LIVERPOOL’S history is immersed in Europe, with five incredible European Cup wins, three UEFA Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.
However, the most successful English team in Europe is facing another year in the wilderness, out of European competition in its entirety, let alone the Champions League.
Furthermore, whilst the dream to be the best in England and Europe rages on, the fight to simply be the best in Merseyside is present and very real.
Everton have finished above the Reds in the last two seasons, despite the tighter financial restrictions, so maybe the objective this year isn’t to challenge for a Champions League place, but to get ahead of Everton again.
However, there are a multitude of reasons to believe that Liverpool’s recent league positions below Everton are not going to last.
Firstly, Liverpool have a young, talented and hungry team that looks set to improve on last season, although admittedly there have been many false dawns in the past and a lot of money has been spent. Nevertheless, the second half of last season was extremely promising, especially with the type of football that was played, fuelling the typical optimism at this time of year.
In contrast, Everton are always tough to beat, with a more physical style that harasses and bullies opponents. Nonetheless, they have shown that they can bring the ball down and play, with many pundits suggesting early on last season that Everton were playing their most attractive and fluid football ever under David Moyes.
In spite of this, Father Time is catching up on the Toffees, with many of their first team players over 30, like Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard and Leon Osman. Both clubs could be reaching a crossroads; however Liverpool could be on the way up and Everton could be on the way down.
Secondly, Everton are now under new management in the shape of Roberto Martinez with the departure of David Moyes to Manchester United. Despite not winning a trophy, Moyes was one of Everton’s best ever managers, consistently keeping them in the top eight or higher on a net spend of usually negative.
Furthermore, they did have cup runs, like the 2009 FA Cup final and had a taste of Champions League football in 2005 (although they lost in qualifying to a very strong Villarreal side). Martinez has an incredibly tough act to follow, and will surely struggle to live up to similar heights in his first season, as well as the talk of seriously challenging for a top four spot.
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Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has already had to go through this sort of ordeal but on an even greater scale when taking the job at Liverpool. It became apparent that he needed time to settle in and get the squad used to his style of football, as well as bring in players suitable for his long term vision.
Consequently this damped expectations, fuelled by the tough start to the season. Nevertheless, Rodgers is through that now and Liverpool are looking stronger, especially with a few more signings this summer. But crucially Rodgers has settled now, he is aware of what comes of him as the Liverpool boss and is ready to make a much greater fist of things this time round. Martinez has yet to experience all this, and has to implement his ideas and vision on a smaller, if not non-existent budget, yet with similar expectations.
Finally, we come to the actual quality of the two squads. Liverpool finished formidably last season and have already made additions to the squad in the shape of Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure and Luis Alberto. Everton have made some modest signings already with Antolin Alcaraz, Arouna Kone, Joel Robles and Gerard Deulofeu.
However, constant rumours persist around Goodison Park regarding the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, and if they left Everton, they would be facing a serious fight to stay in the top eight, let alone fight for top four.
Looking at the two current squads on paper, it seems that only consistency would stop Liverpool from finishing above Everton this season. The Reds do have a creaky defence at times, but on form it boasts quality and experience, while Everton’s is really aging, with Sylvain Distin 35 and Jagielka 30 amongst others.
The midfields are fairly balanced, with the likes of Gerrard and Lucas for Liverpool and Fellaini and Osman for Everton. However, whilst Everton do have some impressive forwards like Kevin Mirallas, Liverpool possess greater strength and superiority in this department, with Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, new signings like Aspas and Alberto and a certain Luis Suarez.
Overall, Liverpool are well placed to end this position of power on Merseyside that the Evertonians believe they enjoy, whilst looking to finish in the top four again for the first time in five years, so that the masters of Europe on these shores can taste the good life yet again. As for Everton:
‘We will then crush the rebellion with one swift stroke’.
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He didn’t get offered the job mate, he was one of many candidates and BR was number one on the list. Our form once coutinho and Sturridge came in was 3rd best in the league, that’s not a bad place to pick up from. We’re still along way off top 4 and definitely need 2/3 first team additions…but we’re going to be closer than Everton…Moyes was your best chance it’s downhill from here 🙂
Ok imraan. You haven’t a clue
1. Martinez was number 1 choice …he turned it down. Fsg and ayre never even denied it because it’s true. Everyone knows Martinez turned us down
2. Stop ly ing .we were NOT 3rd best in league since they signed. WE WERE 6TH.
6TH NOT 3,RD ok ?
