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
Goals Scored: 58 Most YC's: Calum Chambers, 8
Goals Conceded: 31 Play-Maker: Santi Cazorla, 8 assists
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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YNWA !!
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