Liverpool fans have utterly enjoyed Manchester City's rise and United's fall of late. That 'Aguero' moment back in 2012 got us in a frenzy of celebration and jubilation at the fact that Manchester United lost the league title to their bitter rivals. Why United and not City then? They are both Manchester teams after all. No, Liverpool and Manchester United have been fierce rivals for over twenty years, in contrast to City, who have ascended to the top in the last three-to-four seasons. This time however, Liverpool may be about to rely on their bitter rivals to give them a helping hand as the Anfield side look to pip Manchester City to fourth spot.
Why United and Not City?
At a point in time earlier on in the season, Van Gaal's side found themselves in seventh position, five or so points behind Liverpool. Now, they are battling Arsenal for second place. They and the Londoners are THE form teams at the moment, whilst Pellegrini's City have gone from title contenders to a scrap for fourth place in the matter of a few weeks. This is the main reason why the blues seem a more realistic target for Rodgers. FORM.
Here is how the top half of the table looks like at the moment:
Brendan's boys find themselves seven points behind City, eight behind United and nine behind Wenger's Arsenal. Form shows us that finishing second or third will be a near-impossible feat. Fourth-place City on the other hand, although mightily difficult, can be achieved after the blues' 2-1 defeat to Palace the other night.
Liverpool's Trip To the Bridge Will Determine Top Four Outcome
Hopefully, Mourinho's men will be crowned champions by then, thus easing the pressure on them performing against us. One thing's for certain, that fixture on the 10th of May is a pivotal one if Liverpool still find themselves hot on the heels of fourth spot by then. Rodgers' men WILL NEED a result that day in order to stand any chance of overlapping the blues. Another uphill task for the reds, as Chelsea are yet to loose a home fixture thus far this season. Hey, records are meant to be broken, aren't they?
It Will Be a Struggling Day, But We Will Have To Get Through It
Supporting a team like Manchester United for the sake of the side you support is depressing in the best of times. However, unless Van Gaal's men find a dip in form out of nowhere, we will have to stick by them and hope they defeat City this Sunday and propel us to within four points of the European places, as long as we win our game against Newcastle. The match is at Old Trafford as well, which will give us further cause for optimism. (Or doom, I am not too sure)
If all goes to plan, the four points gap will definitely urge our players on. Let's do it for Stevie, Rodgers, and to see Liverpool trot out to the anthem of the UEFA Champions League once again in the 2015-2016 season.
I will conclude by listing the remaining seven matches for both Manchester clubs, including Liverpool's as well.
Manchester City Manchester United GW32 Manchester United (A) Manchester City (H) GW33 West Ham (H) Chelsea (A) GW34 Aston Villa (H) Everton (A) GW35 Tottenham (A) West Brom (H) GW36 QPR (H) Crystal Palace (A) GW37 Swansea (A) Arsenal (H) GW38 Southampton (H) Hull (A)
Liverpool GW32 Newcastle (H) GW33 Hull (A) GW34 West Brom (A) GW35 QPR (H) GW36 Chelsea (A) GW37 Crystal Palace (H) GW38 Stoke (A)
Looking at the run-in, I reckon Liverpool have the easiest set of fixtures ahead, with Manchester United the toughest. Could we witness Pellegrini's men rise in form towards the latter part of the season, resulting into United loosing out instead? Maybe. I am going with form and gut instinct by saying that it is more likely we will be battling Manchester City to fourth spot by the end of next month.
Do you think differently? Let me know in the comment section below!
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Five wins on the bounce, including an impressive thirteen matches unbeaten had Liverpool dreaming of a second place finish and an FA Cup winners' medal to show for by the end of this campaign. Catching Chelsea would always be a near-impossible task, however Brendan's men were nailed on pipping City to the runners-up position.
Fast-forward a mere two matches later, and 95 % of reds fans would bite your hands off for fourth place. Yes, that's the beauty (or rather 'misery') of the Premier League, as the reds have fallen eight points behind the Champions League places, with Rodgers job being questioned once again.