Get your facts right
Based on results from the start of february weekend commencing 9th feb (once we had more than one fit striker that didnt keep getting banned) the league would have finished withliverpool in 3rd. Fact. And from the same date liverpool scored the most goals of any prem side and conceded second least goals (arsenal 8 liverpool 9), and liverpool had the best goal difference in the prem. All fact. That is called progress. And all this rubbish about suarez being our only hope. Liverpool won more games when he didnt play than when he did, fact. And only one player in prem had a better goals per game ratio than suarez last season, any guesses? It was sturridge. Fact. And if/when suarez goes we get two world class players with the money. Ones who can play all season not just half of it cos they act like a prize *on the pitch.
Ok Tommy – you haven’t a clue Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has branded Wigan chairman Dave Whelan a ‘comedian’ for his actions during the Reds’ manager hunt.
Whelan gave regular updates to the media during the period in which the Latics’ manager Roberto Martinez was approached and subsequently interviewed for the vacant Liverpool job.
The 75-year-old even suggested Martinez had been offered the job before the role of Kenny Dalglish’s successor eventually went to Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers.
“I always thought John Bishop was the biggest comedian in the north west but Dave Whelan seems to have taken that mantle over the last couple of weeks.”
Ian Ayre Quotes of the week
And Ayre was unable to hide his frustration regarding the manner in which Whelan briefed the press during negotiations.
“Our aim from the outset was to conduct a proper, thorough, search and do it in the proper manner,” Ayre told the Liverpool Echo.
“From our point of view, we did all the right things. We approached the clubs we needed to approach, and conducted ourselves properly at all times.
“It is disappointing, then, that Dave Whelan felt the need to run the kind of sideshow he conducted via Sky Sports News and various other media outlets.
“To be honest, I always thought John Bishop was the biggest comedian in the North West but Dave Whelan seems to have taken that mantle over the last couple of weeks.”
No secret
Asked if it was true that Martinez was offered the job as Whelan claimed, Ayre said: “That is patently not true.
“We make no secret of the fact we spoke with Roberto Martinez, but that is all we did.
“He is a great guy, and I can’t speak highly enough of his professionalism and conduct.
“But for his chairman to make suggestions like he has, and suggestions that just aren’t true, well it is disappointing to say the least.
“We can say with absolute certainty that the only person who was made any offer by Liverpool Football Club was Brendan Rodgers”
Imraan . Dont be silly.
Roberto Martinez has revealed he was offered the Liverpool manager’s job before Brendan Rodgers – but turned down the role because Latics chairman Dave Whelan persuaded him against it.
The Spaniard held talks with Liverpool over the summer and was near toagreeing a deal before he went back to have one final chat with Whelan.
The Latics chairman then convinced Martinez otherwise and instead persuaded him to sign a new three-year deal.
‘We must educate people, in five or six years we [Wigan] reap the benefits,’ said Martinez.
‘Maybe I won’t be there then but this is not why Istayed, when Liverpool made me an offer.
Martinez didn’t once say he was offered the job only his comedian chairman
Read above. Look up stuff b4 spouting nonsense . Like your ” Liverpool were top 3 since Jan” lol .
Imran take your made up stats to a forum mate they’ll be appreciated there the 3rd best record since mid January what are you on? signing Alberto, aspas and toure (not even the good one) and mignolet arnt going to make liverpool stronger straight away with reina gone carragher retired and if Suarez leaves liverpool seriously need to sign some experienced and quality players just to try and build from last season. But imran your stats are clearly just made up to keep you warm at night in 2/3 years liverpool won’t have Suarez and gerrard and if champion league football isn’t secured in the next 2 years then liverpool will be waiting a long time to see European football again and also without financial investments everton also will not be seeing any European football so the battle if merseyside is all both team have now and your not getting any silly stories about liverpool not wanting Martinez is rubbish everyone knows liverpool agreed a deal with Wigan to take Martinez and he flat out rejected and opted to try and improve Wigan which didnt happen and now everton have one of the youngest and hungry managers in the prem yes he got Wigan relegated but had them playing good football and they had some great performances with one of the weakest sides in the league.
