IT’S been over a year now since I wrote an article stating my belief that Liverpool’s squad was as strong as Manchester United’s, based solely ‘man-for-man’, of course. As a team unit, they were still quite a way apart last season but I believe that we had players of equal – or better – quality, they just weren’t coming together as well.
But, then again, Ferguson’s great ability has always been getting team performances out of 11 average players.
A few weeks back, during the Liverpool v Man Utd game, I noticed a lot of comments from their fans along the lines ‘how are we being outplayed by a poor team?’, etc. and it got me thinking again: are Manchester United really so much better than us? I mean, sure, they still have that uncanny ability to pull wins out of…well, seemingly nothing but that’s all to do with Ferguson’s pact with the Devil.
When you get down to the finer details, you’ll see a group of very average players, ably assisted by one or two great. I’ve discussed this many times since the season started, with friends and family, and we all agree: Man Utd will struggle to keep up this year, perhaps even having to settle for a place in the Europa next season!
Already, they are 4 points behind a very consistently strong-looking Chelsea side, and I believe that City, Arsenal and Spurs are all much stronger this year and if they slip behind before Christmas, I can’t see them catching up. Sure, they’re in second now, but have they actually faced anybody decent besides ourselves and Tottenham yet? No, and they lost to Everton and Southampton also ran them pretty close.
So when I look over their squad and see players like Smalling, Jones, De Gea, Kagawa, Nani, Anderson and Young (all expensive and yet to convince) and stalwarts that are clearly past it like Scholes, Ferdinand and Giggs, I smile to think of the much smaller fees we paid for much higher quality players such as Skrtel, Agger, Reina, Allen, Sterling, Lucas and Shelvey, and the experienced veterans that we can still call upon such as Carragher and Gerrard.
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As always, there is still the same element of respect and fear surrounding the club and that is something which, over the past 25 years, Ferguson has cultivated to perfection. Clubs still relinquish points and wins to Man Utd purely out of fear; they believe the game is lost before they even turn up and this psychological element probably gives them as many points per season as the somewhat dodgy refereeing decisions we all complain about with regularity provides them with. We saw this against Howard Webb and Manchester United on Sunday evening, but many teams will overcome the 12-men of Manchester Utd this season, of that I’m sure.
The result against Tottenham last week showed me something I saw – even against 10 men – when they were at Anfield a few weeks ago: huge vulnerabilities all over the park. We just didn’t have the capabilities to take advantage of them, but I believe many others (ourselves included) will, as the season progresses.
It may sound a bit rich to say this, particularly given our current league position (and our inability to win at home!), but I really don’t see anything about Man Utd, at present, that we should be concerned about. They’re above us in the league, of course, but it’s very early days and 9 points can be made up easily at this point.
As always, this is just conjecture and only my opinion, but at present there are only two things I am envious of Utd for: Van Persie and their current league position. In terms of our squads, ours is the better equipped – for both this season, but particularly future ones – and once we hit form, we should chase them down pretty quickly.
I’m almost certain that some will disagree, and everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but if we can pick up a solid, 15-20 goal-per-season striker in January and continue going from strength-to-strength prior to that, we are superbly equipped to have a better season, and maybe even aid Ferguson into early retirement in the process.
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with due respect to all liverpool fans, the only world class players u hav are luis suarez & steve G. Skrtel & co will win u a few games bt not trophies.
OMFG you are joking right? Otherwise I’m very concerned about your mental state. But hey, you never dive alone !!!
Bring Malaga’s Isco at Liverpool and also some cover in the bench too.also please guys stay out of injuries!!
One last,sorry Gerrard,you are a legend to this club but the way he performed against Stoke got me thinking that players like Allen,Sahin outclassed him by miles.Should we sign Isco and have everyone firing on all cylinders,i suggest this:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Allen Lucas Sahin
Isco Suarez Sterling
Bench:Doni Kelly Coates Gerrard Shelvey Assaidi Borini
I have to agree to that article too.If i compare most of our players to theirs,it is so funny to see the difference in the league table.yes they are way stronger in attack with Van Persie,Rooney,Chicharito and Welbeck while we upfront only have Suarez and Borini(youngster who needs time).But compare the other players:
Reina vs Lindegaard=Yeah Reina has made a few howlers already this season but you cant disagree that he is miles better than Lindegaard
Our defence:Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique
Their defence:Rafael-Evans-Ferdinand-Evra
with the exception of Evra,the other 3 all worse than our 3.
