No progress in Champions League would be a “disaster”

By This Is Anfield On · 51 Comments · In LFC News

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson says the prospect of the club not qualifying for the second round of the Champions League this season is unthinkable, labeling the scenario a “disaster”.

The Reds look to get their European campaign back on track when they visit Lyon in France this Wednesday night.

It follows two consecutive defeats to the hands of Fiorentina and Lyon, leaving Rafa Benitez’s men third in the group and six points of group leaders Lyon.

“It would be a disaster for this club not qualifying for the knockout stages – but it’s not something we are thinking about,” said Johnson.

“We have still got to believe we can do it. We don’t even want to start thinking about the Europa League.

“It will be no consolation at all. It’s not the aim and it’s not the plan because we want to be in the Champions. It is one of the main reasons why players want to play for a big side.”

“The Champions League is the best club competition there is. I played in it a few times with Chelsea and playing in it again was something that I was looking forward to doing.”

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  • redkenny

    Rome77 I admire your loyalty to the cause…you can pat yourself on the back for being a “true fan” but you obviously havent read the comments benitez came out with after the match on saturday. Lyon our next match is crucial …agreed.. but fulham was as important or in most lfc supporters case arguably more important…we all want the “bread and butter” as shanks once said. Im not Benitez bashing for the sake of it and i understand the media are trying to drive a wedge between supporters and the club but the reality is the americans are going nowhere anytime soon and it is not their fault that we take off torres with 20 mins remaining im not buying into that. That team out there on saturday was still better than fulham with torres and benayoun on the pitch… benitez handed the initative to fulham by removing them and waving the white flag …surely it was woth the “risk” although i fail to see how 20 minutes is a risk but im sure you have detailed information from the phsios or something…the benitez backers are what is now holding this club back. Anyone out there with a half decent brain could pick a better team than benitez. we have reina aggger masch torres johnson skrtel and benayoun all signed by benitez so i dont buy into the he has been rubbish in the transfer market in fact i think he has done quite well in that regard wheeling and dealing but his actual team selection or choice of substitutions are appalling… and why is he so mechanical? every substituiton on 65 minutes? he is so predictable its scary if something is not working why not change it at half time or if needs be immediately.. I fear the guy is caught up with his computer programmes and pro zone and not fully concentrating on whats really happening out there. Even my dog knows voronin is the worst player ever to play for lfc …why not start babel there after all he was bought as a striker and now plays a game every 3 weeks either left or right and gets slated for his performances he was never a winger so why blame him? I know this point is a bit “what if” but surely ANYONE is better than voronin!AS for your incoherenet rant about shanks and americans and “fans” im not sure what your on about there so i cant respond to it have read it 3 times and it still doesnt make any sense…a bit like our current manager

  • redkenny

    Rome77 I admire your loyalty to the cause…you can pat yourself on the back for being a “true fan” but you obviously havent read the comments benitez came out with after the match on saturday. Lyon our next match is crucial …agreed.. but fulham was as important or in most lfc supporters case arguably more important…we all want the “bread and butter” as shanks once said. Im not Benitez bashing for the sake of it and i understand the media are trying to drive a wedge between supporters and the club but the reality is the americans are going nowhere anytime soon and it is not their fault that we take off torres with 20 mins remaining im not buying into that. That team out there on saturday was still better than fulham with torres and benayoun on the pitch… benitez handed the initative to fulham by removing them and waving the white flag …surely it was woth the “risk” although i fail to see how 20 minutes is a risk but im sure you have detailed information from the phsios or something…the benitez backers are what is now holding this club back. Anyone out there with a half decent brain could pick a better team than benitez. we have reina aggger masch torres johnson skrtel and benayoun all signed by benitez so i dont buy into the he has been rubbish in the transfer market in fact i think he has done quite well in that regard wheeling and dealing but his actual team selection or choice of substitutions are appalling… and why is he so mechanical? every substituiton on 65 minutes? he is so predictable its scary if something is not working why not change it at half time or if needs be immediately.. I fear the guy is caught up with his computer programmes and pro zone and not fully concentrating on whats really happening out there. Even my dog knows voronin is the worst player ever to play for lfc …why not start babel there after all he was bought as a striker and now plays a game every 3 weeks either left or right and gets slated for his performances he was never a winger so why blame him? I know this point is a bit “what if” but surely ANYONE is better than voronin!AS for your incoherenet rant about shanks and americans and “fans” im not sure what your on about there so i cant respond to it have read it 3 times and it still doesnt make any sense…a bit like our current manager

  • Hussein Abbas

    The problem is that if Lucas start the game again we are finish . I suggest these players should start . Reina,Captain Gerrad , Touries, Glen Johnson, Agger , Skertel,Benayoun , Kyt , Masherano, Insua, Babel , Aquilani , Martin Kelly ,Philip Degen , David Ngong Fabio Aurelio , Albert Riera , Jay Spearing ,Ayala and D Plessis .

