With Tottenham downed, is it all plain-sailing from here?
JUST last week I wrote that, despite what the press and many of our fans believe, we shouldn’t give up hope – nor should we be throwing in the towel – on the Champions League places just yet, despite what the Betfair Premier League odds might say.
Prior to the game on Sunday, the Reds had an impressive 30 points to play for. Meaning that Liverpool could potentially finish the season with 72 points.
Of course, that’s highly unlikely, but it’s still a target to aim for and if we can approach anywhere near 72 points then you can probably start saving for some trips around Europe next season, given how inconsistent everybody aside from the Manchester United have been this season.
Sunday’s visit of Tottenham to Liverpool was widely thought to have been Liverpool’s toughest game of the final 10 league matches and I’d find it hard to disagree. The game was made all the more important given that Suarez and Bale are seen by many as the two main contenders for Player of the Year.
Not only that, but a defeat at home to Spurs on Sunday would’ve probably been a serious knock to Liverpool’s momentum and pushed them off course for a European place. United aside, Tottenham were the form team in the country, with Welshman Bale in incredible form and when Vertonghen put the away side ahead, it appeared to have put the final nail in our seasons’ coffin.
But the players showed immense character and despite – unusually – being outplayed for much of the game, finally took advantage of the opportunities that arose from Tottenham becoming complacent. That 3:2 victory over ‘Bale United’ should give the side that added push as they hurtle headlong toward the final stretch of the season.
There are still home games to come against an inconsistent Chelsea side and an Everton who’ve chosen the final third of the season to collapse (rather than the first) but having come back from the brink to beat Tottenham there’s no reason why we can’t win both.
Those two big games aside, Liverpool will only face one other side in that run of 9 games that are currently in the top ten and that’s Fulham, who are sitting 10th at present. So that means we are looking at there being 18 points available from the 27 we have to play for against sides in the bottom ten.
Wouldn’t it just be the ultimate satisfaction to take great advantage of the statistic that has been used to beat us all season and take maximum points from bottom 10 sides?
With just one defeat in seven league games and winning three on the bounce for the first time all season, Liverpool finally appear to have found the definition of ‘consistency’ but have still yet to become it.
The final 9 games are do-able though, and with every victory should come that bit more confidence that, in beating Tottenham, we have proven that the team is starting to take shape and may be ready to go for the jugular just as all around us are beginning to flounder.
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March 15th, 2013
At end of the day, Our team have out played most of the top teams this season but not got the points we deserved in the games. So the tottenham game was a change of luck, it should have been draw but luck swayed it our way and we received three huge points.
And at moment the two teams on form is Tottenham and Us, so to beat them should put alot of confidence in the side. But B Rodgers needs to stop being stubborn, skrtel is twice the player Carragher is and in the last few games, Carragher mistakes have costed us goals. And Skrtel and Agger is the best defensive partnership in the league, let alone at the club. And the mobility, pace and speed Skrtel has is asset to back 4 as Carragher and Agger both lack pace and speed in the centre back position.
for our club to get in champions league reckoning still, out of the nine games left we would have to win at least 6 of them to have chance. And i think it is possible, but in order to win 6 out of the 9 games. Rodgers needs to play his strongest team week in week out unless injury or sickness: Which is : Reina Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Lucas Gerrard Coutinho Downing Sturridge Suarez
That side home or away full fit and injury free is a match for any side in the league. And hopefully Coutinho will start getting some full matches in soon
March 15th, 2013
Not having any games other than the league the team you proposed should be able to play out every match, let’s hope.
March 15th, 2013
It’s sad and desperate times for LFC when spurs are considered a better team than us