What are you on? I didn’t say anything was going to happen overnight, all I said was the form over the 2nd half of the season isn’t a bad place to pick up from. Toure is a very shrewd signing, he’s in great shape and has huge experience ( obviously he’s not as good as his brother but we weren’t offering a huge transfer fee and 200k a week) he was on a free. When Suarez leaves LFC will buy an experienced forward just like they’re trying to find an experienced left back and central defender. We’ve got brilliant young players but everyone knows they’ll struggle unless there’s experience with them. As for the stats they are exactly that “stats” it’s black and white based on what actually happened, if you don’t agree with them that’s irrelevant. Also I can’t remember Martinez making any reference to being offered the LFC job just the “comedian” lol
Yes, if there was a trophy for best record from February onwards then we would win it! You are seriously clutching at straws mate.
Martinez was offered the job !!! Google it !
Well said David.
And imran . Kop on lad . If you believe a word out of Ayres mouth you really are dumb
Every fan knows Martinez was offered the job
The amount of bull and downright untruthstop come out of Ayres and Rodgers mouth is unbelievable. 2 bulls*it artists
“Only consistency”.
Only????
You make this Evertonian chuckle
As much as I would believe , I think Liverpool would do better and top Everton provided of course Liverpool can improve on their performance drastically. Both managers have not won any trophies and Everton will stumble under their new manager just like what we went through the beginning of last season. If bitey stays of course our chances to top Everton is even much better.
It comes down to this, if both teams keep their respective best players it’ll be a closer run thing. I expect Liverpool to improve on last year but I also believe that Everton can improve on last year given the creative players who will be playing with a more attacking mindset and in their correct positions. That coupled with Evertons existing sturdy defence has got to be exiting for Everton fans.
Duelofue is one of the hottest properties in world football. Jelavic was on fire in his first season, recreate that with support from Mirallas and Kone and you’ve got a ton of goals.
The final question is will Martinez make it happen straight away, it takes every new manager time.
Coutinho is the new gerrard.
Based on results from the start of february weekend commencing 9th feb (once we had more than one fit striker that didnt keep getting banned) the league would have finished withliverpool in 3rd. Fact. And from the same date liverpool scored the most goals of any prem side and conceded second least goals (arsenal 8 liverpool 9), and liverpool had the best goal difference in the prem. All fact. That is called progress. And all this rubbish about suarez being our only hope. Liverpool won more games when he didnt play than when he did, fact. And only one player in prem had a better goals per game ratio than suarez last season, any guesses? It was sturridge. Fact. And if/when suarez goes we get two world class players with the money. Ones who can play all season not just half of it cos they act like a prize p***k on the pitch.
Ha ha ha ha . Is that a fact ?
NO . YOU ARE WRONG AGAIN
Why do u fools continually make up nonsense ?
From the 9th of February Liverpool would have finished 5th. THAT IS A FACT
Get a clue please .check it out b4 posting nonsense
Poor old tommy cant even add up. Never mind ‘lad’ stick to emptying the bins if I was you
Would u like proof ?
Can’t you look it up for yourself ?
Andy king …you are stupid
I smell a sheep with Andy !
I think you need to do your adding up again. Then apologise.
It’s pretty pathetic that u fools are picking and choosing the dates u want the league table from . Maybe we could make it just the last 3 weeks April or something
You Rodgers apologizers amaze me with your stupidity. The season is 38 games , not 13 or 14 . You can’t even get a simple “fact ‘ like that correct
Not choosing dates for season to start from. Simply pointing out a fact that once sturridge and couthoino were both playing liverpool improved. We were sh*t at start of season and a lot better than most by the endof it. Fact. And in premier league goals sturridge had the best goals per game ratio of any player after signing in January. Google as many stat sites as you like. Stop spouting rubbish for forum inches and get someone to work your calcikator for you ‘lad’.
