Liverpool FC - Title Contenders

This is one of those posts that when you start writing it you hope it isn't about to backfire on you. Fate, a bad omen or superstition stops posts like these all over the world? Not me, oh no, I'm going to post it and if it backfires... well I'll just delete it later ;-)


Towards the end of November I questioned whether we should be written off as 'title contenders' and that our moniker should be replaced by '4th place scrappers'. At the time United were 8 points ahead of us (the same difference existing the season before, albeit we were the ones 8 points ahead), a not insurmountable points difference I argued. But Chelsea were a further 5 points ahead of them. I had already pointed out that Chelsea had a potentially points dropping run coming up and the African Cup of Nations to contend with, but a few days later I tweeted that I expected City to definitely beat them. This was following a poor run of results by City with a team that was capable of so much more. I personally think Chelsea just caught them at a time when they had to prove they could be contenders, even if they weren't (if you get what I mean).


So a few weeks on, after concluding that we shouldn't be written off as title contenders, where are we up to? Well, if we win today (and despite us still not having 'fired on all cylinders') we move a step closer. We will have reduced the points gap to United by one point and Chelsea by three. I realise this would only be the first small step but it would be a significant step forward nevertheless.


We finally have our first team back and Rafa has selection headaches today more akin to last season rather than this. A first team I would suggest that is better than United's and as good as Chelsea's. Our squad unfortunately cannot compare to either of them, so keeping our first XI fit is imperative if we are to lead a charge to the top. But, fitness withstanding, I truly believe that a 10 point gap can be closed down against a team which has faltered of late and still has to lose their best players for a period. Lets see how they get on without their best midfielder and striker shall we? 


As for United well they have more quality than us when you get past the starting XI, so injuries don't quite effect them in the same way; especially against the lesser teams. But I believe their starting XI is currently punching above their weight. They do not seem to have the cutting edge they had with Ronaldo (who effectively won the title for them last season). Despite some good results I expect they will start to fade and possibly implode when they hit their bad patch, which they will.


We have been written off way to early, by everyone (ourselves included). There is still over half a season to go and we can still pull a rabbit out of the hat. But we must start today and come the 3rd January we will need to have picked up maximum points. This is not impossible once our first XI starts firing on all cylinders. Let's see how the land lies then shall we?


One final thought. I've got good money on Wenger arriving at Anfield today lambasting his luck in the date of this fixture. This would have been a very different post a few weeks ago!


You'll Never Walk Alone