Although you’ve got to give Liverpool credit for coming from behind against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, I’ve seen nothing this season to convince me that the title is heading anywhere but Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford.
I said in August it was going to be a two-horse race and that’s how I still see it. Chelsea and United have been ticking over so far, getting the results without really doing anything special, but one or both of them are going to click at some point and make a real charge.
Liverpool are nothing if not solid but I just can’t see them finding the extra gear a team needs if they want to be champions. They’re still to reliant on Torres and Gerrard and I just don’t think they’ve got enough strength in depth to sustain the challenge in the New Year.
Chelsea have shown uncharacteristic weaknesses this season, especially at Stamford Bridge, but they have really missed Drogba and when he’s 100% again they’ll be a different proposition. Anelka has come in and done a great job but for me Chelsea are still a more dangerous and stronger team with Drogba in the side.
United have been patchy as well. Losing Ronaldo was a massive blow at the start of the campaign but he’s starting to show the form of last season and if he continues to improve with every game, anything is possible.
For me, though, the biggest advantage United have over Chelsea is the fact they’ve already played their tricky away games. They’ve been to Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Emirates, as well playing at Everton, Spurs,Villa and Man City, which means they’ve got the kinder fixture list heading into the New Year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the title race was as tight as it was last season, maybe even going down to the final day. I’d still put my money on United but the truth is, at this stage, it could go either way.
Written by Gary Pallister and previously published on 4sportsake.com.
“JoeJoe: Get back to me in March/April. The analysis IS objective….it’s you who are not, and I’m afraid you are letting yourself in for a big disappointment.
Quality in key positions and lack of strength in depth is Liverpool’s problem and it will remain so. Most Liverpool fans are keeping their powder dry because they realize this. Rafa needs more money and to spend it better before a title challenge willl come from Anfield.
Closing your eyes and wishing doesn’t work my friend.”
But it isn’t objective. You say we lack strength in depth….two seasons ago I would have agreed with you. However, Rafa’s record in the transfer market has yielded the following (this taken from another forum I am a member of):
Arbeloa (2.5million from deportivo) – Easily worth 5 million now…Has become capped by spain since joining us. Good squad player who can play either RB or LB. Very good at Man marking.
Reina (7m from villareal) – Now where good GK are at a premium, what a signing by Rafa, A top goal keeper who has got better year by year, easily the best keeper in the PL. Not only good between the sticks but a TOP PERSON, who brings good vibes to the team and as said by SG could be future captain. If sunderland spend 9.5 million on that scottish keeper, then Reina is easily worth 15m+ but realistically at 24, I would value him at 12million.
Alonso (10.5 from real soc) – Classy CM- Who has sat nav in his boots and can distribute the ball wherever he wants, not many in the game can pass and hit the ball as sweet as Xabi. Had a bad 18months but that was due to injuries, as the saying goes class is permenant and form is temp, this guy is all class, keeps us ticking and is a vital cog to our midfield. We saw against Preston first hand what a difference he makes. Easily worth 17m
Daniel Agger (5m from Bronby) – Class left sided CB, very few CB have a sweeter foot than Agger, he can pass and shoot like he was a midfielder. Only 24 he can only get better. This was a true bargain…with players like Anton Ferdidand going for 8m and Upsen touted at 10m and villa paying 10m for cuellar, etc…this shows you the snip we have got on our books. AC millan 8,5 million….don’t make me laugh, that is a joke of an offer and Rafa should laugh in their face. This guy is easily worth 12million…with time on his side….he can only get better.
Martin Skrtl (6.5m from Zenit) – It makes you laugh when you hear that Skrtel is our most expensive defender, Aged 24 this tough tacking defender is a perfect partner for Agger in the future. No-nonsense defending in the carragher mode, this guy will go through a ton of bricks (maybe goes in too early) excellent signing in the vidic mode who I can see being at Anfield for years to come. (easily worth 12million+
Last but not least…
Torres – (20m from A.Madrid) – I don’t have to say much on this guy, 20million soundes like peanuts now and fergie must be tearing his hair out that he did not put that money up for this wonderkid only aged 24. With many clubs struggling to find that special NO9 (who has pace, strength, can dribble, head, shoot) we have him in torres. Worth currently…50million.
My post continued:
And I haven’t even mentioned Riera, Kuyt, N’Gog, Insua, Nemeth, Cavalieri, Mascherano etc.
