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Onwards and Upwards

Liverpool
by Dr Seven Grater (U13361059) 27 October 2008
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What a win that was. We played some really nice football, we looked the more dangerous team and we answered nearly every question they threw at us.

There were great performances all over the pitch so it's hard to single some out, but I thought Stevie, Masch, Carra, Riera and, of course, the man of the moment, Xabi Alonso looked immense. Even when Chelsea had us pegged back, Xabi, Stevie and Riera looked so comfortable on the ball, Carra - as usual - looked like he would have stopped the ball if Chelsea had put it on a locomotive and sent it on it's way towards our goal plus Masch showed why he is rated by many as the best defensive midfielder in the world by ensuring that Chelsea did a lot of their passing to the side and his energy was also inspiring to watch towards the end; the way he hounded down Belletti and challenged him before carrying the ball into the Chelsea half was heroic.

Special mention for Ryan Babel too, who held the ball up magnificently, challenged in the air and terrorised the Chelsea defence on the ground during his cameo. Rafa publicly challenged Ryan to give him more of a selection headache and in my view his performances against United, Chelsea and Marseille have done that. The only thing that seemed to be stopping Babel from being a class act last season was himself, but this season he looks mean, composed and ready to impose himself on the premiership with the quality we saw glimpses of last season. Shrugged off the physical challenges of Terry and Carvalho with consummate ease, even when he was a bit isolated.

So what does this mean for us in terms of a title challenge? Not a hell of a lot if we don't keep it going. People unfairly stated that this was the acid test for us in terms of a title push - going to a ground where Chelsea were unbeaten for 86 games over four Prem seasons. Yes, that's right, they didn't lose to United or Arsenal during that period at the Bridge, but apparently we were to write off this season as another waste of time if we couldn't end their magnificent record.doh

No, for me the real acid test is the visit of Pompey to Anfield. Pompey aren't in the top 4 so there isn't that massive-game feeling which accompanies those games (meaning that motivation won't take care of itself) but they are a very dangerous side well capable of taking points off any team foolish enough to go out and expect them to roll over. Expecting lesser teams to roll over and surrender 3 points for us cost us big last season and for me we'll see Liverpool challenging for the title as soon as we realise that there's the same amount of points on offer for beating teams from the bottom half of the table as there is for beating the likes of United and Chelsea - taking 3 points off United was brilliant but what's the point if we're going to drop 2 at Stoke? Although it must be said that we've bounced back from that Stoke result brilliantly.

All in all, something seems to have changed in our team. The manager and players seem to have far less concern for what everyone thinks of us (contrast that with Arsene Wenger's recent bleatings about his team not getting the credit they deserve) and after all the sniping that Rafa has endured over the past while from the media and - incredibly - from within the cluband from some of our ''fans'', I'd be the happiest man on earth if he led us to the title.

Team doesn't know when it's beaten? Check.

Playing with confidence boh home and away? Check.

Grinding out results even when it's not going according plan? Check.

Early days, but whisper it quietly...

Latest 10 comments

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comment by jro786 (U4511949)

posted Oct 28, 2008

well done doc7 applause

5 star

brilliant

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posted Oct 28, 2008

Chelsea fan here. Well done to Liverpool, not sure really that either team really deserved to win as it was very close , and the goal was fortunate in the extreme. I doubted Liverpool's credentials to stay the pace for the full term but now believe they can push Utd and Chelsea very hard. Arsenal certainly can't be ruled out either. We can see that all the big 4 are going to drop points this season so consistency rather than out and out flair , I believe, will be the deciding factor this time.

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posted Oct 28, 2008

And you;re telling me the wigan player got sent off cos he was under pressure? his first booking was a farce.

I'll agree Liverpool have improved this season, but title challengers? how many games have we played 8? give me a break. Lets talk again after 20.

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second yellow wouldve been a red if the first wasnt a yellow, thats been acknowledged by a lot of pundits, so thats put paid to that.

its actually 9 games in for us 8 for you which means you have to win that game in hadn to be 5 points behind us. Shall we make a date then, 11 games time where does that take us to..just after Christmas??
Its in my diary sir

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posted Oct 28, 2008

The reason is that over a full season you will drop points more often than Chelsea. So anyone taking points off Chelsea is a good thing for Utd.

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we WILL drop more points than chelsea, is that fact is it that you can say that every time, well i can only say let the season roll on!

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posted Oct 28, 2008

Yes he was under pressure,Liverpool had equalised by the time Valencia was sent off,and yes the first booking was a bit harsh but the second booking should have been a straight red,Valencia went through alonso.It was good refereeing not to give him a straight red because he was already booked.
Do you remember when Fat frank broke alonso's ankle and didnt even get a yellow,tmost of the wums talk about the bad tackles liverpool players make but hthey seem to forget the ones made on Liverpool players that injured them,including the time Lucas Neill broke Carraghers leg.You cannot include the time Riises shot injred alan smith,he was unfortunate to be in the way of the ball,there was no intent,unlike when Roy Keane injured Haaland and said ''take that you ...... ....''

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posted Oct 28, 2008

Liverpool may win the league this year but my god it'll be a sad day for football. I personally don't think they will because their defensive style (although very solid) relies either on opposition mistakes or 25 yard screamers and I don't think you can rely on that to win consistently over a full-length season. I've had enough of watching defensive teams winning the league anyway and as a neutral I personlly found it was quite nice to watch a team that were a bit more attacking win the league the last year. I would love it if Arsenal tore Liverpool apart this season cos let's face it, the only people who enjoy watching Liverpool are Liverpool fans.

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posted Oct 28, 2008

here we go ,top of the table and youve already acting like you won the league and have been a dominant force in the league,well you`ve won nothing and have a long way to gao,arsenal led the league for ages last year and only lost the leaguge by losing to man u! you are a joke,don`t go fooling yourself !

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posted Oct 28, 2008

GunsOfThEmirates (U10875626)
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And you were among those arsenal fans jumping up and down and shouting happily you have won the titlel when arsenal was leading the race. We should take you as the best example and not get to excited right now. Point noted mate. you are a guy with experience!!!!

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posted Oct 28, 2008

If Liverpool win the league it will be a bad day for football.
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Hypocrites.
The arsenal team that won the league under George Graham in 1989 and 1991 were so boring it was like watching paint dry,but they were effective and got results and deservedly won the league.
The same can be said of Chelsea 2005 and 2006 under Mourinho,very solid,very effective,but they were not very exciting.
Their plan B on those occasions was to throw Robert Huth up front.
Talent alone does not win you titles,if it did the Liverpool teams of the mid 90s would have won it.
Resilence,heart,and spirit and the ability to work damn well hard is what makes a team succsessful as well as skill and talent.I just hope Liverpool continue to do what they are doing,because they are certainly doing something right,if they weren't they wouldnt be top of the league,but lets not get too big for our boots here and get compalcent,Gerrard said it was hard to get to the top of the league,but its going to be harder to stay there,lets just see hwat this Liverpool team is made of before passing judgement just yet.

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posted Oct 28, 2008

Liverpool fans should pipe down. Fair enough youve improved but Arsenal were at the same stage last year, playing better football and winning more convincingly, and we ended up with nothing. Start talking after christmas.

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