Stoke away. Spurs away. Wolves home. Everton away Utd home. Its not the hardest run of games you could have. However, they are tricky/close games, and the sort that champions usually thrive in. I am not convinced with your team. I think alot depends how gerrard comes back. If he can perform when he returns then you are title contenders. But it is very unlikely that he will come back and play like he did 5 years ago (basically wont happen). And then I think you will probably come 4th ahead of us (arsenal).
Are you for real? Try Xmas for the low down, otherwise you will force me to say "maybe next year is your year"
Too early for title contenders and not enough strength in depth. The new signings are playing really well (Suarez, Adam and Downing), but take those three out of the team and we have very little in terms of back up.
Its far too early to talk of title talk. The league shapes up after 15 games. If we're top of the league and 3 points clear and we beat Chelsea at home on the penultimate game, then and only then will I be convinced that we can be champions.
Not many serious people have talked about us as title contenders, however, if we were to get a good points haul from those five games then people would at least be starting to wonder. People do always say it is "too early" but if results go as expected today, then the top 4 will already be city united liverpool chelsea, that's no coincidence.
Terrifictraore. Take players of that calibre out of any team at the same time and they will struggle. Its not just Liverpool. Take Valencia, Rooney and Hernandez out of the Man United side, and what have you got? Take Lampard Mata and Drogba out of Chelsea and what have you got?
Are you for real? We were top of the league at Christmas in 2008-09 and look what happened. Try May. Or June. That'll be a fairly good indicator.
I think the next 35 games will probably tell that we're not quite title contenders yet but there's definately a growing confidence around Anfield right now so it's a question of far can we take the momentum gained from the second half of last season and the beginnings of this one. 5 decent results out of the next 5 games will be a massive boost but it will count for little if we're fourteen points behind the leaders come xmas. Oh and I think you're wrong OP about Gerrard. He has played the last few years with niggling injuries and carrying a lot of the weight of the team on his shoulders. Now we know we can play without him I think it might just free him up to play his natural game again with a whole lot less pressure. The fact that he's had time to fully recover more so than at any point in a long long time is a big statement in itself about where we are at right now. Add Stevie G back into this team and its going to be looking stronger and stronger.
Most sensible fans arn't expecting to challenge for the title- although, most of us probably do have secret dreams of it in our hearts. I think the realistic goal is a top 4. We've started well- but I don't want to get false hope from Bolton- great performance from our lads- but I think that is more from Bolton not performing their best than anything else. We'll see how it goes.
Milk. Bolton didn't perform because they weren't let perform. Lucas was a rock in front of the back four, he misplaced one pass in 92 minutes, and that in my opinion is astonishing. He has to be the most improved player in the premiership bar none. Charlie Adam alongside him has added something we haven't had since the 2008/2009 season. Its complimented by the width Downing provides and the energy provided by Jordan Henderson on the opposite flank. The ball that Suarez played with the outside of his foot that led to the first goal was exquisite.
If you take valencia you have, nani, young and park. if you take rooney, they have berbatov,welbeck, diouf, owen,macheda. Very few chelsea fans want lampard in there first team, drogba, then you have lukaku and torres and mata, the same team they had before he joined.
All i was saying was that these next games will show alot. It obviously doesnt mean you are deffo going to win the title. But only that you will be possible champions. Now if only you hadnt spent £35m on andy carroll, and had instead used that money elsewhere!
Hernyforever. I guess you are an Arsenal fan. Yes we did spend £35 million on Andy Carroll, I don't think we need to be reminded constantly about that. Roman Abramovich paid for him when he gave us £50 million for Cashinhando. Arsene Wenger did something really silly, he paid £15 million for a 12 year old when he needed two centre halves, a striker and two central midfielders. The only Europe Arsenal will see next year is when their players go on holidays. Arsenal will be lucky to finish 5th, they should do as their only challengers are Spurs who are the most over-rated side in the top 6.
I'd take this from those list of games: Stoke - 1 point (never seem to beat them away!) Spurs - 3 points (They don't look like the same team from couple of years ago) Wolves - 3 points (Should be beating them at home - although they've had a good start) Everton - 3 points (They can't score for fun) United - 1 point (Always going to be tricky so a point would be fine) Would give us 18 points from the first 8 games which would be a great start (especially if unbeaten) and really show we are capable of getting top 4.
United 1 point? Not a chance,our central midfield is too strong for theirs, thats how we beat them in the middle of the park. There is no difference between the two sides when matched up apart from there and thats where we have the upper hand. I can see us picking up 3 points in that one. I also reckon we should get the win at WHL, as we won't get over-run there, as we've got better balance now. And its against the lesser sides where we seemed to struggle, I don't think this is the case anymore. I also predict we'll get 3 points at the Cowshed aka Goodison.
Don't get me wrong, I think we can get all 3 v United but I'd be happy with a point. Don't forget it would also mean 2 dropped points for them so they wouldn't get away from us. Ideally we'd take 15 out of 15 (which isn't impossible) but I won't be sticking my money on it.
Seeing as we are playing them at home, we'll have to go all out for the win. I'm still convinced in the middle of the park, we're too strong for them.
