Expectation, demand and belief is rife in Liverpool - at least in the city’s proverbial red half. Who can be sure just how those of bluer blood think. Especially after the season’s opening day.
Last season had that sustained and competitive title challenge Anfield has craved for so long and there is a huge weight on Rafael Benitez’s shoulders as a result. However, it’s a load he can bear and a he is more than capable of discharging.
Number 19 need not be polished up an delivered to a specific L4 postcode for the season to be a success but all things being equal and no doubt with that bit of luck every championship winning club needs it should be.
Surveying the contenders which despite Manchester City’s summer splurge will once again compromise the ’Big 4.’
Managers are by virtue of what they do responsible for success but after the summer departures at Manchester United the squad at Sir Alex Ferguson’s disposal is unarguably weaker than the one he had last season. For once the pivotal players he has seen leave have not been replaced with others of a similar standing. Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan do not counterbalance the exits.
Arsenal opened their campaign with a distinct burst. They have capable players and some fine young talent though remain a large work in progress and may fall as short as they did last term. There a chance they may lose a berth in the top four but no more than that. Reports of their demise are premature and perhaps no one should expect The Gunners to necessarily linger a distant fourth.
Chelsea have a strong squad with plenty of depth but Carlo Ancelotti has not made too many investments since gaining an influence on Roman Abramovich’s chequebook. Though Yuri Zhirkov promises to be an excellent signing for the most part the squad is one which peaked under Jose Mourinho’s but has subsequently not been good enough to regain their crown at three successive attempts. They will also be adversely affected by the African Cup of Nations.
Additionally not too much younger blood has been added this summer or over the past two seasons.
The vast majority of the squad is either over 30 or approaching that milestone and much of that old guard have been given new contracts an though Pter Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are every bit as much the strong spine of the Stamford Bridge outfit they are considerably older than their Anfield counterparts of Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres.
Liverpool have, at least to date, survived raids from Eastlands and the Bernabeu with only minimal damage. Xabi Alonso is of course a big loss. His influence from midfield where he dictates the method and pace at which the game is played has been crucial to facilitating the game plans hatched by Rafael Benitez. It leaves a huge gap which any club would struggle to fill but his departure is potentially not as ruinous as Ronaldo packing up 30 plus goals in his Madrid bound suitcase along with those bursting runs and step-overs.
As for Carlos Tevez. Much of the Argentine’s work was selfless which created opportunities for either Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov to take advantage of. Though while he may not have been the most prolific goalscorer at Old Trafford those he grabbed tended to be vital ones - a strike against his new employers to double a lead just before half-time and an equaliser against Wigan arguably took the title away from Liverpool’s grasp in mid-May. His late winner against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium started that eight match winning streak from Boxing Day until Liverpool’s win at Old Trafford in March. Most victories were grinded out during which time the Reds’ New Year lead had been overhauled.
Liverpool needed to make additions to supplement a squad which had come as close as any other to lifting the crown since the title was last resident at Anfield.
In the ideal world just tweaks would have been required to take that squad on far enough. The starting XI was as good if not better than anything else in the division but once exposed by injury, suspension or international duty lacked depth. It consequently needed strengthening in a few areas.
One of the key areas prior to Xabi Alonso’s departure were defence. For different reasons Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena did not had an easy first season. Sami Hyypia decided a challenge lay elsewhere while he was still spry enough to play a full schedule of games. Degen and Dossena’s signings were never wholly about defensive duties. Both are full-backs who get forward. Alvaro Arbeloa was always a willing and competent raider down the flank and keen to overlap but Glen Johnson offers more plus better delivery.
On the left Emiliano Insua is a real gem polishing up nicely. Martin Kelly and Stephen Darby can draw heart from the Argentian’s progress. As should Daniel Ayala and Mikel San Jose even if the latter should join Athletico Bilbao in the summer. Fitness allowing Fabio Aurellio has quality with a live as well as dead ball and like most Brazilians doesn’t need a second invitation to bomb on. Defenders coming forward makes up for the lack of natural width.
Whether Rafa lands Michael Turner Sylvian Distin, Ryan Shawcross or another centre back the rearguard will be brought up to a full and able compliment.
With Alonso gone there is an ability to change things around a little via Alberto Aquilani. The midfielder is someone who has shown promise at Roma but has yet to be tested in the Premiership. If he is to enjoy a smooth transition so much will depend on how he settles but it seems certain that the style of play especially at home will be more full-bodied that it often has been or at least as much as the personnel to hand have allowed such an approach. It won’t be frenzied. Any side the manager puts out will be disciplined but the Italian will have some license to raid forward and provide depth lengthy-ways.
Those few who placed confidence in Lucas Lieva may just see others recognise the maligned midfielder has something to offer and can maintain his impressive pre-season form. He has suffered from direct comparisons to playing in the same team and midfield as Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Alonso but is and remains a very different type of player to each of those though will have a chance to display he can pass the ball quite well.
The Gerrard and Fernando Torres emphasis is important to Liverpool. Losing one or the other. Possibly even both as was the case last term is a blow. Though it doesn’t quite limit attacking potency it goes some way to doing that which means that forward line remains an area in which a quality alternative is needed. A point which needs to be made is that Liverpool are possibly no more but possibly less affected than other clubs who have a strike duo. With Ronaldo leaving extra has to come from Berbatov and Rooney whose importance doubled. Owen will get goals and a decent supply given the chances that will be created on his behalf but the burdens will not fall on his shoulders.
Liverpool’s mix of forwards is plentiful in number though lacks depth despite the ability of some of those win the ranks. The season to come will be an important one for Ryan Babel who needs to step up and show that his potential can be realised. For Yossi Benayoun there is the need to show his form during the spring was no flash in the pan.
There is likely to be more transfer activity by the end of August though on balance bringing players in to reinforce those areas identified and even accounting for the sales made there is no reason why Liverpool shouldn’t remain competitive and fancy themselves to go one better next time.
Maintaining results against title rivals is important. 14 points from 18 may not be bettered - it will be difficult to emulate but even harder to improve - but as long as there isn’t a collapse in that mini-league and most vitally results are improved against the rest it is obvious. Key to that is gaining an extra cutting edge - someone or something different perhaps even a supplement to Gerrard and Torres.
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