LIVERPOOL are out of the Champions League. There is no need for elaborate eulogies.

When the news from Florence had sunk in, Steven Gerrard expressed it succinctly: 'You get what you deserve in football'.

The loss of potential revenue from the Champions League is inconsequential because it would likely have been squandered on yet another expensive gamble like Andrea Dossena or Ryan Babel.

Besides, in an era of inflated transfer fees and player salaries, £10 million ($23m) is enough only to purchase an average player. And Liverpool already have those in abundance.

Fans can continue to persecute the owners, but even if finances were readily available, would world-beaters want to play for a fallen giant in a World Cup year?

Even Manchester United, who have won seven domestic titles and two European Cups in the last 10 years, could not retain the services of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The temptation to blame Rafa Benitez for a season in complete disarray must be overwhelming for fans, particularly after the scathing accusation by ex-Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp that they have been emotionally exploited by the Spaniard.

Redknapp has perhaps conveniently forgotten that during his time with the Reds, he and his Liverpool team-mates were similarly attacked by the media who had labelled them the Spice Boys.

Once inflamed passions simmer, fans will realise that our problems are deeply rooted and extend well beyond the reign of the incumbent manager.

Bob Paisley once joked that the bad times at Liverpool were when they finished second. Today, we regard it as an achievement.

Ironically, it is that history of sustained success which has now become an albatross around the necks of all who pull on the Reds jersey and a convenient stick with which disgruntled fans use to beat every beleaguered manager since Kenny Dalglish.

If Liverpool are to rebuild their crumbling empire, the players must first develop an uncompromising winning mentality.

This year as Reds fans celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bill Shankly's appointment as manager, it is apt that we remember just what he instilled into a club languishing in the second division.

He said: 'A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best, and then make sure that you are.'

This season is a write-off. What we must not do is wallow in self-pity or pine for what might have been.

Since we have fought so valiantly to reach the Europa League, or what one UK paper so generously called the 'booby prize', we must not thumb our noses at the competition.

It is a great opportunity to win silverware, as is the FA Cup. More importantly, it is an opportunity to rebuild a winning habit.

IT HURTS to see our beloved Reds out of a competition - Champions League no less, another major trophy.

We will now try to be back next season. Fiorentina and Lyon deserve to go through, kudos to them.

We didn't play well enough in earlier games. The positive thing is that we won the game and also kept a clean sheet, something that has not happened often enough in the early season. And David Ngog has kept scoring!

I will miss seeing Liverpool competing in the Champions League, and the competition will miss having Liverpool and what the team brings to it.

Liverpool will recover, and Liverpool fans will now switch the attention to the Europa League - a competition (Uefa Cup then) that has given us great memories in 2001.

James Lim

Frustrated fans

BLAH...blah...blah. What else is Rafael Benitez going to say now? That Liverpool played well, they scored, but the other result didn't go in their favour, so now it's time to focus on the next match?

Benitez is ridiculously pathetic.

He has lost the plot. No doubt he is a good manager, but if he continues what he's doing right now at Liverpool, don't be surprised if Liverpool drift towards the relegation zone.

In the Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup, he is getting all his tactics wrong. This is so frustrating.

Time and again, why do you need two holding midfielders? Javier Mascherano is as good as two defensive midfielders together.

What does Benitez see in the useless Lucas Leiva? As long as Benitez and Lucas are around, there's little hope.

LIVERPOOL are clearly in a crisis when they had to depend on Fiorentina-Lyon outcome.

Sad to say, it didn't go the way they wanted and Liverpool have no one else to blame except themselves for this failure.

If Rafa Benitez had played his tactics right from the beginning of the qualifying rounds, they would not have needed Lyon's aid to help them through.

With this crucial game coming at a time when key players are out with injuries, poor Liverpool just couldn't cope.

At this point, the Yankees must be discussing to chop off Benitez's head and roll it out of Anfield. Along with him will be some over-rated and under-performing players especially Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel.

Too bad for the Kop, their Christmas present...oops, I mean Crisismas came to early for them.

ONLY the most optimistic Liverpool fan would think that there is a chance for Liverpool to get past the group stage after poor games against Lyon and Florentina.

We all know Liverpool's dependence on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres but the reliable defence was something Liverpool had relied upon to get a clean sheet away and nick a goal at Anfield.

After a horrible start of the season, Liverpool's defence is in tatters as this season's Premiership has more attacking teams and fewer goalless draws.

The colossal loss of confidence has spilled over to Champions League. With the huge Xabi Alonso gap in midfield which was not filled due to the expensive Alberto Aquilani being on the bench, Liverpool are currently looking like a mid-table team.

I think getting out of Champions League early will help Liverpool to salvage fourth place in the Premier League and qualification to the Champions League next season.

The injured players are also returning soon. It has been seven years since the 2002/03 season that Liverpool have not qualified for Champions League through their league position. Failure to qualify next season would be a financial disaster for Liverpool.

WITH an away win in the bag, a clean sheet and the rising stock of David Ngog, we can now turn our attention to our massive game on Sunday.

Some may argue that this would be good time to play Liverpool - Champions League exit, poor form, massive injuries, lost of confidence, pressure on Rafa Benitez, etc.

I beg to differ. Consider this: Almost all our big players are back from injury (Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Daniel Agger, with Alberto Aquilani ready to start and Fernando Torres not far from a comeback).

Our Merseyside rivals Everton are also having a torrid time with injuries and form and are far from playing at the level they are capable of.

This could be the game when our friends across the Mersey could face the backlash of the Reds!

Ronnie Cheok

TIME TO MOVE ON

SEEING Liverpool eliminated from the Champions League group stages for the first time since I became a Liverpool fan does hurt.

But maybe this isn't our season, and we aren't giving up hope. Just like what Steven Gerrard mentioned: 'Let's go and win the Europa League.'

That is the kind of spirit needed now. Liverpool need to stay as one and not get affected by whatever that has happened.

Let's move forward, and we will back in next year's Champions League.

RAFA BENITEZ'S critics always criticise him for prioritising Champions League matches over Premier League matches.

Now that Liverpool are out of the Champions League, they say that Liverpool will now lose precious millions.

Benitez can't seem to win either way.

The Champions League exit could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Benitez can play some of Liverpool's second stringers in the Europa League to gain valuable match experience and maybe put some of them (Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dosssena) in the shop window, and concentrate our limited playing resources on Premiership matches.