Our midfield:Allen-Lucas-Sahin-Gerrard-Shelvey-Henderson
Their midfield:Carrick-Fletcher-Cleverley-Anderson-Scholes
Take out Cleverley and the others arent even good for top half finish.I mean i’d rather have Jamie o’Hara from relegated Wolves than these ones!!
What is more is that our youngsters have shown glimpses of huge talent and potential.either switch to 4-4-2 with Suarez and a new 15-20 goals striker or keep playing 4-3-3 but bring us a winger then,and i’m a huge fan of Malaga’s Isco.
If Man utd fans disagree with what i said,i aint got a problem,it’s just my opinion.My opinion is that if it wasnt for Alex Ferguson,you’d fighting for 6th-7th position with so many average players.
U are very funny dude…how many own goal have your back four scored???who borini??haha…….none of your midfielders is fit to play inour essence team…go sell Reina before you are relegated…..wtf you have to see a doctor
Not even a rival anymore these deluded bin dippers! Been scrounging around the mid table area for a few years signing the likes of borini (don’t give him time he’s awful, il bet you your benefits he’s not there in 2 years) just stick to remembering the good old days and forget the future! Never your fault
i hope you are 7 years old or something because you dont know what you are talking about
as a livapool fan,it is fair to say man-u is bette than us base on many reasons.but concidering this season, irrespective of league position,even man-u fans will agree with me(if they are honest)that liverpool is betta than man-u concidering their performances.the only diffrence is that man-u played 12 against 11 and liverpool 11 against 12 even 13 bcos it seems that the football association(fa)is against us(concidering a stamp on suarez chest)by not given hutt a suspension.but we will never walk alone.
Are you retarded – seriously? because you write you are.
LOL hear it all the time ‘united wont get in the top 4’ well if your so convinced, go to the bookies and put down as much of your giro you can afford and see how much you get back. is it ‘your year’ again this time? put down the crack pipe and get back to reality than man united is one of the strongest teams in europe and stop showing your biast, we beat you get over it, you have a another cup final to put everything into when you come to the theatre of dreams
Good mate, david definitely lose his money if he bet us below than 4th place, our worst position in 20 years is 3rd place
i have nthng against Liverpool, they have always commanded my respect due to their footballing philosophy, their history and the rivalry with Manchester United?
but to think u not mentioning Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic, calling Paul Scholes past his “prime”, this 2 made me laugh the most…haha!!
i agree that both the referring decisions against Liverpool at Anfield were objectional, but to dismiss Manchester United as title contenders by a simple game, let alone by a Liverpool fan, is delusional at best, and stupidity at worst.
De Gea is the reason we went to the final day of the season last time around, the other players r finding their feet, nd u not mentioning ur bad transfers is a two-timing side…Carrol, Adam, Henderson (to name a few, many will also arise this season)….
Steven Gerrard is arguably 1 of the best players i have ever seen, but for some reason i dont get y many (not all, most) fans dont even consider Scholes as “Good”, let alone gr8…
nd if u want to fight on the youth product side of things, we have gr8 youths on our side too (Pogba nd Morrison were 2, but delusional pricks left), but Sir Alex is taking his time to slowly introduce them, Nick Powell has started showing his ability, others will also follow suit…..
mark my words, Liverpool r a gr8 side, but delusional articles like this makes me chuckle, u guys have a lot of catching up to do, blv me….9 points can be covered nd 4 cant? made my day!!
Look the writer even made a mistake….we didn’t lose to Southampton…..third shows his porous knowledge about his article…that man u will finish an Europa league place??? Well let’s hope we only play Liverpool next season because I just cant see them surviving the league this season…who shelvey?? Agger?? Sterling??? They would play in man u’s reserve team not even the youth team…Liverpool has a very poor side…can Suarez be compared to Rooney or van persie??? De Gea is in the national team where is Reina???. The writer seem s drank
Greetings,
Guys, I’m a Liverpool fan as much as you all are but I think this conversation is ridiculous. Liverpool haven’t finished above Man Utd for a decade, Mancs have been in three CL finals out of last five, and we haven’t played proper European football for 5 years now. I love LFC and will always support them but the fact is United are so much better in every department. Which is why we have to put everything into supporting the Reds and not trying to diminish something we can’t even dream of at the moment.
well said
1 word…….deluded!!!
the guy who wrote this has just embarrassed liverpool fans like me everywhere .
