I have heard a lot of people claim that liverpool does better in Europe. What I want to know is whether this comparison is to their domestic form or to other English teams in Europe. First and foremost let's admit that playing in the champions league is more prestigious that the uefa cup and even winning the uefa cup. That's part of why a 3rd placed team from the Champions league group stage automatically qualifies for the uefa cup knock out stages. Look at the following record for both liverpool and man utd in the last ten years and tell me which has done better at the highest level. <u>Liverpool's last ten year record from uefa.com</u><ul>[*]1997/98: UEFA Cup - second round [*]1998/99: UEFA Cup - third round [*]1999/00: Did not compete in UEFA club competition [*]2000/01: UEFA Cup - winners [*]2001/02: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals [*]2002/03: UEFA Cup - quarter-finals (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League, group stage) [*]2003/04: UEFA Cup - fourth round [*]2004/05: UEFA Champions League - winners [*]2005/06: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round [*]2006/07: UEFA Champions League - semi-finals[/list] <u>Man utd's record</u> <ul>[*]1997/98: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals [*]1998/99: UEFA Champions League - winners [*]1999/00: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals [*]2000/01: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals [*]2001/02: UEFA Champions League - semi-finals [*]2002/03: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals [*]2003/04: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round [*]2004/05: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round [*]2005/06: UEFA Champions League - group stage [*]2006/07: UEFA Champions League - semi-finals [/list]
When people say liverpool are better in Europe they aren't talking about 10 years ago they mean since Rafa has taken over and you have to admit Liverpool have played some fantastic games in Europe over the past 3 years and have beaten some very good sides not to mention winning the competition. When Man U hasn't been upto too much in Europe for a while (until the knockout stages this season).
In that case people have to talk year by year not a period of time as that can be misleading. In 2002 and 03, it was man utd, in 2004, chelsea were the better english team in europe while pool were better in 2005 and arsenal in 2006. So even after Rafa took over pool have only done better than other english teams in 2005.
A fair point, i wasn't really talking about liverpool compared to other clubs i was more thinking that over the past three years liverpool have played consitently well in Europe (except in Benfica when we messed up the tie in the last 5 mins of the 1st leg), when in the league liverpool haven't played consistently well and have not built a title challenge. When i say liverpool do better in Europe it's because we tend to raise are game and have proven we can beat any of Europe's top teams on our day.
Also if you look at all the english clubs you will see that Liverpool are the only team to win 2 trophies in Europe. Ok the UEFA cup may not be as prestigeous but if it was so easy to win how come none of the other english competing teams have their name on it.
