While I do believe that Benitez is the most tactically sound manager in Europe, I don’t think winning the Champions League is what Liverpool’s goal is as a club and if you polled their fans, most would choose winning the Premiership over the CL since they haven’t won a league since 1989-1990.

Benitez has proved that in the Premiership, he doesn’t have what it takes to mount a serious title run despite the fact that he’s spent a lot of money and the current team is made up of his guys; there are no holdovers from the Houllier era that Rafa didn’t want to keep. Over a 38-game season, I think Liverpool is suspect due to a lack of quality depth on the roster and Benitez hasn’t helped matters with some questionable tactical decisions; playing Kewell and Riise earlier in the season, sticking with Kuyt even though he was not playing well at all, bringing Crouch off the bench too late in games, etc.

In the Champions League, Rafa knows exactly how to pick a team and a formation that will get the job done. I’ve always said that the CL is easier to win then the Premiership because not only do you have to play more games in the domestic league, everyone plays the same schedule. In the CL, a lot depends on the luck of the draw and who you get in the Group Stage and beyond.

I think it all depends on what you want as a club. Liverpool’s primary goal, and Rafa’s stated goal before the season, seemed to be winning the Premiership this year. I’m not sure that a deep Champions League run should disguise the fact that Liverpool have been out of the title race before winter and are miles behind United and Arsenal. In Europe, I think Liverpool are better than any team in England; in fact, I’m picking Liverpool to beat Arsenal in this quarterfinal. In England, Liverpool are in a race for 4th place, and I just don’t think that’s good enough.

You seem to have flip-flopped on Rafa Benitez. It was just last month that you said he should be fired from Liverpool? If he is the “most tactically sound manager in Europe”, why would Liverpool want to fire him?

In a post last month (http://www.epltalk.com/gerrard-and-carragher-concede-title-set-sights-on-4th-place/) you wrote: “I have criticized Rafa Benitez in the past and my position that he should be fired this summer (or resign) still stands.”

What has changed your mind about Rafa since then?

I’m not sure if you’re trying to make a joke or you were being serious, but Liverpool is NOT an underdog in this competition. As I’ve said before, I believe they are England’s best hope to win the Champions League; they have the most tactically sound manager in Europe out of any English team and have more players with significant Champions League experience than any of the other English teams.

Though, from an appreciation of the beautiful aspects of the game, can you imagine the final four being Arsenal, Man U, Roma, and Barca?

You’re confusing yourself. Liverpool v Schalke WOULD ensure one of the two underdogs would get to the semi’s!!