Kenny > Rodgers?
Roll back to the 2011-2012 season and King Kenny's final campaign in charge before getting relieved of his duties. We finished eight that season, and the Capital One Cup was clearly not enough to keep the king at Anfield. Now, these last two 'disaster-stricken' results make this Wednesday's FA Cup battle with Blackburn a colossal fixture that may make or break Brendan's future. If we do not WIN the competition, we will find ourselves in a similar position to that in Kenny's final season. The only difference? Kenny Dalglish led us to two cup finals, winning one of them. With that being said, why should we stick with Brendan and support him, when we didn't show the same faith with Kenny? After all, they both spent mammoth-sized amounts on 'average' players. What makes Brendan different to the king?
No Champions League Football, Fall From 2nd to 5th... Is The Club Going Backwards Again?
Fergie guided Manchester United to the top for a number of years on the trot. Mourinho, although briefly, did the exact same, and so did Wenger. Brendan guided Liverpool to the top for one season, and in that season, failed to win us the league. Now, we find ourselves in fifth spot and facing an uphill challenge to regain our place in next season's Champions League.
We failed miserably in our first season back in the competition, and if last summer's transfer window is a similar one to this, we may see Liverpool be deprived of Europe's biggest club competition for a number of years to come.
He Cannot Handle The Big Decisions
From Luis Suarez's abrupt exit, to allowing young Raheem do whatever he pleases, when he pleases, Rodgers is proving that he cannot cope with a number of crucial decisions that come his way. Firstly, onto Raheem Sterling, who seems to have Brendan on the tip of his finger right now. The 20 year-old should NOT have been allowed to conduct that interview with the BBC, and Brendan should have punished him for going against the club. Fine him, place him on the bench, do whatever it takes to prove your point to the troubled youngster. We are Liverpool after all, we should be able to replace him.
Secondly, Brendan Rodgers NEEDS TO toughen up. Gerrard, Skrtel, and Can's dismissals in the last two matches were all acts of carelessness and recklessness. Yet, Brendan seems content on praising his players and stating that they all showed 'great character' and were 'unlucky' with the decisions. Brendan, none of the three red-cards were 'unlucky', and they were all rightfully given their matching orders.
If Brendan is to be given this sack this summer, we will need a new man to enter the fold. Here are five individuals who may get given a look-in by the owners.
Jurgen Klopp (47, Manager of Borussia Dortmund)
Now, I am not beginning with my most preferred and ending with my least. The managers on this list are jumbled up, as we start with a people's favourite in Klopp. The Dortmund boss has dragged his team through thick and thin, glory and despair, and most importantly, he has shown loyalty when the bigger teams have come calling. This season however, Dortmund have declined rapidly and have only just began to recover and move up the table. Securing a European spot looks unlikely for the club, who may find themselves loading out some of their big stars due to this, including the man himself.
There is no doubt Klopp would be THE PERFECT FIT for a club like Liverpool. Loyal, passionate, and most importantly, experienced at the top level. A perfect match for the ever-passionate Liverpool die-hard supporters.
Sami Hyypia (41, Currently Looking For A Club)
The ex-red defensive powerhouse is a surprise member of this list. After retiring from the game in 2011, he went on to manage Bayer Leverkusen, where he excelled and guided them to the summit of the Bundesliga. At his second club Brighton however, he failed miserably and resigned after a few months with the Seagulls.
He is now jobless and on the look-out for a new challenge. Would he suit a team like Liverpool? He is young after all, and does possess the knowledge about the club from his playing days. I personally reckon this move would be a colossal risk to take. Sami lacks the experience to manage a club like Liverpool, and has showed in his tenure down the south-coast that he he still has a lot to learn. With this being said, we all still have a place in our hearts for Sami, and this video below is one of the many reasons why:
Frank De Boer (44, Manager of Ajax)
Not much is known of Frank De Boer, unless you're a keen follower of the Eridivisie, that is. The 44 year-old had a blistering career and has echoed that in suit and tie, guiding Ajax to four successive Dutch titles in his four years in charge. He is young, and possesses the knowledge and determination to thrive in a bigger league. Would he make the move now, or continue to develop as a manager and seek a move later on?
