"The only thing missing is to have more positive results so we can finish in a Champions League spot. We showed we can match anyone - we had chances to win many of those matches. If we go into every game in the Premier League with the same intensity that we've shown in the big matches we can be much higher in the table."
So said Luis Saurez, the Liverpool striker who’s goals and all round play has helped the Merseyside team climb the English Premier League. Will it be enough though, and will Liverpool reach the heady heights of Champions League football again?
13 games into the 2012/13 Premier League Season, you would have been deemed mad if you dared state that Liverpool Football Club would once again, this season, qualify for the highest echelon of European football; The Champions League. With only three wins recorded (against Reading, Norwich, and Wigan) and just 16 points on the board, things were obviously taking longer than hoped when it came to “Rodger’s revolution.”
Looking forward however, and with 13 games left of the season, the fortunes of Liverpool FC seem to have changed. The playing style adopted by Rodgers has been grasped, if not mastered. But it’s also evolved, and with it the hopes of the team and fans have grown.
Is it realistic to think that qualifying for the Champions League is within the grasp of the club once more? Liverpool currently sit on 39 points, with a further 39 points left to play for. In the last decade the lowest points tally of the 4th placed side was 60 in 2003, the highest was 76 in 2007. The average: 68 points. That means, on previous form, Liverpool will need to collect 29 points from the 39 available, along with picking up some invaluable points against their rivals – something they have, in the majority, failed to do so far this season.
Looking at the remaining fixtures, things look bright. The Anfield side play three of their Champions League rivals at Anfield, with Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham all visiting the stadium which is slowly being made into a fortress once again, Liverpool scoring twelve goals and conceding none in the last three games in front of The Kop.
Liverpool don’t play a single side currently in the top 10 away from home. Although (as Bradford proved at Anfield in 2000) playing sides towards the bottom of the league at the end of the season is never easy – those scrapping for survival are like a cornered animal, and put their bodies on the line to gain 3 invaluable points.
Liverpool’s rivals for the all important 4th spot are Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal, and neighbours Everton, and in comparison to those four, the fixture list looks like it has been friendly to the team from Anfield.
Everton play Manchester United at Old Trafford, before facing Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea before the season ends. Add to this tricky matches against relgation threatened QPR and Reading, and it’s not going to be easy for the Toffees.
Chelsea face Manchester City at The Etihad Arena, and also face Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, and then go away to Aston Villa and Southampton who will both be fighting for their lives.
Arsenal face Tottenham, Everton, and Manchester United along with having to face European giants Bayern Munich over two legs, and an FA Cup quarter-final.
Finally Tottenham, currently sitting in 4th place and only 9 points ahead of Liverpool – take on Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, with away trips to Wigan and Stoke City thrown into the mix as well, it’s going to be a testing time for Andre Villa- Boas’ team between now and the end of the season. With injuries to key members Sandro and Jermaine Defoe, and Emmanuel Adebayor just returning from the African Cup of Nations, a gambling man would be hard pushed to back Spurs for fourth spot.
Taking into consideration the fixture list, and then looking at Liverpool’s form and confidence, it’s hard to argue with the fact that the side appear to have found a real stride, and some confidence at just the right time. The past two games, away at Arsenal and Manchester City should have resulted in 6 points on performances alone, but disappointingly (and perhaps worryingly) Liverpool left with a draw from each stadium. Two draws that beforehand many of the clubs fans would have accepted.
The January additions of Daniel Sturridge and the exciting Coutinho will help with the goals the reds have missed along with taking some of the burden from Luis Suarez who so often carried the team in the earlier parts of the year. The old guard of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are looking as good as they ever have, Lucas Leiva seems to have put his long term injuries behind him, and even Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing – so often the whipping boys of rival fans and the British press – have firmly established themselves as starting players.
If there was ever a chance to remedy a disappointing start under a young and exciting new manager, this is it. If there was ever a chance to get back amongst Europe’s best, this is it.
If there was ever a chance to get The Kopites roaring on a mid-week evening, facing off to Europe's finest, this might just be it.
