http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436328-10-reasons-why-liverpool-fc-could-win-the-league-after-21-yearsAn article that might cheer up some people on the forum.
It might seem far fetched at first but it might prove to some that it is not all negative at the club right now
Liverpool FC have been tipped as a dark horse for the Premier League by many an expert this season. Although the Reds have not really done too much to cheer up their fans in the preseason this time, the newly appointed gaffer at the club, Roy Hodgson has emphasized that he is hoping the club would reach peak form as soon as the season gets underway after a four or five matches at least and after their first match against Arsenal, they look well on track to challenge!
Here in the following slides I have brought together a collection of 10 slides that which could well enlist why Liverpool could well be the surprise threat for the title all the way!!
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard in many ways has been the face of Liverpool FC for many years . Although Gerrard comes into this season at the back of a rather poor season last time , he did give some glimpses of form in England's otherwise poor World Cup run.
More recently, Gerrard was stunning in the match against Hungary, and though he played a little more of a holding defender's role against Arsenal on Liverpool's opening day.
However, in recent interviews and after returning from South Africa , Steven Gerrard has always stated not only commitment to the club but also the bubbly spirit that is present around Melwood.
With the mental blockages off and a more fresh approach to the game now at Liverpool FC , Steve Gerrard seems all set to give in his best as always and as we all know , form is temporary , CLASS is permanent, and Gerrard sure has that in plenty.
Maturing Youth Players
Liverpool's academy may not have produced the best of English talent in the last decade , however, in very recent times the Reds have been able to clinch some major deals which has highly uplifted the status of the academy.
Although most of those exciting prospects like Raheem Sterling, Suso and Nikola Saric may take a little more time to break into the first team, some players have certainly grown up and would contribute to the bench strength in all aspects.
Players like David N'gog have been under achievers and thus under rated by most people however if some of his goals are anything to go by then there are every reason to believe that the kid is maturing fast.After what could be considered his best goal so far for Liverpool against Birmingham City last term when he had to shoulder a majority of the attack almost single-handedly for Liverpool FC, N'gog scored an absolute belter against Arsenal giving reminiscence of Torres' goal against Manchester United at Anfield last year.
That however is not all, Liverpool FC also has the services of the Golden Boot winner in Daniel Pacheco, who also had a few first team experiences last term, but may easily break into Liverpool's first team if and when the moment arises.
Add to that the likes of Emiliano Insua who could be used as a cover at Liverpool's left back after his transfer deal with Fiorentina fell through. Although yet to be a phenomenon Insua, has played a majority of Liverpool's last season and such experiences are expected to make him a more mature prospect for the club.
Last but not the least, Lucas Leiva has been a fighter and despite being booed even after whole hearted performances against top clubs, the lad has developed a combative mindset and never-say-die attitude which has kept him going. If and when Javier Mascherano departs , Liverpool FC will certainly look to the services of Lucas who has learnt a lot from his senior and more experienced partner last season.
All in all, in these four players Liverpool have a formidable bunch of youngsters from last season who have matured in their play quite a lot, an added advantage for Liverpool.
Roy Hodgson
To some it may sound a little silly to a few others, it maybe a little pre-mature. Whatever it be, Liverpool FC's management's decision to hire Roy Hodgson as the club's manager has proved a positive move so far.
Although Rafa Benitez may have been a far better tactician than him to some, every manager has his own set of strengths and weaknesses and with a pleasing personality and strong motivational skills Roy Hodgson may just be something that Liverpool FC just needed at the moment.
There are also many other factors that could contribute to Hodgson's advantage. Firstly, Roy Hodgson is an Englishman and more importantly vastly experienced. In Roy Hodgson Liverpool FC have a manager who has bettered many a team in trouble. Mr. Roy Hodgson was already a fully trained coach 23 and is highly regarded throughout Europe not only for his experience but also his ability to transform even minnows to Champions. His initially jobs at Swedish clubs bears ample testimony of that. In just the span of 12 months he transformed relegation contenders, Malmo to champions, a feat which should make any upcoming manager proud.
Years later, Hodgson also did quite a good job when he took the Swiss national team to the second round of their World Cup campaign, a feat which is yet to be bettered. In very recent times he took a Fulham team which seriously stared relegation almost half-way through the last match of the league not only to a European competition, but also runners up at that.
With very limited resources at hand, Hodgson's philosophy of "Positive Brainwashing" with repeated practice has certainly made him reap the benefits thus far.With Hodgson at the helm being a towering personality, he may inspire Torres and Gerrard to produce some magical and memorable moments for the club.
Liverpool ending the last year's campaign 7th did look down and nearing a disaster, until the influential Hodgson stepped in. He immediately bought in the highly rated but Chelsea outcast in Joe Cole and the momentum was all of a sudden back.
There have been a lot of new faces at the club too and with Hodgson keenly on the look out for at least another striker to bolster the attacking options, there could well be another more exciting look to the squad and we may well be in for a surprise threat from the Anfield outfit for the title.
Joe Cole
Well Joe Cole may have become the first ever Liverpool player to be RED carded on debut, even though it must be said that the decision was pretty controversial.
However, there is no doubt in the fact that the Liverpool squad has been rejuvenated and the fans have been over joyed to see Joe Cole choosing Liverpool over the more plausible options like Arsenal and Tottenham.
Liverpool FC surely have a talismanic attacker in Joe Cole and any questions raised about Liverpool's mid-field creativity is expected to be put to rest with him.
Joe Cole's addition has well been hailed by pundits and players alike and could well spark the fire that has been missing in the Reds' ranks thus far.
Most Important Signing. Medical Team.
f the Reds fans were told to single out any single thing that has significantly contributed to their downfall right from the No.2 spot the season before to the dreadful No.7 spot, it would be a one word 'injury'.
Almost all the key players of the squad suffered injuries and that too at extremely critical times. Fernando Torres had been injury plagued throughout the season and even having the best record of goals per minute played couldn't earn Liverpool even a Top four spot.
Other than this players right from Gerrard to Johnson all suffered their share of injuries and the club suffered seriously as a consequence.
Interestingly enough, Liverpool FC's medical unit was considered as not upto the mark in dealing with the plethora of injury problems plaguing the club.
In what could be one of Rafael Benitez's best aquisitions for the club, Peter Brukner was requested by the Liverpool management to join the club's medical team.
Peter Brukner and his medical unit thus has joined the club with Brukner given the designation of Head of Sports Medicine and Sports Science from this summer onwards.
The highly rated Sports science and Sports medicine although is not expected to make the club overnight into an injury free unit, however, with such a person at the head, Liverpool FC can expect better treatment and thus faster recoveries for the injured players. All of which sounds really good for Liverpool FC especially considering the injury problems that plague the key players of other competing teams in the League.
