19 Reasons Liverpool Will Win the EPL Title
1. We finished 21 points behind the winners but that doesn't tell the whole story. we dropped 6-9 points towards the end of the season by fielding reserve sides, and their win at anfield was one of the unluckiest results of the season. therefore on the balance of the season they were probably 10-12 points better which isn't a big gap over a whole season.
2. they rode their luck with injuries all season. arguably our two best attacking midfielders (kewell, garcia) were out for a season and half a season respectively, amongst other injuries.
3. we added several new faces last summer whilst they didn't. we started very badly, they raced ahead. apart from the aforementioned reserve team/anfield blip above, we hardly lost any ground to them from the end of november onwards.
4. their key players performed well. Scholes and Ronaldo will not be as good next year - Gerrard had his worst season in the last 4-5, he won't be as bad again, he's been carrying the national team and needs a rest. Alonso will also be better.
5. a cliche, but Kewell and Garcia will be like new signings.
6. the likes of Pennant, Kuyt, Mascherano will be more settled and better next season.
7. the over-priced, big name signings of Nani & Anderson will disrupt a winning team. Seeing as they are coming from a far less competitive European B league, then it is very likely that they will struggle to settle at first.
8. Last summer they added Carrick whilst Chelsea added huge names like Ballack and Shevchenko. Yet look what happened.
9. People panicking that they've added 3 players for almost �50m should think of the above and also - �25-30m for 2 lightweight, unproven youngesters from a weak league is a risk - a bigger risk than signing 2 PROVEN world class players like Ballack and Shevchenko.
10. Ji Sung Park will be back for them next season.
11. Have faith in our transfer dealings. Atleast half of the deals we've been linked with are coming from La Liga (the other best league in the world besides the Prem) Their season hasn't yet finished so it makes sense that we haven't signed any of them yet...
12. ...but we have signed Leto and Lucas - by all accounts they are great prospects and we have snatched them ahead of other big clubs without overspending.
13. we can't be so far behind when we got to the final of
the Champions League...beating some of the best teams in the world
along the way (Not Roma, Lille)
In the final we also outplayed the team that hammered united in the
semis.
14. No world cup hangover. Reina, Carra, Alonso, Gerrard all on new contracts, will all be more settled.
15. That yellow away kit wasn't very lucky was it?
16. Hamill, Lindfield, Anderson, El Zhar all knocking at the door. 1 or 2 could shine. and they certainly can't be much weaker additions to the squad than Zenden and Gonzalez.
17. I said last summer that the fixture lay out would prove really nasty. Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Bolton all away in the first half of the season (about 2 months apart). At a stage when our new players were still settling in. It definitely had an impact.
18. With the addition of a new striker and return of Kewell then Kuyt might actually be able to get forward and get on the end of the countless chances we already supply.
19. We already have the best central midfield, arguably the best back 4 and arguably the best keeper on which to build. Carra and Gerrard would easily walk into the Chelsea, United, Arsenal team and there's a strong argument for Riise, Agger, Alonso, Finnan - which is not such a bad foundation to work from as people have been making out.
1. We finished 21 points behind the winners but that doesn't tell the whole story. we dropped 6-9 points towards the end of the season by fielding reserve sides, and their win at anfield was one of the unluckiest results of the season. therefore on the balance of the season they were probably 10-12 points better which isn't a big gap over a whole season.
2. they rode their luck with injuries all season. arguably our two best attacking midfielders (kewell, garcia) were out for a season and half a season respectively, amongst other injuries.
3. we added several new faces last summer whilst they didn't. we started very badly, they raced ahead. apart from the aforementioned reserve team/anfield blip above, we hardly lost any ground to them from the end of november onwards.
4. their key players performed well. Scholes and Ronaldo will not be as good next year - Gerrard had his worst season in the last 4-5, he won't be as bad again, he's been carrying the national team and needs a rest. Alonso will also be better.
5. a cliche, but Kewell and Garcia will be like new signings.
6. the likes of Pennant, Kuyt, Mascherano will be more settled and better next season.
7. the over-priced, big name signings of Nani & Anderson will disrupt a winning team. Seeing as they are coming from a far less competitive European B league, then it is very likely that they will struggle to settle at first.
8. Last summer they added Carrick whilst Chelsea added huge names like Ballack and Shevchenko. Yet look what happened.
9. People panicking that they've added 3 players for almost �50m should think of the above and also - �25-30m for 2 lightweight, unproven youngesters from a weak league is a risk - a bigger risk than signing 2 PROVEN world class players like Ballack and Shevchenko.
