Thursday, August 27, 2009

Liverpool’s Next 10 Games to Get Title Bid Back On Track


Two defeats in their opening three Premier league games has already raised doubts over Liverpool’s title credentials and left them trailing Chelsea, Arsenal and even Tottenham.

However, still in August there is plenty of time for Rafa Benitez to put things right and prevent a disappointing start from turning in to a full-blown crisis at Anfield.

Bolton, 29 August, away

A byword for a ‘tough place to go’ in the past, the Reebok Stadium is actually anything but and Liverpool will be able to take their frustrations out on Gary Megson’s winless, pointless and goalless side this season.

Burnley, 12 September, home

When the fixtures were announced this would have been down as a home banker but Burnley have surprised plenty of people this season already and wins over Manchester United and Everton mean they should be treated with more respect than Rafa Benitez famously gave them in his first FA Cup campaign at Anfield.

West Ham, 19 September, away

Gianfranco Zola has been doing wonders with what little he’s had to work with at Upton Park and this is a potential pit fall for Liverpool, especially as the Italian should have added some extra firepower to his squad by then.

Hull City, 26 September, home

Hull held Liverpool to a damaging draw at Anfield last season and showed enough against Chelsea on the opening day of the season to suggest they can still be problematic to big teams – though the capitulation against Spurs virtually disabused that notion.

Chelsea, 4 October, away

Carlo Ancelotti’s side look compact, business like and very hard to beat – much like Liverpool last season - and a tight affair is unlikely to produce many goals, or a Liverpool win.

Sunderland, 17 October, away

Sunderland already look to have improved under Steve Bruce with Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones enjoying each other’s company. Should Sunderland’s own good start to the season run through in to October then a trip to the north east this season may turn out to be less productive than last year.

Manchester United, 25 October, home

Liverpool looked the most like possible champions last season when they faced Manchester United, doing the double over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in fine style. With the division more open that ever this year beating the other top sides becomes even more important and a repeat of last year’s drama could kick start the campaign for Liverpool.

Fulham, 31 October, away

Roy Hodgson’s side finished seventh last season and beat Manchester United at home and so a trip to Craven Cottage should not be taken lightly. However, Liverpool should still be too strong for a side for which Europe may prove something of a distraction.

Birmingham, 9 November, home

Alex McLeish’s hard working but limited Birmingham side should be easy pickings at Anfield – if not then the title bid really will be over by November.

Manchester City, 21 November, home

More will be known about both teams’ aspirations by this point. Will they be jostling for the title? A Champions League spot? Or a Europa League place? City have started the season in better health than Liverpool and this match could prove a defining one in both their seasons.

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