Second is not good enough for Liverpool – not when you’ve got a history of winning trophies.
Liverpool were top at the New Year – the best they’ve been in a long while – and to fall that little bit short is very disappointing.
When you drop points, you can always look back and reflect on games you should have won.
We talk about Stoke, Fulham, Manchester City – games like that – where Liverpool should have won but just couldn’t break teams down.
That creativity they have now just didn’t seem to be there in January and February. They’re now scoring goals and looking really confident.
It’s a pity there’s not eight or nine games left of the season because I’d really fancy Liverpool to take the title.
I think earlier on in the season, if Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres weren’t winning games for them, Liverpool were struggling.
Now, if it’s not those two, it’s Yossi Benayoun or Albert Riera or somebody else – everybody’s chipping in.
They’re much more of a team now. They’re playing very well and closing teams down very well.
It’s just unfortunate it’s a little too late but, going forwards, there’s plenty of cause for optimism next year – especially if Rafa Benitez makes the right signings over the summer.
Despite the current form, I think the squad is still just lacking that little bit at the moment.
You look at Manchester United on Tuesday night against Arsenal and they had Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez on the bench – big superstars ready to come on and change the game if needs be.
It’s not so much the case anymore, but during the times when Liverpool have struggled this season, you looked at the bench for the match-winner to come on and change things and that wasn’t there.
I think Rafa knows that and I think he’ll put it straight in the summer.
Europa League could hurt Hammers
Despite losing 3-0 to Liverpool on Saturday, I think West Ham have still got a realistic chance of getting into Europe.
They’ve done remarkably well with the limited resources and the limited squad they’ve got.
I think, in a way, it might actually be bad for them to get into Europe. It sounds strange saying that, but I think it might affect their Premier League performances next year.
We’ve seen some of the bigger teams this year put weakened teams out because they want to concentrate on The Premier League.
I just think their current squad is not strong enough to compete in two competitions.
Steve McManaman was speaking as part of the coverage of West Ham v Liverpool