You can follow Chris on Twitter.
So said Luis Saurez, the Liverpool striker who’s goals and all round play has helped the Merseyside team climb the English Premier League. Will it be enough though, and will Liverpool reach the heady heights of Champions League football again?
13 games into the 2012/13 Premier League Season, you would have been deemed mad if you dared state that Liverpool Football Club would once again, this season, qualify for the highest echelon of European football; The Champions League. With only three wins recorded (against Reading, Norwich, and Wigan) and just 16 points on the board, things were obviously taking longer than hoped when it came to “Rodger’s revolution.”
Looking forward however, and with 13 games left of the season, the fortunes of Liverpool FC seem to have changed. The playing style adopted by Rodgers has been grasped, if not mastered. But it’s also evolved, and with it the hopes of the team and fans have grown.
Is it realistic to think that qualifying for the Champions League is within the grasp of the club once more? Liverpool currently sit on 39 points, with a further 39 points left to play for. In the last decade the lowest points tally of the 4th placed side was 60 in 2003, the highest was 76 in 2007. The average: 68 points. That means, on previous form, Liverpool will need to collect 29 points from the 39 available, along with picking up some invaluable points against their rivals – something they have, in the majority, failed to do so far this season.
Looking at the remaining fixtures, things look bright. The Anfield side play three of their Champions League rivals at Anfield, with Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham all visiting the stadium which is slowly being made into a fortress once again, Liverpool scoring twelve goals and conceding none in the last three games in front of The Kop.
Liverpool don’t play a single side currently in the top 10 away from home. Although (as Bradford proved at Anfield in 2000) playing sides towards the bottom of the league at the end of the season is never easy – those scrapping for survival are like a cornered animal, and put their bodies on the line to gain 3 invaluable points.
Liverpool’s rivals for the all important 4th spot are Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal, and neighbours Everton, and in comparison to those four, the fixture list looks like it has been friendly to the team from Anfield.
Everton play Manchester United at Old Trafford, before facing Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea before the season ends. Add to this tricky matches against relgation threatened QPR and Reading, and it’s not going to be easy for the Toffees.
Chelsea face Manchester City at The Etihad Arena, and also face Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, and then go away to Aston Villa and Southampton who will both be fighting for their lives.
Arsenal face Tottenham, Everton, and Manchester United along with having to face European giants Bayern Munich over two legs, and an FA Cup quarter-final.
Finally Tottenham, currently sitting in 4th place and only 9 points ahead of Liverpool – take on Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, with away trips to Wigan and Stoke City thrown into the mix as well, it’s going to be a testing time for Andre Villa- Boas’ team between now and the end of the season. With injuries to key members Sandro and Jermaine Defoe, and Emmanuel Adebayor just returning from the African Cup of Nations, a gambling man would be hard pushed to back Spurs for fourth spot.
Taking into consideration the fixture list, and then looking at Liverpool’s form and confidence, it’s hard to argue with the fact that the side appear to have found a real stride, and some confidence at just the right time. The past two games, away at Arsenal and Manchester City should have resulted in 6 points on performances alone, but disappointingly (and perhaps worryingly) Liverpool left with a draw from each stadium. Two draws that beforehand many of the clubs fans would have accepted.
The January additions of Daniel Sturridge and the exciting Coutinho will help with the goals the reds have missed along with taking some of the burden from Luis Suarez who so often carried the team in the earlier parts of the year. The old guard of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are looking as good as they ever have, Lucas Leiva seems to have put his long term injuries behind him, and even Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing – so often the whipping boys of rival fans and the British press – have firmly established themselves as starting players.
If there was ever a chance to remedy a disappointing start under a young and exciting new manager, this is it. If there was ever a chance to get back amongst Europe’s best, this is it.
If there was ever a chance to get The Kopites roaring on a mid-week evening, facing off to Europe's finest, this might just be it.
You can follow Chris on Twitter.
Liverpool News 24/7
0 comments:
Post a Comment