Rafa's in denial
Apologies in advance: The ITV Spy has been spending a lot of time talking about Liverpool and their manager Rafael Benitez, but with the way things have been going at Anfield recently, it's hard to avert your gaze.
Listening to Rafael Benitez's post-match interview following the draw against Lyon at Stade Gerland last night, you couldn't help thinking of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf.
Otherwise known as Comical Ali, al-Sahhaf is the Iraqi information minister whose blind faith that Saddam Hussein's army would win the Gulf War became world-famous.
Benitez keeps talking about his side suffering bad luck - both with injuries and with their regular concession of goals, but surely the run they've been having is more than simple bad luck?
The former Valenica manager said he could take lots of positives from the game, that they showed character, that they were "trying to win from the beginning".
If the best you can say about your team is that they were trying to win, then it's a pretty lonely place to be! Liverpool fans must be getting tired of hearing this stuff, just like the media are getting tired of writing it.
It's almost reminiscent of the Roy Evans days, when the club couldn't summon up the courage to sack such a loyal servant of the club, instead bringing in Gerard Houllier to work alongside Evans before the Englishman was moved aside.
Ryan Babel's goal was magnificent but a lot of Liverpool's defending on the night was not, with Greek import Sotirios Kyrgiakos often caught out of position and Jamie Carragher uncomfortable at full-back.
Now The Reds must pray that their Group E rivals Fiorentina do not beat Lyon when they meet at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Matchday 5 - while Rafa's men must go all-out to win both their remaining games.
And yet the loyalty of many Liverpool fans to the Spaniard seems undimmed. Several insisted during ITV Sport's build-up to the big match on Wednesday night that Rafael Benitez needs more money to invest in his squad.
This seems almost unbelievable: although Fernando Torres was a fantastic signing, Benitez has spent a lot of Liverpool's money filling the squad with mediocrity. That is why his team are struggling.
Gunners unload on AZ
Arsenal lit up the Emirates with a free-flowing display against AZ Alkmaar and the always-neutral ITV Spy hopes, as always, that they go far in the competition.
Like his Liverpool counterpart Benitez, Arsene Wenger also returned to a familiar refrain last night - that his team are developing with every game - and by the looks of it this season that is certainly true.
Thomas Vermaelen has added strength, skill and most importantly organisation to the back four while many have been waiting for Abou Diaby to become a midfield general capable of bossing the best teams in Europe.
Off the field, American businessman Stan Kroenke's attempts to launch a takeover moved another step closer as he acquired another 200 shares in the Gunners. The club he acquires will certainly be present in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League - but can they build enough momentum to go all the way this season?
At this stage of the tournament, following Manchester United and Chelsea's faltering European displays this week, they look the most likely to make a real mark on the competition.
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