So you try and tell now me we lack strength in depth fella.
@#51: No problem. Here we go:
Full-back: Arbeloa, Aurelio, Dossena, Degan; all (at best) average players and wouldn’t get near the Chelsea or Utd squad. Rafa is supposedly after Glen Johnson….yet another full-back, so what does that say?
Wide Midfield (wing): Babel hasn’t realised his potential. Riera is average (he’d done little to impress up to the age of 26 when Liverpool bought him so hardly a surprise.)
Benyoun is a bit player and Pennant is permanently out in the cold.
Forward: Like last season, nothing to back-up Torres. Keane has been poor and Kuyt is all perspiration and no inspiration.
CM: Lucas has gone backwards and was awful against Stoke.
The analysis last season, not least by Liverpool fans, was that the team was weak in the full-back and wide midfield positions and needed another quality striker to support Torres. Nothing has changed in any of those positions this year. Keane may come good but so far his contribution hasn’t helped much.
Granted, the ’spine’ of the team is strong and has reasonable cover but again, that was the case last season.
N’Gog, Insua, Nemeth, Cavalieri: Insua looks promising but the other 3 have not emerged yet so will not be a factor this season.
Try listing the ‘flops’ Benitez has bought, not least the players who only lasted a sigle season (which always indicates poor judgement by a manager).
Also Alonso, who has been excellent this season, would have been out the door if Benitez had got his way in the summer!
# 52
What an utterly futile exercise, (our full back is better than yours) you should get out more.
I take it you are a Mancunian ?
@#53: Why not FINALLY read my post number 25 and address the points I make.
To quote Liverpool fans towards the end of last season (if not on an ongoing basis) “we are weak in the wide positions (full-back and wide midfield and need support for Torres.)
As I detail in #25 (that and more) and again in #52 none of that has been addressed so where do you conclude that the (obvious) gulf of last season has been bridged?
Address the points and you won’t look such a plank.
Good result at Stoke by the way.
#54,
Have you ever heard the expression “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts” ? That was why Shankly and Paisley were so successful.
Football is a TEAM game something in this age superstars seems to be forgotten. The key to success is teamwork, team spirit, continuity and stability. Of course money is needed but you cannot buy continued success without these factors as Chelsea and Man City are discovering; these are alsothe reasons United have been so successful in recent years.
Liverpool under Rafa are well on the way to acheiving this and are good enough to win anything going. I don’t really care if none of Liverpool’s players are good enough for Greatest Team In t’World.
You are a Mancunian aren’t you ??
better result at derby by the way x D
it does my head in when people say oh liverpool will never win the title, when you don’t know that for definate. for gods sake we are at the top of the table. we are 4 points ahead of chelsea and 8 points ahead of Man u. Chelsea have been doing crap latley ever since we beat them last year. Liverpool have beaten both Manchester United and Chelsea this season and i am sure we will again when we play them in february and March. Liverpool have just as much a chance of winning the title as Chelsea and Man u if not more. don’t always be so negative about Liverpool they are a good team
@#57: Nobody is saying they are not a good team, of course they are. All I’m saying is that they are not good enough to win the title. Again, I spell out in detail why I think this in #25. It’s clear and in plain english.
It’s alraady slipping away from Liverpool. 14 points from 24 includes 4 draws against opposition you need to be putting away if you want to win the title.
Utd. have taken 20 points from 24, gone to Japan for the CWC in the middle of this AND not conceded a single goal in any of those 8 games.
I know where my money is and why. It’s a no brainer and I’ve just been suggesting to Liverpool fans not to set themselevs up for a major disappointment. Tears will flow on merseyside before too long, believe me!
#58
Its not over yet but Sob Sob.
You are a Mancunian aren’t you ???
Normal service has just been resumed. We apologise for the delay but the fat waiter will soon be removed….permanently!
HUBRIS with all panache and swagger of Ronaldo driving a Ferrari.
You are a Mancunian aren’t you ?
Some of the Liverpool fans on this thread must now be feeling a little embarassed!
Anyone like to reasses their position?
I notice Liverpool fans everywhere are starting to turn on Benitez after the latest ’slip-up’ against Wigan.
#62
I was waiting for you to reappear.