"If I get an offer from a club in the future, I will consider the possibility and then follow my feeling. Liverpool and Spurs are clubs I could manage. Liverpool approached me in the same way Tottenham did this year, wanting to hold exploratory talks first."
A quote from the man himself for you reds fans to ponder about.
Diego Simeone (44, Manager of Atletico Madrid)
Possibly THE best young manager in world football at the moment, Diego Simeone has excelled, and then some, since becoming Atletico boss in 2011. He won the Europa League in his first season and then went on to pip rivals Real Madrid to the La Liga title two years later, whilst coming within minutes of repeating the feat in the Champions League final. Unfortunately, the double wasn't to be.
This season Simeone's men are playing the 'observing' game and currently find themselves nine points behind league leaders Barcelona. Could Simeone be tempted by a new move and challenge in the Premier League? Charisma, energy, passion, and knowledge, the Argentinian has it all in abundance, and at only 44 years old he could well be on the way to transforming into one of world football's greatest managers. Will he become that at Atletico Madrid? I highly doubt it.
Rafael Benitez (54, Manager of Napoli)
I had to leave the most controversial to last. Rafael Benitez, back at Liverpool, five or so years after leaving the club. (On quite the sour note, let's be frank) Let us face the facts, that night in Istanbul is THE reason Rafael Benitez is where he is at the moment. Istanbul is why Rafa remains wanted by a select few reds fans, thus why he is on my list today.
I, personally, would not be as enraged as the majority of Liverpool supporters out there if Rafa is to make a second coming to the club. He showed in his time on Merseyside that he is a manager capable of winning league titles and attracting world class names, unlike Brendan Rodgers. Although both his FA Cup and Champions League triumphs had their own touch of luck to them, he remains one of the greats, and someone that would jump at the chance to return and make things right. Now, before you begin to type in negative comments, think about this one for a second; What has Brendan done to make you prefer him to Rafael Benitez?
Stability Is Key To Progress
I will conclude this piece by stating the main reason why the owners should stick with Brendan Rodgers, even if he guides us to seventh place and a trophy-less season.
Stability. Fergie was on the brink of the sack as he led his United team to near-relegation in his first season at the club. As much as we all wish they did sack the Scot, they stuck by him, and since then he won them 13 league titles, five FA Cups and two European Cups. (Which is one less than Paisley won, just to state the fact). The same applies to Wenger, who has been criticized numerous times in the past three-to-four years, yet never fails to guide Arsenal into Europe season after season. The owners of these clubs have supported their managers through the good and bad.
Stability is key, however progress is essential. David Moyes showed an ample amount of loyalty whilst at Everton, yet failed to win them a single trophy in over ten years. John Henry and Tom Werner have a crucial decision to make this summer as the reds faithful become more and more restless as each day passes by. Is a change rightfully due, or is three years far too early for a managerial merry-go-round? Have your say in the comment section below!
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No single individual is bigger than Liverpool Football Club. That was the thought echoed by the majority of reds fans across the globe this past week after witnessing the latest developments on a certain Raheem Sterling. Brendan has since quashed all niggling rumours and 'BBC interviews' aside as his Liverpool outfit prepare for a crucial trip to the Emirates to take on an in-form Arsenal side. Wenger's posse currently find themselves six points ahead in the race for European places, a lead that needs to be cut down to three this weekend if Brendan's side are to qualify for next seasons' Champions League.
Important Information & Statistics
Date: Saturday, 4th April Arsenal League Position: 3rd
Time: 12:45 pm (UK Time) Liverpool League Position: 5th
Venue: The Emirates Stadium Arsenal Current Form: WWWWWW
Referee: Anthony Taylor Liverpool Current Form: WWWWWL
Is it on TV?: Yes, BT Sport
Forget New Contract Talk, Focus On the Objective
The recent turn of events where Raheem is concerned could not have arrived at a worst time for the club. Following our abysmal showing against Manchester United a fortnight ago, I would consider this a must-win match, and this whole contract malarkey has definitely averted the team's focus. Now, without me labelling the youngster a 'money grabbing 20 year-old' I will attempt to give my honest view on the matter. Raheem Sterling does NOT deserve to be at such a prestigious club like Liverpool.