10. Ji Sung Park will be back for them next season.
11. Have faith in our transfer dealings. Atleast half of the deals we've been linked with are coming from La Liga (the other best league in the world besides the Prem) Their season hasn't yet finished so it makes sense that we haven't signed any of them yet...
12. ...but we have signed Leto and Lucas - by all accounts they are great prospects and we have snatched them ahead of other big clubs without overspending.
13. we can't be so far behind when we got to the final of
the Champions League...beating some of the best teams in the world
along the way (Not Roma, Lille)
In the final we also outplayed the team that hammered united in the
semis.
14. No world cup hangover. Reina, Carra, Alonso, Gerrard all on new contracts, will all be more settled.
15. That yellow away kit wasn't very lucky was it?
16. Hamill, Lindfield, Anderson, El Zhar all knocking at the door. 1 or 2 could shine. and they certainly can't be much weaker additions to the squad than Zenden and Gonzalez.
17. I said last summer that the fixture lay out would prove really nasty. Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Bolton all away in the first half of the season (about 2 months apart). At a stage when our new players were still settling in. It definitely had an impact.
18. With the addition of a new striker and return of Kewell then Kuyt might actually be able to get forward and get on the end of the countless chances we already supply.
19. We already have the best central midfield, arguably the best back 4 and arguably the best keeper on which to build. Carra and Gerrard would easily walk into the Chelsea, United, Arsenal team and there's a strong argument for Riise, Agger, Alonso, Finnan - which is not such a bad foundation to work from as people have been making out.
Although i follow Liverpool, i don't like topics like this. Everything's done on the field and most of these things are pure speculation and assumptions. Remember-
"assumptions are the mother of all MUCK ups"
linds2007-07-17 23:09:33
1. it was Liverpool on the shirt, Liverpool on the jersey and Liverpool on the score board it never said Liverpool (reserve) in the results section of the paper.
2. united had enough injuries of their own as did Chelsea and a host of other teams who's to say Kewell won't get gout again
3.why do the same this summer and make it more disjointed Kuyt pennant etc last season Babel Torres etc this season
4. Ronaldo is 22 years of age why wont he be good ??
5. Kewell and garcia like new signings ?? turn it up even when kewell was fit he was no where near as good as gonzalez which you let go garcia we all know has now left for atletico
6.can't argue much with that except pennant will be playing reserve grade all season where else will he play
7.and Torres and Babel won't either ?
8.what they finished above you ?? ( and us)
9.so if they fail you got ripped off ??
10.maybe maybe not knee injury and all to get over
11.what makes you think players from la liga can handle the rough and tumble of the premiership la liga is all flashy premiership is two touch football
12.without over spending ?? 50 million pounds hmm...
13. out played turn it up
14. no world cup hangover for any side
15.neither was red at Goodison park mate 3 - 0
16.Carling cup appearances at best
17.settled in ?? what's pre season most went on one last year and will be this year that's settling in
18.think that'll be Torres job
19.strongly disagree about best back four
see you on October 20th and again 29th march Mersey side derbies there's nothing like it any where in the world
keeping the banter friendly always
giddyup2007-07-18 16:22:31
Interesting claim considering the scum conceded the same number of goals last season
Chelsea aren't as good they don't have very good left and right backs, Ashley has been average, so is Bridge and last years right back was either Ferriera or Geremi (the later was released). Chelsea defence is more a combo of Carvalho (chelskis best defender) Terry and Essien, Mikel/Makelele dropping back.
giddyup2007-07-20
21:57:18
well said hammerhead
do u want any more????
whos your english team, feverish?
Probably the whole FA. Maybe Benitez should instead of concentrating on growing that mo.
Van Persie he isn't world class. Morientes wasn't so they sold him. I don't no why there is so much hate for Kuyt i think he is a very good player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMSqeJ1hAas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMSqeJ1hAas
One goal that was a good goal but i thought people went crazy over what i still think is a bit of a fluke. Tugays volley from a Pederson Corner to me has always been impressive but then i don't think Tugay is world Class.
Anyway Malik Buari scored a cracker of a goal for the Knights, he ain't world class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPjsrXbSx1w
You would think after a couple of seasons starting games consistently at Arsenal would give him a good opportunity to become a World Class player but only time will tell.
Interesting claim considering the scum conceded the same number of goals last season
how did the "best back four" (talking about the scousers) concede 6 goals against arsenal 2rd string side?
Alan Curbishley sucked Sir Alex's cock coz Hams wanted to stay in Prem on the last day..and they got their wish!