Really ? You are making rubbish up . Pure li es to suit your pathetic arguments . Do you want me to show u the league table from Feb 9th ?
Well ? Shall I show you the table from Feb 9th …..or are u going to admit your ‘facts’ are made up ???????
Ha ha ha . Andy soft lad …it gets better. It wasn’t just one player who had a better goals per minute ratio…there were 6 players with a better ratio than Suarez and sturridge was not number 1
Not very good with ‘facts’ are you soft lad ?
Dont see any facts comin out. Just rubbish ha ha
http://m.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/130608/premier-leagues-best-minutes-goal-ratio-its-not-rvp-1990
This shows your ‘fact’ about Suarez/sturridge goals ratio to be untrue
Why do u make these things up ?
Looks like Andys mom told him to turn his lights out …or maybe he is struggling with his ‘calcikator’ (lol)
Not only does dimwit Andy king get all his so called wrong , he actually thinks if Suarez was sold we could attract not just one …but TWO world class players .
He said sturridge has best goals ratio in league …then he changed it and said ‘of any player after signing in January’ …ha ha ha . Of course he had the best ratio.of players signed in January…..not many strikers were signed in January
You really are a prize p***k arent ya. I said after he signed in january. As in his ratio of premiership goals per game ‘ playing for liverpool’ after signing in january (ie not including any appearances for chelsea) was the best in the prem. Did not say every player who signed in january at all. Did suarez sign in january did rvp did bale ? What an idiot.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2376995/Liverpools-Luis-Suarez-ready-say-wants-join-Arsenal.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Oh so . You DONT include his appearances for Chelsea ? Lol
Maybe you could just include certain games and not others ?
For the whole season . Sturridge was only 6 th best . So you are wrong . You cant just pick half a season
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2376995/Liverpools-Luis-Suarez-ready-say-wants-join-Arsenal.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Check out the ‘why liverpool want 50M’ graphic in the article for premiership goals scored last season.
Sturridge =0.71 goals per game.
Suarez 0.7.
Rvp 0.68.
Dont apologise tommy cos in your own little world your never wrong are ya ‘lad’. LOL
you take the honorary title of ‘soft lad’ tommy. Get your FACTS right next time eh. Put up or shut up.
Fair enough . I would have thought goals per minute were more relevant …anyway
Do u still think Liverpool were 3rd from Feb 9th ? ….or not ?
Actually they are WRONG . they dont include chelski apps …so wrong again Andy
He has gone very quiet on the whole ‘liverpool were 3rd ….’ . I think he will change his story again and say he meant something else . Lol
I was right …he did change his story
Do you never learn tommy. Go here
http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/custom-table
Put in feb 12 in start date. And any date after end of season for end date. select. All matches. All goals. For and conceded.
Read it and weep.
Liverpool in 3rd place. Arsenal top. Liverpool have Best goal diff. Most goals scored. 2nd best goals conceded (9 to arsenals 8)
I rest my case.’
Just cos your off school your mum shouldn’t let you stay up this late!
Ha ha ha . Changed now to Feb 12th
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Hah a ha ha ha
Andy knew he was wrong …that from the 9th of February Liverpool would be 5th
..so he changed his dates to the 12th …..ha ha ha .
What a bellend .
Sheeeeep Andy ….sheeep
So one final question Andy
Were Liverpool 3rd in the table from the 9th of Feb ?……or not ???
It is no sheep . He changed his name because he embarrassed himself so much last time. Total joke
@andy . What a clown you are !!
What a ridiculous, uneven and pointless article.
I very biased view from a very bitter Liverpool fan I’m guessing yes Liverpool have bought some players but are they really better than what Everton have bought time will tell as for baines and Fellini leaving think your more hoping than anything else here is looking down at you lot again
Just shows how far down the pecking order your guys are now , actually worrying about everton consistently finishing above you every year ! It was only a few years ago that many of you muppets were bleeting on about how the man utd games were more important than the derby.even though every year they finished around 20 points ahead of you.
Settling for mediocracy is what we did when we appointed moyes 11 years ago.
You’ve done the same in appointing Rogers
Welcome to our world
thanks dean for being unbiased