LFC : Where this leaves us with 10 matches remaining

With 10 rounds left to play in this pulsating Premier League season, it is time for my look on Liverpool's final 10 matches in a finale that could be seen as the most nail-biting and exciting ending to a season since the Barclay's Premier League inception in 1992. With any of the top 4 looking good odds to win it, added to that the fact that none of the four managers wanting to admit it as of yet, it could literally go down to the wire, something we have not seen between four clubs in quite a while.

Liverpool's resurgence

Tell us reds fans we would be sitting pretty in 2nd place in the table, 11 points above rivals Man United and still with a shot at the league title, and we would have bitten your hand off for the chance ( right after laughing and saying 'if only' ). Rodgers himself has come out recently saying his team is ahead of schedule in where he would like to take the club in the next couple of years. We all knew that top four was a must this season, but our form has shot us right up the pile and into the mix again, placing Liverpool FC as title contenders. With no FA Cup, Champions League or Europa League midweek to distract us, Brendan's men might feel they are the freshest going in to this hectic finale.

This is how the table currently looks like as LFC approach game week 29.

Although Manchester City have two games in hand on us, with two wins meaning we drop down to 3rd, a Liverpool win in their game in hand on the leaders Chelsea would bring them within 4 points off the top of the pile. Not forgetting the fact that both Chelsea and Manchester City still have to visit Anfield in the final ten matches. We all know one thing is certain, these last ten matches are massive cup finals for the reds, and we must look to win them all if we would like to progress to that next level, and rely on others a long the way too. Most importantly is how we approach the matches we face. 

Here is a list of our last ten fixtures, including dates and times ;

Sunday, 16th March                      Manchester United (Away)                   1:30 pm

Saturday, 22nd March                   Cardiff (Away)                                      3:00 pm

Wednesday, 26th March               Sunderland (Home)                               8:00 pm

Sunday, 30th March                       Tottenham (Home)                               4:00 pm

Sunday, 6th April                           West Ham (Away)                                4:00 pm

Sunday, 13th April                         Manchester City (Home)                      2:05 pm

Sunday, 20th April                         Norwich (Away)                                   12:00 pm

Sunday, 27th April                         Chelsea (Home)                                   2:05 pm

Saturday, 3rd May                          Crystal Palace (Away)                          3:00 pm

Sunday, 11th May                           Newcastle (Home)                                3:00 pm

Manchester United (Away)

You cannot get a better kick start to this thrilling climax. We reds fans must all admit that we are loving the current downfall of Man U under Moyes. With every team looking at that current Man United line up with no fear at all, it looks like the perfect timing to let SAS loose at Old Trafford. I remember the last time Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford while in a title race. 5 years ago to the month, the scoreline showing 1-4 to the visitors. With a much weakened Man U side now from then, three points look like a must for Liverpool, but Brendan will still need to get his side fired up for this one. A loss for our rivals would end their season on the spot, and Brendan will have to be weary of that factor heading into the Sunday afternoon clash.

Tottenham (Home)

Roll back exactly 3 months ago, and a Luis Suarez chip over Hugo Lloris capped off a 5-0 thrashing of the Londoners. A changing of manager since then, yet Spurs still look as sluggish as they were under Vilas Boas in my opinion. With no real leader on the pitch, added to that the lack of fire power up front compared to the SAS, Liverpool need to look at their only real rival for a top four place and think, "Something must really go wrong for us to mess this one up". The only question is, will Liverpool still be in the run in for the title come this fixture at the end of the month? Will Spurs still be a threat to our push for a top four place? There is no doubt it will be a big match for the reds, with Brendan looking to get the three points in front of the Anfield support.

