Neal Collins soccer If Premiership points were in any way related to millions spent, Liverpool would be red-hot favourites for the championship this winter. And Manchester United would be heading for mid-table mediocrity. Liverpool, the dominant force of English football in the 1970s and 1980s, have spent 50-million in a frantic year of reconstruction while United, current champions, 1999 European Cup winners and the force of the 1990s, have spent a mere 17,8- million.
With the new season just a fortnight away – United play Chelsea in the Charity Shield at Wembley on August 13 – Liverpool fans might feel that, judging by the size of the chequebook stubs, the great days are on the way back. Truth is, only one side has ever bought the title in England the way Lazio purchased the Scudetto in Italy last season. Sergio Cragnotti spent 72-million to pip Juventus to the Series A crown last year (and he+s spent even more this year to hold on to it) while England+s big spenders – Chelsea, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Liverpool – barely bothered Alex Ferguson. Blackburn Rovers are the only side ever to buy their way to the title in England. Kenny Dalglish, with the backing of Jack Walker+s steel millions, brought together Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton, Tim Flowers and other expensive signings to pip United to the title in 1995. Poor crowds and the loss of Dalglish and several star players saw Blackburn slip back into obscurity within months. Today, the dwindling band of Ewood Park fans can barely remember the bright May day five years ago when they won the title (and lost to Liverpool, ironically). Gerard Houllier, who has spent 50-million in a bank-breaking year at Anfield, should be able to avoid those pitfalls. Liverpool FC boasts a huge following and a pedigree vastly superior to Blackburn+s. Liverpool have won the league a record 18 times. Europe was conquered in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984 and they were runners up in 1985 when the deaths at Heysel (now the King Badouin stadium, in Brussels) led to a five-year ban which signalled the beginning of the end of the glory days. The 1992 FA Cup was Liverpool+s last silver lining as the gloom descended. The niggardly Nineties have caused serious pain in the red half of Merseyside. As a city, Liverpool, once a thriving port, has spent 40 years going downhill fast. Football and music are all they have left to boast about in an area which lags behind the rest of the great British metropolises. Unlike most foreign managers and footballers, Houllier understands his pivotal role in a British city desperate for footballing success to revive faded hopes. He promises to do just that this season: -We have not won the championship since 1990 and that is unacceptable for a club of this stature. In my opinion we still have some way to go but the wheels are in motion and we are recruiting players who want to be here.+
Rebutting accusations that he has signed too many foreigners, Houllier points to the presence of England striker Michael Owen, Euro 2000 success Steven Gerrard, David Thompson, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler as evidence of his willingness to bring on local youngsters. And he points out: -My two biggest signings are Englishmen – Emile Heskey and Nick Barmby.+ But he insists: -Nationality does not come into the equation. It does not matter who wears the red shirt as long as we are winning matches. I know my decision to sign Gary McAllister at 35 from Coventry raised a few eyebrows but my own experience in less than two years in the job reinforced my belief that you cannot hope to succeed without a big squad.+ He might also have said you can+t succeed without a big chequebook too. But as Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson has found out in recent years, cash and points can sometimes be distant cousins. Liverpool+s signings of Everton+s Barmby -who can expect plenty of critical chanting during the Mersey derby – and Marcus Babbel might not be enough to challenge the painful Manchester monopoly. This season+s best signings have happened elsewhere – Chelsea+s capture of former Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for 15-million from Atletico Madrid was a masterstroke, while Manchester City+s two- year deal with Liberian star George Weah (on a free transfer from Milan) may be Joe Royle+s shrewdest move. Carl Cort+s move to Newcastle for 7m from Wimbledon will pay dividends and Leeds have done well to snap up Mark Viduka from Celtic for just 6-million. In three weeks+ time, it+s game on. And then we+ll find out if Liverpool have spent enough – and United have spent too little.