Monday 14 January 2013

Home ISN'T where the heart is: Why Liverpool need to leave Anfield to bring ... - Mirror.co.uk

Liverpool have been in Manchester United's shadow far too long and they need to show signs that they can start ­winning titles again, writes the Sunday People columnist Stan Collymore.

Throughout the 1980s Kop fans crowed over the fact they were so ­dominant over the reds from Manchester.

You can read Collymore on: Why Aston Villa need to add some experience to their youthful exuberance

But since the Premier League era kicked off they have had to endure lots of pain, and now they need to be shown that there is a league champions trophy at the end of the tunnel.

They have not won England's top flight since 1990 – and today they sit a staggering 21 points behind United.

That's not what Liverpool fans grew up expecting, and while people at the club constantly talk about the glory days of the past, it is now time to take ­significant steps forward.

Brendan Rodgers is a great man to have at the helm. He's got the pass-and-move philosophy wrapped up and ­encourages great football.

But three things concern me – the American owners, a stadium that is too small and the fact that they are not ­attracting the top players.

Liverpool need to move away from Anfield. They could easily fill an 80,000-seater stadium – and once you leave that famous old ground, it would be easier to let go of past ­triumphs.

It might also release some of the pressure on the players.

The greater revenue would allow them to land the finest players, too.

If I was still playing the game and at the stage where I was looking for my big move from Nottingham Forest, Liverpool would be fourth on my list.

San the man: Sturridge has stated that Liverpool are a massive club

 

When I joined them in 1995 it was with the ambition of winning the title but now I would look at Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea before considering Liverpool or Arsenal.

When Daniel Sturridge arrived at Anfield ­recently he said they are a ­humongous club – and I agree with him on that.

But I believe Liverpool have to show within the next 18 months that they are close to challenging for titles again. United went 26 years without a league trophy before claiming the crown in 1993

If Liverpool do not end their 23-year famine soon, I fear it could roll on to 35 or even 40 years.

And United would really revel in that.

Talk at the moment around Merseyside is that Kenny Dalglish could return in an ambassadorial role.

There is no doubt he embodies what the club stand for, but his presence could undermine Rodgers' position.

So the manager needs to be asked how he feels about that situation – and if he says he doesn't want Kenny there, then that should be the end of all discussion.

Liverpool need to move forward. Rodgers has the ideas that can lead them there.

And now the rest of the club need to realise that however great the past has been, the future will not look anywhere near as bright unless they move with the times.

Watching Razor has been worth the weight

Neil Ruddock
Telly addict: Ruddock enters the CBB house

 

Razor Ruddock is in TV's Big Brother house and I remember his antics from our Anfield days.

Once we were both ordered on to the treadmill by the fitness coach, who then left the gym.

Razor kept his machine running on a higher speed than mine, then sat down to eat a bacon and egg sandwich and read the paper.

I carried on charging away for 45 minutes and when the coach was on his way back, Razor sprayed himself with water, leapt back on and got a big pat on the back for showing such professionalism and dedication.

The coaches never did work out why he never lost weight!

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