After a torrid but somehow effective start to the Premiership, we've risen to the point where we, as fans of Liverpool football club, can finally say: 'we're getting there'. Progress in the Premiership is belatedly being seen by the Anfield faithful, and now, for the first time in Bentiez's reign, we are beginning to display the consistency required of Champions. Almost always prospective title winners lay down a marker early on in the season; a performance which signals their intent, one which lingers in the back of their rivals mind, a performance which shows the world what they're made of. We've notched up 2 already. A club which has previously had a poignantly woeful record against the top 3 clubs has already beaten both of last years Champions League finalists, smashing a 4 year unbeaten home record in the process. And as Ferguson's mind-games begin, we, like the players we support, are sailing on a sea of optimism, and long may it last.
Most of this optimism stems from fans gawking at Teletext league tables, seeing Liverpool 3 points clear, and jumping up and down it fits of delight. And to coin a common phrase in football: 'the league table never lies', and people are right, it doesn't. But then nor does it display the whole truth.
Luck. We've been lucky. ****ing lucky, in fact. That should not mask, nor detract from our recent improvement, certainly not. But to ignore it would be a disservice. Funny isn't it, after our comeback against United, we put in a dreary, lackluster performance to Stoke, reluctantly having to settle for 1 point against a side hotly tipped to be relegated. We achieved 4 points from the 2 fixtures, but the way around we got them has blurred reality. I feared for it against last night. I feared we would drop more points after a 'marker' performance against a side we should annihilating. It almost happened. I must stress I was confident before the game, but as Rafa announced the team-sheet, my confidence drained. All the signs were there to make it rational; Rotation was back, key players unavailable, Pennant and Lucas displaying further evidence that they need to be sold, lack of match-winners evident, and playing a side determined to get a point. Against a side showing little ambition, but defending doggedly and making life difficult - symbolising Adams's playing career - we almost became unstuck. As ever though, and has been often this season, the footballing Gods smiled down upon us, and injected an opposing player with a sufficient levels of Lunacy for it to prove decisive.
This isn't a pessimistic, glass half empty post, but there are concerns and they need to be addressed;
1) Robbie Keane - For £20 million where does he fit in? On other forums a 'pick your strongest 11 thread' was undertaken, and rightly Robbie Keane didn't feature in a single persons first team. For £20 million that's a joke. Despite being a good footballer, a very good one, actually, he wasn't the right player for us.
2) Dossena - a further worry of mine. Paying £6-8 million for an Italian fullback I'd expect at the very least for him to be able to defend. He can't. Even under the best defensive organiser in the league - Jamie Carragher - he is all too often in the wrong position and leaves gaping space over the pitch. So far he's proved that he's quite fast for a fat bloke and can occasionally be a threat up top. Cue a predictable long-term injury to Aurelio and I'll be worrying. The jury is very much out.
3) Strength and Depth - We've got in. When the squad is fully fit our bench is more than a match for our rivals, but the players coming in should of sufficient quality so that the first team is no worse for their influence, they should be able to come in seamlessly and unnoticed, and we should be able to beat sides while resting a few players. That's the signs of champions, and we haven' proved it yet. Lucas, Benayoun, and Pennant wouldn't get anywhere near the first teams of Chelsea, United or Arsenal, and that may well be decisive.
4) Rafa - So far he's been excellent, last night aside, but he's set us up before. Often many cry out 'he's finally learned!' only for him to go back to his old ways. As we progress in the Champions League, my fears are that we will again become blinded by the prospect of confirming his reputation on the continent and shy away from the Premiership - the trophy we're ultimately paying him to deliver.
For now we should enjoy our position, smile down at everybody else with a smug and knowing smile, but it would be wise to keep this in mind: the true test is yet to be passed. Can we deliver when the Gods are menstruating? Time will tell.
Most of this optimism stems from fans gawking at Teletext league tables, seeing Liverpool 3 points clear, and jumping up and down it fits of delight. And to coin a common phrase in football: 'the league table never lies', and people are right, it doesn't. But then nor does it display the whole truth.
Luck. We've been lucky. ****ing lucky, in fact. That should not mask, nor detract from our recent improvement, certainly not. But to ignore it would be a disservice. Funny isn't it, after our comeback against United, we put in a dreary, lackluster performance to Stoke, reluctantly having to settle for 1 point against a side hotly tipped to be relegated. We achieved 4 points from the 2 fixtures, but the way around we got them has blurred reality. I feared for it against last night. I feared we would drop more points after a 'marker' performance against a side we should annihilating. It almost happened. I must stress I was confident before the game, but as Rafa announced the team-sheet, my confidence drained. All the signs were there to make it rational; Rotation was back, key players unavailable, Pennant and Lucas displaying further evidence that they need to be sold, lack of match-winners evident, and playing a side determined to get a point. Against a side showing little ambition, but defending doggedly and making life difficult - symbolising Adams's playing career - we almost became unstuck. As ever though, and has been often this season, the footballing Gods smiled down upon us, and injected an opposing player with a sufficient levels of Lunacy for it to prove decisive.
This isn't a pessimistic, glass half empty post, but there are concerns and they need to be addressed;
1) Robbie Keane - For £20 million where does he fit in? On other forums a 'pick your strongest 11 thread' was undertaken, and rightly Robbie Keane didn't feature in a single persons first team. For £20 million that's a joke. Despite being a good footballer, a very good one, actually, he wasn't the right player for us.
2) Dossena - a further worry of mine. Paying £6-8 million for an Italian fullback I'd expect at the very least for him to be able to defend. He can't. Even under the best defensive organiser in the league - Jamie Carragher - he is all too often in the wrong position and leaves gaping space over the pitch. So far he's proved that he's quite fast for a fat bloke and can occasionally be a threat up top. Cue a predictable long-term injury to Aurelio and I'll be worrying. The jury is very much out.
3) Strength and Depth - We've got in. When the squad is fully fit our bench is more than a match for our rivals, but the players coming in should of sufficient quality so that the first team is no worse for their influence, they should be able to come in seamlessly and unnoticed, and we should be able to beat sides while resting a few players. That's the signs of champions, and we haven' proved it yet. Lucas, Benayoun, and Pennant wouldn't get anywhere near the first teams of Chelsea, United or Arsenal, and that may well be decisive.
4) Rafa - So far he's been excellent, last night aside, but he's set us up before. Often many cry out 'he's finally learned!' only for him to go back to his old ways. As we progress in the Champions League, my fears are that we will again become blinded by the prospect of confirming his reputation on the continent and shy away from the Premiership - the trophy we're ultimately paying him to deliver.
For now we should enjoy our position, smile down at everybody else with a smug and knowing smile, but it would be wise to keep this in mind: the true test is yet to be passed. Can we deliver when the Gods are menstruating? Time will tell.
We should have got Andy Reid as a left winger as well, then any player wishing to go down the touch line and around the outside would be out for a throw.
RAFA 
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