Nor does he strike me as a player worth 180,000 pounds a week. (Which he apparently rejected) The kid is talented, yes, but I reckon he should take a page out of Philippe Coutinho's book. Coutinho, a young star who is on 70,000 a week and absolutely loving life at Melwood right now. Should Raheem start this Saturday? Will he dampen the current mood in the dressing room? Let us hope it's the former, with a goal or two to add to his efforts. (And a kiss of the badge if I'm not asking too much of the man)
Injured Yet Again? NONSENSE!
Yes, apparently the whole 'Daniel Sturridge is injured' story was a play deployed by Rodgers to excuse the forward from International duty. Have that, Roy! Danny was, after all, injuring himself each time he travelled with the England squad, hence the bosses' reasoning. Pictures surfacing from Melwood early Thursday afternoon portrayed a fit and 'raring-to-go' Sturridge battling for every ball, a sight that gave us reds' fans a wide grin etched across our faces.
Are we, a couple of months commencing the end of the season, finally about to be entertained by the S & B partnership? Mario showed positive form in the charity match last Sunday, whilst Sturridge should be a definite starter when fit. This could undoubtedly light a spark within the team as we enter a set of essential 'three-pointers' ahead.
Will United Loss Prove a Stepping Stone Once Again?
That same thought was echoed by Simon Mignolet, amongst others in the build-up to this Saturday's match. Our 3-0 defeat in December was followed by a string of 13 unbeaten league matches, a feat that was ended by Van Gaal's men once again. Quick guess as to who were Liverpool's first league opponents after our loss at Old Trafford? Yes, Arsenal. This time however, Brendan will look to run away with the full three points, in contrast to our 2-2 draw back in December.
Team News - The Return of One of 2014's Top Performers
We all had a tear in our eyes whilst seeing Jon Flanagan kick a ball in the charity match last Sunday, ten months after last gracing the Anfield pitch. (Or was it the return of two certain strikers that made us shed a tear or two, I'm not too sure) Where would we have been without young Flanno in our push for the title last season? With Glen Johnson in the side, and that is a site I will kindly pass on. The 22 year-old has been extremely unfortunate on the injury front, however he has finally made his return and will look to slowly find his way into Rodgers' plans and into a heated battle for places at the back. Meanwhile on the other front, both Daniel Sturridge and Lucas Leiva have been proclaimed fit by Brendan as he faces no fresh injury concerns. (Barring our two suspended bad boys)
Wenger is still tinkering with the fitness of six of his players: Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Debuchy, and Diaby, all of whom completed full training on Thursday. One or two are bound to get given the green light, as Wenger echoes Rodgers' thoughts on the importance of this weekends' encounter:
"It is a big game and an opportunity for us to continue our run, Liverpool is a big opponent but we play at the Emirates and we want to do it."
A Quick Glance at the Opposition
Let us admit it, the Emirates has proved a gruelling hunting ground for the Merseyside club in recent years. In the past ten encounters in London, Liverpool have accumulated eight points and a total of one win, which I will gladly remind you of with the below video:
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal are THE form team in the league at the moment, and that is a fact. They are on a six-match winning streak with their last defeat arriving two months ago. As always, Wenger seems to have got his team firing on all cylinders towards the latter part of the season, and although they will not win the league this time, a top four European place finish is enough of a 'trophy' for the London club. (Let us just hope we pip them to the FA Cup as well) Will Liverpool finish above Arsenal this season, resulting into the deep regret of a certain Chilean for choosing the lavish London lifestyle in contrast to the beauty and passion that comes with this wonderful club?
