Liverpool let down by lack of classy striker

IT DOES not take a genius to figure out what happened on Saturday, Rafael Benitez.

'I would have trouble explaining how we lost to Manchester United in Spanish. In English, I find it almost impossible,' said the Liverpool manager, after the 0-1 loss which saw a 30-game unbeaten home league record go up in smoke.

All he had to do was take a glance at the numbers.

The Reds had 15 shots to the Red Devils' five. Liverpool racked up 12 corners to United's two. But there was no goal for Liverpool.

'We controlled the game, we created chances, but we didn't score,' added Benitez.

For fans, it has been a frustrating, familiar refrain for the last two seasons.

The lack of a world-class striker has been Liverpool's most glaring flaw since the sale of Michael Owen to Real Madrid.

Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy, at a combined cost of £23 million (S$68.7 million), are not the answer. If Didier Drogba had been playing for Liverpool, they would certainly have settled the game against United by half-time.

The Chelsea man, who scored on Saturday against Portsmouth to take his season's tally 29, cost £24 million.

It is time for Benitez to stop shopping for hopeful bargains like Andriy Voronin, the less-than-famous Ukraine striker who is set to join on a free transfer next season.

Splash the cash for a striker who can score 30 goals a season, or Liverpool will again be facing the same set of dismal statistics.

They have had 430 shots this season, a number no other team can come close to bar United, who have 426.

But the league leaders are the league leaders because they made their chances count for 66 goals. Liverpool have just 44, and their conversion rate puts them 14th in the Premiership.

Chelsea and Arsenal's 50 goals came from 384 and 362 shots respectively.

Don't even mention corners to Liverpool. They had 215 attempts at crosses from the flag this season, but produced just four goals.

It can only be a relief that Anfield is being linked with names such as Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres.

From the club's new American owners, Benitez can count on a transfer kitty that can afford true class.

Competition for these stars will be fierce, with Chelsea and United also interested. This off-pitch battle is one Liverpool must win first before trying to beat them in the Premiership.

United have to spend big too, to replace the veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. They lacked pace against the pressing midfield of Liverpool, and their time is running out

However, it is the latest player linked to Old Trafford that has raised eyebrows.

Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, better known as Nani, is the latest outstanding winger to be produced by Sporting Lisbon, the club who unearthed Luis Figo, Simao and, yes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 20-year-old is best compared to the United star, their best traits being speed, trickery and an eye for goal.

The question is whether the £12 million-rated Nani has been targeted as Ronaldo's replacement. Real Madrid are willing to pay up to £50 million for the United player.

While Alex Ferguson has insisted that Ronaldo is not for sale, the Glazer family could be more pragmatic.

It remains to be seen whether the United owners could turn down such a big offer, especially with the need to replace key players who are not getting any younger.

Not that Ferguson showed any sign of his 65 years when he danced a jig after Saturday's win.

The title is United's to lose now, but it must be remembered that nothing is settled yet.

The nine-point lead can be cut down to three by Chelsea if they win their game in hand, and beat the league leaders at Stamford Bridge on April 15.

But even Jose Mourinho could not escape the significance of United's win at Anfield.

'The Gods are with them,' he said.

It seems that way.

The best player on Saturday was Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

But it was his challenge on the ineffectual Wayne Rooney that led to John O'Shea's introduction.

And the boyhood Liverpool fan scored in front of the Kop, as time ran out to give United the priceless three points.

The white shirts flung into away fans' section were deeply symbolic - this is where the title has been won, the United players seem to scream.

'That must have been soul-destroying for Chelsea,' said O'Shea. 'With a couple of minutes to go, Chelsea must have been watching the game thinking we were going to drop two points, maybe even three.

'They were probably thinking Liverpool could nick one because we were down to 10 men, and only just holding on. Then we go down the other end and score the winner.'

Ferguson called it: 'The luck of champions.'

Liverpool's lack of quality up front is another way to describe it.

hafiz@sph.com.sg