Crunch Time Begins

In a season of indecision and instability, Liverpool last 3 league games have profited 4 points: one win, one draw and one lose. At a glace this appears inconsistent. However, 21 points from the last 30, combined with an element of required stability, especially in defence, and confidence is evident throughout the entire squad.

Belief and forward-thinking are further strengthened by the 5 goals scored from the last 180 minutes of football, coupled with the return to fitness of Torres and Benayoun. I would expect to see Johnson play some part in the up-coming games, which sees 3 games in a busy 8-day period.

February’s crunch game was undoubtedly the trip to Eastlands, where the hosts have not lost in the league since April 2009. It was without question a point gained, not two dropped, as argued by many a journalist and pundit.

For opposing managers to go the Manchester City of 2010 and attempt to play them off the pitch is simply ludicrous. Benitez would have been chastised, and rightly so, if he’d adopted such open, free-flowing tactics, conceded early, and chased the game from behind.

The game was a cagey affair, with few chances to either side, but what do people expect! Despite the game being played mid-February, a win for either side would have had serious repercussions for their opposition. This is as tight it’s been for 4th place the league for years, so a point away to your nearest rivals is no bad feat.

The two European ties sandwiches the City game, and it was great to see two more wins, and witness Steven Gerrard become the highest scoring British footballer in European competition.

The older generation will argue that a higher number of European fixtures plays into the hands of the modern footballer, but try telling Gerrard that. He’s still produced the goods for Liverpool on so many of the biggest stage in European football, dug deep when required and scored some breath-taking goals along the way.

In Romania, the team worked hard to regain control of the tie after conceding in the first half. Belief and confidence are brewing through the team, and I was pleased to see Babel score, considering the difficult season he has experience on and off the pitch.

With the additional round in the knockout phase of the Europa Cup, compared to its bigger and richer sibling, the Champions League, expect several more exciting Thursday tea times during Spring 2010, continuing with the giant killers of Manchester United in 2006, Lille, in the final 16.

The latest victory against a physical (!) and at times brutal Blackburn side was a much needed 3 points following City’s emphatic victory at Chelsea and Spurs’ victory against Everton. Such a victory shows the recent progress we’ve made, demonstrating resolve and team unity. For a relatively small team, we acquitted ourselves well against the brawn of Blackburn, and emerged victorious.

All 4 of the contenders for the 4th place will expect to take maximum points from their next 2 league games, but as we’ve seen already this season, pre match forecasts are not always that straight forward.

Anything less than 6 points against Wigan and Portsmouth will be disappointing ahead of the away game at Old Trafford. A repeat of last season’s 4-1 victory for the visitors would surely be the perfect result. This time last season we began your end of season run-in in March, winning 10 and drawing 1 of our last 11 games, scoring 34 goals in the process. A similar vein of form might go some way to securing a 4th place finish.