Liverpool are capable of winning the Premier League and ending
a 24-year wait for the title, according to a leading fans group.
The Merseysiders last lifted a league title in 1990 under
the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish, and have never triumphed during the Premier
League era.
In that same period, Liverpool have won many of the
game's top prizes with perhaps their greatest success coming in 2005 when,
under the guidance of Rafael Benitez, the Anfield outfit overturned a 3-0
half-time deficit to defeat Milan on penalties and win the UEFA Champions
League.
However, the Premier League has continued to elude
Liverpool, with runner-up berths in 2002 and 2009 the closest they have come to
breaking that duck and adding to an impressive haul of 18 league titles.
The possibility of that drought ending is becoming an ever-increasing
possibility this season, as a 10-match unbeaten league run - including five
straight wins - has seen Liverpool climb to second in the table, four points
adrift of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has tried to play down
Liverpool's challenge in the past, but captain Steven Gerrard talked up his
side's chances of lifting the title following the comprehensive 3-0 win over
rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
That view is echoed by Gareth Roberts, editor of The
Anfield Wrap podcast, who says winning the Premier League would mean
"everything" to Liverpool supporters.
"It would mean everything (to win the title),"
Roberts told Perform. "It's been 24 years since we last won the league
title. We've won everything else in the meantime, we won the European Cup, the
UEFA Cup, the FA Cup, the League Cup.
"But I still think Liverpool fans see the title as
the bread and butter. We went through long periods of time dominating, winning
league title after league title that's the one thing now that's missing.
"It would be brilliant for Liverpool because it
would feel like we're back to the days of the 1970s and 80s when we were
winning everything."
On whether Liverpool are genuine contenders, he added:
"I think we are title challengers. There's only nine games left and I
don't think anyone would have predicted that we'll be in the position we are
(at the start of the season).
"We have both Manchester City and Chelsea to come to
Anfield. We've been brilliant at Anfield this season and it seems we've finally
sorted out our away form as well.
"You look at winning at Manchester United and
Southampton, two difficult games, so we have to consider ourselves challengers
now. It's a fantastic thing to say because it's been a long time for Liverpool
fans to be able to say something like that. The last time we were challengers
was probably 2009."
If Liverpool fail to win the title, a consolation prize
is likely to be qualification for next seasons UEFA Champions League, which
would mark a return to Europe's premier club competition for the first time
since the 2009-2010 season.
And Roberts says that Liverpool's campaign will be viewed
as a success even if they are beaten to the league title.
"There's been many false dawns for Liverpool, it's
been 24 years since we last won the title so there's been 24 years of hurt
there," he continued.
"I think Rodgers was right to say what he said and
right to play it down. We maybe thought we might be able to get closer to the
Champions League places, but maybe not quite enough to get over the line.
"So to be second place at this time of the year with
only nine games to go, it's absolutely brilliant. I think even if we don't win
the title now I think most Liverpool fans would be happy with how the season's
gone."
Culled from Soccerway
0 comments:
Post a Comment