People are getting fairly giddy over Liverpool’s good start to the season, in the same way they did following Arsenal’s good start last season. Whilst it was always clear that Arsenal’s squad was never going to be deep enough to claim the title, I can still appreciate that they were playing good football and got the better of their opponents on plenty of occasions. It made at least some sense that people were tipping them for the title.
However, I just can’t understand how people outside of Liverpool can believe the dippers have a chance. They’ve started well, in terms of points, but then so have Hull. Are the same people calling Liverpool title contenders also saying they think Hull will be playing Champions League football next season?
Now obviously I hate Liverpool, so I won’t be looking at their title credentials from a neutral perspective. Maybe if we take a look at the headlines following their games this season it will give us a fairer viewpoint.
“Torres spares Reds’ blushes” after a late goal in their 1-0 win over Sunderland on the opening day.
“Lucky Liverpool scrape last-gasp victory” following their 2-1 win over Boro, with the equalising goal taking a wicked deflection to beat the keeper who had the original effort covered, and an injury time from Stevie Me.
“Torres injured in Villa Park stalemate” after their 0-0 draw with Villa.
“Stoke earn first point on their travels againt lacklustre Reds” following their 0-0 draw with Stoke, who have lost 5 of their 8 games so far this season.
“Zabaleta off as Reds battle back for 3-2 success” after their 3-2 victory over City, who went down to ten men with 25 minutes left to play, seeing their 2-1 lead wiped out.
“Reds come from behind to snatch all three points” following their 3-2 win over Wigan, another game they were losing until their opposition went down to ten men.
From the Match of the Day highlights I’ve watched, I haven’t seen a team blowing apart their opposition. The only headlines I haven’t included from their season so far are their victory over us, where their winning goal accidentally came from Ryan Babel who smashed the ball in to the ground on a day where United played their worst football since derby day at Old Trafford, and their win over Everton.
Every other game seems fairly wish washy. Scraped results, lucky wins, and victories over 10 men. People laud their comebacks over City and Wigan as proof they’re in the race this season. Why? Because they were losing to the 10th and 14th ranked teams until they went a mad down? Bollocks.
Like the past few years, the title race will be between us and Chelsea, as Liverpool’s luck can’t last forever. They can’t play against 10 men all season and they certainly won’t get many much needed 86th minute own goal equalisers in their favour.
Ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted Liverpool don’t have the quality to win at Stamford Bridge, and that Arsenal are the team to look out for.
“I don’t think it’s the most important top-of-the-table clash,” Fergie responded when asked about their game. “When Arsenal play Chelsea could be more significant. There have been quite a few Chelsea and Liverpool 0-0s over the past few years. Sunday’s game will be very tight, not many goals in it. But Arsenal could win there because they’ve got the quality to win.”
After years of battling it out with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, it seems Fergie’s stance towards them has mellowed. Whilst he loves any excuse to take a swipe at Liverpool, there’s no need to praise Arsenal, but he seems to be developing a new-found respect for Arsenal. Truth be told, they need all the support they can get, following defeats to Fulham and Hull, and Wenger’s criticism of the quiet fans and captain William Gallas.
Whilst Chelsea will obviously pose the toughest test for us this season, who do you think will finish closest to us out of Arsenal and Liverpool?
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yeah not forgetting we beat united a well deserved 2-1. arsenal lose to fulham, dropped points to sunderland we ve had hard games they havent we ve got points, arsenal have had no one with much difficulty whats it gonna be like when they play us or united or chelski. top 3 will be man utd, chelsea and liverpool, no arsenal.
Oli – what makes you think I forgot that result? Can you not read? It’s quite clearly mentioned.
Dream on Oli. Arsenal will come and punch you boys where it hurts most. For being the perennial underachievers that you have been over the last 15 years or so.. a bit of humility might serve you well.
when in the earth that fergie ever praise us??!!
biased!
When Liverpool’s opponents stop getting red cards, they’ll be fvcked.
I think Arsenal will finish closer to United. With Liverpool and Chelsea ahead at the top battling for the title.
points make prizes not performances , so lets just wait and see.
Arsenal are so much better than Liverpool that it’s funny how Liverpool fans could ever dream about challenging the top 3. Liverpool will never win the title with boring Benitez at the helm.
And by the way: SAF praises Arsenal because he knows good football when he sees it.
Starting to panic Scott? lol .
Its funny how you dont mention that a lot of Uniteds opening goals this season have been dodgy? But then there are only about 3 Refs who Fergie allows to Ref at Old Toilet isnt there?
Super Torres – When Liverpool give me something to panic about, I’ll panic. If I was to be worried about Liverpool challenging us for the title based on their start, I’d have to be worried about Hull too, considering they’re just 3 points off the top following their start, no? Hull have managed that without own goals and 10-men opposition, so really, I should be more worried about them, no?
