11 games gone - are you happy with our start?

[The Glove]

If we don't qualify I'd much rather finish bottom and get knocked out altogether than finish 3rd and go through the ignominy of the Uefa Cup.

You dont want the chance of a final in Manchester against Everton?

[Dhav]

You dont want the chance of a final in Manchester against Everton?

Nah, let the Bitters have the trophy

[Red_hot]

You dont want the chance of a final in Manchester against Everton?

No cos imagine if we lost?? Unbearable.

[Dhav]

something says to me you shouldn't be worrying too much about Liverpool losing to Everton in a European Final, or any final for that matter.

[vonk]

I think it's a worse start than previous years to be honest. We had a good opportunity to get some distance between ourselves Utd and Chelsea as they dithered, but we didn't do it. The results are not terrible (unbeaten) but the performances are poor. The reason I say its a worse start is that when the fixtures came out I was surprised at how easy our run looked up to Christmas compared to after it. We play all the "other" top three away in the second half and we've already played all the newly promoted teams (one away). Comparing last seasons games against teams we've already met, we've dropped 3 points (we beat Spurs and Chelsea at home last season, and lost at Pompey). I think we beat all the promoted teams at Anfield last season so Brum at home is another two points down, so essentially we are already 5 points behind last season. I would hope we can improve on some other games but I'm still really disappointed that we haven't taken advantage of our relatively easy start like Arsenal have.

[Red_Polo]

I think it's a worse start than previous years to be honest. We had a good opportunity to get some distance between ourselves Utd and Chelsea as they dithered, but we didn't do it. The results are not terrible (unbeaten) but the performances are poor. The reason I say its a worse start is that when the fixtures came out I was surprised at how easy our run looked up to Christmas compared to after it. We play all the "other" top three away in the second half and we've already played all the newly promoted teams (one away). Comparing last seasons games against teams we've already met, we've dropped 3 points (we beat Spurs and Chelsea at home last season, and lost at Pompey). I think we beat all the promoted teams at Anfield last season so Brum at home is another two points down, so essentially we are already 5 points behind last season. I would hope we can improve on some other games but I'm still really disappointed that we haven't taken advantage of our relatively easy start like Arsenal have.

Comparing the fixtures, subbing promoted teams for those relegated, we're actually 2 points up on last season. But then last season we had a terrible start. I'm disappointed, because we should have done a lot better, simple as that. I don't think we've done ourselves that much damage though because we've still managed to keep pace. The other top teams, Arsenal excepted, have not had the great starts they did last season.

What we have done is let go of a real chance to put an early marker down and give ourselves some confidence that we have what it takes. Hopefully this season will be like the previous two in the way that we start to come strong at the business end of the season, but we really just need to get out of this rut. Give everything for the 3 points, one game at a time.

[kurtangle01]

We've dropped a few points that we probably shouldn't have but all in all I thinkit's been a decent start although it could have been better. We just seem to have lost a bit of form since the last Internationals but hopefully the next two weeks will give the players a bit of time to reflect on things.

The next two matches are huge and if we want to be in the title race they're both must win matches, not that they weren't already.

If we win at Goodison and beat Arsenal at home then things should start to look a bit rosier but both matches are no gimme's and we'll have to be at our very best.

[Dhav]

We've dropped a few points that we probably shouldn't have but all in all I thinkit's been a decent start although it could have been better. We just seem to have lost a bit of form since the last Internationals but hopefully the next two weeks will give the players a bit of time to reflect on things.

The next two matches are huge and if we want to be in the title race they're both must win matches, not that they weren't already.

If we win at Goodison and beat Arsenal at home then things should start to look a bit rosier but both matches are no gimme's and we'll have to be at our very best.

These two games are also the kind of games you need to win if you want to be champions. We'll learn a lot about where the team is after these two games.

[Red Chilli]

I suppose I'm satisfied. Just as yorself, I'm not that arsed about failure in the cups, it's all about challenging for the title for me.
I expect us to be still in their competing by new year, if that is the case then we will have a chance.
What I'm saying is, it's still a bit too early to call it IMO. I'll make an assessment after Christmas

[Trippendicular]

I think the Arsenal game could now make or break our season. We win and we're 3 points behind them, we lose and we're 9 points off, which is the number of points we've gotten from our last 5 league games.

[Joe King]

Our start could have been much better therefore I am disappointed. If you look at Arsenal, they have had similar games to ourselves and have ripped the heck out of the opposition.

We are in American Sports terms- two games behind of Arsenal. So either we beat them twice this season or they drop two games and we win two games to equal with them in the future with all things being the same as they are. Still a long time left in this season and they are still many twists to go. What I am concerned with is the lack of confidence in the side, it is really looking eerie and de ja vu-ie. We concede a goal and the heads drop- it isn't how Rafa has built this side. Maybe he needs to look at the psyche of some of the players when they return from international duty.

