Your well-structured and totally fact-based argument wins me over time and again.
You have used ONE example, and if you remember rightly, Torres actually picked up an injury in that game. Benitez was actually protecting his player.
I see you fail to mention the time he took Gerrard off when Liverpool were away at Goodison in the derby. We were 1-0 down at the time. Full time, we won 2-1. Why did he take off Gerrard, our best player? To give the team more balance and have them not let emotion rule the pattern of play - by bringing on Levia instead of Gerrard the team settled more. Is Levia a better player than Gerrard? No way. He wasn't so wound up by the day though that he let his emotions govern his game, rather than the other way round.
You say La Liga is different from the Premiership - well spotted, Sherlock. Does that mean any foreign manager is destined to be unsuccessful in this country, because they were schooled in a different league? I think a certain Mr A Wenger and a Mr J Mourinho would argue differently.
There can only be ONE manager who wins the league every year. It just so happens that Benitez arrived at a time when Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are also employing top coaches and spending top money for players. Every season we make progress, but then so do our rivals. It is not as simple as 'last year you spent £50 million, you should win the league', because manchester United and Chelsea spent as much or even more.
Fernando Torres aside, Liverpool have never spent more than £11 million on a player. United paid £29 million for Rio Ferdinand A DEFENDER, in 2002. They spent £28 million on Juan Veron (great signing, ha!) in 2001, Owen Hargreaves cost £17 million, Carrick nearly £19 million, Rooney cost £30 million. I could go on - the point is for every £ million Liverpool soend, United spend £2 million!
It is hardly worth even mentioning Chelsea - everybody knows the money they throw at the squad.
The point is, it's not as simple as 'you should win the league', when your rivals spend more money improving their squads.
Fernando Torres aside, Liverpool have never spent more than £11 million on a player. United paid £29 million for Rio Ferdinand A DEFENDER, in 2002. They spent £28 million on Juan Veron (great signing, ha!) in 2001, Owen Hargreaves cost £17 million, Carrick nearly £19 million, Rooney cost £30 million. I could go on - the point is for every £ million Liverpool soend, United spend £2 million!
It is hardly worth even mentioning Chelsea - everybody knows the money they throw at the squad.
I would like to add:
In 2003, Chelsea purchased a starting XI and still only finished 2nd in 03/04
In 2001 Utd spend on two players (Veron an Ruud) what Liverpool did during the whole of last summer.
Yes Liverpool spend money last summer, but players left too - nearly £20m
