Grant tenure could be end of Roman empire

IF ever there was a game that demonstrated why a man as poorly qualified and inexperienced as Avram Grant should not get a top manager’s position, it was the meeting with Liverpool.

That said, the players did not cover themselves in glory, but let’s look at the facts. He has now faced the other three of the “big four” and we have managed just one point out of nine. You do not start a player who has had a six week lay-off — even if that player is Frank Lampard. You do not play so defensively with one up front at home, against a team missing their main striker. You do not leave it until four minutes from time to put on a second striker. On current form, you also do not pick Ashley Cole in front of Bridge — I hope that there was a reason for the fact that Bridge was not on the bench.

But Grant was not helped by the players, who need to look at themselves in terms of effort, which was virtually non-existent. Anelka must wonder what kind of team he has come to — the poor guy must be getting a complex. His frustration started to show early on as he was being forced to go in search of the ball, such was the poor supply.