The Importance of the Europa League to Liverpool's season

With Liverpool’s chances of securing an unlikely Champions League spot even slimmer following their disappointing draw with Wigan, it could be their Europa League campaign that saves Liverpool’s season.

Liverpool are performing much better in the league, but unless both Chelsea and Tottenham collapse in spectacular fashion, Liverpool will again play in the Europa League next term. FSG’s decision to sack Hodgson so late may end up costing the Reds a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition for the second year running.

The Reds continued their unbeaten European form last night in a dour contest with Sparta Prague. The match was far from a classic, with Prague having not played a competitive match in three months (as the Channel 5 commentary team continually reminded us) and Liverpool without Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll. Liverpool will take a decent result into the home clash next week and will have every confidence in progressing into the next round. Should they progress, Liverpool will face either Lech Poznan or Braga in the next round, with Poznan the most likely after a 1-0 victory over the Portuguese last night.

After January’s headline-making transfer window, the club will undoubtedly aim to add a few more quality additions to a squad lacking in both depth and quality. But without Champions League football to attract the quality of player necessary to challenge for the top 4 next season, Liverpool’s best bet may be to win the Europa League.

Lifting the Europa League may be just what Liverpool need; it will be five years in May since the last time the Reds won a trophy. With Fernando Torres departing last month in search of silverware, there are concerns Pepe Reina may follow suit. Reina has seen compatriots Torres, Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera and Álvaro Arbeloa, as well as manager Rafa Benítez, leave in the last eighteen months and may also be considering a future away from Anfield.

The type of personnel needed to catapult Liverpool into the top four will be highly sought after across Europe. Eden Hazard, Ashley Young, Simon Kjær and Juan Mata will have Europe’s biggest clubs chasing their signature and Champions League football to offer.

For Liverpool to compete for such players, they need to be seen to be competing for trophies. The Reds fell at the first hurdle in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and the Europa League represents Liverpool’s only chance of silverware this season. As one of the better sides left in the competition, Liverpool will be hoping to progress all the way to the final in Dublin.

It could be quite the turnaround for a team struggling in the bottom half of the table under former manager Roy Hodgson. Liverpool are unbeaten in seven matches and currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League. Should their form continue and the Reds secure a top-6 finish as well as progress to the latter stages of the Europa League, Kenny Dalglish will almost certainly be handed the manager’s position on a permanent basis.

There is a renewed sense of optimism around Anfield since Dalglish has returned. Liverpool play better football and are achieving better results; they sit higher in the table and the fans believe they are going in the right direction.

The squad, though, is still in need of an overhaul, with players such as Dirk Kuyt and Joe Cole arguably past their best, whilst Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanović were never good enough in the first place. The summer will be an important time for the club, with a number of quality additions needed.

The Academy and Reserves players are getting rave reviews; Raheem Sterling, John Flanagan, Jack Robinson and Conor Coady have all put in fantastic performances this season and were all in the match squad for last night's game. The fans will be hoping that the youngsters will be involved in the first team sooner rather than later.

But additions are needed for now, and not just the future. John W Henry and Tom Werner have indicated they will be looking at bringing in the world’s best young players; players that can give upwards of five years’ service at the highest level. It is expected that Liverpool will be spending money in the summer in order to bring such players to Anfield. Liverpool will have a better chance at competing with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City should they lift the Europa League in May, and it may provide the perfect platform to launch their assault on the top four next season.

As Kenny Dalglish said in his pre-match press conference, the Europa League is only unimportant to those who aren’t in it, and you would imagine Dalglish is very keen to lift his first European trophy as Liverpool manager.