Manchester City & Chelsea (Home)

Now we come to the two massive crunch matches in April which will most definitely determine the outcome of Liverpool's season and where the reds will finish. If I was Mourinho or Pellegrini I would not be relishing this trip. Anfield has become a fortress again this season. With the likes of Arsenal and Everton gunned down by SAS and co., both Manchester City and Chelsea will be weary of their trip to the north. With two weeks separating the clashes, and a trip to relegation battling Norwich stuffed in between, one major factor will determine the outcome of the two games, and that is the Premier League table and what it will look like come mid April. With both teams still battling on in Europe, Liverpool may look the stronger and fresher outfit, but one thing is certain, two out of two wins will post a huge stamp on the Premier League, even if it is not followed by a Premier League winners medal. Teams visiting Anfield in the past used to give up before a ball was even kicked, and that is exactly what Brendan is trying to bring back in his reign at the club.

Newcastle (Home)

A home clash with Newcastle may not be the first fixture us reds fans look out for, but this year it comes on the final day of the season, and saying that, a preview is a must. Come Sunday morning on the 11th of May, Reds fans will be walking the road to Anfield with either one of three thoughts lingering in their minds ;

-We have secured a top four place and Champions League nights are returning to Anfield

-It has come right down to the wire in either the title chase or the chase for a top four spot

-Come full time we will be seeing Stevie lift the Premier League title

As I think it will go all the way to the final day of the season, the third point may be slightly over enthusiastic, with the first one a must. We all know that for which-ever reason, Anfield will be buzzing come 3 pm kick off, and the ending of what has been a wonderful season for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers, so far. One question comes to mind, will we be seeing our captain fantastic lift that long awaited and well deserved Premier League trophy? One can dream, can't they?

With the squad looking as fresh as ever, nearing full strength with the returning of a couple of injured players, and the international break finally over, this Sunday will see the start of a season defining set of fixtures for Liverpool. Brendan has a huge role to play in the next two months. With Champions League football almost in the manager's grasp, a Premier League medal would be an unbelievable success story for a team who finished in 7th last season. Will SAS, captain fantastic and young Raheem fire us to glory? As Rodgers himself was quoted saying when he took the job ;


"You can live without water for many days, but you can't live for a second without hope."



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LFC : Loan Watch 2013/2014

A loan spell can bring the best out of any player, and with the Premier League starting as promising as it did for Brendan's men in August, the boss had a lot to ponder about regarding possible loan deals happening within the club. With an academy as promising as Liverpool's at the moment, many of the youth players are excited about the prospect of a loan deal away from the club, even if it means playing for a lower league team. Something key a youth player needs at their age is game time, and Rodgers has given that to a couple of youngsters this season. In this blog I will be listing a few of them, including how they are getting on at their respective clubs.

Fabio Borini - Sunderland

The young Italian forward arrived at the club with no massive expectancy. The 12 million figure paid for him was quite high for a man who was yet to show his worth in the Premier League. Borini found it very difficult in his first few months at the club, with one or two injuries to add to the somewhat average performances a long the way. This got many fans calling for the forward to be sold in the summer, even after just one season at Anfield. Rodgers opted for a loan deal to struggling Sunderland, and Borini has done fairly well as of yet at Tyneside. New Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has given the young Italian a go in his starting line up, and Borini has rewarded him with a couple of important goals, most notably against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup Semi-Final, and also the opening goal in a 3-0 win in the Tyneside derby. I still think Borini does not have what it takes to make it in the red of Liverpool, but if he returns next summer with a spring to his step, Rodgers might give him another go.

 

Oussama Assaidi - Stoke

I am quite sure I am not the only Liverpool fan who was left scratching their head as to why Assaidi was not given more game time last season. The Moroccan was slowly showing us that he had a neat and silky touch to him when he was given the chance, which was few and far between. What was lacking in the winger's game was his end product, a long with his defensive capability, which showed us the reason Rodgers loaned the man out of the club. Loaned out to Stoke City, the perfect destination, in my opinion. The winger needed to toughen up and get stuck in more often, and what better club to do that than Stoke. Assaidi has done a good job as the season has gone by, scoring a 90th minute wonder goal against Chelsea, and also netting against Merseyside rivals Everton. We all know the Moroccan has got the skill and trickery to be a top player. Just a few tweaks and improvements needed in his overall game, and Rodgers will get a good option in Assaidi come the summer.