    We should do what ever we can to win this game against Lyon or we have no other cup to think for .

    Rafa Should know and he should told Lucas still young and not experience to play midfield .

  • Hussein Abbas

    The problem is that if Lucas start the game again we are finish . I suggest these players should start . Reina,Captain Gerrad , Touries, Glen Johnson, Agger , Skertel,Benayoun , Kyt , Masherano, Insua, Babel , Aquilani , Martin Kelly ,Philip Degen , David Ngong Fabio Aurelio , Albert Riera , Jay Spearing ,Ayala and D Plessis .

    We should do what ever we can to win this game against Lyon or we have no other cup to think for .

    Rafa Should know and he should told Lucas still young and not experience to play midfield .

  • Hussein Abbas

    The problem is that if Lucas start the game again we are finish . I suggest these players should start . Reina,Captain Gerrad , Touries, Glen Johnson, Agger , Skertel,Benayoun , Kyt , Masherano, Insua, Babel , Aquilani , Martin Kelly ,Philip Degen , David Ngong Fabio Aurelio , Albert Riera , Jay Spearing ,Ayala and D Plessis .

    We should do what ever we can to win this game against Lyon or we have no other cup to think for .

    Rafa Should know and he should told Lucas still young and not experience to play midfield .

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny
    “Anyone out there with a half decent brain could pick a better team than benitez”
    Go on then, pick a better team than Rafa, lets have a laugh.
    As for my” incoherent rant ” as you put it, ill simplify for you .If Shanks had of been
    manager today you and all these internet managers whose qualifications are none
    existent would presume to know his job better than him. I’d like to think he’d have
    put up with G&H and some of the more ” qualified fan’s ” scrutinising his every
    decision, but the way things have gone over last few years i doubt it.

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny
    “Anyone out there with a half decent brain could pick a better team than benitez”
    Go on then, pick a better team than Rafa, lets have a laugh.
    As for my” incoherent rant ” as you put it, ill simplify for you .If Shanks had of been
    manager today you and all these internet managers whose qualifications are none
    existent would presume to know his job better than him. I’d like to think he’d have
    put up with G&H and some of the more ” qualified fan’s ” scrutinising his every
    decision, but the way things have gone over last few years i doubt it.

  • redkenny

    Rome77 your slagging me for being an internet manager and yet asking me to name a team? Im too old to play computer games they dont interest me but my beloved lfc does… im not claiming to be a manager im claiminmg to be a dissillusioned fan at some extraordinary and eccentric decisions being made by benitez i really thought he had learned his lesson with this. It was only last year when he took the shackles off and let the team play and my god it was like the liverpool of old…destroying teams from the start and taking players off to rest when the game was won …and not before that! as i have mentioned in the previous posts voronin would not get near any team of mine…suggestions for a replacement i only have three… kuyt or babel up front or even pacheco …I understand Benitez squad was decimated by injury and Illness so when you look at who was left by and large he got it right ….my main gripe is that team WITH torres and benayoun was still outplaying Fulham and i would have fancied us to get something if things were left alone. Now the argument is he didnt want to risk Torres for fear of injury and in todays papers they are saying he is going to play him and it might mean another long term injury so the priority is obviously Champions League which is another thing most fans have a problem with ..If your taking risks we want to take the risks in the pl not the champions league. (if any at all have to be taken!)Rome 77 Im not here to score points or bash Benitez for the sake of it I have been supportive of him until saturday i really think the guy has something special at times…and over achieved at times and is tactically leagues above any other manager we have had.. hence our success in europe over the last 5 years but christ the reason ferguson keeps winning the league is cause the standard is so poor in the pl he just goes 4-4-2 best players in best positions go out and beat them …end of. Benitez is working out plans to beat stoke at anfield where if he just sent reina and torres out on their own and said play… i would fancy us to win! ok slight exaggeration! But my point is that i think sometimes he over complicates things for himself…especially in the prem. I would love to know why you think he is going to turn it around and what your expectations are for the club? Have they changed ? Should we be happy with a manager like Benitez? Is it ok to come in the top 4 and not win trophies? is it ok for the manager to publicly state that there is no pressure to win trophies? I would imagine a lot of fans would say no because this is LFC …second is nowhere.

