AS the 3rd goal was put away for Hull two weeks ago it wasn’t just a shock to the system it was an embarrassing ‘hiccup’ in what has been a great start to the season. I’m sure that we’d all be forgiven for thinking the world had ended, just as much as we’ll all probably be thinking ‘it’s on’ in terms of the title race.
All a bit too optimistic, I’m sure, but when is it OK for us to starting believing that we’re in the title-race?
Well, we’ve only beaten Norwich and West Ham, but surely 9 goals for, 2 against and sitting nicely nestled in second place after 15 game (4 away from the mid-way point) means we’ve got to be considered ‘contenders’, at the very least?
If you look at a run-down of the title-chasers odds from most bookies prior to the game on Saturday, it was all about City (somehow, having no discernible away form counts for something) being favourites, Arsenal being second faves and Chelsea being not-too-distant 3rd.
Liverpool have generally sat – as they usually do – around 4th to 5th favourites, but are pretty much considered to be wide outsiders. But how many times do City and Chelsea have to drop away points or flatter to deceive, only to see Liverpool jump above them in the league, before the so-called experts will take us seriously?
In many ways that is a rhetorical question, as I know that the answer probably we’d have to make it 100% mathematically impossible to lose the league title before we’d be taken as genuine contenders for it.
But as I said, prior to the game between Arsenal and Everton, we’re sitting second with comfortably the 3rd best goal difference and with only Man City having scored more (34 to their 41). Given that at various times this season we’ve been missing either Suarez, Coutinho or Sturridge, I think that we’re not doing too badly.
Also, factor in the fact that we have a fairly decent amount of players that are still ‘bedding in’ and trying to get used to their new league and surroundings, and many of the players we’re used to seeing are struggling for form and you’ll find that we’re actually in a position that, when everything starts to ‘click’ and the majority of the first-team finds it’s form, we will really be a force to be reckoned with.
With the games against West Ham and Norwich turning out to be great triumphs, we have easily our toughest run in a few seasons in the offing and I think that if we can come through away games at Tottenham, Man City and Chelsea (with Cardiff City interspersed) with 3 draws, we’d all be happy.
Of course that is a lot to ask, even with a fully-functioning squad, so with not fully-fit Coutinho, an injured Sturridge and Gerrard, we may be asking a lot but I’ll go on record to predict 5 points from those 3 games and 3 more from the home game against Cardiff City, to take us into the New Year with a healthy 38 points from 18 games (the maximum being 54).
It’ll be a big ask, even with all of the other main challengers being in European competition but if we can get Gerrard and Sturridge back fit, strengthen properly in January and make the most of what our squad can offer then only our own doubts can hold us back.
I dont think we are title contenders , our squad is too weak . Top 4 is a possibility.
5 points from those 3 games without Sturridge or Gerrard is a bit optimistic, I would happily take 3 points. Think we can beat Spurs but probably not City or Chelsea. Not title contenders but with Spurs and United struggling its our best crack at top 4 for a while
Title Contenders not yet in my book. But LFC can challenge properly for to top3 if we hold our own especially in the midfield against top contenders. I see us winning at whitehart lane on sunday only if we can keep the ball well, avoid conceding stupid goals from set plays then el pistolero kill them upfront.
The midfield is where we’ll struggle – Allen, Lucas and Henderson need to be in top of their game if we are to get anything out if spurs, city and Chelsea. I hope we get those 5 points, otherwise I fear we,ll drop to 5th or 6th … Hope not, fingers crossed
Why not aim higher like 9 points?
i am on ur said..
We aren’t contenders NO WAY – we struggle v big teams & have rubbish bench .
If Suarez stays fit , maybe we can be top 4 , only if we r lucky wit injuries
well takin d fact dat gerrad,sturrige both out 4 some weeks meaning points will definetly be droped but lets hope our bench will come to our aid……ynwa
In response to the title of this article: once we acquire Lionel Messi. lol. First we have to attain European qualification; then we can start entertaining thoughts of the top two. I like your positive attitude though.
