It’s the competition we didn’t want to be in – but with this season’s Europa League winners earning a place in next year’s Champions League, where should the competition rank among Brendan Rodgers‘ list of priorities this season?
We get the views of our This Is Anfield writers on how seriously the Reds should take the competition:
We definitely shouldn’t write off the Europa League. It’s a 9-game path back to the Champions League.
However, and there’s only a hair’s breadth in it, we should prioritise the league as we have a better chance of finishing fourth – just. This isn’t because we’re great in the league. We’re clearly not. However, there’s no ‘away goal’ rule and with our porous defence I don’t see us keeping the vital clean sheets needed for European success.
Tactically too, and whatever you currently think of him, I’d back Rodgers to get it right in the Premier League any day of the week before backing him to get it right in Europe. Saying all that, things may have changed come February and if we’re miles off the pace in the league I’d throw all our eggs into the Europa League basket. You never know, the treble may still be on! (Disclaimer: it won’t) – Neil Poole
The Europa League has become our Champions League. Brendan should handle this tournament as he would CL football. Liverpool don’t just lay down in competitions. Want to ease pressure? Win this. – Joseph Copeland
Needless to say finishing as high up in the league as possible has to be Rodgers’ priority. However, history will judge the Northern Irishman on tangible success — a trophy would be most welcome right now and the Europa League offers that opportunity. Furthermore with the Europa League, he can kill two birds with one stone and take the Champions League qualification spot it offers the winner. For all the magic the FA Cup offers and Liverpool’s current progress in the League Cup, the two domestic trophies must play second fiddle. – Max Munton
The Europa matters in as much as it is another competition Liverpool are in and which they therefore have a chance of trying to win. The league is already too far away even if the team starts to pick up in the coming months so the cups are possibly Rodgers’ chance to bring silverware to the club and, perhaps, keep his job.
Europa is probably more worthy than League Cup – which didn’t keep Dalglish in a job – not as glamorous as the FA Cup. We need to keep progressing. So far the season feels like a step backwards. EL could alter that feeling. – Steven Harris
Europa League is probably the worst thing that could have happened for the Reds. They will not just throw out a raw, inexperienced starting XI for the games, which will weaken what the XI looks like for league games.
All these tournaments require a tough road to get to the championship. Not only does it add to an already tough schedule, but conditions in some of these places are not ideal for games and also take more of a toll on players.
I believe that the Reds have a better chance of qualifying for a top four position in the league rather than trying to go for it all in Europa League. Despite the early struggles, they aren’t far off from a Champions League position and certainly have room for improvement in their game that can ensure a top four finish. – Matt Marchese
It was clear our supposed first team failed miserably in the champions league. I think the Europa League is our only hope to get back in the champions league. Rodgers has never won a trophy and to stay at LFC you need to deliver silverware. – PJ Vaughan
I think it should be very important to Liverpool this season. With the inevitability of Liverpool’s Champions League demise, I think it’s comforting to approach the Europa League as a fresh, albeit less attractive, challenge.
Rodgers, so long as he lasts the winter, can use the comparatively lesser opposition to either blood his new, younger signings (Can, Moreno, Markovic) and craft a successful future, or go full-tilt for an enjoyable quest for a trophy. It’s a win-win, right? – Jack Lusby
It’s a very tricky one. The emphasis has to be on the Premier League for now, and they have until February to see how many points adrift they are of fourth place, if any.
If the gap is around seven or eight points by then, Europa League should become the priority. The financial benefits of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are too good to miss out on. – Henry Jackson
Given our record in European competition under Rodgers I think there’s a higher chance we finish fourth than win the Europa League. I can’t see us getting near the final. I can see the manager fielding a similar team to the one that lost away to Real Madrid. I’d have no problem with that. – Joseph Cousins
The most frustrating aspect of the Europa League is the Sunday Premier League games, when our rivals have already put points on the board the previous day.
Having said that, we’re in it now, so let’s keep an open mind – Rodgers should use it to allow the likes of Markovic and Can to get some game time, while damaged egos can be restored if we’re allowed to bully some minnows. If we’re lucky, we can make it to the last 16 with that approach and by then we should have a good idea of how realistic our top-four hopes are. That’s when it’s time to decide how much of a priority it is. – Jamie Casey
With a soft spot for this competition, I hope Rodgers gives it a go. A decent run could keep the season alive (it could all be over by early January if we lose to Bournemouth & Wimbledon). Right now winning it seems a tad unlikely, but get Sturridge back – add one or two new signings – and I believe we’ll have a chance – more so than finishing fourth. – Simon Collings
I think the players owe it to themselves and the fans to give a huge effort in the Europa League. Rodgers built a squad in the summer capable of having three games a week but clearly not capable of getting through the group stages of the Champions League, so a strong showing in the Europa League is important.
Assuming Liverpool strengthen in January, on paper, they will have one of the strongest squads in the competition. Given that, maybe all Liverpool’s chips should be thrown into the Europa League. I honestly believe right now, looking at Liverpool’s fixtures and their confidence levels, that they could well be out of the League and FA Cup in the next few weeks, as well as 10/12 points off fourth place.
Call me a pessimist (which I am not), but this is the way I see it going right now unless anything changes. Liverpool may have to aim for the Europa League places in the Premier League and really go for it in the Europa League. Damage limitation….with a cup victory at the end of it. It’s been Liverpool’s motto over the last few years so why not end it with glorious victory in Poland. – Andy Yates
Rodgers should give the Europa League a good go. It was going to be tough to finish in the top four anyway this season, and it has become even more difficult now that we’re playing catch-up. Yes, it will effect our League form through the horrendous Thursday-Sunday fixture schedule, but winning the Europa League could kill two birds with one stone; achieving cup success and qualifying for next season’s Champions League. – Oliver Smith
I think Rodgers should take the competition seriously. It gives the team some much needed European experience and is another portal to retaining a Champions League place – something that’s vital to the modern day player and therefore recruitment. It may have a negative impact on the league table (if it can get any worse), but imagine if we won?
Rodgers will have claimed some much needed silverware and the club stays in the Champions League next season, which most of us fans had as our targets for the season. Suddenly the whole season wouldn’t be such a car crash after all, with lessons learned in order to bring the club back up to the required standard next season. – Tom McMahon
After working so hard last season to return to the Champions League, turning our nose up at Europe’s sometimes considered ‘lesser competition’ would be a disgrace. In the shadow of last seasons high, Rodger’s men are struggling this year and the Europa League could provide ground to lift spirits and embed a bit of consistency.
Despite some under-performers, we have some impressive depth this season and the Europa League would be a great battleground to showcase this. Winning the competition and claiming a place in the Champions League, irrespective of finishing league position, would be an impressive achievement.
If anything, the tepid display at home to Basel cannot stand as Stevie’s last European appearance for Liverpool, it would be a travesty. – Danny Gallagher
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