Charanjit Chana

Liverpool have drawn too many times. Way to many. A similar thing happened last season, but it was an encouraging sign of progress as we began to draw matches we were loosing the season before.

With Torres back, I'm sure we'll have that little bit extra fire power needed to push us on, but draws are no longer acceptable.

One of the biggest annoyances of this season has been Liverpool's habbit of drawing. Two seasons ago those games would have probably have ended in defeat and we were able to turn the loss of 3 points into the loss of 2. A much better position to be in. Had we won half the games we drew last season, we probably would have topped the league, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Last season's habbits seem to be creeping back into the side, but convincing victories over Bolton and Newcastle have silenced some of the critics.

The biggest annoyance though, is the analysis of Liverpool's position and points total. We're top. Clear by 3 points. All the press want to focus on are the dropped points. Now, the other 'big 3' have all lost and drawn more matches than we have. If they hadn't they'd be ahead of us, rather than playing catch up.

When Liverpool were second and the players had a chance to go first, we fluffed it and were duly criticised. Chelsea have the same chance against Everton and after throwing away a perfect opportunity to open up a gap of their own the press didn't talk nearly as much as they did about Liverpool.

Truth be told, being top and being criticised is a great position because things should really only get better. Benitez has said we're only at 80% and we are still missing important players. Torres obviously, but Mascherano and Lucas are performing well after the Olympics, Arbeloa has missed a few games and Robbie Keane doesn't always start.

If this was offered to me at the start of the year, I'd have taken it so we are perfectly placed going into 2009.

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I was a big admirer of Paul Ince as a player, so I was sad to see him given the sack as Blackbur Manager so soon. He seemed a nice guy, but if I'm honest, the results just weren't good enough. Sam Alardyce is a better manager than Sunderland fans give him credit and I think he'll work wonders at Rovers.

In other news, Liverpool have been drawn against Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. The matches will take place some 20 years after their last European meeting and looks to be one of the highlights of a really interesting round. I know Liverpool can get the job done and it will be even better if Torres is back to face his boyhood club's fiercest rivals.

The frustration amongst Liverpool fans is obvious and understandable. The problem we had last year was the inability to turn draws into wins and just generally take our chances. Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard did their share, but not many others put the ball in the back of the net often enough.

Without Torres for much of the first 15 league games, the side was still wasting chances but grinding out wins, the 0-0 against Stoke a rare blip it seemed. Since the defeat at Tottenham, we've experienced a couple more 0-0 draws at home and it is these results that make it difficult to see the title coming home.

It is essential that the lads begin to take their chances. Torres could well be out until the new year, and would be if I had my way so that his hamstring would have a chance of healing completely, so Keane, Kuyt and the others all need to take their chances. I was certain that Keane would have had a few more by now, especially after seeing his first two goals at Anfield close up!

Ryan Babbel has been crying out for a starting place, despite being ineffective against Spurs in the League Cup, and it may be time to give him a chance up front. Alongside a clever player like Robbie Keane, he could well be a player that gets us a few goals. He has pace to burn and generally makes good movement and isn't scared to take players on.

Robbie Keane continues to get himself into good positions so we may even see the fruits of his labour sooner rather than later. 90 minutes might do him good too.

I was lucky enough to be in Spain for the European Championship Final, in which the Spanish faced Germany. I made it to a bar where I joined in the celebrations and festivities surrounding the showpiece of the tournament which ended in Vienna.

There weren't really any festivities, and few celebrations, but I got to witness a final contested by the country I was in. Spain is currently an almost bi-annual second home, so coupled with the fact that 4 Liverpool players had made it into the squad, it was clear where my allegiances would lie.



The game was even for all of 20 minutes, but the Spanish soon took control and looked comfortable. For the remaining 80 minutes, Germany made a few adventures forward, but nothing that really tested Casillas.

David Silva was lucky not to have been sent off, but had he been, Spain would have been well equipped to hold on to their lead rather than attack as they continued to do.

Torres scored the winner and it was a sublime finish. The only goal of the game and a fitting end to a tournament where he has clearly not been the favourite the first choice striker, but he proved his class and his worth by taking his goal perfectly. I was annoyed that he was dragged off considering how hard he has worked for the team, but the as I'm sure he has said (I am in still Spain and haven't seen any media coverage!) he will listen to the manager and do what is best for the team.

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