Can Liverpool manage the unthinkable and win the League title?

When I penned my previous article on what the possibilities were of Liverpool finishing in the Top 4 in the Barclays Premier League, many non-LFC supporters mocked me and called me delusional. And I guess they had the right to do so considering Liverpool’s performances in the previous seasons. However, pundits and fans couldn’t be more wrong as Liverpool are at the peak.

With the first part of the 2013/14 season gone and as the players and coaching staff at the various football clubs sit down with their families for a good Christmas meal, the League table is something every Scouser or KOPite can smile about. After 17 long games, it is indeed a sight from the ’80s with Liverpool heading proceedings on this festive day. A string of good performances sees Liverpool replace Arsenal at the top with a superior goal difference.

As the festive period continues and teams lock horns as soon as Boxing Day, the real question is if Liverpool can hold on to this position till the end of May and finally clinch the title that has eluded them for the past 23 years. And my take on this is that its a possibility. However, no task can be achieved without jumping any hurdles and the biggest hurdle yet is taking on Manchester City on Boxing Day at their fortress they call The Etihad.

City come into this game with a perfect 100% win ratio at home, and they have seen the ball cross the goal-line an amazing 35 times against 8 teams thus far. Moreover, they have scored a combined 23 goals against five of the teams present in top Eight. Manchester United (4-1), Tottenham Hotspur (6-0), Newcastle United (4-0), Everton (3-1) and Arsenal (6-3). These stats make a Liverpool win seem impossible. Well, time will tell whether the Blues of Manchester or the Reds of Merseyside will have the final hurrah.

Another massive obstacle planted in the path of Brendan Rodgers’ men is that of Chelsea. A team like Manchester City, boasting an impeccable home record under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, is another team looking to spoil the New Year celebrations for the lads from Liverpool. With just two points separating the leaders, Liverpool from fifth placed Everton, these two games could derail their season as two heavy defeats would push them down the table, no doubt, but the psychological effect from the losses would be difficult to overcome.

Another aspect that could prove a hindrance to the reds will be depth in the squad and managing the players in order to minimize fatigue. The fact that Liverpool isn’t competing in the Champions League couldn’t come as more of a blessing as the fatigue factor can be kept in check. With Rodgers coming out and publicly accepting that he has just 17 players to chose from for the City game, it would have been even lower had Liverpool played in the Champions League.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

Yes, Liverpool lack depth in their squad and this could directly be pointed out as a disadvantage of the ‘Money Ball’ tactics that have been put into practice by the FSG (Fenway Sports Group.) Buying young talented players can be productive but with the physicality of the Barclays Premier League, this can prove a little too difficult for the lads from Spain or the other parts of Europe. Long term injuries to key players hasn’t had an effect thus far but experience for the upcoming crunch games would be crucial.

The January transfer window couldn’t have come at a better time as Liverpool can look for quality reinforcements in their areas of concern. Mohammed Salah is one who has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield. This Egyptian Winger shot to fame after top performances against Chelsea in the Champions League. He could be a good buy at just over 10 Million Pounds. I personally feel a quality Left Back is required in order to keep things going for the Reds.

Another big news that surfaced in December was that of Luis Suarez signing a long term deal which would keep him at Anfield till 2018. The Uruguayan has been in sensational form and has lit up the Barclays Premier League with some top quality goals. With 19 goals from 12 games, he leads the race for the Golden Boot and no one will be surprised if he eventually captures this award. Yes, he can still leave Liverpool if his dream of playing Champions League isn’t fulfilled but one thing that is certain is that he’s going nowhere during the January Transfer window.

Coming back to the prospects of Liverpool winning the league. It looks like light at the end of the tunnel. A tunnel that has had us KOPites engulfed for far too many years. With quality players arriving in January and the return of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and José Enrique . It looks to be a blockbuster month is in the reckoning. With Daniel’s return the formidable strike partnership nicknamed SAS would be a force too hot to handle for some teams.

My real concern is whether Rodgers looks to reinforce his weak links or look to completely overhaul the formation in order to make way for the January transfers. Things are looking steady at the moment, and the team chemistry is looking solid. With the injured quartet returning in the upcoming weeks, life couldn’t get any better for Rodgers as he has always been a manager who has looked to make a perfect blend between youth and experience.

In conclusion, the possibilities of Liverpool adding to that tally of 18 League titles is high but even if it doesn’t happen, I believe every Liverpool fan would be thrilled with the progress that Brendan Rodgers has made and hope his tenure would bring back memories of the glory years as he builds a team looking to relive the past and hopefully rewrite history.