If in the summer you were told that.....

[Tee]

Wigan v Liverpool, 19:45
Liverpool v Chelsea, 16:00
Portsmouth v Liverpool, 17:30
Liverpool v Man City, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Liverpool

All losable.

And all perfectly winnable as well.

Just down to the players to perform and prove they want this title.

[The Birdman]

I know it's cliche'd but we were awful at Stoke, Gerrard hits the post in the last min, Man U played at Stoke and struggled their ass of to beat them after they went to 10 men, they got a late goal to beat Bolton (4th min of injury time was it??) hung on at home to Wigan after an early Rooney goal.
What I see are 2 struggling teams, not hitting top form, not making games safe and dropping points they really shouldn't.
The only difference is that Man U have a consistant history of winning Premier League titles and we don't.
I didn't hear Fergie using the 'we've been there before and have all the experience argument' before he had won the title for the 1st time in 20 odd years.

[Marky]

And all perfectly winnable as well.

Just down to the players to perform and prove they want this title.

Been saying that for the last few games and we've blew it.
I question whether the team have the bottle to win it.

[Darkon]

We can still win title, insists Rafael Benitez

Jan 20 2009 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post
Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez 200

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez insists he still believes his side can win the Premier League title after a late Tim Cahill equaliser in last night’s Merseyside derby denied the Anfield outfit a return to the summit.

Steven Gerrard’s spectacular 25-yard drive on 68 minutes looked to have given the hosts the victory they needed to go back into top spot ahead of Manchester United but with just three minutes remaining Cahill headed in a Mikel Arteta free-kick from close range to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have a game in hand on Liverpool, stay in first place on goal difference.

The draw ensured that Liverpool have now dropped points in both their games since Benitez delivered his speech against Ferguson and his complaints about the game’s officials while during the same period United have recorded a hat-trick of victories to wipe out the seven-point deficit they had trailed the Spaniard’s side by.

With both United and Chelsea securing last-gasp wins over the weekend, Liverpool’s late surrender against their neighbours could be seen to have dealt them a striking psychological blow in the title race but their manager insists they can still deny the Red Devils from equalling their all-time championship record of 18 in May by ending their own 19-year wait for the title. He said: “I am still confident that we can put in a serious challenge for the Premier League title and that we can win it.

“I think it’s too soon (to talk about the Premier League title being won or lost). We are on level points with United and in a very good position. It could be better, clearly, but I have to think about the positives. We are still in the Champions League, the FA Cup and are still in a very good position in the league.

“We have to be disappointed because we lost two points with three minutes to go but there are still a lot of positive things.”

Liverpool’s draw last night came on the back of a second goalless stalemate this season against relegation battlers Stoke City but Benitez insists that his team can up their performances in the crucial months ahead. He added: “I think we can raise our game (in the title run-in) and play better. Some players are coming back from injuries so they will improve.”

However, the Spaniard refused to comment on suggestions that his public declaration in the build up to this game that he had rejected a new contract at Anfield could have hampered his team’s preparations.

He said: “I will talk about football. The team was winning with three minutes to go and the other things are not important.”

Benitez admitted that he was not happy with the way is side conceded the free-kick which led to Everton’s equaliser but insisted that he did not regret substituting both of his starting strikers.

He said: “I was disappointed with the foul and how we defended the free-kick. It was very difficult because the delivery was really good but maybe we could have done better.

“To play a derby against a team like Everton who always want to win is not easy but we were winning with just three minutes to go and were in a good position and we were much better in the second half. The other team has to attack because they were losing so they were playing more direct with the strikers and you have to defend. I have seen the replay of how we conceded but not the free-kick but maybe it wasn’t necessary. Torres was really tired and to change Keane and put Kuyt as a striker is more or less the same.”

Referee Howard Webb ignored the Kop’s pleas for a penalty early in the second half when Fernando Torres went down under a challenge from Phil Jagielka but Benitez said: “I haven’t seen it. From my position it could have been but I haven’t seen it (since it happened).”

