As fan fears creep in surrounding Liverpool’s current form, all The Reds’ roads will lead to ensuring a confidence-boosting win at Brentford…
ARE you ready to win the Premier League title by a single point?
Are you built for a winner-takes-all encounter with Arsenal on May 10 at Anfield?
I ask because it feels like we’re suddenly in uncharted territory. A generation whose only reference point is having the thing won by this time of year because they’ve had to go at a world-record pace. A global pandemic was the only possible thwart to glory.
In lots of senses, it was about time Arsenal applied some pressure. We could be four points better off after Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Should be at least two.
Arsenal’s draw with Brighton was a relief – but anything other than a win against Spurs from them would have signalled incompetence on their part.
And competence is important. It keeps you decent in your endeavours. Titles aren’t won simply because the competition has had the year off or because Kyle Walker’s legs have suddenly gone from under him.
Attrition is par for the course. We know this, but recent history tells us it’s perfection or nothing. That draws are terminally damaging to our seasonal health.
That said, we could all do with less of them. There is nothing like the rhythm of winning comfortably, ticking games off and running down the clock to May.
We’ve been sporadic of late. Getting involved in too much nonsense. Irresistible versus West Ham and Tottenham and now once again staring down the barrel of two dropped in consecutive league games.
But I came out of Nottingham Forest so bullish. This was a fixture of first versus second, but by the end of the game it might as well have been first versus 10th in the Championship.
Liverpool were the asserted, dominant force in that second half who did everything but score another goal. They were the adults in the room.
Forest were pretenders, competition winners by comparison. They may be where they are on merit, but the chasm between them and us was clear.
There’s a rightful argument which says just win the game 0-1 in that case. That we should have cut out the silliness to display the mettle of true champions elect.
It was another example that football happens because of two teams, a stadium, floodlights and a referee who all ensure that none of this is guaranteed.
Adversity is very much always around the corner. Why always us?
That’s why all roads lead to Brentford. A win tomorrow in West London can prefix the word ‘good’ to the Forest draw and goes some way to forgiving lapses against Manchester United.
Liverpool must pick up from the full-time whistle on Tuesday. Diogo Jota’s niggles are frustrating – but we insisted on three from six in attack for this reason.
A comfortable and convincing win would be settling. If Liverpool can find the first goal in a tough away, you would fancy them to go and do the job.
We’re now at the point of conceding first in five of the last seven league games, having done so in just three of the first 13. However, we haven’t gone on to lose in all of the five mentioned.
This became a feature of last season along with not taking chances. Ironic then, that we’ve also had at least 20 shots in the last three league aways.
I might be pearl clutching slightly, the reality is that a win tomorrow simply makes everyone feel slightly more comfortable, despite what Arsenal go on to do against Villa at 5.30pm.
The next five league aways are Brentford, Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Whatever your point expectancy from those, three at Brentford will go some way to achieving it.
This shouldn’t be easy, remember that. This might go to the bitter end, but without the cruel inevitability of what we’ve faced in recent years.
This should be enjoyed. Let’s find a way.
Buy Dan Morgan’s book ‘Jürgen Said To Me’ on Klopp, Liverpool and the remaking of a city…
Conor should start @ r b because defensive problems of recent seasons have returned big time . Too many pundits have written off Newcastle , don’t be surprised if they claim the title . Not investing in a badly needed defender & midfielder is more of the scrooge nonsense from F S G we have become accustomed to during the past 3 transfer windows .