I think to be in the position Liverpool are in considering the ongoing turmoil within the ownership ansd management of the club is quite an achievement.
I for one would be content for Liverpool to win nothing this year if it meant getting rid of Hicks and Gillett. What the fans want above all is stability and a new stadium.
YOU ARE A MANCUNIAN ARE A MANCUNIAN AREN’T YOU ??
Basically… I don’t know whats wrong… I don’t know what to say…. As far as I can comprehend.. It d ATTITUDE.. And not able to kill off games when u r 1-0 up…. Plus why is Rafa so obsessed with Lucas.. It seems he is the only Brazilian soccer player, to have born without skills
We have class… And we have depth for most of the positions… Its just the ATTITUDE… And yeh subsitution problems…… Why d fuck can’t Torres play 90 min, once a week, he is only 24…. You have in form players…. Can’t just Rafa get the right Tactic…. Fire Lucas…. And win!!!!
I’ll tell you what’s wrong; there’s a malaise at the heart of LIverpool caused the the ownership issue which is affecting morale throughout the club. If you were employed by LFC (in any capacity) how would you feel if you knew that after all the damage he’s caused, Tom Hicks is hawking the club round the the world’s financial hotspots, leeking false information to flush out buyers whilst at the same time trying to keep a piece of the action himself ?
The club has no direction whatsoever, Tom Hicks is the owner from hell and Liverpool fans deserve better, a lot better.
Bt how would you justify that brainless Brazilian running in the heart of the field…
Jofrad, kudos for turning-up! I see it’s now the owners fault again!?
This seemed to disappear as an issue when all the LFC fans were declaring that the title was theirs!
You’re right about the turmoil of course but all I was ever saying was that LFC fans should not set themselves up for more disappointment, that objective assessment of their quality v Utd/Chelsea indicated that they were not good enough to win the title this year etc. etc. etc.
I still hold that view and believe that recent events on the field are down to that and nothing else. Not Benitez’s antics, not the internal politics, not the owners, not luck………..just quality of players and depth of squad.
Wrong again BD, success or no success Liverpool are directionless until these 2 cowboys are gone completely. They will hold their first full board meeting for 12 months next week which says it all. I will admit however that Rafa would do himself and the club a favour by keepng his mouth shut.
YOU A MANCUNIAN AREN’T YOU ??
Five points clear and counting!
Counting down that is !
You are a Mancunian aren’t you ? Or when you got interested in football did you just happen to pick the richest club to support ?
By now though… Half of the article has been proved wrong…. Its bye-bye to Chelsea for the time being……… And I hope both Rafa and Keane…. Won’t mind if owners or Lucas leaves!!!
Man U… Let’s see what happens!!!
Really Jofrad, stop letting yourself down!
I thought you had more about you than that!
Straightforward question really BD. What’s the problem ?
MANCHESTER UNITED… Have got the Maximum Number Of fans in the Entire World….Speaking strictly of English Premier League..and the years 1990-2006… Why?? Because they have been the most Successful, Rich team in these years. So you ask any1 who has a very little knowledge of Soccer, “Which club do you support?”. They’ll reply, “Dunno…Manchester United may be!!”, and ask them, “Ever heard of West Ham, Aston Villa or Everton”, and they ll say “No.”
So Most of the fans stick to their first choice. But Some do migrate as they watch more of the Man U matches and see players like Nani and Ronaldo playin’ unfair and then they watch Arsenal play “real football” and they see Liverpool and their glorious past and Chelsea and their Stars and then they pick their favourite team. Well that has been case with me. I supported Man U till they had David. And i personally feel that Ronaldo has never deserved to put on Beckham’s shirt.
@74: And that in a nutshell is why you are what is commonly known as a ‘plastic’ my friend.
Real fans choose their team and stick with them for life.
Your credibility just went to zero with that nonsense!
I m a Kop fan for life….
I am from India where in name of soccer u only had Man U and Brazil.. 5 years back…
And like others… I didn’t watch matches and supported Man U… I though watched Beckham… His freekicks were awesome… But he missed awful lot of penalties…. I supported Liverpool when I started watching full matches.. I was 14
Well the article ended up being spot on. At the time of writing the article, they were 8 points clear and now as i write this they are 7 points behind. The only response to that is…..GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA……!
You forgot what u did last season with Arsenal or what has happened with you earlier… The show is still not over
@GJ: ????