It’s clearly the usual ‘mind games’ from Fergie. From my perspective Chelsea have been the strongest team up until now and they alongside Man Utd look to be the strongest team. If I was a betting man I’d say it was between United and Chelsea.
With regards to us last season, we weren’t that far off and the number of injuries we had, particularly to Van Persie and later Eduardo, are what ultimately cost us last year. I actually think with the squad we had could of been strong enough had we not had injuries. Our biggest loss this season so far has been Flamini and I think he was the difference in our play last season as we had lacked a bit of aggression previously.
Anyway credit where credits due and Chelsea have become a far more attractive team to watch under Scolari and Berbatov, in spite of the fact he played for Spurs and now Utd, is actually one of my favourite players to watch in the league. The guy is pure class. However at this stage you don’t know what Liverpool might achieve but given that every year is supposed to be the year they win the title I wouldn’t put my money behind them this year.
Another thing Scott is that Fergie mentions that Arsenal have the Quality to beat Chelsea, Did United not have the Quality?
United DID have the Quality to stop Arsenals unbeaten run i will give you that, but then again we all know how that happened dont we?
All in all its not really important to stop Chelsea’s run to win the league for any of the other Big 3.
I think fergie is praising arsenal because we do play great football unlike liverpools hoof the ball tactics, liverpool will without doubt drop off as they always do, im not saying arsenal will win it but we ll be closer than liverpool come the end of the season for the simple reason being when arsenal are playing to theyre full potential theyre unstoppable.
Super Torres – having the quality to do something and actually going out and doing it are two very different things, no?
Yes we do know how that happened. United got a dodgy penalty and a well worked goal. Arsenal had one shot on target in 90 minutes.
What a pathetic attempt at analysis.
Liverpool are contenders for the simple reason they are approaching the consistency of Chelsea and United in both defence and attack.
Liverpool’s improvements in consistency are hardly surprising. They have the most consistent goalkeeper, the best quality in depth at centre back of any club, and arguably the same in centre midfield, too.
While United and probably Chelsea and Arsenal still have better attacking players than Liverpool on the whole, it’s easy to see Liverpool’s attacking quality and consistency has improved greatly in recent times – Benayoun, Babel, Pennant and Lucas make for a very decent quartet of attacking options on the bench for Rafa, augmented by greater attacking threat at the fullback positions.
Arsenal’s consistency has regressed. That’s what happens when you replace mature midfielders like Flamini, Hleb and Gilberto with kids. Nursery hour in midfield means Arsenal’s back four are more exposed than ever before.
At the same time, United’s consistency has been lacking because of the ageing of Scholes and Giggs and injuries in central midfield. For Chelsea, Cech is a shadow of his former self, while much the same could be said of Anelka.
Mate, the very fact that im supporting Liverpool this Saturday SHOWS how shit liverpool are…i dont even want chelski to get one point and but ill be happy to let liverpool take all three because i know itd come to NOTHING in the end
Tis good sense i reckon, i dont think youd see many Utd fans going for a draw (though its supposed to be the result youre looking for in top of the table clashes, you want both teams to stumble you see)
Anyway, Viva Utd!!
PS I think for sentimental sake we should start tevez…jks jks..
Brendan – I think it’s a bit rich for you to call anyone else’s opinion ‘pathetic’ after reading that.
1. You think Liverpool’s central midfield is better than United’s? Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher. Better than Chelsea’s? Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel and Deco. You having a laugh? lol.
2. Benayoun and Pennant ‘quality’? Ha ha. They wouldn’t get in United or Chelsea’s squad of 16, nowhere near in fact.
I’m an Arsenal fan and if I was to compare Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and ManUtd in terms of strengths and weaknesses, I think so far Chelsea look deeply strong, considering the amount of players they’ve lost to injury. Not just that, they have a solidity and stability about their play. I think the way these 4 teams are playing at the moment, NO team will score as many as Arsenal this season. The attacking threat of Arsenal is frightening, considering that Adebayor and VPersie are not in scoring form at the moment. Arsenal’s achilles heel will be the defence (as always). Maybe the situation will change in January remains to be seen.
Where Liverpool is concerned, I question why Benitez wanted to sell Alonso in the summer. Getting Barry and selling Alonso would have been madness extraordinaire! I hope Pool fans are grateful Arsenal didn’t close the deal, because if Alonso had gone then Liverpool would have struggled to make top4 this season. I need convincing that this PL title is not Chelsea’s as I think Chelsea will win it ahead of Arsenal and ManUtd.
1. Chelsea
2. Arsenal
3. ManUtd
liverpool r just playing in form chelsea will beat them, then they will fall down the list, up cum arsenal and man utd buy buy liverpool!!! ur buttrz!!!!
top 3 end of season, new edition no more top 4 its top 3 arsenal chelsea man utd any 3 will win premiership believe!!!
