Brendan Rodgers can spin today’s result anyway he wants, (he was pointing out all the great, positive things about a 2-2 draw to a Bulgarian side) but the truth still hurts. After four straight losses through all competitions, most recently the complete disaster to lowly Crystal Palace, a victory was required to life fallen morale at Anfield.
Hard to believe that eight different books were published about Liverpool’s 2013-14 season; in which they were Premier League runners-up. Now they’re just four points above the relegation zone.
Today’s performance versus Ludogrets did nothing to make Reds supporters feel better.
Here is the latest Champions League Group standings, and the percentage of advancing through to the knockout round of Champions League football according to ESPN FC’s Soccer Power Index
Team Pts SPI %
Real Madrid 15 100 (Already advanced)
Basel 6 34%
Liverpool 4 66%
Ludogrets 4 0%
Still Liverpool has a pretty good shot of getting through to the knockout round. Remember, only the top two in each group get in. One spot is already decided and one team is already eliminated. It all comes down to Basel at Liverpool on the final day of the group stages. They’ll meet at Anfield in an elimination game. Liverpool must win that contest to move on. If it’s a draw, Basel advances.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2
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