Rafael Benítez may rest players for the match
with Chelsea, especially if Liverpool have reached the Europa
League final. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
For 17 years Sir Alex Ferguson has been steadily placing
explosives at the foot of Liverpool's infamous perch and this
weekend he will invite them to the detonation. Whether to partake
in a possible farewell to the honour of England's most decorated
champions, a mantle now shared with Manchester United, is the dilemma
tearing at Anfield's conscience.
Liverpool have been here before, of course. For Chelsea 2010
read Blackburn Rovers 1995, and a Sunday at Anfield when natural
elation at a home victory will be severely tempered by the
side-effect of assisting a Manchester United title challenge.
Providing, of course, that Ferguson's team can capitalise on the
offer, unlike 15 years ago when a United draw at West Ham gave
Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn the title regardless of their 2-1 defeat
at Anfield.
That day still represents one of the most surreal match-going
experiences for many Liverpool supporters, who were divided over
which goals to embrace – Alan Shearer's opener, John Barnes's
equaliser or Jamie Redknapp's exquisite last-minute winner – but
ultimately shared their former hero Dalglish's joy as the losing
team began to celebrate before the final whistle. Yet 15 years ago
a United title victory would have been an unpalatable irritation.
Their failure to score a second past Ludo Miklosko in the West Ham
goal ensured Liverpool's superiority over their Old Trafford rivals
remained at 18-9 in championships.
There seemed no threat to the perch back then, but it is
indicative of Ferguson's command and Liverpool's malaise that 18-19
beckons should Chelsea drop points at Anfield and United win their
remaining two games. Anfield's dilemma has deepened as a
consequence. Indeed, a text doing the rounds beseeches Rafael
Benítez to field Cilla Black, Ken Dodd, Holly Johnson, Sinbad the
window cleaner – and Lucas Leiva – against Carlo Ancelotti's
contenders this weekend.
Not all have veered from the doctrine that a supporter always
supports. John Mackin, co-author of "REDMEN: A Season on the
Drink", explained: "People have been talking about wanting us to
lose for a few weeks now but personally I want to win it. I always
want my team to win. The only thing I hope for is that it plays out
like the Blackburn game in 1995. I remember United fans on the
telly in the week leading up to that game saying: 'Win it for us,
scousers', but thankfully the gods smiled upon the football world
that day and it played out perfectly.
"My gut reaction when Redknapp scored that day was to punch the
air and celebrate, but a few people around us were saying: 'What
have we done?' We still have a chance of fourth place this season
and I'd be delighted to beat Chelsea even if it puts United in the
driving seat. We can't hope to stay the most successful team in the
land because of another team's failure. We have to get our own
house in order and try to stay the most successful team by virtue
of our own success." Blackburn 1995 demonstrated perfectly the
distinction between supporters' emotions and a player's
professional duty. Liverpool silenced all the sceptics that day, to
the extent it gives United hope for the penultimate weekend and the
game that, on paper, provides the best chance of another turn in
the title race.
As Liverpool's captain, Steven Gerrard, said: "We are underdogs
for fourth position but our fans know that we have also got Everton
breathing down our necks and we certainly don't want them finishing
above us. We have got a couple of games left now and the idea is to
take maximum points to see if we can get into fourth through the
back door. If we take maximum points, who knows? The teams above us
might slip up."
Wayne Rooney summed it up as a United player and Evertonian
would. "Liverpool are a proud club with a lot of history and I'm
sure they'll want to win that game as they're fighting for the
Europa League," the newly crowned PFA player of the year said.
Unlike 1995, the timing of Liverpool's belated influence on the
title encourages the controversial prospect of Benítez fielding a
weakened team against Chelsea. No Liverpool manager wants United
overtaking the club's league title record on his watch. It may not
be devilment that influences Benítez's thinking on Sunday, however,
but what has unfortunately become standard managerial practice at
this stage of a season.
Should Liverpool qualify for the Europa League final by beating
Atlético Madrid on Thursday and see fourth place almost disappear
with a Spurs victory over Bolton on Saturday, Benítez may be
tempted to tinker, with a trophy in mind. Roy Hodgson did precisely
that with the Fulham side he fielded at Goodison on Sunday.
Likewise Sir Alex Ferguson in last season's FA Cup semi-final
against Everton, when he prioritised chasing the European Cup and
Premier League in an admittedly more
demanding schedule than faces Liverpool. Finally, the thought of
Benítez's rotation policy being brought out of storage is
sufficient to send a chill through Old Trafford.
