Liverpool prove their top 4 credentials
People said this season that the Premier League had a ‘Big 3′, not a Big 4′, what with Liverpool’s inconsistent performances in the domestic league. Much of that was banter, but if there was any genuine doubt it should have been cleared today with Liverpool’s win over Everton.
It’s not the manner of the win nor the scoreline that counts, but the fact that when Liverpool really needed to win and put 5 points between themselves and their chasing neighbours, they came up with the goods. The next three games on Liverpool’s calender - two trips to the Emirates Stadium following by playing host to Arsenal at Anfield - are crucial games for Liverpool and that away league game to Liverpool was especially crucial, given that a defeat there coupled with not taking full points today would have handed the advantage to Everton.
As things stand, Liverpool have some breathing space and although you wouldn’t expect Rafa to throw the league game at Arsenal for a chance at Champions League success - Everton are still too close for that - the Spaniard can at least be more relaxed and go to the Emirates to play a team who, despite that stunning comeback away to Bolton - are not in the best of form.
Everton fans will claim that according to this table, they should be 3rd / 4th. They’ll claim that they still have a shot at 4th place in the actual league (although they’ll be lucky to still be in with a shout when they travel to the Emirates on 3rd May) and that Liverpool are not as good as they claim.
Everton are certainly right on that last account. Liverpool are not as good as they claim to be, nor are they as consistent as their ambitions demand.
But will Everton be able to beat Birmingham away? Arsenal? Villa and Chelsea at home? Liverpool’s run-in (despite the # of away games) is easier and as long as Torres can keep scoring, they’ll be in the Champions League next season as well.
And until Everton or Tottenham or anyone else can consistently dislodge Liverpool from the top 4, they’ll stay part of the Big Four - even if they are increasingly ‘best of the rest’ rather than ‘one of the best’.
Liverpool remaining 07/08 fixtures
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
Arsenal v Liverpool, Quarter Final, L1, 19:45 (CL)
Saturday, 05 April 2008
Arsenal v Liverpool, 12:45 (L)
Tuesday, 08 April 2008
Liverpool v Arsenal, Quarter Final, L2, 19:45 (CL)
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Liverpool v Blackburn, 13:30 (L)
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00 (L)
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Birmingham v Liverpool, 15:00 (L)
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Liverpool v Man City, 15:00 (L)
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Tottenham v Liverpool, 15:00 (L)
Everton remaining 07/08 fixtures
Sunday, 06 April 2008
Everton v Derby, 15:00 (L)
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Birmingham v Everton, 15:00 (L)
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Everton v Chelsea, 20:00 (L)
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Everton v Aston Villa, 16:00 (L)
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Arsenal v Everton, 15:00 (L)
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Everton v Newcastle, 15:00 (L)
I don’t think Liverpool feel that they are “as good as they claim to be”. Since when did the likes of Steven Gerrard or Rafa Benitez allude to such a belief, let alone explicitly state it. The fact that Liverpool have been in two of the last three champions league finals compensates to a large degree for their abysmall showings in the league in that time. It is this what makes Liverpool very much part of the ‘big four’ and not simply the “best of the rest”. It may be that the press are responsible in the main for the ridiculous hype that surrounds Liverpool and their status amongst their peers. The fans, who can be just as fickle as the rest, are for the most part wise to their beloved teams and it’s current ‘domestic’ position in real terms.
But surely the term ‘big 3′ has more do with the ridiculous gap in quality between Liverpool and the rest of the ‘big 4′ and Liverpool’s continued failure to close this gap despite spending incredible amounts of dosh.
Its not big 3 its big 2 Chelsea and Utd are way beyond us and Arsenal I thought this year Arseanl could break their hold but it isnt to be
Nonsense. It’s Big 3, Liverpool, then everyone else.
So yes… you Scousers are special. Specially not quite good enough.
Liverpool are like the Real Madrid of the late 90s. remember Real had to beat Valencia in the European cup final (3-0) to ensure they are playing in the Champions League the following season cuz they finished 5th? Before that final Real had even lost to Celta Vigo an embarrassing 6-1. Power houses in Europe, also ran ins, in the Primera Liga. sounds familiar??? now they are consistant challengers for the league title but it has been 7 years now since they reached a European Cup final. Rafa is letting us enjoy all these cup successes while he slowly build a team good enough to win the premiere league title cuz its only 8 or 9 games in the cup(its easier to win that) but its a gruelling 38 games in the league. so patience guys!!! let Rafa do his job. very soon we will see a Liverpool side top of the premiere league in May but accept the sacrifices we would have to make in the cups…
fantasies are wonderful precisely because you can make them come true only in your imagination…
thats what everyone said(fantasies and imaginations) about Liverpool when they were going for the 05 European cup… sure would love to see some dog poop on your face when Liverpool win the premiership in the near future
the fantasy I was referring to was your comparison of Liverpool with Real Madrid.
‘Very soon’ and ‘near future’ are what, your predictions? We hear them every season. When Liverpool can start a season strong and stay in contention by December, then it’s time to talk about them as contenders.