Sunday, March 27, 2011

Can Liverpool Steal 5th Spot?

As disappointing as Liverpool’s exit from the Europa League against Sporting Braga last week was, Reds fans can console themselves with the fact that for the first time in a couple of years now, there are plenty of reasons to be positive. Since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish, the fortunes of a club - who unthinkably considered the possibility of relegation just a few short months ago – have been transformed and there is cause for optimism once again at Anfield.

Just two seasons ago, Liverpool were part of the “Big Four”, a group of clubs at the top of the Premiership so dominant that we were told it couldn’t be broken into. Not only are Liverpool not in the top four anymore, they aren’t even in the top five! It is certainly possible Liverpool can regain their Champions League place by finishing in the top four next season, but to do that, they are going to have to secure European football next season.

As he struggles to find form at Chelsea, Fernando Torres is already a forgotten man at Anfield as the Kop worship a new season. Luis Suarez shirts have been flying off the shelves ever since the Uruguyan hitman arrived at the club and wowed fans with his exciting range of skills and finishing prowess. His classy finish against Sunderland on Sunday underlined his quality and the potential he offers Liverpool.

Liverpool are still in need of more quality additions to their squad to supplement the undoubted quality of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raul Merieles, Suarez and Andy Carroll. With new owners who have pledged to invest in the team and the feelgood factor returning to the team with Dalglish, the summer certainly looks like being an exciting one for Liverpool supporters. But key to attracting players to the club is the lure of European football.

As things stand, not many would fancy Liverpool to catch Tottenham for fifth spot, with Harry Redknapp’s men sitting four points clear with a game in hand. However, the obvious distraction of Spurs Champions League quarter final with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid could be the source that lets Liverpool creep in for an unlikely comeback.

Liverpool fans are certainly starting to believe. Sales of Liverpool football shirts complete with official football shirt printing have significantly increased since the arrival of Dalglish and victories over Chelsea, Manchester United and Sunderland have added to the confidence levels at Anfield. That setbacks will occur is undoubted, as the squad is still not deep or strong enough to show the level of consistency boss Dalglish would like.

But with Suarez in the form he is in and £35m striker Andy Carroll still to be fully integrated into the team, the signs are positive for Liverpool. It will be a tough ask to overhaul Spurs but with 24 points still to play for it is certainly a possibility.

Written by Eddie Smith, a sports writer who blogs about cheap football shirts.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kenny Dalglish it out of touch with the modern game, He still believes that this team compeers with the Liverpool of old. What makes me say this…Our last Europa League campaign, being 1-0 down away from home against a very good SC Braga out fit he believed that we could take them back to Anfield and win it. Had they scored at Anfield we would have needed 3 goals to go through…

His obsession with British talent makes little sense, yes some of you will trumpet the 6-5 ruling, but this will never come to past. Look at teams like Real, Chelsea, Arsenal, City, even Spurs, do they look like they believe this ruling will come in?... Look at their transfers…

His transfer targets have been mediocre and puzzling. As back up to the squad he had I can except, but he replace better players with worse, and It seemed like it was with more concern for his ego rather than for how good they were… He bought these players and was going to play them no matter if they were not as good as the players he replaced… Again we are subjected to the hapless Jordan Henderson being in the starting 11 at Wigan, while player like Morgan, Cody, Sterling, and Suso rarely make the bench let alone the pitch

For me KD has proven himself devoid of any real managerial skill when it comes to doing something to effect a game that is going away from us, whether that is a change in formation, tactics or substitutions

Continued
“The rewards (in the Premier League) are greater but I think it’s more difficult to be successful now than what it was because there’s more competition.”….

Who is he kidding?.... Yes there are more foreign players plying their trade in Britton, but the competition between the teams remain the same, in fact there are 4 less match per season than when KD as there use to be 22 teams in the League, and the same amount of Cup games, and European games…

He is clearly out of touch with the modern game, players, Europe. I question the amount of input KD had on winning the titles he won, and how much input came from the old boot room that gave us the likes of Shankly, Paisley and Fagan

Before Roman A Chelsea was a cup side. Ask their supporters would they like to go back to the days were they challenged for the FA cup and league Cup regularly and never had nights in the Champion League. I know what they would say…. Champion League all the way


KD has had a season and a half and after spending £100m has taken us backwards

Should KD go?.... Most definitely

BTW
2011 season AND AFTER OUR WORSE START EVER
P W D L GF GA GD PTS
30 13 6 11 41 36 5 45


2012 season AND SOME £100M LATER

P W D L GF GA GD PTS
30 11 9 10 36 31 5 42

Anonymous said...

Kenny Dalglish it out of touch with the modern game, He still believes that this team compeers with the Liverpool of old. What makes me say this…Our last Europa League campaign, being 1-0 down away from home against a very good SC Braga out fit he believed that we could take them back to Anfield and win it. Had they scored at Anfield we would have needed 3 goals to go through…

His obsession with British talent makes little sense, yes some of you will trumpet the 6-5 ruling, but this will never come to past. Look at teams like Real, Chelsea, Arsenal, City, even Spurs, do they look like they believe this ruling will come in?... Look at their transfers…

His transfer targets have been mediocre and puzzling. As back up to the squad he had I can except, but he replace better players with worse, and It seemed like it was with more concern for his ego rather than for how good they were… He bought these players and was going to play them no matter if they were not as good as the players he replaced… Again we are subjected to the hapless Jordan Henderson being in the starting 11 at Wigan, while player like Morgan, Cody, Sterling, and Suso rarely make the bench let alone the pitch

For me KD has proven himself devoid of any real managerial skill when it comes to doing something to effect a game that is going away from us, whether that is a change in formation, tactics or substitutions

Continued
“The rewards (in the Premier League) are greater but I think it’s more difficult to be successful now than what it was because there’s more competition.”….

Who is he kidding?.... Yes there are more foreign players plying their trade in Britton, but the competition between the teams remain the same, in fact there are 4 less match per season than when KD as there use to be 22 teams in the League, and the same amount of Cup games, and European games…

He is clearly out of touch with the modern game, players, Europe. I question the amount of input KD had on winning the titles he won, and how much input came from the old boot room that gave us the likes of Shankly, Paisley and Fagan

Before Roman A Chelsea was a cup side. Ask their supporters would they like to go back to the days were they challenged for the FA cup and league Cup regularly and never had nights in the Champion League. I know what they would say…. Champion League all the way


KD has had a season and a half and after spending £100m has taken us backwards

Should KD go?.... Most definitely

BTW
2011 season AND AFTER OUR WORSE START EVER
P W D L GF GA GD PTS
30 13 6 11 41 36 5 45


2012 season AND SOME £100M LATER

P W D L GF GA GD PTS
30 11 9 10 36 31 5 42

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