Once the ‘ easy start ‘ is over. If we are a few points off coming through the next three to four weeks, it’s possible.
Because we’ll then have an ‘ easy finish ‘ to the season.
That was for haters of Rodgers and lovers of this ‘ easy start ‘ theory.
Yawn. The boring troll Aaron is back. What a clown.
Its goin 2 b a very tough match btw liverpool nd spurs but i hope we wil win.5 points ar ok 4 dos 3 difficult matches. Top 3
Sack Rodgers and remove those average signings of his and replace with world-class competitors, then we can hope for the title.. BR is a failure…
I agree . I don’t think we will ever be serious contenders with Rodgers as boss .
We are not title contender……………yet!
If we finish top 4 at the end of the year then I will say we are top 4 contender. If we finish top 2 at the end of the year then I will say we are title contender. The reason is top 2 / top 4 means we are in position to attract quality players and sign them in January. Also, we only have Man Utd and Southampton among top 4 contenders to play away from Anfield.
So the last 4 games of the year are very crucial to judge our season. Hopefully we can grab 6 points from those 4 games. Bring on!
There is a site on the net Liverpool-Kop run by a man utd fan
If lfc beat any of spuds,citeh,chelski then I will eat my hat.
We are no way near title contenders, Our squad is too weak.
We have done very well so far but the biggest factor is we are not in Europe, whereas the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United have had to play mid week games due to being in Europe. We have played once a week, yet the injuries to key players have krepted in?
If we were playing in Europe our squad would have been tested and put under pressure alot earlier, as currently we have Enrique , Gerrard, Sturridge out injured.
If we had been playing in Europe, we would have alot more on the treatment table.
Rodgers needs to address our centre midfield problem:
As Allen(24), Henderson(23) and Lucas(26) all do similar things all can break up play, all good passers but all cautious, all good passing sideways and back. All offer little creativity or goals from the centre of park, none of them offer any power or a physical presence in the centre of the park. Allen(24) and Henderson(23) both are mobile and have a bit pace about them. Lucas(26) on the other hand is immobile and has no pace.
B Rodgers needs to spend 33M on these two French International Centre midfielders with class, quality in January to sort out the current problems in centre midfield who would become the French’s midfield duo in world cup:
1: DM: Y M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan for 10-14M to compete, cover and put Lucas on the bench . ( Mobility, Physical Presence, Strength some of the attributes M’Vila has over Lucas)
2: CM: Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for 14-18M to compete, cover and put Henderson on the bench. ( Class, Creativity, Goals few attributes Cabaye has over Henderson)
And Two class creative consistant performing Goalscoring wingers on each wing:
3: LW /LWF: D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for 4-6M to compete and Cover Ibe and so B Rodgers can send V Moses(22) Back to chelsea as he has been a waste of a loan.
4: RW / RWF: M Salah(21) Of Basel for 12-16M to compete and Cover Sterling.
5: FD: L Remy(26) Of QPR for 5-8M to compete and Cover Sturridge
If we are still in the top 4 come January and these 4 players are brought to club, then we will compete for the top 4 positions all the way through until May 2014 and have a slight chance of winning the league.
I think 5 points from those 3 away games would be incredible. Given we have no Sturridge or Gerrard, we have struggled against good teams under Rodgers, and our ‘backup’ players like Aspas or Alberto have hardly played a game recently.
We’ve shown against the likes of Southampton and Hull that our whole team can also fail to turn up. And that Rodgers can get the tactical setup woefully wrong against quality managers.
I’m not being negative, but of we get through our next 4 games (including Cardiff) without losing I’d be very happy. 6 points from 4 games might not sound much, but would be a big sign that our backup players can perform.
I hope we revert to 3 at the back as our central defenders on the bench are better than our reserve attackers/midfielders.