  • redkenny

    Rome77 your slagging me for being an internet manager and yet asking me to name a team? Im too old to play computer games they dont interest me but my beloved lfc does… im not claiming to be a manager im claiminmg to be a dissillusioned fan at some extraordinary and eccentric decisions being made by benitez i really thought he had learned his lesson with this. It was only last year when he took the shackles off and let the team play and my god it was like the liverpool of old…destroying teams from the start and taking players off to rest when the game was won …and not before that! as i have mentioned in the previous posts voronin would not get near any team of mine…suggestions for a replacement i only have three… kuyt or babel up front or even pacheco …I understand Benitez squad was decimated by injury and Illness so when you look at who was left by and large he got it right ….my main gripe is that team WITH torres and benayoun was still outplaying Fulham and i would have fancied us to get something if things were left alone. Now the argument is he didnt want to risk Torres for fear of injury and in todays papers they are saying he is going to play him and it might mean another long term injury so the priority is obviously Champions League which is another thing most fans have a problem with ..If your taking risks we want to take the risks in the pl not the champions league. (if any at all have to be taken!)Rome 77 Im not here to score points or bash Benitez for the sake of it I have been supportive of him until saturday i really think the guy has something special at times…and over achieved at times and is tactically leagues above any other manager we have had.. hence our success in europe over the last 5 years but christ the reason ferguson keeps winning the league is cause the standard is so poor in the pl he just goes 4-4-2 best players in best positions go out and beat them …end of. Benitez is working out plans to beat stoke at anfield where if he just sent reina and torres out on their own and said play… i would fancy us to win! ok slight exaggeration! But my point is that i think sometimes he over complicates things for himself…especially in the prem. I would love to know why you think he is going to turn it around and what your expectations are for the club? Have they changed ? Should we be happy with a manager like Benitez? Is it ok to come in the top 4 and not win trophies? is it ok for the manager to publicly state that there is no pressure to win trophies? I would imagine a lot of fans would say no because this is LFC …second is nowhere.

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny So you now believe he got the team right,you have no problem with
    his transfers, he’s tactically above any manager we’ve had and he’s over achieved
    So your spat comes down to the substitutions Torres injured,Benny who hadn’t
    scored or provided a assist in 75mins, was definitely going to score a hat trick
    in the last 15 mins presumably. Whereas the sub definitely wasn’t.
    And for that crime you come in here and claiming anyone with half of brain
    and your dog could do a better job than Rafa or Benitez as you and the hacks
    on Talk Sh*te and Sly Sports put it.
    And to top it off you quote the old “Shanks would be turning in his grave”
    Tell me do you kick your dog when its down.
    As for your Vorinin replacements ie Babel & Kuyt did play and pacheco is in
    Spain in a kids tournament.

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny So you now believe he got the team right,you have no problem with
    his transfers, he’s tactically above any manager we’ve had and he’s over achieved
    So your spat comes down to the substitutions Torres injured,Benny who hadn’t
    scored or provided a assist in 75mins, was definitely going to score a hat trick
    in the last 15 mins presumably. Whereas the sub definitely wasn’t.
    And for that crime you come in here and claiming anyone with half of brain
    and your dog could do a better job than Rafa or Benitez as you and the hacks
    on Talk Sh*te and Sly Sports put it.
    And to top it off you quote the old “Shanks would be turning in his grave”
    Tell me do you kick your dog when its down.
    As for your Vorinin replacements ie Babel & Kuyt did play and pacheco is in
    Spain in a kids tournament.

  • redkenny

    rome77 where did it say yossi was going to score a hatrick in the last 15 minutes all we neeeded was one before the substituions? what are age you? stop making stuff up to suit your argument . I said benitez has many qualities but one thing he will not do is win the league which we all want due to his focus on europe and his blatant disregard for the league with those absolutely ridiculous subs. and NO i do not think he got the team right how many times do i have to say it VORONIN is a porn star not a footballer …kuyt is rubbish up front but still streets ahead of that clown id rather benitez himself played up front! there is no point trying to make the point your not reading what i said and are trying to twist into your own view point im begining to think im arguing with a fifteen year old… your priding yourself on being supportive but your good intentions are only going to keep a man who cant deliver what we want in the job longer than is necessary. Unfortunately we are stuck with him as we cant afford to sack him so lets all hope he pulls his head out of his arse and at least keeps us in the top 4 so we can sack the loser with the money we get for it and bring in someone who TRYS to win at the very least! now go sing your benitez song on the kop and we will talk at the end of the season and see where he has brought us…shanks would be turning in his grave!

