The first noises started when Real Madrid were humbled at Anfield. Then Liverpool managed to make up ground on United since what seems like the first time since the winter break with a thumping of the champions at Old Trafford. It got noisier still. Then, what seemed like an impossibility happened: Man U dropped three more points and Liverpool still managed take three points. The lead was reduced from an untouchable 7 points to one point.
After a ridiculous 13 goals in the past three games, the buzz surrounding Liverpool grew to an equally ridiculous pitch. First came the expected declarations from Gerrard, Riera, Carragher, and Skrtel that the Reds have what it takes to win the Premier League and end the title drought.
“The pressure is on United, we have conviction, form favors us, etc.”
We’ve heard it before, always at the end of a season when the front-runner stumbles and the doomed runners-up suddenly look lively. Chelsea last season actually were level with United on points but behind on goal difference at a later stage of the season, and players made similar statements but failed to edged out the Red Devils for the title.
The difference between this year and last year is that it ended with the title race, whereas in the past week or so Liverpool players have been earning huge acclaim.
The Steven Gerrard praise is acceptable. On form, he’s the best in England. He was recently declared better than Kaka, which has been true over the past few months, but if I had to choose between the two based on the performance of their careers, I’d choose the Brazilian.
Zidane disagrees and said Gerrard is the best in the world, ahead of Messi. I’d once again have to disagree, as I think the Argentine will absolutely cement his status as world’s best in the upcoming Champions League clash against Bayern, in the Copa del Rey final against Bilbao and when Barcelona secures La Liga. Thankfully, Gerrard recently agreed with me and has stated he doesn’t think he is the best footballer on the planet.
Some praise is totally out of control though, such as the idea that Pepe Reina might actually score someday because the Spaniard’s distribution from the box is excellent. Goalkeepers have scored before, but the idea that Pepe Reina will get within shooting range and beat a EPL or UCL class shot-stopper is a little insulting.
The point is that the people at and around the club need to stay calm.
Realities need to be faced, the most important being that Man U still have a game-in-hand, and Liverpool need them to have two more slip-ups in the remaining nine games. Given recent form this is possible, but given that five of the nine are at home, where United have dropped 5 points all season, and that the four away fixtures are against Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull, and Wigan, I can’t really see many problems for the Champions. Wigan can force a draw from the Red Devils, and Arsenal can surely beat them at Old Trafford, but even then Liverpool would have to be perfect for the rest of the season to win.
Liverpool can do it, and United can certainly fail. The key is not to get carried away. The Reds have a remaining eight games of similar caliber, and injuries aside, should be able to make the race tight till the final one or two games.
The international break is coming up, and I think it is a great time for both Sir Alex and Rafa to settle their squads before the final push. Whoever does it more effectively will probably end up champions.
I don’t know why people keep on saying how Man U is strong. Look at their results throughout this season. How many 1-0 games they had! It is not that they are great but that the other team gave them too much respect. If people say the title for them to loose, why not say Liverpool seemed to blow it away by drawing so much at home when Man U grasped a late goal. Pls people open your eyes. This Man U is just the true Man U, they will not slip. It’s just only their true selfs. When they show up in the remaining game and the other team recognised the fact, they would lose and draw and collaspe!
This article was obviously written by someone who clearly does not support Liverpool, and that’s a shame.
One more thing to take into consideration: Liverpool has a better goal difference than United. You’ll remember that last year United’s goal difference was so superior to Chelsea’s that it essentially counted as one additional point. This year, that isn’t a factor, which is good news for anyone hoping for a closer finish in the title race.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Liverpool need to focus on winning the matches and hope for some miracles. The international break may have come at the perfect time for United. Gives them a chance to collect themselves after successive losses. Liverpool, meanwhile, will need to find the form they’ve displayed against Real, Man U and Villa when they return from the hiatus.
It certainly is possible for Liverpool to still win the league, but it would be very surprising at this point. Nevertheless, this is the best season Liverpool has had in a long time, and if they are only in sight of the title when the season ends, it will be a great improvement and it gives the Reds something to build upon next year.
This should have gone in the article, but it seems Rafa Benitez agrees with me about keeping serene:
“My message to the fans is to keep calm. I can see the people have a lot of confidence at the moment and that is good. We have to stay positive and see what happens.”
From:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=631697&sec=transfers&cc=5901
The editor obviously does not get it. Liverpool are simply applying the same pressure on United as they would do on us if they were inour position. Mind games have existed in football for as long as there has been media coverage of the sport. This will have the same effect on the players and the manager as it does on the fans, it upsets them and gets under their skins. It brings out nerves, aggression and mistakes (as with Rooney and Ronaldo and co at the weekend).
We may get there and we may not, but it will hopefully be a bloody battle all the way.
I agree with the article I still don’t think Liverpool will go on to win.
Thing about football is there is only so long you can win before you drop a few points.
Manchester United hadn’t lost in several weeks before they came crashing back down to earth but this position is very familiar. In fact this position is a replay of last year.
With a superior squad to last year, a point in hand and a game in hand the ball is in Manchester Uniteds court.
Fact of the matter is the Premier League is not about that great week in December or that great 4 game streak back in September its an accumulation of points based on your performance over many games.
The team that is the most CONSISTENT wins out not the team that can produce a good result every few months. Whoever is the most consistent through the remainder of the season will win.
If Liverpool go back to their winning a big game then not winning a single game for 2 months their never going to touch the Premier League title unless their foes are stumbling just as bad if not worse.
Fact of the matter is the fact that United had to stumble for Liverpool to be in with a chance of winning it is pretty sad. You hope to have 2 good sides go at it and win games consistently and not slip up at places like Fulham so this year if United lose the title it’ll be because their bad not because their opponents are good.
Right now it’s just a question of how bad United will keep slipping up. Otherwise even if Liverpool were to win all of their games United would still have a chance to take the title.