With no European football to act as a distraction during the 2011/2012 season, Liverpool, a team rejuvenated following the return of Kenny Dalglish as manager in January, are being widely tipped to be a major force once again in the Premier League this season.
Some people, including Manchester United boss, Alex Ferguson, have hinted that the Reds under Dalglish could well challenge for the title or at very least get themselves back in the top four picture and a Champions League place after missing out for the past two years. The bookmakers football odds have made Liverpool 10/1 to win the title and evens to finish in the top four.
In the very short time that Dalglish has been back in charge at Anfield, the side has gone from strength to strength. Before the end of the season, most players were full of confidence and playing at the top of their games and it could not be too much better for Dalglish currently and the Scotsman, who left Anfield first time around in 1991 after winning three league titles will be hoping things will continue at the rate in which they’ve started, especially with the addition of some key summer signings to the squad which include Stewart Downing from Aston Villa, Jordan Henderson from Sunderland and Charlie Adam from Blackpool.
However, any Liverpool success could well hinge on a fully fit Steven Gerrard who remains troubled by a long standing groin injury and is expected to miss the first few matches of the season. That said, Liverpool’s revival under Dalglish last season which took then from 12th place in the league into 6th was achieved without Gerrard and relied heavily on the performances of the ultra gifted Luis Suarez, who showed his quality in Copa America over the Summer where his four goals helped Uruguay win the tournament. He was ably assisted in the Liverpool side by Raul Meireles and the much improved Maxi Rodriguez, who both made big contributions to the resurgent Reds in the final months of last season. Add to the equation a fit again Gerrard, a fully fit Andy Carroll together with the work rate of Dirk Kuyt and it seems very difficult to believe that Liverpool will not be there or thereabouts by the season’s end particularly with the league the sole focus on Merseyside.
I am old enough to remember the excellent finish we had to the 1977/78 season , with nine wins and three draws in the last 12 games . A player called Kenny Dalglish scored a hat-trick against Man City on May day . We finished second to Nottm Forest .
The following season we won the League , smashing all the points records going . The only change to the team was that we signed a naturally left-footed full back from Newcastle , Alan Kennedy .