The Top of the League Thread

[MrMichael]

Here Pondus. Football is all about the moments. Today has been one of them.
Scum lose, we win, we go top and Torres plays on the turf again without problems.

A happy day for LFC all round.

[rage]

What is the Robbie Keane song they are singing ... it is well ****

its the kop refusing to call him keano! something like 'he's name ain't ****in keano....robbie keane robbie keane.

bit reactionary i know but i've seen some serious arguments start over some fans chanting keano.

i liked the father ted song personally

[pondus]

Top of the league - so is this Liverpool team for real?
Four Anfield legends reveal how close Rafael Benítez's side is to the great line-ups of the past



Steven Gerrard celebrates

Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring for league leaders Liverpool this season.

Ian Callaghan

Liverpool career 1960-1978, Appearances 856

Honours
League 5, European Cup 1, FA Cup 2, League Cup 1

The 1964 championship-winning team was the same team that brought us out of the Second Division in 1962 - it was when the great man [Bill Shankly] arrived in 1959 it all happened and it was a special team to achieve winning the league so soon after being promoted.

It was an unbelievable all-around unit; great keeper, solid defence, we played with two wingers in me and Peter Thompson, and up front we had Ian St John and, of course Roger Hunt, who scored goals for fun.

It was a great, balanced team and a great bunch of lads. We did train quite hard. Mr Shankly changed things, he introduced [tactics] boards at Melwood.

I think they've got the best chance they've had in years. It's a very, very good team. The backbone is great; Reina, Carragher at the back, Stevie G - who is Roy of the Rovers for me - and the best striker in the world in Torres.

The game has changed and you do need a good squad and I think this is the best squad we've had in a long time. I don't think they've played particularly well in a lot of games, but have got the results, which we haven't always done in the past.

If you look at Benítez's achievements - European Cup final, FA Cup and, of course, to win the Champions League - you see he's a good manager. For the people of Liverpool the number one priority is the Premiership and I think Rafa realises that.

Team of the era Tommy Lawrence; Ronnie Moran, Ron Yeats, Philip Ferns, Gerry Byrne; Ian Callaghan, Gordon Milne, Willie Stevenson, Peter Thompson; Ian St John, Roger Hunt

Ray Clemence

Liverpool career 1968-1981, Appearances 666

Honours
League 5, European Cup 3, FA Cup 1, Uefa Cup 2

We had great players [in the 1977 league and European Cup-winning side]. There were a lot of leaders in there and if things got tough we drove each other on, so I think we won a lot of matches that teams without such leaders wouldn't have won. Defence started with attack and we had a strong back four, a strong midfield and Kevin Keegan up front.

Everyone associated with the club hopes this is their season, but anyone who has been long enough in the game knows it is too early to say it is. It could be this team's best chance, but we're not even at Christmas yet. If they're still top in the new year maybe we can start talking about it. They've got the spine with Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres up front.

It will only be decided at the end of the season and, to be fair, in the last two or three seasons they haven't been there. So, they've got to bridge that gap but at the moment we're only eight or nine games in.

Team of the era Ray Clemence; Phil Neal, Joey Jones, Tommy Smith, Alan Kennedy; Emlyn Hughes, Jimmy Case, Steve Heighway, Ian Callaghan, Terry McDermott; Kevin Keegan


Alan Kennedy

Liverpool career 1978-1985, Appearances 356

Honours
League 5, European Cup 2, League Cup 4

Joe Fagan came in and he didn't really change anything and we knew what we had to do. The mentality [of the 1984 league and European cup-winning side] was to do the job, be professional, don't get booked and don't get sent off.

We took each game as it came and were all happy to play because training was light-hearted and it wasn't a slog. It was very much more relaxed than anything. The key to any success is the players, you can have the best of managers but you need the players. We stuck up for each other, the mentality was "We are Liverpool Football Club": We don't let the football club down.

The side was very well-balanced, we had players on the left and the right who were comfortable with the ball and we always felt, with Rushie and Dalglish up front, as if we'd score goals. It was a great team.

I think it's very unfair to compare the current team to any of the great Liverpool teams. I like the balance to the team. They're capable of playing good football and getting a result.

Dirk Kuyt has been converted into a right-winger and he looks comfortable with that. Riera on the left looks good and Torres and Keane up front should score goals.

I think for too long they have relied on players like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, but now they have more players who can come to the top.

They've not been afraid to express themselves, they can come from behind or they can sit on a lead. I think they've come a long way and all the credit has to go to the manager.

Team of the era Bruce Grobbelaar; Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Mark Lawrenson, Alan Hansen; Ronnie Whelan, Sammy Lee, Craig Johnston, Graeme Souness; Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush


John Aldridge

Liverpool career 1987-1989, Appearances 104

Honours
League 1, FA Cup 1

Scored 63 goals in his two seasons at Anfield

It was the balance that made the 1989 team as good as it was. We had world-class players right throughout, look at every position from goalkeeper, defence, through midfield to attack.

Going forward we had so much balance, we were quite devastating with the full-backs attacking with Houghton and Whelan. It was a special time.

I don't really want to say if we can win the league this year, it's a long way to go. We need to play our best players for most of the season. The chopping and changing won't work for us because our squad is not as strong as some of the other teams challenging.

We'll have to avoid injuries and suspensions and so far we haven't been too lucky with injuries. Robbie Keane has been a little bit injured and Torres has been out. If we keep players fit and strong, who knows?

Team of the era Bruce Grobbelaar; Steve Staunton, Steve Nicol, Alan Hansen, Gary Ablett; Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton, John Barnes, Steve McMahon; John Aldridge, Peter Beardsley

[slimbimjim]

Top of league on 32 points with exactly a third of the season gone.

****ing well in there lads

[-V-]

Well done lads, top again. Heres hoping chelsea **** up away at west brom

[slimbimjim]

Well done lads, top again. Heres hoping chelsea **** up away at west brom

Hoping is the right word but at least the 'pressure' is on them.

[Nicey]

Onward red Solders !

[pondus]

Top of league on 32 points with exactly a third of the season gone.

****ing well in there lads

10 wins, 2 draws and one loss, fantastic!

[G]

Be nice if they drop points but it keeps us under less pressure if we stay second on goal difference.Then we can nip in toward the end and take the glory

[magicalbarnes]

10 wins, 2 draws and one loss, fantastic!

Is this our best ever start to Premiership season?

[HotSwine]

Is this our best ever start to Premiership season?

The graph doesn't cover the early years of the Premiership, but I'm pretty sure the 2002/3 season was our best start at the time. That would make this our best start ever.
Oh, I posted this graph once before and based on feedback then can I apologise in advance to the colour blind!

[pondus]

The graph doesn't cover the early years of the Premiership, but I'm pretty sure the 2002/3 season was our best start at the time. That would make this our best start ever.
Oh, I posted this graph once before and based on feedback then can I apologise in advance to the colour blind!

If we could only replicate our best finish ever we'll win it!

[Neil Young]

Great chart.

That slump in 2002/03 from November really was terrible.

[Nicey]

If this thread was on an Everton forum we'd all be pissing ourselves laughing. Shame on you

Ye have little Faith Liverpool FC

[tsb]

Great chart.

That slump in 2002/03 from November really was terrible.

That was an inexplicable period of time. Threw away a golden start.