The two sides will have to do it all again in just five day’s time when they return to Anfield for an FA Cup fourth round encounter and Benitez is upbeat. He said: “It’s not easy and everyone is disappointed but we have to think about the positives.

“In August if you’d have asked if we wanted to be in this position and I can guarantee that 100% of the fans would say yes.”

[barnes10]

And all perfectly winnable as well.

Just down to the players to perform and prove they want this title.

ive been asking for that for a month and there's still no sign of it. what makes you think they'll click into gear now?

[rudedog]

ive been asking for that for a month and there's still no sign of it. what makes you think they'll click into gear now?

Players coming back from Injury? the pressure from being top lifted? A lucky streak?

take your pick.

[Kenneth]

to change Keane and put Kuyt as a striker is more or less the same.

Sadly, it's true. Neither scores goals as a striker.

[Tee]

ive been asking for that for a month and there's still no sign of it. what makes you think they'll click into gear now?

They might not - that is the challenge, its not just about Rafa is what I mean.

[Woobus]

ive been asking for that for a month and there's still no sign of it. what makes you think they'll click into gear now?

Surely Bolton and Newcastle were signs? The players have shown that they can totally batter other teams when they give there all. The problem for me in the last 2 matches is the effort shown by the players.
In our best games the players have been defending from the front and the movement off the ball was great. Both these things have been badly missing in the last 2 matches and we need to get back that kind of bite again.

[BobTheCharmer]

If we don't improve and looking at the games we have left we could finish outside the top 4. I don't think we will but we have Utd away, chelsea at home, arsenal at home and villa at home. who could guarantee wins from any of those games? throw in man city at home, spurs at home and boro away. I see problems ahead. there are few easy games but the fact that utd win their home games and don't concede many means its going to be hard. I reckon we'll be 15 short of utd by the end.

[Craig_H]

Players coming back from Injury? the pressure from being top lifted? A lucky streak?

take your pick.

Which players? Agger and Insua are the only first teamers we're missing.

A lucky streak? Hardly something we can rely on.

If it's the pressure of being top thing that'll make a difference, then surely the same problem will return if/when we get back to top spot.

[Ben_Itez]

Players coming back from Injury? the pressure from being top lifted? A lucky streak?

take your pick.

Craig i think he means just getting back to fitness rather than to come back ie Torres, Skrtl, Aurelio, Agger, Arbeloa, Insua

[Craig_H]

Craig i think he means just getting back to fitness rather than to come back ie Torres, Skrtl, Aurelio, Agger, Arbeloa, Insua

Fair enough mate. If Torres hits and maintains the form of last season, that'll give us a much better chance. He cant do it alone though and the players need to be given the license to attack and play without caution or fear.

[hamshanks]

If in the summer you were told that.... We would finish forth again while United equalled our record, despite being top in January would you have been happy??? Because that's what's going to happen

[rudedog]

Which players? Agger and Insua are the only first teamers we're missing.

A lucky streak? Hardly something we can rely on.

If it's the pressure of being top thing that'll make a difference, then surely the same problem will return if/when we get back to top spot.

In addition to Agger - Torres, Skrtle, Arbeloa and Aurelio are still adjusting to being back in the squad after fairly lengthy times on the sidelines.
Maybe you think Liverpool players should just come back at the same level they were at before their injuries. I don't, I think it takes time for them to settle and find their form again.

A lucky streak isn't something that can be relied upon but it seems an awful lot of title winning sides have one at some point in the season. To discount the importance or impact of a lucky streak in the title race would be extremely foolish.

Of course there is always the possibility that if we regained top spot we could lose our nerve again - I'm not arguing that. However, its hard to deny that the pressure of being top has had a negative effect on the team. Now that we don't have that pressure hopefully we can go on a run of winning games which will give the team confidence.

In addition, if we do go on a winning run, hopefully the added confidence will better equip us for be able to handle the pressure when/if we regain top spot.