Every pre-season for Liverpool fans like myself always seems to start with high expectations, only for this to be shattered by Christmas! But this year I have a sneaky feeling it could be different, after a disappointing end to last season no-one is backing Liverpool for the title, taking the pressure off the reds and allowing us to quietly go about getting the season started without too much hype.
But looking at the coming season there are definitely signs that Liverpool can at least challenge for the title this time around.
In my opinion, we're also the only top four team likely to improve on last season:
Man United - Lost Querioz, Ronaldo unsettled, no major signings yet, extra pressure to live up to last season and everyone will want to beat them more than ever.
Arsenal - Flamini & Hleb gone, Adebayor unsettled, signings will take time to adapt.
Chelsea - New manager, incoming signings may take time to get used to prem, Lampard & Drogba unsettled and possibly set to leave.
Meanwhile, Liverpool appear to be fixing the weaknesses from last season and adding to a team (and new formation/style of play) which played very well and consistently during the 2nd half of last season.
Here's some of the areas where Liverpool should be stronger in 2008-2009:
- Conceding set pieces should be improved with Pelegrino brought in as defensive coach to fix zonal marking, as he did as a player in 2005.
- Return of Agger should be big boost - plus he can grab a couple of goals too.
- Drawing too many games could be improved by adding regular goalscorers to the team in Robbie Keane & Gareth Barry (if he finally signs). Both are consistent performers/goalscorers in the prem, shouldn't need much time to settle and can also help out with set pieces while fitting into Rafa's tactics quite nicely.
- More width from new full-backs, Dossena and Degen.
- Return of Sammy Lee will be important to both players and Rafa.
- 7 subs to choose from, big squad and excellent youngsters should work in our favour with strength in-depth and extra options for Rafa to change a game.
- Can expect to see more from Babel & Lucas now they've been here a year, could Torres get better too? He took a while to start scoring away from Anfield and picked up an injury last year, understanding with Gerrard can only improve.
- N'Gog unknown in Prem, could be an impact player from the bench - Pacheco & Nemeth may also chip in with a couple of goals from the reserves.
- Fixture list isn't too bad at start of the season, hopefully Masch, Lucas & Babel won't be missed too much whilst at the olympics.
- Rafa is now into his fourth season as Liverpool manager and has built the spine of a winning team (Reina, Carragher, Agger, Gerrard, Mascherano, Torres) with quality first team players in the squad such as Babel, Kuyt, Skrtel, Alonso (if he stays) and Benayoun.
Lets hope everyone keeps talking about Man United and Chelsea, while forgetting about Liverpool's chances. Being constantly written off didn't do much harm against the likes of Barca, Inter and Juventus, so hopefully we can turn Rafa's European form into a Premiership title in 2009 - there's obviously a long way to go but there's certainly a strong reason for optimism this season!
Labels: football, liverpool, premiership
