YOU'LL STILL KOP IT, RAFA
Battle at top is the most open for years
LIVERPOOL fans went berserk a few weeks ago when I dared to suggest on a talkSport show they wouldn't finish in the top four.
I stand by that. In fact there's even more reason to think it and that reason is called Tottenham.
The main premise of my original argument was that Arsenal would be stronger than most predicted and Manchester City's money really would help them muscle in on Chelsea and Manchester United.
So far the signs say the battle at top could be the most open we have seen for years. Tottenham's empathic start adds weight to the theory that they can challenge for Champions League football. That spells even more danger for Rafa Benitez and Liverpool.
That is not just a knee-jerk reaction to Tottenham's 2-1 win over Liverpool last week but the manner of it. Spurs now look to have that alchemy of shape, spirit, stamina and style as emphasised in the 6-1 drubbing of Hull.
It would appear they also have a squad with genuine quality in depth, well equipped to cope if they lost some of their first picks for a while. The same cannot be said of Liverpool who would sorely miss Steven Gerrard for any given time now Xabi Alonso has gone.
Certainly looking at the two benches at White Hart Lane last Sunday, Spurs have more options up front while Liverpool still seem so dependent on Xabi Alonso.
With Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane to start, and Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko as back up, the Spurs strike force looks as strong as ANY in the Premier League, and they have world-class midfielders in Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios.
The defence looks sound and David James may yet arrive to bolster it.
West Ham may well pose Tottenham a stern test this afternoon but it will be Spurs not the Hammers who will be up there when it matters.
Credit must also go to chairman Daniel Levy, who has learned from past mistakes and backed Redknapp, but not to the point of reckless spending on transfer fees and wages.
Tottenham are in a more robust financial shape than most so if come the January transfer window Redknapp wants a couple more players to kick on he could get them.
Despite all the Anfield bravado, no wonder Benitez is already starting to sound like a worried man.
Now buy the News Of The World for more from Rob Shepherd
This article has 9 comments
I disagree with you that liverpool will not finish in top 4 , if you see previous season you can see man utd starting the campaign very bad and then recover and even win the title.
So if you put off liverpool as loose to villa and spurs it will be a mad opinion.
I think liverpool will come stronger and when aquilani will be ok he will be a great replacment to alonso.
Alonso as well did mistakes and even loose the ball and the other team then score the goals.
Liverpool problem is the owners of the club if they leave then the reds will be much and much stronger.
By Mario. Posted August 26 2009 at 7:43 AM.
As a Liverpool red I have total confidence in finishing in the top 4. My worry is the title chances might slip away sooner rather than later and I for one would take a comfortable second again now.
By Ian Murray. Posted August 24 2009 at 10:55 AM.
Again SHEP is just trying to look for a reaction from Liverpool Supporters. Gerrard is very important yes I agree but Liverpool Beat Man Utd 4-1 at Old Trafford with out ALONSO so that proves they can play and win and yes he will be missed. But no good keeping a player who wants to go which Everton have finally reached with Lescott.
By Richard Simmons. Posted August 23 2009 at 5:09 PM.
This time last season we were being written off and NO ONE BUT NO ONE mentioned Xabi Alonso as one of our best players who we couldn't do without, now after an admittedly good season last year he's suddenly the missing link??? Does that mean had Alonso stayed we would have won the title without question, of course it doesn't. Last season Torres missed almost half and Gerrard a third of the season yet we had our best Premier league season, finished top goalscorers with one of the best 3 defences add to that the signings of Johnson who has started very impressively and Aquilani who again looks impressive each time I've seen him play for Roma and as far as I'm concerned those writing Liverpool off know very little about football.
By Chris. Posted August 23 2009 at 5:27 PM.
i have never heard so much drivel ! liverpool have lost one game and lots of so called (and i use this term loosely ) experts are writing them off. liverpool will be there when it matters and tottenham will not. liverpool were poor last week and still should of taken something out of the game so to claim tottenham are world beaters off the back of beating an under par liverpool side on the first game of the season is ridiculous at best
By gavin. Posted August 23 2009 at 10:58 AM.
fantastic article highlighting the fact liverpool have a first eleven ok possibly top 4 take into account any injuries over league and cup competitions 5th/6th highest possible finish only no skwad depth fact
By sean reddin. Posted August 23 2009 at 10:44 AM.
could have written this article word for word myself my sentiments entirely at the time you monitored the spurs bench neither woodgate or dawson were present as for david james the achilles heel would be the goalkeeper and we forget that cudicini is capable when match toned ps as of now i suggest chelsea and spurs top 4 man u and man city and arsenal just behind therefore no top 4 placing liverpool
By sean reddin. Posted August 23 2009 at 10:19 AM.
We ran a great man u team close last year . Xabi missed games torres and gerrard too . What a silly argument . How can you write Liverpool off . I hear people writing man u off too . Again silly . Year in year out Liverpool have fantastic champions league campaigns . Throw in man c and spurs . I bet they'd come up short.So let's just all calm down shep x
By Zinc. Posted August 23 2009 at 9:52 AM.
Liverfool won't finish in the top four: they will be lucky to finish in the top seven.
By Ken. Posted August 23 2009 at 5:19 AM.