that took seven years to achieve by his main rival.

OCT 24 — After all the hope that last season’s title run brought to the red half of  the city of Liverpool, one cannot help but feel sorry for the hapless Reds supporters who are waiting in vain for their first Premiership title.

They know it’s over. Heck, even some of the players know it’s over. So, it’s all about damage control from now on.