SOCCER ANGLES: Even the large number of Reds who remain loyal to Rafael Benitez must acknowledge this does not look like a progressive squad

STOKE: THAT’S where you’d choose to go when your team is sapped of confidence and missing its best three outfield players. Lovely Stoke, where the locals are so friendly and known for their capacity to see the best in other sides.

Stoke, where this week last season the score was 0-0 – and that was with Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun in the Liverpool starting XI, and with Fernando Torres brought off the bench for half an hour. Stoke, where things could get a lot worse for Rafael Benitez.

We are back on the Anfield carousel. Over the past 12 months it has slowed down, sped up, shuddered and shook but still Benitez clings on. This time last season the Spaniard’s grip was strong. Liverpool entered January top of the Premier League on the back of a vivacious 5-1 victory at Newcastle. It feels like a lifetime ago.

Then came three draws in January – one of them the aforementioned at Stoke – and first place had become second place. By the end of February, following a defeat at soon-to-be-relegated Middlesbrough, Liverpool were third. And another English title was beyond them.

There was a recovery. They won 10 of their last 11 games, including the 4-1 at Old Trafford, and by season’s end Anfield and Benitez were emboldened. This would be the season of a big push.

But it hasn’t happened. For many reasons, since the opening day defeat at Tottenham, Liverpool have been too often average. Their build-up play can be pedestrian, there is the long-stated over-reliance on Gerrard and Torres, Jamie Carragher has struggled occasionally, Sami Hyypia – as well as Xabi Alonso of course – has been missed.

The Champions League is over. That can happen. A team and a squad can still be progressing and suffer a setback.

But even the large number of Reds who remain loyal to Benitez must acknowledge this does not look like a progressive squad. A progressive squad does not lose half its away games in the league. It does not lose to Reading at home in the FA Cup.

There was something in the manner of that Reading defeat that struck a particularly worrying chord. When Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog both missed chances late on, their reaction was to turn and stare forlornly at Benitez. Up and at ’em, it was not. This was a Reading team that lost its previous away game at Plymouth – 4-1. But Liverpool were bereft of Plymouth’s cutting edge.

Benitez often retains his self-assurance after bad results but on Wednesday he appeared flustered, nervous, doubtless aware that this was a fresh low.

By yesterday he had rediscovered some vim. But he was still prepared to say: “This is a bad moment.” It is, and while Benitez is protected by the golden handcuffs of a recently-signed five-year contract on a round €4 million per annum, you would hope he is such a football anorak, the money means less than his reputation.

He therefore has to respond positively quickly.

If that proves beyond the squad he has assembled in his five years on Merseyside then that is Benitez’s responsibility.

It cannot be pleasant having to endure the name of Jose Mourinho being heard all the time. Or Guus Hiddink’s as of yesterday morning. Or even worse, Kenny Dalglish’s. It was Benitez who brought Dalglish back into the fold.

But this is the world of Benitez. He has co-authored it. Boardroom chaos is hardly a chapter he wrote, though, and the destabilising instability of Anfield’s ownership is recognised in the large and vocal support Benitez has received over more than the past year.

Tom Hicks Jnr’s insulting, rude response to a fan’s email was simply not Anfield, but then neither was commercial manager Ian Ayre’s opinion that a long-proposed new stadium would have naming rights as a funds generator. Ayre made it sound as logical as turning the heat on. Fans pointed out the opposite, that the sign in the tunnel could read “This Is Not Anfield”.

In this context Benitez is viewed as a genuine football man. His difficulty now is that as never before, Benitez’s judgment of players is under scrutiny.

This has been around before but a night like Wednesday refocuses the gaze intently. The likes of Degen, Insua and Lucas did little for Benitez’s scouting pedigree. Then there was Alberto Aquilani. Some of his play was good but a lot was not.

We should reserve judgment on the Italian. He will be bolstered by the returning presence of Javier Mascherano at Stoke, and Maxi Rodriguez’s signing is another plus.

On paper Liverpool should be able to overcome Stoke City, but you would not bet on it – literally – and if they lose, the tumult will only increase.

Next Wednesday then brings Tottenham to Anfield. That could be a most disconcerting compare-and-contrast occasion for Benitez and Reds everywhere.

Coyle's logic set for stern test

WHAT IS Owen Coyle up to? That was the most widespread reaction to his "sideways" move from Burnley to Bolton.

Well, look at the Premier League table, look at the respective squads and look at the economics. That has been the widespread response to the sideways argument.

Okay then. Burnley are 14th in the table on 20 points. Bolton are 18th – the relegation zone – with two points less.

But Bolton have two games in hand.

Coyle's opening could hardly have been much harder – Arsenal at home tomorrow followed by Arsenal away next Wednesday – but even if Coyle is pessimistic and budgets for no points from those two fixtures, he can look at Bolton's run-in and see 20-22 points coming elsewhere. This is what managers do.

At Turf Moor, Coyle could make a realistic projection that Burnley will get another 14-16 points. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Bolton will finish above Burnley: Bolton have more players with experience. They have a new, determined manager who has already displayed his talent.

Burnley, too, have a new, determined manager. But you fear for Brian Laws, first for succeeding the impressive Coyle, then for taking on the challenge of keeping Burnley up. If Laws does that he will deserve huge praise.

So will Burnley as a club. They have resisted the urge to splurge. This may have frustrated Coyle.

At Bolton there may be some money made available this month but Coyle's new club are in debt, estimated at €60 million. There is football logic in Coyle's move, but over time the scale of Bolton's debt may eat into it.