End of international break ushers in important period for Reds

AS England once again succumbed to the same mediocrity that we’re all used to and lost to a second-string Germany side on Tuesday night (whilst also fielding our strongest available), many of us were no doubt watching on as Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard wondering why, in God’s name, where they being risked in an utterly meaningless friendly barely 4 days before the Merseyside derby?

I mean, even Germany had the good sense to accept that this wasn’t the most important game they’d ever play with the likes of Neuer, Lahm, Ozil and Gomez all given the night off.

Not for England however, who tried to cram as many ‘key’ players into the starting line-up as possible. Is it any wonder that the relationship between Premier League clubs and the FA when it comes to international games?

But, after Tuesday night, there is a period of around 4 months when we’ll see next to no international football. At least none that involves any of our key players. And while this uninterrupted period is enjoyable enough in itself, it could also prove to be the most important period in the clubs most recent history.

Going back to 2009, Liverpool were in perhaps their best run of form and most promising period in the club’s history since the last league title win.

The Champions League win and second final loss were huge moments in the history of Liverpool FC but the 2008-09 season in the Premier League was a key, pivotal moment in the last 20 years when a Liverpool side was at it’s dominant best and only narrowly missed out on the league title.

Through no fault of the players or manager that pivotal moment was not capitalized on and the rest is history, with the club having struggled badly in recent seasons, enduring some of our worst, most depressing league seasons and cup runs in memory.

Under Brendan Rodgers however, things look like they might – might – be taking a turn for the better. We’ve a good squad, a very good first team (needing perhaps a couple of top players to really compete) and the manager’s ‘vision’ appears to be coming to fruition, slowly but surely.

The Arsenal defeat a few weeks ago was a marginally acceptable blip in an otherwise great start to the season. With the derby coming up at the weekend though, and with some of our rivals for the top four facing tough opposition themselves, it’s another great opportunity to make a statement and to push ourselves further ahead at the top of the league – that gap between the ‘best’ and ‘the rest’ will become a crucial cushion once we pass the Christmas period.

Following the derby though, the run of games includes those we’d consider foregone conclusions and away games against Tottenham, Man City and Chelsea.

There are no grey areas, the pressure will be on in every game but the potential is there to show what we are made of but the manager must ensure that we take advantage of those (and Arsenal and United’s) clubs cup and European commitments. There really will be no better time to make the step back in to the top-four.

Once January arrives we’ll have the chance to strengthen the squad, and that should be from a position of strength in the league.

There will be the opportunity during next summer to look at the bigger picture and fill out the squad and youth sides but prior to the World Cup over the summer, Liverpool FC must place all emphasis on the Premier League, particularly after our strongest start in the league in years and the next 3-4 months could prove to a pivotal period in making that great start and even better season.

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