Would LFC have fared better against Barca and Bayern? (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

Strange as it undoubtedly sounds coming from a Liverpool supporter, if I'm being honest, I've not really missed the Champions League that much. Yes, I'm fully aware of how ridiculous that sounds, so let me clarify.

I obviously haven't enjoyed seeing the Reds floundering around helplessly between sixth and eighth place in the Premier League these past four or five years, while being in the Europa League left me colder than a shaved polar bear (at least the group phase did, it felt like some fur had grown back when the knockout stage eventually came around).

Furthermore, I most certainly haven't enjoyed being mocked by fans of clubs still feasting at UEFA's 'Top Table', although Arsenal and (especially) Manchester City regularly being frog-marched out of the dining room barely having had time to finish digesting the first course does tend to soften the blow a bit.

Last summer proved how difficult it can be for a team to attract the players they need when they cannot offer the carrot of Champions League football. Liverpool discovered the cost of it when they missed out on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, not to mention almost losing Luis Suarez due to an understandable craving on the Uruguayan's part to showcase his talents on the biggest stage in club football.

The best players all want to be playing in the Champions League; I get that and I fully understand how important it is for Liverpool to be in it. In that sense, I've been as desperate as anybody to see the Reds get back in there. What I'm saying is that I have missed Liverpool being a "top four side" far more than I've missed the actual "Champions League football" itself, if that makes sense?

When the midweek European games have come rolling around over recent years, hearing the famous Champions League anthem hasn't made me all nostalgic and misty eyed, it has not caused me to reminisce about "the good old days" and I've not been sat at home casting envious glances towards the TV and thinking; "I wish that was the Redmen playing". Until this week that is.

I watched Manchester City and Arsenal outplayed by arguably the two best sides the continent has to offer, and while there's certainly no disgrace in being beaten by a Barcelona or a Bayern Munich, I couldn't help but think; "Step aside boys and let the Reds show you how it's done."

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