Can Liverpool Hold Their Nerve?

With the season coming into its final straight, the race for the Premier League title is excitingly poised. The top four are separated by six points, as Liverpool lead the way. For large parts of the campaign it had looked like Arsenal were going to end their run of nine years without a trophy, but now it is looking more and more likely that Liverpool could steal their first title since 1990.

It has been a campaign reminiscent of Newcastle's Keegan years, but Brendan Rodgers and co. will be hoping there are much less tears at the season's end. Eric Cantona's dagger blow finish at St James' Park was widely thought of as the moment that the Toon upstarts were put in their place by Manchester United. The blue half of Manchester may yet be the one's that slap Liverpool down this time around, as they travel to Anfield on April 13th.

Still, the attacking verve and style that Liverpool have played with this season has been a joy to behold at times. The partnership of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge has admittedly been the glue holding it all together, but we are talking about industrial strength glue here. An able supporting cast of the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson ensures their place as an England-squad goldmine for Hodgson to pilfer from, alongside Southampton. Should Liverpool hold their nerve, it will only do those players good, and start to breed a winning mentality that has been sorely lacking in the England national team of late.

Even Brendan Rodgers has against the odds become one of the most likeable managers in the league. After Kenny Dalglish's gross mis-handling of the Luis Suarez racism affair, Liverpool needed a man of fortitude - one that would not make an already toxic situation worse. He got an early chance to prove that, with Suarez's biting incident giving him one of many headaches during a difficult first season. While he was staunch in his critcism of the length of Suarez's ban, he did not condone what the Uruguayan had done to get that ban. Suarez was left in doubt that he had let the club down, but when you have such a world-class talent in the side, you must build around him.

Last season, Liverpool were undoubtedly a one-man team. This time around, others have stepped up, proving that Suarez is not out of place, but merely the catalyst for the most surprising of title challenges. Rodgers has evolved tactically this season, proving that his teams do more than pass teams into tedious submission. He has utilised the explosive talents in his side perfectly, and played to their strengths, rather than relying on an often suspect backline. That opening half against Arsenal earlier this year will go down as one of the Premier League's greatest ever performances, as Anfield was thrilled by a pacy, hard-working and ruthless attacking display. If they repeat that level of performance against their other two title rivals, they will lift a well-deserved first Premier League title.

As Liverpool's 4-0 demolition of Tottenham proved, they are still very much in the zone, and as the stakes are raised higher and higher, Rodgers and his young side can end up alongside the likes of Keegan as Liverpool legends.

Arsepool.

The league table is beginning to take shape. That's what most observers tend to say around this time of year, as the pumpkin lanterns turn to Christmas lights.

 For fans of Arsenal and Liverpool, they will be hoping there is a little puppy fat still to be trimmed from the widening waistline of their own seasons. Champions League progress for Arsenal, and possibly soon Liverpool in the Europa League will not paper over the cracks of what have been disappointing seasons for them both.

 However, while only two points separate the two sides in 10th and 11th, and the Gunners have another last 16 draw in Europe's premier competition it is arguably Liverpool's current trajectory that promises more in the long-term.

Arsene Wenger, a legend of the game, whose fast-paced free-flowing attacking football lit up an otherwise safety-first approach favoured by many others in the Premier League's 00s era, is coming towards the inevitable end of his wonderful career. Whether Arsenal will allow him to retire gracefully is another thing, but they do appear to be on a slow downward spiral.

 On the other hand, Liverpool seem to have already reached their nadir. The twin eras of Hodgson and Dalglish, while providing crumbs of comfort in silverware that Arsenal would bite hands off for, saw a deterioration in league form that Wenger's side is yet to suffer - but perhaps that is coming this season. Brendan Rodgers, in many ways, has been forced to start again - blooding youngsters like Raheem Sterling not out of preference, no matter what his press conferences may tell you - but out of neccessity.

At the same time, this is ideal for Rodgers, as it means he can impose his passing philosophy on a squad that is willing to learn. As veterans like Steven Gerrard are phased out, Rodgers can fashion a team of youngsters playing his way - after the splurges Dalglish embarked upon, there will not be much money to spend, but this can be used to his advantage.

Big names can be forsaken for teamwork and sponge-like minds. Given two or three years, Liverpool could be back in the top 4, and Rodgers will find that the 'Liverpool' brand can sell all over the world as he adds ever more star quality to his recipe.

We have already seen the good football his side are capable of playing - and this is supposedly without a natural finisher. Suarez has picked up the mantle for now, but add a poacher into that mix, and a lot more squad depth/experience - guaranteed long-term success.

