Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is hopeful that this will be the year when the club end their long wait for the league championship.
Liverpool are three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League and Benítez is daring to believe that the title could return to Anfield for the first time since 1990 if the team maintain the form they have shown during the first half of the season.
After being held to successive draws at Anfield by Fulham, West Ham United and Hull City, Liverpool returned to form with resounding victories at home to Bolton Wanderers and away to Newcastle United over the Christmas period, while wins against Manchester United and Chelsea this season — the latter ending an 86-match unbeaten home league run by the West London club — have also convinced Benítez that his team have what it takes to be champions.
“We have had a good first half to the season, but that’s all it is,” Benítez said. “If we can do the same over the rest of the campaign then we will have a chance, but there are still lots of games to play and lots of points up for grabs before we can start talking about what the end of the season may bring.
“We have had a few disappointing setbacks this season, particularly at Anfield, but we have also shown we can compete with and beat the best in the country, so there’s every reason to be confident as we look forward to 2009.”
Liverpool were the only Premier League team to remain unbeaten at home throughout 2008 and Daniel Agger says it is feasible that the club could go without dropping another point at Anfield this season.
“If we play like we did against Bolton on Boxing Day then I believe we can win every game [at Anfield],” the Denmark defender said.
Liverpool are three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League and Benítez is daring to believe that the title could return to Anfield for the first time since 1990 if the team maintain the form they have shown during the first half of the season.
After being held to successive draws at Anfield by Fulham, West Ham United and Hull City, Liverpool returned to form with resounding victories at home to Bolton Wanderers and away to Newcastle United over the Christmas period, while wins against Manchester United and Chelsea this season — the latter ending an 86-match unbeaten home league run by the West London club — have also convinced Benítez that his team have what it takes to be champions.
“We have had a good first half to the season, but that’s all it is,” Benítez said. “If we can do the same over the rest of the campaign then we will have a chance, but there are still lots of games to play and lots of points up for grabs before we can start talking about what the end of the season may bring.
“We have had a few disappointing setbacks this season, particularly at Anfield, but we have also shown we can compete with and beat the best in the country, so there’s every reason to be confident as we look forward to 2009.”
Liverpool were the only Premier League team to remain unbeaten at home throughout 2008 and Daniel Agger says it is feasible that the club could go without dropping another point at Anfield this season.
“If we play like we did against Bolton on Boxing Day then I believe we can win every game [at Anfield],” the Denmark defender said.
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