LIVERPOOL are on course to go into the forthcoming season as Europe's number one ranked team.

The Reds are currently third behind AC Milan and Chelsea in UEFA's official rankings thanks to their Champions League performances over the past four seasons, having accrued more ranking points, 104.288, than any other club in Europe.

Having won the competition in 2005, been runners up to AC Milan in 2007 and made it through to the semi-finals this year, another decent campaign in 2008/09 would see Rafa Benitez's side take the number one spot ahead of the Italians, who have not qualified for next season's Champions League.

Fellow Premier League side Arsenal are sixth in the current rankings with current Champions League holders Man United in seventh.

Seventh, tsh....it seems UEFA recognise a fluke when they see one

just imagine the size of the cup for rankins if you toook part in europes finest league ..the prem

if yer did tho,you might loose those precious rankins in europe ....we`re lookin at doubles n trebles in the way of cups us

Morning timber...
could you describe how you get into the champions league please

Cups and trebles..yep, us too, imagine what its like for teams that dont win much

Personlly I prefer to win the Premier League first but you are right in pointing out that our record in Europe is a little disappointing.

We have lost too mny semi-finls which we may well have won if we were not involved in the final stages of the Premier League title race.

Injuries and fatigue due to the depth of previous squads have been key factors in the past. Manchester United have reconised this and improved squad numbers last year which meant that we could compete better for both trophies. The result was we won them both.

Next season I believe will be a huge step for the club in Europe. Has anyone retained the Europen Champions League? I dont think so.

For Liverpool the fans want the Premier League so much its begining to hurt! Will there be a change in their focus? Are they good enough to win over 38 games? An interestig season is on the cards.

A decent post for a change ! 6/10

I know you probably do believe that Fluke, but the "busy in the league cant win the CL" only popped up post 2005, much like the lottery rubbish.

Be honest, Benitez took a ramshackle team and won the CL, proving, in the following seasons, it wasnt a fluke. He is a top manager, knew he hadnt yet formed a league winning squad, so did well, and continues to do so, in the CL, playing a tactical game which he mastered on the continent, in winning La Liga twice, and the UEFA Cup.

He has shown the way, and credit to AF and Wenger, they have responded. I am sure they will give credit i their quieter moments...AF even hand wrote a letter to Benitez, discussing in detail the ebbs and flows of the 2005 final.

There is just not enough History of third and fourth place English teams progressing in the Champs League to back up your claims...its happened post 2005, as distasteful as that may be to you, and we (England)now own the comp.

Benitez is building a league squad, he will continue to rotate, thats his way, it will just be better, and more experienced, replacements.

I am delighted by the progress he is making, and the changes hes introducing, at all levels of the club. He's the real deal, joking aside.

Now your talking sh&te again. I knew it was too good to last!

Why do I bother trying to have an intelligent conversation with you?

Your back on my ignore list

Try the treble...thats how much we need to learn off a spanish waiter!

...the treble, a decade ago, a decade in which you will remind me how easy winning the league has been, and of your corresponding European success.....

Different viewpoints Fluke, but if you can find me any pre May 2005 references in the media to 1. The CL being a lottery or 2. Teams being too tired winning the league to win the CL, I will be amazed..

on learning from Benitez....did you watch your semi and quarters...a completely alien approach from from Man United...just how Rafa would have done it....you didnt score 7 (and concede three)...but you won the cup...

...I just noted a reference to consecutive wins....its a lottery, remember.....consistency is just all luck

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...the treble, a decade ago, a decade in which you will remind me how easy winning the league has been, and of your corresponding European success.....[/quote]


Not for your team obviously! Like I have said try nd win both.

[/quote]
Different viewpoints Fluke, but if you can find me any pre May 2005 references in the media to 1. The CL being a lottery or 2. Teams being too tired winning the league to win the CL, I will be amazed..[/quote]


The Champions League is a cup competition. More cse of luck thn consistency. If you can rest players like Liverpool and A C Milan did last year when you have nothing else to play for then obviously you have a mssive advantage over a team still challenging for other honours.

[/quote]
on learning from Benitez....did you watch your semi and quarters...a completely alien approach from from Man United...just how Rafa would have done it....you didnt score 7 (and concede three)...but you won the cup...[/quote]



Depends who your playing doesn`t it really. Remember Roma? Teams make you play like that sometimes i.e. Liverpool and Chelsea.


[/quote]
...I just noted a reference to consecutive wins....its a lottery, remember.....consistency is just all luck [/quote]

To win the Champions League you have to have a large slice of luck. Consistency would mean you winning it 3 or 4 times on the trot which no one has done in its current format



[/quote]

the dingles forget it was SIR MATT who toiled to bring the then european cup to england AGAINSTthe FAs wishes

Nottingham forest retained the old european cup