Top Scorer: Olivier Giroud & Alexis Sanchez, 13 goals each Red Cards: 2
Clean Sheets: 10 Biggest Victory: 5-0 vs Aston Villa
My Prediction & Probable Starting Line-Up
As much as I look at this as a must-win fixture, I am sticking with my gut feeling and predicting a desmond 2-2 draw, with Sturridge and Sterling amongst the goals. With Skrtel and Stevie both missing with three-match bands, my starting line-up will differ to our last match a fortnight ago.
I believe it is pivotal Brendan starts Sturridge from the get-go, regardless of whether the Englishman is 100 % fit or not. We need him in a match of this magnitude, and I maintain that he offers more than the enigmatic Mario Balotelli, even when not fully fit.
Three, six, or nine points could be the difference between us and third-placed Arsenal come 3 pm this Saturday.
"It's never been about the money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That's all I talk about."
A quote pulled out of Raheem's recent interview with the BBC, and en extremely crucial one indeed. Without the lure of Champions League football, Liverpool WILL NOT attract the world-class calibre of players they require this summer. This will also result into the imminent departure of Raheem Sterling, in my opinion. If all he talks about is winning trophies, why would he stay put at a club who are not challenging on all fronts, right at the top?
We are not a selling club, and a win this Saturday will undoubtedly put out a marker to the top clubs and reiterate our statement of intent. Liverpool will not undergo a saga similar to Luis Suarez's last summer. It will not be easy, but it scarcely is for the Merseyside club. No Steven Gerrard? No problem. We coped outstandingly well whilst the skipper was out injured earlier on, and with a manager as extraordinary as Rodgers, we WILL find a way to close the gap and secure fourth spot. We do, after all, possess a magician in the team, one that is yet to produce his very own piece of magic on the London club since his arrival two years ago.
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Ten league matches remain in a campaign not too dissimilar to the previous one. Make it thirteen matches in all, with two trips to Wembley and an FA Cup winners medal to show for and the season will conclude on a relatively high note. This coming a mere two or three months succeeding the 'Rodgers Out' campaign started by a minority of disgruntled Kopites on the manager's back. (I wonder where these select few find themselves in the present day, however).
No, I reckon we are a more stable team than last season, especially where our defence is concerned. The clean sheets seem to be increasing, as the climax to a thrilling battle for European places looms in the distance. Firstly, the reds travel to Wales to take on the Swans in next week's Monday night football.
Important Information and Statistics
Date: Monday, 16th March Swansea League Position: 9th
Time: 8:00 pm, UK Time Liverpool League Position: 5th
Venue: The Liberty Stadium Swansea Current Form: WDLWWL
Referee: Roger East Liverpool Current Form: WDWWWW
Is it on TV?: Yes, Sky Sports 1 HD
Season Defining Match-Week
Each one of us could feel guilty of calling every league match a 'season defining fixture', however this time around, if we take a look at the proximity of the top seven teams, a long with some of the key 'top of the table' fixtures being played this weekend, Brendan could well be looking at third place as an opportunity to qualify for Europe automatically and avoid the infuriating play-offs. (May be even second, if other games go our way).
Points Game Week 29:
2nd - Manchester City 58 Arsenal vs West Ham
3rd - Arsenal 54 Chelsea vs Southampton
4th - Man United 53 Burnley vs Man. City
5th - Liverpool 51 Man. United vs Tottenham
6th - Tottenham 50 Swansea vs Liverpool
7th - Southampton 49
Yes, at least two of the reds' battlers at the top WILL drop points this game-week, and I could bet that the majority of the bookies will have the resurgent Liverpool as favourites to land third spot at the moment.
Will the "Mini-Break" Help or Hinder Liverpool?
A one week break between matches seems the norm for the majority of football clubs across the country. Not if you are Liverpool, who have not enjoyed that privilege for an entire two months. Whether it was the Capital One Cup, FA Cup, or Europa League to battle for, the reds have been kept extremely busy mid-week, and it definitely took it's toll last Sunday against Blackburn.