  • redkenny

    rome77 where did it say yossi was going to score a hatrick in the last 15 minutes all we neeeded was one before the substituions? what are age you? stop making stuff up to suit your argument . I said benitez has many qualities but one thing he will not do is win the league which we all want due to his focus on europe and his blatant disregard for the league with those absolutely ridiculous subs. and NO i do not think he got the team right how many times do i have to say it VORONIN is a porn star not a footballer …kuyt is rubbish up front but still streets ahead of that clown id rather benitez himself played up front! there is no point trying to make the point your not reading what i said and are trying to twist into your own view point im begining to think im arguing with a fifteen year old… your priding yourself on being supportive but your good intentions are only going to keep a man who cant deliver what we want in the job longer than is necessary. Unfortunately we are stuck with him as we cant afford to sack him so lets all hope he pulls his head out of his arse and at least keeps us in the top 4 so we can sack the loser with the money we get for it and bring in someone who TRYS to win at the very least! now go sing your benitez song on the kop and we will talk at the end of the season and see where he has brought us…shanks would be turning in his grave!

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny
    Some FACTS about that loser as you call him.
    2004/05: Finished 5th – 58 pts
    2005/06: Finished 3rd – 82 pts
    2006/07: Finished 3rd – 68 pts
    2007/08: Finished 4th – 76 pts
    2008/09: Finished 2nd – 86 pts
    Ferguscum’s first 200 league games: 87 wins
    Wenger’s first 200: 110 wins
    Rafa: 114 wins
    And while you seem to have shifted the goal posts on to Vorinin
    can you think of a reason why he had to play,or is your head so
    far up your own arse that you dont see as to why we haven’t got better.
    As for “NO i do not think Benitez got the team right” which contradicts
    “I understand Benitez squad was decimated by injury and Illness so
    when you look at who was left by and large he got it right”
    Or let me guess i’m twisting your words,
    15 year old indeed,coming from MR ive supported Liverpool
    for 30 years and was a fan of RAFA untill he substituted
    a injured Torres and took Benny off.
    Well if thats all it takes maybe you’d be better off following
    some other team.
    Look forward to you reply.

  • Rome 77

    Red Kenny
    Some FACTS about that loser as you call him.
    2004/05: Finished 5th – 58 pts
    2005/06: Finished 3rd – 82 pts
    2006/07: Finished 3rd – 68 pts
    2007/08: Finished 4th – 76 pts
    2008/09: Finished 2nd – 86 pts
    Ferguscum’s first 200 league games: 87 wins
    Wenger’s first 200: 110 wins
    Rafa: 114 wins
    And while you seem to have shifted the goal posts on to Vorinin
    can you think of a reason why he had to play,or is your head so
    far up your own arse that you dont see as to why we haven’t got better.
    As for “NO i do not think Benitez got the team right” which contradicts
    “I understand Benitez squad was decimated by injury and Illness so
    when you look at who was left by and large he got it right”
    Or let me guess i’m twisting your words,
    15 year old indeed,coming from MR ive supported Liverpool
    for 30 years and was a fan of RAFA untill he substituted
    a injured Torres and took Benny off.
    Well if thats all it takes maybe you’d be better off following
    some other team.
    Look forward to you reply.

  • Skeat

    Rome..

    kenny = KK in disguise?

    LOL

  • Skeat

    Rome..

    kenny = KK in disguise?

    LOL

  • Skeat

    Rome..

    kenny = KK in disguise?

    LOL

  • redkenny

    ROME77 ..WOW! After reading that list of facts there about rafa i have done a complete 360 and apologise sincerely to you ..I have finally seen the the light…i see what we are doing we are concentrating on the fa cup this year ..i just couldnt understand what he was doing against fulham cos i thought we might have a shot at the league this year but seeing as we are practically out of europe as well now that decision last sat seems justified….voronin for f*ck sake what happens? replaced up front by Babel …and we score as i suggested in an earlier post!!…yeah im begining to enjoy this internet manager thing me and my dog were saying we should bring on Babel and hey presto (although i kicked him when Lyon equalised)…i think the little skeat fella has a thing for you there so i will leave you two boys to it….ye have a lot in common …in rafa ye trust..

  • redkenny

    ROME77 ..WOW! After reading that list of facts there about rafa i have done a complete 360 and apologise sincerely to you ..I have finally seen the the light…i see what we are doing we are concentrating on the fa cup this year ..i just couldnt understand what he was doing against fulham cos i thought we might have a shot at the league this year but seeing as we are practically out of europe as well now that decision last sat seems justified….voronin for f*ck sake what happens? replaced up front by Babel …and we score as i suggested in an earlier post!!…yeah im begining to enjoy this internet manager thing me and my dog were saying we should bring on Babel and hey presto (although i kicked him when Lyon equalised)…i think the little skeat fella has a thing for you there so i will leave you two boys to it….ye have a lot in common …in rafa ye trust..

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