It ain't over til it's over for Reds

FanZoner Rich Garnett insists Liverpool must look on the brightside after the draw at Crystal Palace, and ponders one possible final twist.

The experiences of the last 10 days may be painful for Liverpool Football Club and its worldwide supporter colossus, but they are full of important lessons to take into next season.

The late capitulation at Selhurst Park exposed a lack of nous in situations where just winning is more important than anything else.

Football is a cruel game full of dramatic twists and turns but when a team looks like winning a match 6-0 and ends up drawing 3-3 there is something that still needs to be fixed.

Liverpool's failure to sense the danger and close out the game owes as much to leadership and calmness in battle as it does to the ability of the players.

Of course, the Reds know all about recovering from three goal deficits and if any excuse could be offered for this gut wrenching implosion it would be that it all happened so quickly.

The disappointment that hangs over Anfield this week is only present because in the last two months expectations have been raised to levels that were utterly fanciful at the start of the season.

A pause for perspective reveals the truth of the matter - Liverpool FC has had a fantastic season and it isn't finished yet.

Group stage Champions League qualification was secured weeks ago. At the start of the season the aim was simply to break into the top four. That has been done at a canter.

Liverpool are not on target under Brendan Rodgers, they are well ahead of it.

Many have suggested that 2013/14 was the Anfield club's golden opportunity to win its elusive 19th league title, with no European football to manage and other top clubs changing manager.

All of this is perhaps true, but those who hold the opinion that the Reds have missed their chance and will now fade away like Aston Villa or Newcastle United are pouring scorn on the club's significant achievements this term.

With a four-year absence from the Champions League, the dynamic of modern football has seen Liverpool struggle to attract the very best players in the transfer market.

During that period, the £50m sale of Fernando Torres helped to facilitate the crucial acquisition of now-world-superstar Luis Suarez (even if there was a £35m ponytail supplement to pay on the same day), which has helped to keep the club competitive during the Europa League years.

But investment will change with the benefit of Champions League income. FSG are renowned for sticking to their mantra of value for money, which given what they inherited, should come as little surprise. It doesn't mean they won't be pursuing top class talent this summer. Quite the opposite in fact.

Liverpool haven't missed their chance. They are only just getting started. The team is young, talented, hungry, willing to learn and have a manager who has commanded the respect of everyone.

Manchester United are likely to find out this summer just how hard it is being outside the top four. It would seem that the draw of a big name doesn't cut it with the world's elite players anymore.

It will be intriguing to see just how well Rodgers can do in the transfer market this summer with his brand new footballers gold card.

Where as there is little dispute over his fantastic work as a coach, transfer dealings so far can only be regarded as hit and miss. Hopefully his summer return will be more Daniel Sturridge than Iago Aspas.

But talk of next season scandalously ignores one undisputed fact - for the first time in over 20 years Liverpool go into the last game of the season with a chance of winning the league.

There isn't a Kopite on this earth who wouldn't have taken that in August.

Once again the fans will greet their heroes and create an atmosphere fitting for such an occasion.

Liverpool FC is never far from drama and normally does things the hard way. What chance of a timely upset by West Ham United?

As unlikely as it seems football is a funny old game. There wouldn't be one final twist. Would there?

In the words of Lenny Kravitz, it ain't over, til it's over!

By Liverpool FanZoner Richard Garnett. Follow him on Twitter here, and don't forget you can follow @FanZone too!

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