FOWLER

Our Anfield legend always hits the mark

if their home record in the past month will probably make a few fans wake up in cold sweats this morning.

If they do cock it up, then first of all, they’ll have that walk of shame around the pitch at Anfield in front of 56,000 murderous fans. And I’ve been there. You really, really don’t want to do that.

It’s one of the most humiliating experiences you can get as a footballer...that, and being put on your backside in front of 60,000 of your own Old Trafford fans by a cheeky Scouse imp, before he goes on and smashes one into the roof of the net. Eh, Gary?

Anyway. I digress. If they finish fifth, then it will mean Liverpool will have dropped at least nine points – possibly 10 – from their last 12 at Anfield against three struggling sides in the bottom half of the table, and one that’s been relegated.

If that happens, then they have no one to blame but themselves, and they’ll have to hold their hands up and say they don’t deserve to be in the Champions League. Klopp has already come out and said as much.

He’ll know, if you can’t win a single game against poor teams at home in your final four matches, then you’re not ready for Europe’s biggest competition.

If they do win – and Boro will be in Ibiza after all – then they’ll need to spend some serious money in the summer to compete for the Premier League next season and hold their heads up in Europe.

It’s a tricky balance. Under Brendan Rodgers when they qualified for the Champions League the last time, I don’t think they had the squad after selling Luis Suarez, and they were a bit embarrassed in Europe, which had a big impact on the league form.

They can’t afford that again. Not after being out of the big money stuff for eight years, bar one. I think they’ll need a minimum of four to five signings, and not young players either, as has been the trend over the past few years.

They’ve got a fantastic first 11, first 14 in fact, but beyond that, there are some talented kids who are simply not ready. They need to keep those 14 and add five, who can all be comfortable on that stage.

It will cost. Big money. But if it means they can have a run at Europe while consolidating their position in the Premier League top four, it’ll be worth it. And who knows, maybe there will be a real celebration at Anfield soon.