With Liverpool as dominant as they are at the moment, will the break interrupt their progress and halt a team whom are in high spirits and will no doubt be eager to get a ball rolling as soon as possible? I personally reckon Rodgers' men need the break. Whilst it does not look like it is fazing the players, a lack of crucial rest time may lead to serious injuries, and that is the last thing on Brendan's mind as we enter a pivotal set of fixtures. This being a European week will also come to Liverpool's aid, as City and Arsenal both vie for an unlikely spot in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League.
Captain Fantastic Returns, but Will He Retain His Position?
Roll back a couple of years, and an injury sustained by Steven Gerrard would spell utter disaster for the Anfield club. Now though, Brendan's men look a rejuvenated team without our sidelined iconic figure. Jordan Henderson is blossoming as our current captain and main man in the centre of midfield, and our overall flow with and without the ball seems to have improved since. Here is a stat for you;
Liverpool have won every single league game without Steven Gerrard this season. (A stat that does not bode well for the returning skipper).
I can agree with the fact that Stevie has carried this football club through thick and thin, and has stuck with his beloved Liverpool even when mammoth-sized offers came flurrying his way. I do not know where we would be without Stevie G. BUT.... the skipper is reaching his mid-30's and I reckon Brendan SHOULD stick with his high-fliers for the time being, thus allowing Stevie to fight for his place from the bench. Does this mean Henderson acquires the armband permanently? Maybe. One thing is certain, if Liverpool are to make it to the FA Cup final, there is ONLY ONE man who will be leading his team out on his 35th birthday, and that is our captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard.
Team News - Four Reds To Return From the Sidelines?
Where injuries are concerned, Rodgers can seem relatively content. Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard both return from the sidelines after a couple of weeks out, whilst Mamadou Sakho played 45 minutes in a recent Under 21 fixture against Everton after being sidelined since our defeat to Besiktas last month. Martin Skrtel suffered a worrying knock against Blackburn on Sunday, however he is deemed fit and ready to be involved on Monday, as Rodgers hailed the Slovakian for his willingness to carry on despite being stretchered off with a neck brace.
On the other hand, Swansea look a hampered team on the injury front, with key players Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis both looking unlikely to feature on Monday. This may come to Liverpool's aid, especially with Swansea's lack of creativity and clinicalness up-front.
A Quick Glance at the Opposition
Garry Monk will himself admit to enduring an extremely 'stop and start' season thus far. When the Swans aren't doing the double over Manchester United, they are letting in five at home to Chelsea, or getting knocked out of the FA Cup by the hands of Championship side Blackburn. Swansea will no doubt look at this fixture as a stepping stone towards a decent run of games to end as high up at the table as possible.
Whereas Swansea's injury worries are concerned, it does not prove a good showing. Gomis' worrying collapse at White Hart Lane could rule him out for Monday night, and after the sale of main man Wilfried Bony in January, Monk's side will struggle to find goals in the team, especially against a defence as solid as Liverpool's.
Clean Sheets: 10 Biggest Victory: 3-0 vs West Brom
My Prediction and Probable Starting Line-Up
Let us face it, (and not tempt faith) Liverpool are a rejuvenated side since their last league defeat in December. Keeping in mind Swansea's stop-start form at the moment, I am predicting a solid 3-1 win for the red men, with Sturridge, Sterling, and Balotelli amongst the goals.
My probable line-up differs slightly from our last league game against Burnley.
Yes, I think it is finally time to proper release S-A-B in a fixture that would make or break his future in the red of Liverpool.
Come Tuesday morning, Liverpool may find themselves in fourth place and in touching distance of third place Arsenal. That is, if all goes to plan and Tottenham lend us a helping hand in the process. Just a couple of months ago a number of us where contemplating the possibility of a relegation dog-fight for Liverpool, who could not seem to get a foot right. The majority of our summer signings are now beginning to prove their worth and with ten games to go, surely things can only get better for the reds.
"If the league season started in January, Liverpool would be top, two points ahead of Arsenal."
