There is no doubt about it that Liverpool have had a great season and whether they now manage to pull off a Premier League title win or not their improvement over the last 12 months cannot be questioned.
But whether or not they do profit from any further late season slips from Manchester United, Rafael Benitez will know he has to improve further again next season – and his principal target area must be in the full back positions.
Alvaro Arbeloa has never convinced, Reds fans worrying when they see his name on the team-sheet, opposition fans using him as one of the few players in Rafa’s side that they can still deride in the comfort of their words being unlikely to come back to haunt him.
As Liverpool saw off poor old Hull on Saturday – at times nervously but certainly deservedly - Arbeloa was again the weak link, adding to the calls for a replacemnt as soon as possible. Some early incidences of miscommunication involving primarily him saw some unnecessary corners conceded, before he was caught out of position for the Hull goal and then failed to cover for Martin Skrtel, who had raced from centre back to fill the Spaniard’s role.
Benitez has been linked with one or two bigger name right backs in his time and he should look into this again in the summer if he wants to make his team as strong as it can be in every position. Arbeloa has never been good enough and Philipp Degen has hardly been seen, albeit if that is not his fault due to a catalogue of knocks.
On the other flank Emiliano Insua was given the nod against Hull as Rafa’s left back merry-go-round – one of the few areas in the team in which the Spaniard his maintained his old rotation thirst as the season has gone on. Fabio Aurelio had seemed to have nailed that spot down for a while, but missed out after Tuesday’s goal free-for-all against Arsenal, and Andrea Dossena is another who can play there but another who Reds fans will not want to see there, despite his unexpected goalscoring cameos in big games not too long ago.
Insua did okay against Hull, even having a couple of shots, but he is still young and has not overly stood out in his sporadic showings, and a more experienced man would surely suit Benitez’s long-term high aims more.
Aurelio has improved as a defender, but still looks hungrier going forward and one feels that if United do take the title then Benitez can bring his side even closer next term if he repeats last summer’s full-back recruitment of Degen and Dossena with a couple of higher-profile, higher quality acquisitions in those positions, then his team will be a lot more complete.
Otherwise, Benitez looks to have a solid set-up, a high-class goalkeeper, a decent catalogue of central defenders – though the future of Daniel Agger seems to be in question – and with Mascherano, Alonso and of course Steven Gerrard a fine midfield that may need just a little more in reserve than the ineffective Lucas.
The second half of the season-improvement of Yossi Benayoun has been a real telling factor in keeping the Reds’ title challenge alive. Written off by many as a lightweight and ineffective player, the Israel man’s late goal at Fulham ensured no let-up from The Reds and he has given great showings against Arsenal and Hull this week. For now it seems, Benayoun has grown into a better player in a similar way to Dirk Kuyt offering excellent support to Fernando Torres in the absence of Gerrard.
Albert Riera will remain a useful man to have though Ryan Babel will need to prove he has more than just potential, but all in all, Rafa’s lot is one that has grown well, their comebacks this season against Manchester City, Wigan and Portsmouth the type of results that would have been the exception rather than the expectation when The Reds went behind in such a manner in recent campaigns.
But you can always get better and Rafa’s team can certainly do so and will likely need to after another summer of player influxes all round. Another striker to compensate for when Torres is injured is certainly needed. New full backs, particularly on the right are musts.