Suso - Almeria

The Spanish play maker, alongside Sterling, were probably two of the most heavily tipped emerging talents coming out of Melwood in the last couple of years. Sterling has broken into the first team set up this season, and has done exceptionally well so far, leaving Suso with little game time to show for. The 20 year old was sent on loan to his native country, and has shown us all exactly what a huge talent the young Spaniard is. Since his move to Almeria, Suso has taken La Liga by the horns with his pace and trickery. His assist tally is amongst the best in Spain this season, topping the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Suso has relished in his loan spell, and with the season drawing even closer to the finale, Rodgers has a lot of thinking to do in the summer, especially with the current competition for places in that attacking midfielder role. With the recent emergence of Joao Teixeira in and around the first team, we can both say the two are pretty similar in how they play, both being brandished as a 'Play maker'. Come the end of the season, Rodgers might have a decision to make on who to take a gamble on, and when he does, the one left out could find it hard to fight back for a place in the side.

Current Squad players who could be loaned out this Summer

Jon Flanagan

There is no doubt the young full back has perished with his chance given to him by Rodgers. Many doubts were cast over Flanno's future last summer, but he has responded to each and every critic. With Glen Johnson returning from injury, and Jose Enrique not too far away either, young Flanagan will have a tough time trying to maintain his place, which could end up seeing him being loaned out come summer time. I think this would be what is best for Liverpool, and mainly, for the player. Giving Flanagan a definite run of games at a lower league team will see the full back mature and become an even better player. There is no doubt the attitude and determination shown by Flanagan has shown us he is ready to be a top level player. Topped by a little more experience, we might see the youngster return a real talent, and a definite starter.

Luis Alberto

Luis Alberto's time at Barcelona was enough to convince us that the midfielder could be a massive talent, if trained well. Bought for 6 million in the summer, the Spaniard has found it difficult to break into the starting line up, with the current side firing on all cylinders at the moment. There is no doubt that many a Liverpool fan wants to see the silky play maker show us his worth, but with only 11 Premier League games left, and all being cup finals within themselves, the youngster might find it hard to get game time this season, which may lead to a loan deal in the summer. Spain would be the most probable destination. Starting with his hat trick for the under 21's earlier on in the season, followed by some very promising performances coming off the bench in the Premier League, this is definitely not the last we have seen of Luis Alberto.

Iago Aspas

Many Liverpool fans were eagerly anticipating the arrival of Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo in the summer. Being likened to Luis Suarez with his style of play, and then given the famous number 9 by the club, Aspas started off on fire for Liverpool, scoring in many of the reds per-season fixtures, and exciting us reds fans even more as the Premier League season neared kick off. Since then, the Spaniard has been a massive disappointment, with Liverpool fans already calling for the forward to be sold in the summer. With not a single goal in the Premier League to show for, and just one goal in the FA Cup, coming against Oldham, Aspas has been a kop flop so far, and Liverpool might see the need to loan him out. In my opinion, if Liverpool get Champions League, Rodgers might see the need to sell the Spaniard, to weigh up a move or two for some bigger prospects. I think that would be best, as Iago Aspas has yet to show any kind of promise or prospect.

Many Liverpool fans would have bitten your hand off to be in the place we are at the moment. Neither one of us, not even Rodgers, saw a title race coming. Some were hoping for a Champions League place after all these years away, but a title race is exactly what we have been given this season, and Liverpool could not have a better chance at it, with 11 matches to go. With the next three games all coming away from home, somewhere Liverpool need much improving, the next 11 matches are all cup finals for Rodgers' men. One thing is definite, we all owe huge gratitude to what Rodgers has brought to the club since his arrival. He has brought the best out of many of his squad, most notably the likes of Henderson, Sterling and Flanagan. A return to the Champions League is getting even more closer, and with an attempt at the title too, Liverpool fans are looking ahead to the season finale with anticipation and a smile on their faces.


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