If only Brendan would get his squad of players firing on all cylinders right from the start, Steven Gerrard could be celebrating his 35th birthday by lifting both the Premier League and the FA Cup in his last season in England.
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Whether it was due to the millions of pounds spent on recruits in the summer, or the fact that our deadly front man Daniel Sturridge was missing for nearly five months, Liverpool did not resume where they left off last season following the exit of the ever-iconic (and troublesome) Luis Suarez. Queue the 'Rodgers Out' brigade which lasted approximately a month or so, before out of nowhere Liverpool re-discovered last season's form and have impressed immensely ever since, diminishing the few anti-Rodgers 'fans' out there. What has evoked such a change in form? Which of Brendan's numerous summer plans seem to be materializing slowly but surely? In this blog I will decipher a couple of them.
Jordan Henderson and His Goal Tally
Firstly, let us begin with Jordan Henderson as a whole and the astonishing season he is undergoing. Liverpool's vice-captain has matured incredibly and is on leaps and bounds for the club at the moment. Here is a stat for you; Henderson has captained the reds 13 times this far, with the reds winning ten of them and drawing three.Yes, Jordan remains unbeaten as skipper, a feat that will impress our current captain whilst on the sidelines.
Prior to the commencement of the league season, Jordan himself had admitted just how pivotal it was to add goals to his game after a petty four last campaign. This time however, the Englishman has five to show for, with ten matches remaining to further improve his tally. It may not be a colossal improvement, however if Hendo does continue to build on his current form, goals will arrive, and plenty of them, I can assure you that.
Stop Shooting, Philippe!
Let us get one thing straight first and foremost; Philippe has endured an outstanding league campaign thus far. A couple of minor, yet essential tweaks to his game where required, one of these being his 'shoot on sight' tendency.It does not hurt to try your luck from outside the box every now and again, however the Brazilian was over-abusing that privilege, with most of these shots going wayward into the Kop.
The young magician seems to have listened to my prayers, and has since netted three wonder-goals in the space of a single month. His general ball play and execution in the final third has improved as well, with the large majority of shots that do not end up in the back of net, finding the target whilst forcing a save from the keeper. One, if not THE player of the season for the club thus far. (All this at the age of 22).
I'd Settle For a Scrappy 1-0!
Reds fans worldwide are extremely lucky to have survived the 2013-2014 league season. There was never a dull moment, from our thrilling 5-3 win at the Britannia, to our 6-3 showdown at Cardiff. We were scoring an abundance of goals, yes, (20 more than at this point last season, to be exact) however our defence was as leaky as a sieve, as we conceded more goals than seven other Premier League teams.
Whilst some would prefer those heart-racing thrillers, Rodgers instead pleaded for a more calm and serene approach, with clean sheets becoming of utmost importance to him. Now, Mignolet may not have had the best of starts to the season, but he is slowly improving and has accumulated ten clean sheets thus far, six of which have come in the last eight games. We may not be attacking with as much flair and prowess as the times of the SAS, however defensive stability is key for any title-winning team, something that eventually cost us the championship in 2014.
What do you guys prefer? A scrappy 1-0 win with a clean sheet, or a 5-4 thriller?
1-0 Win 5-4 Win
Brendan Rodgers may have dislodged some of his haters for the time being, however one thing remains certain; Liverpool NEED to secure that final 4th spot. (With a cheeky attempt at 3rd in the process. I am not being greedy, I swear). I am 110 % sure that if the reds maintain their current scintillating form, that it is more than obtainable. If Brendan's men WIN their remaining ten league fixtures, at least third place is GUARANTEED. A couple of tough encounters lie in between obviously enough, and I would love noting more than to see Steven Gerrard lift the FA Cup on his 35th birthday, thus hopefully it is 13 tough matches ahead.
Liverpool are on the up at the moment, which begs the question, "Why did we not start the season this way?" A summer resolution that Rodgers and his men failed to meet, unfortunately enough. Follow me on Twitter and share your views: @kennymifsud YNWA!!
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