David Tyrer, Am sure you are ready the comments so far on your article. I really wondered what came over you or promted you for such an article. The past five seasons have defined liverpool new position in epl. It seems to me you started with epl this season.
How anyone can write something as deluded as this, and expect to get people to agree is simply beyond recognition. I have a lot of respect for ANY football fans being loyal to their teams, and wishing them well in competition. However, this obsession between certain Liverpool fans and United must stop before they destroy the clubs reputation among the footballing greats, or even the premier league. All other teams fans base their prospects upon recent league position, bar one… and thats liverpool fans. There is no FA conspiracy, just a bunch of idiots stirring the pot, claiming that they love the club when they are making it a laughing stock. If you continue to do this, it won’t just be united fans laughing at us, the whole league will join in with them. IF YOU TRULY LOVE YOUR CLUB YOU WILL STOP WRITING THIS C**P ABOUT LIVERPOOL, FOREVER. YNWA
i agree 100%
One word to describe this article ‘Deluded’
Noticed how in the article he goes on about our signings that were expensive and yet to convince such as Jones (err he is 20 and had one season) Smalling (Who has been quality by the way), Nani who I am not being funny Liverpool would kill for and although inconsistant still as good as anyone on his day. Then he bangs on about Liverpools quality singings such as Allen and Shelvey haha. He is having a laugh isn’t he. What the hell have them 2 even done at Liverpool to warrant any praise.
He also conviently forgets the prices the dippers paid for Aquilani, Carrol, Downing, Henderson etc. A cool 100m near enough there.
They finished a mere 34 points behind us last season, already 9 points behind this season and haven’t had 1 tough away game yet. Is he serious to even think they will get within 15 points of Utd never mind finish ahead.
Face it scouser, you are not even a top 6 club anymore never mind top of the table. Now scurry off and discuss with your closest rivals such as Stoke and Fulham.
Funny how even though we were absolutely shocking we still beat them.
I think its simply a matter of Liverpool has sucked for quite a few seasons now. And Manutd hasn’t.
They’ve started sucking this season, and manutd hasn’t.
Umm, so what’s the purpose of the article?
Guys, leave this fellow alone. Suffering from obsession and desperation. I would sincerely advice you to stop following football. It has come to a level where you mind will come up with anything to make liverpool better, but don’t share this huh.
I hope you get better.
I am a Liverpool fan and I find this article border-line embarrassing. Kagawa has impressed (have you watched a game?) and yes Scholes is old (very old) but you cant compare our stalwarts to him and Giggs – exception to Gerrard of course. How can you say Jones Smalling etc. dont look convincing yet you talk highly of Henderson and one Sterling who has only played half a dozen Games. End of the day RVP Scholes, Kagawa, Vidic, Rio, Valencia, Rooney are better than anything we have and if you think Europa League beckons for them put your money where your mouth is.
I am a liverpool fan and i find this article very embarrassing . it gives other fans more reason to laugh at us
shame on the writer . find another hobby ,you idiot
ha ha ha ha ha!! You have one maybe two players who could possibly get into the Utd squad. Stevie and Pepe. No-one else is anywhere near good enough!! The dopey oaf Shelvey maybe, the flying/falling Suarez….Naaa, no chance. You don’t keep winning for 20+ years on luck and packs with Devils. You lot of all people should know that.
Loved the comment on Europa leage this season…. utter BS, we will be unlucky to finish 2nd this season
Now I have serious doubt about you being a real LFC fan since it seems like you don’t know your team at all!
Delusion at its finest ‘I smile at the smaller fees we paid for Suarez, skrtel, etc, does your smile wane when you realise you paid three times more for Carroll than we paid for Ronaldo? Are you still smiling upon realising players like young who are ‘yet to convince’ are twice the players of downing? Even your fellow Liverpool fans are calling you embarrassing especially when you think Scholes is past it and Kagawa hasn’t flourished. Your just trying to kid yourself out of the fact loserpool are a club in terminal decline and MUFC are second despite injury problems and without even hitting form yet. Come back when you’ve watched a few games and have 19.