Robbie Slater says Liverpool’s priority must be to ensure qualification for the UCL
MANCHESTER United won’t win the EPL this year, we know that, but they’ll be desperate to ensure bitter rivals Liverpool don’t take their crown.
AS a Liverpool fan in recent years, we’ve come to enter the season with such low expectations – so low, sometimes there’s even been a sense of trepidation before kick-off; what will this season hold?
But here we are, ahead of a clash with our old foes, Manchester United, at Old Trafford, and Brendan Rodgers’s side is still sitting pretty. Not just in the top four, but still holding hope of a title tilt.
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As terrific as it would be to see this great club hoist the trophy again, let’s be realistic.
Returning to the UEFA Champions League still has to be the absolute priority, because taking that first step back into Europe’s elite will open doors for Rodgers.
Luis Suarez has already kept the faith in anticipation of a Champions League venture, and not only will qualification help Liverpool retain the club’s best talent like Daniel Sturridge or Raheem Sterling, but it will help the club re-gain genuine clout in the transfer market.
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I know we’re second, on 59 points, seven points adrift of Chelsea with a game in hand, but achieving anything above and beyond UCL qualification would be a massive surprise – and bonus.
But – the dream is still alive and if Liverpool is serious about a title challenge this year, then nothing but a win this weekend can be on the cards against a United team desperately trying to salvage its season.
This game doesn’t need any extra spice. Only the Merseyside derby has seen more red cards in EPL history. We know United, which has won eight of its last nine against Liverpool at Old Trafford, won’t win the title, but the last thing they’ll want to see is Liverpool take it off them. They’ll be up for this clash, that’s an understatement.
In terms of the title race, Liverpool has one thing firmly in its favour: destiny is in its own hands. It starts this weekend against David Moyes’s men, but the run home features Manchester City (13/4/14) and Chelsea (13/4/14) at Anfield.
They’ll virtually turn into title six-pointers and City, now eliminated from two competitions in the space of three days, will have all its resources focused on the title race, which is an advantage Liverpool has enjoyed over the other big guns who have had European distractions.
So much of the success this season has revolved around Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, but credit must go to Rodgers for having a philosophy and sticking to it.
People have had their doubts but it’s working at the moment. The SAS are flourishing as a partnership and hitting the heights individually, while a kid like Sterling has gone to another level. I also really enjoy watching Philippe Coutinho; he’s a great contributor to the fluent attack.
The defence is a bit shaky and re-enforcements will likely be brought in during the European summer, but watching Liverpool at the moment, you know you’re in for entertainment. The side’s 47 first-half goals this term is one more than United has scored all season !
They’re as good as anyone in the front third – you can tell at the moment they think: we’ll just score more than you.
There’s so much pressure being Liverpool boss and Rodgers is making a good fist of it.
For over 20 years, we’ve been waiting to return to the top of the summit. It’s a big expectation for Rodgers to deal with. There’s a demand from supporters that the club competes for a top flight crown again.
This weekend’s a good time to make sure our old rivals don’t spoil the fun.