A six point cushion. Throw in the the superior goal difference and it's effectively 7. Spurs have a horrendous run of games in March. Everton and Utd are 11 points behind us. Surely we won't throw it away from here? Why am I even looking downwards and not upwards? We're only four points off top spot, still to play City and Chelsea at home and without the distraction of other competitions. Surely if we could lose out on top 4, we are equally entitled to dream of winning the damned thing?? Why can't I (and many others) shake off this cloak of pessimism? Or is it realism? A realist would say that if we defend like we did against Swansea when we play Southampton, we'll lose.....a realist would say that about home games versus Chelsea and City too. In fact, if you'd told anyone, at the start of the season, that Liverpool would have the 2nd worse defence in the top half of the league, a realist would have put us down as a mid table club. In short, this season makes no sense to me, it's infuriated me as much as it has elated me; brought me more joy than it has anger and frustration; but with hope and fear in equal measure and even now, while we sit in our most comfortable position in years, i want to praise BR to the rooftops for getting us to where we are with a limited squad, while berating him for not wanting to close games down. I want to applaud his Keeganesque cavalier style while heckle his sometimes apparent lack of tactical nous that could risk our current loftiness. We're the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of premiership football....and I'm talking minute by minute here, not just game by game.....really, how many thought that we'd do what we did to Spurs, to Arsenal or even Everton? Only the most one eyed, myopic fan would have dreamt of that given our awful performances versus the likes of Hull. We're a schizophrenic team, with two distinct personalities. One ruthless in attack, one generous in defence and I, for one, never know what I'm about to witness.....so I'm left on tenterhooks before and during games and sometimes immediately after games, I will look to the next match and say....we'll never win if we play like that..... I yearn for for a solid 2-0 win, without fuss but I revel in the awesomeness of a demolition of a good team......I ask what we would be without the brilliance of Suarez, could we still afford to play in the same manner? Is my reality pessimism? Could we really win the league with nearly the worst defensive record? No, of course not.....could we??? So to Southampton; lose and Spurs half the deficit (they will beat Cardiff for sure). If they beat Chelsea the following week (maybe unlikely but not impossible) and all of a sudden we're level (we don't play until the following week) - BUT win against Southampton, the cushion remains 6. If they lose versus Chelsea (more likely), it's still 6 with a game in hand! It means that we could lose 3 of our remaining games and still pick up 4th. This game really could cement our top 4 place and allow us to look only up! It's THAT BIG. Which Liverpool will turn up on the south coast? Probably both; we'll both score and concede most likely....and I'll be equally elated at our brilliance going forward and furious that we will concede in such a way. Lose and I will curse Rodgers for allowing his naivety to put top four at risk, win and I'll be thinking that perhaps, just perhaps despite all logic, top four and higher is a reality. I've rarely been a this year is our year kind of guy not since the early nineties anyway.....under Rafa, I expected top four and the odd pot but rarely the league. The CL made me believe again and our subsequent title challenge and false Yankee promises maintained that for a short period....But since Rafa's days, I always hoped for top four but rarely believed.... And now? Winning it with our squad? No way? Surely?? Top four? Before the season without Suarez to start with? just no! Now.....I'm ecstatic at our progress BUT now I'd be disappointed without top four. No, I'd be furious. I've become what Liverpool are: a schizophrenic fan. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Happy as Larry one minute, nervous and angry the next! It doesn't matter that we've exceeded all my expectations to start with! What matters now is that we finish the job we've started. But here's the thing.....It doesn't mean I support the club any less, it's because I've started to believe (again).....and that my friends, is a good thing
If we both kind of go on our form, mostly wins, a draw here and there and a loss here and there. That game at Anfield could seal the deal. I know the 11 pts are big but still need to be wary of United, you just feel even with Moyes and all the bullshit they will put something together. Everton were there but losing Lukaku looks like it might have hurt a lot more than they let on.
That game could be key, I agree. Less so if we dispatch the Saints. On 16th March, we could go to Old Trafford knowing that a win could put us 9 points clear of Spurs with a game in hand while slamming another nail in Utd's coffin. Can't help but feel that this Saturday is the day that our season hinges on; win and we could have a comfortable (relatively) run in with an eye on the title. Lose and I'll be surprised if I have fingernails left at the end of the season.
If we can still be in touch with Man City and Chelsea by the time they come to Anfield, and we make them 6 pointers, then title could become realistic ... But personally, securing top 4 is crucial. We simply have to get it now considering the circumstances. Again, if we can maintain a 6 point lead by the time Spurs come to Anfield, we could effectively end their chance. Getting top 4 would enable us to build a squad to compete ever year and on many fronts. It will provide the foundation of the long term security of this club, especially considering the new mega deal thanks to BT...
Bless you all but please stop it, you're wearing yourselves out! Remember 1 game at a time and forget what the others do and don't do. Win as many of our games as possible and we'll be there or there abouts at the end of the season. That's all there is too it!
Stop it? Why? It's the most excited I've been about football since a magical night in 2005. It is stating the obvious that if we win all of our games that we will win the league, it's an overused cliche that doesn't reflect the permutations possible or the Jekyll and Hyde nature of how we play and the impact that it has on all of us.....and let's not forget that others performances do matter. If Spurs hadn't lost against Norwich...or if Utd hadn't fallen from grace so quickly, everything would be a little different.....the entire league is impossible to call, top and bottom and the article tries to bring out the emotion it has on fans....on some of us anyway.
I'm just joking, but on the other hand... you're an eloquent fella when you do try. It's a bit selfish to wear the joker's costume all the time and not let the members and the guests peer more often into your more earnest thoughts
Has he committed the murder of some would-be-son-in-law and suffering painful schisms of conscience must escape behind a joker's mask 90% of the time? Anyway, good article KKK. I much agree with your 2nd and 3d paragraphs. Thanks for calling me a realist, as the last two days some here were heckling me as if I was cursing in tongues.
"2nd worst defence in the league"? How dat den? I agree with much of the rest, except I'm never pessimistic. Frustrated and emotional during a game, yes, and for a while after when we lose, but I always go into the next one expecting to win. 2-0 win? Nah, 3-2 and 4-3 might be heart attack stuff, but what about 4-0, 5-0, 5-1? I'd rather them any day.
