The comment came on the Guardian website, at 4.48 on Sunday afternoon. Five minutes earlier, someone wrote of Liverpool's victory and Manchester United's defeat: 'Chelsea's weekend. Chelsea's title?' The response, with West Ham losing 2-0: 'Arsenal's weekend. Arsenal's title?'
Meanwhile, Liverpool have two fewer points after ten games than they did two years ago, on their way to finishing fourth. If they win at Fulham on Saturday they will have as many points after 11 matches as Manchester United - the eventual champions - did at that stage 12 months ago.
Making judgments about how this season will turn out is proving a fraught and complicated business, even for those who watched Sunday's action as it happened (my nephew's birthday took priority). Fleet Street didn't know where to look, whether to concentrate on Liverpool's resurgence or lack thereof, or the problems of Manchester United or Arsenal.
I am not yet repenting of writing that Rafa Benitez is in deep trouble, despite the backing he has received and the three points picked up on Sunday. Liverpool's chances of qualifying for the Champions League knock-out stages are slender and the squad will be stretched to and perhaps past its limit by the competing calls on resources of domestic and European competition, at a time when they cannot afford to slip up in either (except in the Carling Cup). To pursue the Houdini analogy, the Spaniard has undone the chains around his wrists but his legs are still bound, and he's still in a locked chest at the bottom of a swimming pool.
Yet it is with regard to Europe and repeating last season's title challenge - surely a necessary sign of genuine progress - that Benitez is in serious trouble at this stage. Attempts, in the expectation of defeat on Sunday, to dole out the club's Champions League place made substantial assumptions and ignored the recoveries of previous seasons: in 2005-06 and a year later, Liverpool finished third after worse starts than they have had this term.
There are reasons - a billion or two of them - to think that Manchester City's challenge will be strengthened in January, to prevent it fading away in the manner of others'. Their forthcoming game against Liverpool could prove more significant than Sunday's Merseyside-Mancunia get-together. But after a fine start to the season there have been wobbles on and off the pitch at Eastlands.
Chelsea did have a good weekend, improving their points position against everyone in the leading pack bar Liverpool. They are bidding to postpone their transfer ban in order to ruin completely their chances of breaking even in 2010 with a January splurge/prudently improve their squad with the Africa Cup of Nations looming. Yet the recent defeats to Wigan and Aston Villa offered encouragement to others to take a positive approach, swine flu permitting.
Tottenham lost at home to Stoke. Arsenal's draw at Upton Park was the kind that feels like a defeat, especially for a team that has finished fourth three years out of four. Aston Villa followed up their deserved victory over Chelsea by dropping two points to a promoted side, albeit in an away derby.
Doubts abound about the quality of the Premier League - this is a cause of concern for some, but is celebrated by others, who welcome the openness. We don't yet have an outstanding team in the league, yet last season's three best sides did not emerge in their peak form till long after Halloween: the United whose consistency and determination won the title; the Liverpool whose spring brio pushed the champions almost to the end to finish top scorers by a distance; and Guus Hiddink's revitalised FA Cup winners.
Nothing is settled yet. Autumn is a time for questions, not answers. So maybe saying "Arsenal's title?" was not so misplaced. Even if it was not their weekend, or United's, Spurs' or City's, there are enough weekends left that might be.
Philip Cornwall
Rafa Houdini Only Has Arms Free...
Now let's hear what you've got to say about this item... or anything else happening in the world of football. Send in your opinions, rants, praise or abuse to: theeditor@football365.com
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Your Comments
harryboulton
"FD,you blind faith never ceases to amaze.What Rafa did with Valencia was not amazing or unprecedented.Valencia are,and were,one of Spains and Europes biggest and most successful clubs and lest we forget that before Benitez took over there they had made two consecutive CL finals appearances,losing to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.They had spent a fortune on 5 star players.That spending has landed them in significant debt which threatens the very future of the club but that does not negate the fact that stacks of cash had been lavished on a full squad packed with world class performers.What Rafa did was inherit a fabulously talented,and fantastically expensive squad off Hector Cuper and coach them to the type of acheivements they should have been attaining in the first place.Liverpool fans accuse United fans of believing that football started in 1992,but Liverpool fans are increasingly seeming to believe that football started after Rafa took over at Valencia and only ever seem to quote those successes when arguing the merits of Benitez,or comparing managerial acheivements,which is selective in the extreme and myopic to the point of embarassment.I don't dismiss Rafa's acheivements but neither am I blind to his very obvious short-falls.You conveniently skirted round the net-spend levels on his head as well as ignoring completely the ridiculous number of players that have been brought in over 5 years.70 players in 5 years.That's more than 10 new recruits every calender year.I'm glad he's in charge iof your club and not mine because any other manager,at any other club would have had serious questions asked by now.But Liverpools fans seem to pride themselves on this unconditional support of their managers.You were exactly the same with Houllier when he was in charge and you'll hear me laughing from miles away when Rafa eventually gets the boot and you all change your tune."
