BPL has just completed their 2nd week into the new season and we're already predicting what's going to happen for another 36 games to come.
It took 11 years for Liverpool to beat Arsenal at their own turf and it's not a surprise since the man who's leading the team is back at the helm. He is Kenny Dalglish. Liverpool with the financial support they are getting from FSG are rebuilding. Under Kenny, we are hoping that Liverpool Football Club will get back to the top.
Kenny, since coming back has bring 6 new players in Suarez, Carroll, Henderson, Adam, Doni and Downing. Even until today there are rumors saying Liverpool might sign Uruguay's young centre back in Sebastian Coates. The club has just released Soto Kyrgiakos to a German club and are looking for a backup for the ageing Carra.
The club is still looking for options to off-load some of the players and among them are Cole, Poulsen and Aquilani. Kenny will have no problems to have these players at his disposal but at the same time it would not be fair for them because the gaffer can't field everyone in every game.
Liverpool won't be competing in Europe this season and it will be a plus for them to have a large pool of players to select from. Obviously the target is to get back into Europe by the end of this season and continue to go forward from there. I don't see Liverpool to become the league champions this season, yet.
Having said that, I would like to compare with our rival club, Manchester United. They won 2-1 in their opening game but it was a very shaky United and yet they came back during the game against Spurs where they won 3-0. What's interesting about that was the average age who played against Spurs was 23 years old. Some of the players weren't even born when Sir Alex took over as the manager of Manchester United. I reckon they will still give a strong challenge this season.
Sir Alex has been the manager for United for more than 20 years now. What I'm trying to say is the United teams, from the 1st team to their junior teams are playing as how he wanted them to play. The United way. When he promote the junior or reserves into the first team these young players won't have any problem to fit in because they know how they should play.
Kenny left Liverpool at 1991 and came back after 20 years. Kenny is trying to get the boys to play football the Liverpool way. His focus is the first team. We were a bit fortunate when Rafa took Kenny on board to work with the reserve and junior teams at the academy. That's why last season we could see the emergence in the likes of Kelly, Flanno and Robinson. But it's the 1st team that needs the change at the moment.
We have been too depending on some players for far too long. Gerrard, Carra and previously Torres. The team will be in so much trouble if 1 of them is not playing. Even until now we can't really come into terms of losing Xabi Alonso. Unlike United, they lost Beckham, they still succeed, they sold Christiano Ronaldo they still succeed, when Schmeicel and Cantona retired, they are still up there. It's sickening ... they lose players too but they are still up there! As for Liverpool, we lose 1 player due to injury and our season becomes a nightmare!
Things started to change since Kenny came back. Gerrard has not been playing regularly (due to injuries), Torres has been sold and Cole never really performed. But we finished 6th in the league (admirably) with the guidance of the gaffer. With 2 league games in our belts now, still without Gerrard but no one is complaining.
Like I said earlier, Kenny wants the team to be playing the Liverpool way. No matter who the personnel are they will play with the same shape and discipline. We might be like - playing the Liverpool way - that if Kenny had never left but then, it's not going to be much of a debate since Liverpool might still be the champions of England.
Lets not forget about the other title challengers as well. United will still be as 'scary' as before. We have City that looks like they might have surpassed Chelsea in terms of performance and the ability to really be in the fight this season. Arsenal, like always will still be lurking around. Spurs can't be written off either. But, from all of the teams only Man United and Arsenal looks to have an edge as they already have their own style. City is still 'work in progress'. I never fancy Chelsea honestly. They are lucky because Mr Abramovich is just someone with money who loves football. No disrespect to other teams but they will only be challengers.
It's in my belief that with a proper pre-season Liverpool will be up there and in no time we will topple United off from where they are now. Just like his work at Blackburn, King Kenny will be champions again less than 3 seasons.
YNWA
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