LAST week’s victory at The Etihad Stadium, and in particular the emphatic 4-1 scoreline, was met by a modicum of shock in most media circles. For most neutral observers Liverpool, despite the recent hiring of Jürgen Klopp, had dropped off the radar when it comes to considering the likeliest challengers to occupy the top four places next May.
While Liverpool fans’ were pleasantly surprised at the ruthless destruction of the Premier League title favourites, perhaps this result suddenly alters, at least for our supporters, the perception of the Reds’ current standing in English football.
Can we now aspire to greater things? Can we shake off the tag of candidates for the Europa League at best — the anomaly of 2014 aside — which has dogged us for several seasons and become genuine Champions League contenders?
Klopp has already — in the wake of the earlier facile away win at Chelsea — dismissed “crazy” talk of a title challenge, but a glance at the table suggests otherwise. Bridging the six-point gap to the top four would automatically propel Liverpool to within reach of the league summit. There’s an element of the pragmatist about Klopp but there ought to be no ceiling on belief.
Having negotiated five of the traditionally most awkward away fixtures, Anfield is due to witness some intriguing big games in the New Year. Before then, a run of matches against lower-ranking opposition — Crystal Palace-type blips notwithstanding — offers the opportunity to make up ground. Dare I say it, by Christmas we could be handily placed.
Of course, as supporters it is easy to get carried away but there was a conviction about Liverpool’s win at Man City that hints at a new dawn. Klopp has only been in charge for five league games but his impact is tangible. If the Reds can win in such style against Manchester City, without a recognised striker, the remainder of this season offers exciting possibilities.
A substitutes’ bench featuring the firepower and flexibility of Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge was an eye-opener while Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho ran amok at Eastlands. With Jordan Henderson still to return, suddenly Liverpool have options, at least in midfield and up front. Figuring out formations and selections that tackle the growing complexity of winning home fixtures will be Klopp’s next big challenge. The high pressing and counter attacking looks so well drilled that away conundrums will be simpler to solve.
It is a curious league with nothing more surprising than Leicester City sitting proudly at the top, eight points clear of the Reds. The Foxes visit to Anfield on Boxing Day suddenly looks like a key game.
Man City, with the strongest squad, rightly remain favourites despite occasional aberrations which ask big questions of their stomach for the fight. Manchester United continue to underwhelm even their own supporters but have developed a knack of winning sans style. Arsenal remain flaky; their fans enduringly unconvinced by a latter day Arsene Wenger’s staying power in a title race. Chelsea, though gradually improving under a besieged Jose Mourinho, are still a mile off the efficiency that won last season’s equally uninspiring league at a canter.
The outriders in the competition for the top spots are Spurs. Almost unnoticed they have gone unbeaten in 12 league games since an opening day defeat at Manchester United. The similarities with Liverpool are intriguing — not least our respective 4-1 thrashings of City — and yet we remain largely indifferent to their credentials despite being four points adrift. Something is brewing in North London that suggests Spurs are building momentum that will sustain beyond this year.
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Older fans are well-rehearsed in dismissing Spurs as “Fancy Dans” but under the increasingly assured Mauricio Pochettino, the new Tottenham rival the Reds for work ethic, organisation and flair.
They have a reliable goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane has started scoring again, Erik Lamela has finally adjusted to English football, and Moussa Dembele offers left-foot guile and goals. The emergence of the latest England debutant Deli Alli has added some youthful verve comparative to our own Jordon Ibe.
The recent dominance of Liverpool in fixtures between the clubs has a part to play in our perception of Spurs as genuine rivals but masks a serious threat to Liverpool’s ambitions for this season. The recent goalless draw at White Hart Lane in Klopp’s first game looks a better result with each passing week. Finishing above Spurs will be no small task but using them as a marker might be enough to secure the season’s objective.
Liverpool’s position in the English hierarchy has already been compromised by investments at Chelsea and Man City; United’s enduring wealth and Arsenal’s perpetual Champions League presence. Despite the arrival of Klopp, competing with our supposed, more affluent peers remains a challenge. Klopp deliberately, admirably so, shuns talk of money being the sole factor but in the modern English game football success and finance are close bedfellows.
Off the pitch it seems Tottenham Hotspur Football Club wants to gatecrash the party and it could be Liverpool they are fighting with for an invite. Years of inertia, existing in Arsenal’s shadow, have finally seen Spurs commit to a more ambitious future.
After a clumsy flirtation with the idea of a move to the Olympic site at Stratford, their new stadium project (below) — due for completion in readiness for 2018/19 — will conveniently outstrip the capacity of Arsenal’s Emirates by one thousand seats.
The foundations are already in place for an architecturally stunning 61,000-seater on a footprint next to the existing White Hart Lane site. With abundant corporate hospitality and London weighting on ticket prices, Spurs’ increased matchday revenues puts Liverpool’s shorter-term Main Stand extension in the shade for aspiration and acumen. FSG would have to deliver on a seemingly shelved idea to redevelop the Anfield Road Stand to reach such capacity.
Liverpool, regardless of league position, will always dwarf Spurs as an internationally-renowned football club and brand so the plans for Anfield look somewhat home-spun by comparison. Spurs’ Chairman Daniel Levy, not always lauded by Tottenham fans for dealings in the transfer market, has woken to the fact that narrowing the gap — on Liverpool and others — is reliant on a stadium equivalent to Europe’s finest.
Spurs’ “Glory Glory” days were more fleeting and are rooted even more firmly in the past than those of Liverpool FC. The “Lilywhites” reigned during the early sixties, winning a league and cup double in 1961 but despite a sustained status as a cup side in the 1980s; Spurs have developed a reputation, not unlike Liverpool over the last decade, as a club notable only for its history.
