Rafael Benitez has a point. Especially where his legacy is concerned, for the Spaniard certainly won’t be remembered for ensuring that Liverpool qualified umpteen times for the Champions League group stages. Instead, it’s all about silverware for the Reds manager and the fans.
But can they win any trophies this season? The Champions League is always a difficult competition, with the winner usually requiring a slice of luck along the way to triumph (Pool fans can vouch for that in 2005). The Daily Post reports that, ahead of the Merseyside club’s match with Liege tonight, Rafa has his eyes on the prize.
“For me, the first thing is silverware,” said Benitez. “I like to talk about trophies, that is the main thing. But the Champions League is also about money and you have to take the two things together. But we are here to win titles, not to make money.
“I always tell my players that if they win games, they win trophies and then they will have higher wages and more money. We need to win silverware so we will be better in all of these areas.
“Do our finances in any way depend on getting through? No, I don’t think so. It is not about money, it is about winning.”
Liverpool should cruise through tonight’s match and they have maximum points after matches against Sunderland and Middlesbrough. While many have bemoaned the fact that Pool haven’t yet played particularly well, it matters not when one looks at the league table, just so long as the Reds continue to have that killer instinct which ensures they win the match irespective of performance.