Liverpool, in the Benitez era, have been one of the most dangerous teams to play against. Over the times, they have shown the skill to beat far superior sides with their quite mediocre team ... relying just on their grit and determination, and on Benitez's tactical shrewdness. Their never say die attitude which culminated on that wonderful night at Istanbul was also on display in many European ties like the ones with Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Olympiakos, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and the list goes on and on ...
Having said all this ... Liverpool still haven't been able to win the League for the past 18 years!!!!
That is entirely because they are "Lions on one day ... Rats on the other ... " The defeat Manchester United playing some great football and then capitulate tamely to Fulham right in the next match. They defeat Hull 5-0 on one day and lose 2-0 to Chelsea the next week.
Clearly, Liverpool still doesn't posses that persistent killer instinct that is visible in almost every team of Alex Ferguson possesses and that Jose Mourinho's Chelsea portrayed. Many reasons have been pointed out to portray the weaknesses of the current Liverpool side.
Over-reliance on Gerrard and Torres (Liverpool defeated Man U last year without both of them), Benitez's tactical ability in a league (Benitez won the Spanish League with Valencia), absence of good strikers (barring Torres, of course), absence of great midfielders (barring Gerrard) and absence of great defenders (barring Caragher)!!!!
It is very difficult to point the exact reason for this. There may be endless number of hypotheses ... but then, in my opinion, it is that urge, that zeal, that excitement and that slight element of luck too which is missing with Liverpool which has turned them from a marauding lion to a meek rat in just a matter of week!
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