Champions League- this is turning into a mare. Two games- one point. I was expecting four points like the rest of us but Wednesdays performance was below par. I couldn't take any positives out of the game. We need to win all the remaining games.

[Growler]

if this is a slump I am quite happy.

Carra, Gerrard, alonso, Agger have been given rests, forced I know.

Babel has been given games.

Arbeloa has been great.

Torres, fish to water, awesome.

[Nicey]

If we can take 3 points from our game in hand, whenever that may be Overall I am very happy with our start, Winning the Lg is not all about playing beautiful football and winning, sometimes its just about getting something when things are not going your way.
Well, things have not been going our way so far this season but because we have done relatively well considering people have not realized just how much of hot bother we could have been in. Lets take stock. We have just been bought out by New owners of the club. The obvious benefits of that is funding a timely boost to motivations, ambitions etc but Regardless of what people say in public about business as usual in reality that means wholesale changes behind the scenes. When organisations are in transition it can be quite a stressful time and this if not managed properly can effect just about everybody connected to the club / company. We lost our very influential Packo recently, who is one of the best in the business. That is bound to have an effect of the players as he spent so much time with them week in week out. We lost two players who influence our game in a major way namely Dan the Man SHOOT Agger and Xabi Did he just do what I think did Alonso. Now Agger rightly has been given the credit he deserves but Xabi contribution to the team it seems is not as obvious at first but more and more becoming glaringly missed at present. Not only does he break up play effectively but he can put the ball anywhere on the pitch with pin point accuracy, is comfortable on the ball, has sublime first touch and really truly can score from just about anywhere on the pitch. All this combined with Stevie G playing with an Injury and now after knocking down some Kid, does not make for Ideal circumstances.

But we are in relatively good shape. I really do not care about anything other than the Premiership this campaign, that includes the Champions League. That said we are Liverpool FC and the Champions Lg is part of the Job Description, good for transfers and good for the club in general. But we all know this Season is all about the League.
With that in mind we are sitting pretty, Unbeaten in the League, within touching distance of the top spot and our main competitors are not at all ideally set up. Chelsea are all over the shop and I would be truly amazed if they could win the Title next year. ManWhoo have been playing truly ****e football this season, winning Everton style 1- Nils and now have quite a severe injury crisis on there hands with no depth in the squad if you ask me. I know they always seem to pull something out the hat but there is only so many times they can do that and not get found out. Tevez has not worked out and is effected there play in a bad way if you ask me.

Arsenal, sure look good but they have a very very soft underbelly and are missing a few key players and experience to win the Lg. This Season its all set up for us to win it. Rafa and the Lads need to take this rarer opportunity with both hands and turn the screw.

Unbeaten in the Lg, best defense in the Lg, best keeper in the Lg and all of our strikers are scoring regularly, sure I am happy with our start. But we need to push on, when we come back, we cant afford to drop to many more points before Christmas.

Dare to Believe

[Woobus]

Happy enough with how the league has been going, we havent been playing well but would probably have dropped more points last year than this. Missing key players out from injury and our top players like Steve just are not on top form.
Think we will start playing a lot better when Agger and Alonso are back in the team, and when the new boys gell better with the squad. I have no doubt that we can go on a run of wins if we get our confidence back and dont have many injuries in defense.

[Taffy]

Looking at the league table now and I'd have to say I'm ok about the start we've had.

However, seeing the first few games we played and then the last three or four games and I must be disappointed. We had a decent head start on our big rivals but now that's been blown away, and although we're still unbeaten our recent form isn't good. Can't complain that we're in the top four though and within 6 points of top spot at this early stage. Our current form must improve greatly though if we have aims of staying there.

Our CL campaign has got off to a disasterous start though, although we're still in a decent position to progress - another loss could mean we're out though if results also go against us. We need to win both remaining home games and win at least one away for us to go through.

We're still in the Carling Cup but at present that means nothing to me. Our priorities must be the league and CL, with the FA Cup campaign early next year.

Injuries to two of our key ball players have been a massive blow and the sooner we get both Agger and Alonso back the better. Of the others, I've been impressed with Torres - he's the missing link up front that we've been craving for these past years, and Arbeloa has also done well. Babel is progressing ok, and Voronin has been a bright light for a freebie. Benayoun has been good in patches but he needs games - without games he'll continue to be just patchy. Mascherano must be signed asap but I think it's time Sissoko left before his transfer value goes down. Gerrard needs to pull his finger out and show us all he's the main man, these next run of games are when he needs to show it most! The defence has been good, apart from the Spurs game, overall so a bit more fluency in attack should see us back up there.

Here's hoping!