The European Cup used to find its way to Anfield like a homing pigeon. These days, however, Liverpool's only chance of top-flight European football is if they get there through the back door, and on the evidence yesterday there is little to suggest that, if they do return to the Champions League, it will be for any purpose but to make up the numbers.
Guardian
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Liverpool left firing blanks
Attaining fourth position in the Premiership has become an essential requirement for Liverpool; the bare minimum, in fact.
Times
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Liverpool miss golden chance
Liverpool remain in fourth place after this sometimes frantic and rarely impressive display at the Walkers Stadium. Following their UEFA Cup exit in Marseilles on Thursday, they will be grateful for small mercies but this was another less than convincing display from Gerard Houllier's underachievers.
Telegraph
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Houllier pins hopes on late salvation
Gerard Houllier did his weary best to talk up his side's performance three days after their distressing exit from European competition, but his insistence that Liverpool had deserved to leave the Walkers Stadium with all three points from this extended exercise in mutual angst was, frankly, wrong.
Independent
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