This has certainly been an entertaining season in the Premier League. There are four teams that each could make equal claims for the title and the idea that it could all come down to getting results on the final day of the season is a tantalizing prospect for any fan of English football. Liverpool have bene an interesting case in terms of mounting a title challenge this season. They've managed to hang around and with recent form have closed the gap on their competitors. Despite this, Liverpool still can't seem to get the respect that Chelsea and Man City command. However, I'm going to get on the bandwagon and say right now: Liverpool has as good as a shot as anybody to win this thing.
Why Liverpool?
1.) That offense
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| Liverpool is getting contributions from everyone, not just the stars |
Everybody knows about Liverpool's deadly striker tandem of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez who have combined for 42 goals in the Premier League this season. That total alone is better than every team in the Premier league except for Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City (Liverpool also leads the division in goals for with 73). Does anybody really want to cross Liverpool's offense right now? Sturridge and Suarez are the obvious stars but attention must be paid to Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool has the ability to run and gun with anybody and their players are rounding into form at the right moment this season. This is same team that delivered maulings to Arsenal, Tottenham, and Everton. This team can score with the best of em.
2.) The schedule
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| Man City beat Liverpool at the Etihad but what about Anfield? |
One of the advantages of Liverpool's schedule is that they are out of all cup competitions which will allow them to attack every Premier League game with fresh vigor. However, the one caveat to this is that Manchester City and Arsenal will likely be knocked out of the Champions League shortly which will remove a few games off their schedule. However, Liverpool's remaining schedule is remarkably favorable to them. While the home/away ration of the final ten games is 50/50, their toughest remaining games are at Anfield (Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham). After seeing what Liverpool did to Arsenal at Anfield there's no reason to believe that they couldn't get results in those games. The Chelsea and Man City fixtures are actually so close to each other that it wouldn't be unreasonable to see Liverpool surge into first place with two games to go. Meanwhile, their rivals have to face much greater challenges. Arsenal's form is slipping at the wrong time and they still owe Chelsea a match at Stamford Bridge, not to mention a visit from Man City this month. Man City have a visit to the Emirates to worry about and theres a little fixture against United that is always a challenge, even is Man U haven't entirely been themselves this season. If Liverpool can get points in the rest of their fixtures they'll be in great shape.
3.) Steven Gerrard
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| This might be Gerrard's best chance to finally win the league |
In his illustrious career at Liverpool, captain Steven Gerrard has won just about everything there is to be won. He's won European Cups, FA Cups, League Cups, and has even won a few individual awards himself. However, there is one honor that has eluded him his entire career: the Premier League title. Gerrard isn't getting any younger and he's running out of time to win one. This might be the best shot he's had in years. Can you imagine Steven Gerrard tearing up the pitch like in the old days, terrorizing defenses with his powerful shot. Gerrard always gives 100 percent on the pitch but the allure of a title push might lift Gerrard to greater heights and take Liverpool with him.
Why Not?
1.) Defense
Liverpool owe most of their success this season to their offensive prowess. However, it is this style of play that sometimes turns out to be their biggest downfall. Liverpool love to press up the pitch and play a fast-paced and attractive style of football. However, many times this can leave them wide open at the back, an obvious problem when playing a team like Manchester City who have players with blazing speed like Jesus Navas or Chelsea's Eden Hazard. Martin Skrtel has been a revelation this season but Daniel Agger and Kolo Toure can hardly be called sure things. The return of Mahamadou Sakho from injury should certainly help things here. At the same time, Liverpool have shown the ability to produce goals out of nowhere. Perhaps Liverpool's offense will continue to mask their defensive problems.
2.) Lack of Depth
For all the power that Liverpool boast in their starting eleven, their bench leaves a little to be desired. The best offensive catalyst off the bench for the team is Victor Moses and he's been inconsistent for most of the season. Each of the other three contenders has a man to call of the bench when they need offense: Arsenal has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chelsea can turn to Andre Schurrle or Willian, and Man City has a host of strikers who can flip a game on it's head. Liverpool might be a player short in their big fixtures. The biggest nightmare is Suarez and Sturridge going missing in a big game (which has happened believe it or not). If those guys aren't on form on that day, Liverpool is going to need contributions from their bench.
3.) The Jose Mourinho Effect
The Special One has an annoying habit of playing games not to lose rather than playing to win. The Chelsea manager is not afraid to suck the life out of a match, especially against a team like Liverpool. Take for example the incredibly boring draw played between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Emirates in December. By no fault of their own, Liverpool will find themselves against a Chelsea team willing to park the bus instead of dropping points. Chelsea lack the dynamic strikers that Liverpool possess so trying to match them in attacking power, especially at Anfield would be foolish. On that day, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez had better be up to the task or maybe someone like Jordan Henderson will be asked to step up.
Liverpool are the Premier League's hottest team, a title that has changed hands multiple times over the course of the season. However, what can't be denied is that Liverpool are hitting their stride during the most important time of the season. Yes, they have their flaws but Liverpool have more than enough on their side to overcome them. It's been 24 years since the Reds last raised a cup, in fact, they haven't won one since the establishment of the Premier League in the 90's. This year might just be there year, in fact, don't act like I didn't tell you so when they lift the cup.
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