Though it is an unpalatable thought, to outsiders the two clubs are, for now, still bracketed together as mere pretenders to the traditional “top four”.
This however can change quickly. With the innovation and driving force of Klopp and Pochettino behind them, Liverpool and Spurs could easily break the monopoly at the top of English football and soon. There isn’t the same appetite or energy when you conjure in your mind the snarl of Mourinho, the frown of Wenger or the heavy eyes of Manuel Pellegrini.
Everything in this league is up for grabs and, in the wake of last weekend’s statement of intent in Manchester, for Liverpool it feels like a critical time to push on.
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
Thanks Mike,
Lovely read as always, I look forward to every Friday for your column!
Lots of supporters have been saying the same thing this season. The general adulation of Daniel is rapidly fading and he is being viewed as another Harry Kewell. You have to wonder if he was the sort of kid who stayed home from school if he broke a finger nail. Nobody is as fragile as he seems to be unless there is a serious, overall medical condition that nobody admits to.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
What?
Such shite on a great written article.
We are all entitled to our opinion but what’s this babble toss?
Here’s another one mate.
I feel compelled to reply because I feel this has been distorted.
Ridiculous comment – get’s laughed at / criticised – person who made the ridiculous comment tries to turn it around to suggest it’s the people who ridicule the ridiculous comment who are the weirdo’s.
Let’s go back to the start. You’ve insinuated that Mike Nevin has got together (or in the least, communicated with) Jurgen Klopp to put out a line that Daniel Sturridge (the player who everyone around him (club, club manager, international manager, club team mates) have suggested possibly has a psychological problem with his fitness). If you believe that Mike and Klopp or club and TAW have done that, as you clearly do from your comments, then your comments deserve ridicule. Maybe it’s the case that Mike and Klopp have independently formed the same opinion that 80% of Liverpool fans are thinking, nothing more.
I don’t feel good saying this but look at this definition.
“Delusional disorder, previously called paranoid disorder, is a type of serious mental illness called a “psychosis” in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. The main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are unshakable beliefs in something untrue”.
Sound familiar? You then go on some odd rant about journalism, which to a degree I agree with. The point you’ve missed is TAW isn’t owned by Rupert Murdoch. I’m sure his journalists do peddle his agenda’s but this is a football site written by football fans for our pleasure. Nothing more. Stop being so cynical mate. You get one life. Enjoy it! Don’t ruin your enjoyment of it to try and prove a point, especially one where you’re wide of the mark.
Another thing I want to point out is related to your cynicism of people who enjoy the site, of which I’m one. As a reader above also pointed out, I look forward to Mike’s column in the same way I do Rob’s Unwrapped or the Monday podcast. The subjects appeal to me. As I see it as someone who’s given their time for the benefit of others I do sometimes show my appreciation because if I was giving my time I’d like to be shown some. I think that’s just called showing a bit of respect. As someone who strongly believes that good manners don’t cost anything I feel that’s fair enough. There’s no need to look further into it. You just make yourself look bitter and, like Crazy Bob (Lisa) a little bit of a loner.
That brings me onto my final point, and again, something you’ve either missed or don’t understand. Everyone needs something in their life to turn to or feel part of. Some choose religion, some join groups of like minded individuals and some choose Liverpool FC. My earliest memories of watching Liverpool was as a kid on the Kop when during a surge I was floored and I remember blokes putting themselves at risk to form a shield around me so I could get back up. If I’m honest it gave me a sense of belonging or of being part of something. During my teenage years Lverpool FC either came under fierce attack or were slandered in the most vile way by outsiders. It’s natural when under attack to close ranks. Happens in every walk of life. That’s something that’s stayed with me through life. I feel loyal to LFC as an entity, and yes, if anyone unnecessarily has a go at them or those who also feel part of that same cult then I’ll look to retaliate. Obviously, there are fans who want to feel part of it but for whatever reason can’t and find themselves turning on the ones who do feel part of it. It’s kind of like the enemy within scenario.
Look mate, I know most things in life are not what they seem but it’s important not to lose focus and see things that aren’t there. It’s a site by fans who are passionate about LFC and read by fans who are passionate about LFC. That’s as far as it goes. You don’t need to see conspiracies, you don’t need to put down those who enjoy it and you don’t need to tell us all how to interpret the articles. It’s not that serious. One other thing, if you are gonna be the outsider criticising those who feel part of it, then you have to accept you’re gonna be challenged. That’s life. You can try all you want to turn it back on us, like it’s us that’s weird, but it’s you who has the issues.
You’ll also be aware of conspiracy theories then, OP. And how some of them are bollocks. The club is contacting Mike a week before to communicate a message via his column? Ok….
Yes I think you are probably right The ‘great article,great mate ‘ types like to think they are shooting the breeze with ale house pals.it creates. Only a culture of nodding dogs
Nice simple piece Mr Nevin
I think / hope that Klopp has some specific plans for how we are going to win at Anfield.
I’m struggling to see it at the minute, but I’m sure he has some solutions.
What do other teams do?
Man City are experts at playing in that corner of 18yd box then slipping the full back in for a pull back. They are great at keeping the ball in dangerous areas.
Arsenal seem to rely on intricate patterns of pass and move, and who can blame them with nine small, skilful No. 10 types in the team
Man Utd, I have no idea – and dint think they do either.
SO HOW DO WE WIN AT HOME?
PS 852534 – u say that TAW Cultivate a culture of mates going to the match etc etc – I think this is perfectly acceptable. And in the words of my mate Neil Atkinson “it’s probably the purpose of the enterprise”
PPS – I’ve never met/spoken to/communicated with Neil Atkinson – but I’m sure he’s my mate – drinks, talk about footie etc. my mate