ianbr
"loving the scousers clinging to this idiot - I hope he stays there forever as it is as good a guarantee as you're likely to get that they will not win the league. That crazy sensationalist rag The Sunday Times proved (yes PROVED) that he has outspent United by £100 million in his time at Liverpool, although some one-eyed scouse moron will doubtless unplug his/her head from the sand and respond to this and say either a) no it's not true; or b) some baloney about united having a much better squad when fatty took over the reins at Liverpool, a squad clearly full of useless s***e like Gerrard, Carragher, Hyypia, Hamman and Owen and only capable of finishing 2nd in the league, above Utd a couple of seasons before. And don't forget it was the inherited squad that formed 11 of the 14 players (starters and playing subs) that won the the CL. The three other players Garcia (every Liverpool fan I know says he was always s***e) Alonso (became good but was at best average in the early days - hence FSW's attempt to offload him) and Cisse (!). Anyway long live Rafa - let's hope he stays!!"
faithdevotion
"Harrybutton the mere fact that you belittle his achievements with Valencia as a young manager says everything. There is no validity in what you are saying, it is just your typical Liverpool bull*** being spuirted by an unintelligent Man U Fan. How can you belittle a man in his early 40's winning two league titles in three years in spain with a team that had no where near the resources of either Barca or Real. I wouldnt be surprised if he does not win it with liverpool this year, particularly if United go and spend 60m on Villa and Silva in jan. The fact that he finished four points of you lot last year is an absolutely incredible acheievement givent he difference in the squad costs which was 100m i believe at the end of laast season. For what he has he has done wonders and i have heard so many Man u fans say that they hope that Benitex stays at pool because we will never win anything with him. Its a curious sentiment, but one wonders how all those wo say that will react when he does deliver..... Will his achievements be belittled when he does win the league such as they are now ? Yes i think so if your assemssment re his time at valencuia is anything to go by........"
harryboulton
"FD, Rafa dioes not spend less than his counterparts. How many times do you need directing to transferleague.co.uk? He's spent a fair whack in his time as 'Pool boss. Granted his squad was not up to scratch but seeing as he's brought in nearly 70 players in 5 years, surely questions should be asked? How many players has he brought in that weren't good enough / weren't used properly?
I say keep the guy in a job. While he's tactically very good and his side have some world class players, he doesn't seem to have a clue how to win a league title in a competitive league. Let us remember that his La Lioga titles came when Real Madrid were at the height of their failing "galactico" era and Barcelona were being lead by Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert and Gerard."
faithdevotion
"Blueboy - thatnks for that, i'll never be inclined to check my spelling here, its not a literary board we are adding to..... However - Which Stats do you take issue with ? The one that he spent no money this season ?? Alonso and Aebeloa out and Acqualini and Johnson in. I think you will find that the net of those two numbers is close to nil. Acqualni and johnson cost 35m and cash received for Alonso and Arbeloa was 36m.... Are you taking issue with what rafa has won ? Two spanish league titles, A UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Champions League or is it that Liverpool were 40 points off the leaders the season he came in..... Which stats dont ya like ?"
blueboy
"Gotta love 'faithdevotion' that master speller & closet ManU fan...where does he get his stats from? I dare you to reply with 'get back in your box'...go on do it man..."
gusman
"vulture - yeah i agree, i totally lose respect for ANYONE who puts family ahead of sports. I mean, who cares if the young lad cant understand why his uncle isnt at his party. he'll get over it. S0d him, thats what i say."
Vulture
"'my nephews birthday took priority'?! I'm sorry Phil, but I've lost all respect for you after that "
faithdevotion
"Rafa houdini never had to escape in the first place. He job it seems is safe and will be for some time to come. You dont overhaul a 40 point league difference without having a complete squad overhaul and with clubs like united and chelsea having league winning squads in place to begin with and still outspending liverpool net in most years, rafa was never going to turn 40 points around over night. What he has done is brought it down to four points in five years and he is getting close.... Arsenal see the benifit in longgevity and so do united, imagine united had let fergie go after his first six barren years...... nope, i cant imagine it ! Rafa is ere for a while, unfortunately he got no money to speand this year but still manages to compete, he was never in chain, he is not going to be for a couple of years to come as everyone who know about football knows that he is just about the best in the business, you dont win leagues (spanish) cups, UEFA CUPS, Champions Leagues, with less expensively assembled squads (in the case of united ! (100M LESS) an be a bad manager..... In fact those sort of stats make a manager a thoroughbred ! "
rafamuggin
"I do get fed up with all the stick Rafa gets. Today's fans have short memories less knowledge. And the media seem to pander to that to get their sensational headlines and required "page visits" to increase website revenues. That's really all it comes down to - hence the main image on Telegraph website yesterday was a calendar of dogs doing yoga!! Back to Liverpool. I remember going in the 90s and seeing players like Paul Stewart and Torben Piechnik and despite our league dominance being a very fresh memory, we were never in with a chance of a title. We got close and actually had a good side under Evans (very underrated in my view, but also very disrespected by his players). Houllier made some good signings, but only under Rafa can we now see a team that has arguably the best striker in the world, one of the best attacking midfielders in our league and arguable the world, one of the best goalies in the world and our league, the best right back in the country, the captain of Argentina in midfield. I mean - Rafa ain't done too bad. Anyone used to travelling around Europe with the side is used to the bars beforehand where we all sing "the best midfield in the world" and the La Bamba song for Rafa - we love him. yes, he's stubborn, cold, infuriating at times (removing Yossi the other week). But let me ask you this. Would Wenger or Fergie have played a relative newcomer in Arbeloa (a right back) on the left of the defence in an away game against the European champions on their own Nou Camp patch? NO. And he negated Messi's threat allowing Liverpool to win 2-1 on Barca's sacred ground. Tell me another manager who could do that and I'd have him tomorrow. We'll miss him when he's gone..."
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