As for Arsenal, they can only hope they stumble across a manager with a long-term plan, not for his own interests but the club's as well. Unfortunately, even a waning Wenger is better than most other candidates out there.

Where to start...

You know there is controversy when Match Of The Day interrupts their broadcast to break some news. This news was that Chelsea had reported match referee Mark Clattenburg for alleged racial comments towards two of their players.

In addition, the wrongful (in my opinion) sending-off of Torres and questionable Hernandez winner were probably enough to make the back pages on their own.

What many won't know is that Clattenburg was once sacked from his job by the Professional Game Match Officials. He had allegedly sent threatening emails to business associates, and was said to have debts totalling £175,000.

It is difficult to make a comment without knowing precisely what was said at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea's 3-2 defeat to Man United. However, one would have hoped that Clattenburg would be a bit more careful, given his history. He has clearly put himself in a position of vulnerability and he will not want to read the sport sections of newspapers for the time being.


Back to the more football-related matters, and Chelsea's first defeat of the league season came in a predictably see-saw fashion. Two awesome attacking forces came together on Sunday, and in the end United's posed the greater punch. Eleven versus 11 may have given us a different outcome, but that's football. I would expect both to be key contenders for the title come May.

In an equally anticipated Merseyside derby, Luis Suarez predictably stole the headlines (and even more predictably not just for his football). His swan dive in front of David Moyes was a bit over the top for a goal that he didn't even score himself. He should've saved it for Liverpool's second goal - although Leighton Baines was probably relieved to see attention diverted away from his unlucky deflection.

Another poor referee's decision left the score at 2-2 - Suarez's last-gasp finish should definitely have stood. As it stands, Everton can still claim to be Mersey top dogs, but Liverpool are on the way up. A thin squad will be stretched to the limit for Brendan Rodgers - an improvement on last season's league position would represent a real achievement.

Transfer Window Debate For The Whole Family To Enjoy

Now that we are reaching the mid-point of July, we can finally whisper to ourselves that yes, the new season is approaching.

The rumour mill is well into full swing, as Andy Carroll gets whored out to anyone who will listen. The £35m Liverpool misfit is inevitably set to leave Anfield in some shape or form, with Newcastle already ruling themselves out, and ‘big man’ fetishist Sam Allardyce understood to be hovering over his club’s chequebook licking his lips.

Sorry about that last sentence. Anyway, is it really wise to let Carroll go? As every sensible football enthusiast knows, it is wise to keep a variety of options open. While Brendan Rodgers’ commitment to Barca-esque football is admirable, what about those last ten minutes when all you need is to throw balls into the box? You turn to Carroll of course. (I should probably note at this point that I rate the striker a lot more highly than that, and feel he can play a competent role in an eye-catching unit). While it is very nice of him to not want to reduce Carroll to a bench-warming role, the new boss maybe needs a bit more selfishness. But then I only write about the football (and my Football Manager record needs some severe brushing up..)

Keeping things Northern Irish, Linfield and Portadown continued their unstoppable march to Wembley with Champions League victories this week.

Speaking of unrealistic expectations, Andre Villas-Boas is settling into life at White Hart Lane, as he tries to build his side’s (and perhaps his own) self-confidence ahead of the new season. He has his sights set squarely on title success, which let’s not forget didn’t seem out of the question to Spurs around six months ago. However, this was after three years of incredible consistency under Harry Redknapp. He had Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Kyle Walker, among others, playing the best football of their careers. While this bubble of course burst and carried Redknapp in its wake, that side had a very distinct style. AVB also has a very distinct style. He appears to be planning for life without Modric, and has earmarked his old midfield maestro Joao Moutinho as a replacement. Jan Vertonghen has also been confirmed as a signing from Ajax to boost the previously glass-like central defence of Dawson and King. While this recruitment drive will surely continue, I hope AVB isn’t expecting immediate results with his title challenge. Most sane Spurs fans will surely bite his beard off for a return to the Champions League.

In a move that is surely a coincidence, Man United have responded to the sale of Ji Sung Park to QPR with a move for 23-year-old Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund. Gotta keep those Asian shirt sales ticking over…

On a more politically correct note, Steve Cotterill has been sacked by Nottingham Forest’s new Kuwait-based owners. I hear Sven-Goran Eriksson is out of work. Watch this space.

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I leave you with a nugget from everyone’s favourite FIFA sound-tracking retirement-taking Englishmen. That’s Chumbawamba to you and me. Cheerio.