Liverpool Are So Close Now – Jason McAteer

The Scouser feels his old club are on the verge of the big breakthrough now that Rafa has settled on his best teamMany may feel that Manchester United have got the Premier League title just about in the bag, but one former Liverpool star is convinced his old club are within a whisker of becoming the real deal.

One-time Reds’ midfielder Jason McAteer reckons manager Rafa Benitez has finally got it right at Anfield.

McAteer told ‘Football Matters’ on Setanta Sports, “Rafa’s tinkering with the team has sometimes come unstuck but since the Real Madrid game he has played a regular team.

“Week in, week out he has played the same team. Steven Gerrard has been injured and Liverpool have scored nine goals without him.”

And even if Liverpool can’t stop United from winning the title this season, McAteer feels they will now be an attractive proposition for top players seeking summer moves.

“I think things can happen when he [Benitez] goes into the transfer market. Big players will be looking at this [season’s performance] and think Liverpool are close,” he added.

“They are very, very close. Steven Gerrard is there, Jamie Carragher is there and right through the spine of the team it is very strong.

“Rafa will have learnt a lot about his team since the Middlesbrough defeat where they were still in the title race and Champions League, probably learning a lot from his players and what he needs.”

Graham Lister, Goal.com