NO 1 will go unbeaten like arsenal 49game unbeaten!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scott,
It may come as news to you that squads are now of 18, not 16.
No wonder your attempts at analysis are badly dated.
All your central midfielders bar Fletcher are good players, but none would start regularly for Liverpool.
I agree neither Pennant and Benayoun would see much time at United, but their quality is evident in the goals they have created this season.
I know dippers are usually pretty deluded, but you’ve got to be up there with there best of them. None of our midfielders would start regularly for Liverpool?? Pennant and Benayoun are quality?? Jog on lol.
Don’t forget faggoty man u started shit last season and then started scraping wins, and look what happened. Arsenal, come on you cunts! Stop being gay and win. Big up gallas for smoking, a real example!
At least Arsenal were up there till February and later! The scousers were getting all giddy after about 4 games!
Still, I hope they turn over the Chavs tomorrow!
if you think that ability of players can be determine simply base on your baseless ranting, then i have to agree with you that pennant and benayoun are not quality players. I have been impressed with the way Man United has played during the past few season, they have the passion, and the simply belief that they can win. This is exactly what i see in teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, Hull this season. Right now, Man United has started off slowly, but we can see their grit coming back. No doubt is going to be an exciting season, and we shouldn’t be writing off Liverpool nor Arsenal for the title. Is going to be a great season. Cheers Barclays!
If you think Rafa would give Carrick the time of day ahead of Alonso, Hargraeves the nod ahead of Mascherano or Scholes a start a Gerrard’s expense you fofeit all pretense at impartial analysis. Rafa simply would not rate the abilities of any United central midfielder above those he already has available to him.
Bench players are there to change games in the balance, which is exactly what Babel, Pennant and Benayoun have done this season. If that’s not quality, what is?
I reckon if Fergie had a choice between them and the likes of Nani, Giggs and Park he’d stay loyal to his charges – that’s the type of character he is. But the fact remains, Pennant and Benayoun (and for that matter young El Zhar) have done precisely what Rafa would have hoped they’d do when he put them on.
Ha ha what would Rafa do? Who gives a shit which players Rafa would pick or play. In all the years he’s been at Liverpool he’s never even mounted a title challenge with the players he picks, why would I give a shit less what his team selection is? I’m simply looking at which players are better, not who Rafa would rate as better.
Darren Fletcher has done far more this season than any of the players you mentioned as ‘quality’, yet you don’t think he’s a good player. Sort out your logic then come back with a serious argument.
Fletcher is no doubt useful but he’s not “good” by the same standard those other players are good.
Logic is lost on you mate. You might as well drop the pretense of logic and analysis if you seriously think you are in a better position to assess players’ merits than Rafa Benitez. It’s a pity you are unwilling or unable to muster an attempt at a coherent, balanced argument.
I can’t muster a coherent, balanced argument… yet your argument is “Rafa would pick our midfielders over all of yours, therefore they are better”. Your argument is that Fletcher isn’t a good player, despite his 3 goals this season, yet Benayoun and Jermaine bloody Pennant are “quality”. Seriously, is this a wind up?
Looks like Ferguson is spending too much time thinking about the threat of Liverpool. Title winners go to Goodison and win.
Come on chill, i know you hate Liverpool to the core. Ok, 3 goals so far is great, but thats not a direct reflection on his ‘quality’ neither has benayoun and pennant shown their worth. Keep your bias and utterly disgraceful opinion to yourself, that has to be said for Fergie himself too.
Actually, my argument is Liverpool are title contenders because they have improved their consistency.
But by all means, feel free to keep avoiding that fact, and continue trying to fit me for straw man arguments instead.
Just as a demonstration of your absence of coherent argument – you are reduced to trying to defend your lack of coherent argument by misrepresenting my words, rather than pointing to your own argument!
By the way, I’m really enjoying the replays demonstrating your boy Fletcher’s inept positioning that gifted Fellaini the header for the equaliser. Adios muppet.
LIVERPOOL 2 MANU 1 , sit on that!
oh an btw @ scott the red congrats on ur teams point at goodison!!…….lol
LIverpool are not good enough fools, foolish to think ‘This is their year’.
Chelski are a force but a unbeaten season? Immortals impossible.
Utd will dip after the world championship, with injuries to key players.
Arsenal won’t win it, if defensive midfield cover is not bought in Jan window.
Hull should do it with their weekly 1-0 wins…lolx
As a gooner I think we are short this season especially after not replacing Flamini, I thought that in 2002 and was proved wrong so who knows, but over a whole season I cant see it. I think we would have won last year if not for the Eduardo incident that effected the player and showed what an idiot Gallas is. Adebayor did not score for 7 league games after that.
I think Chelsea will take the league by a country mile, this will be evident after Christmas when they get player back. Who finishes 2,3 and 4 is not worth argueing over and I am surprised people are, as the prize is the same. I cant see anyone outside the big 4 breaking in this season.
As for Liverpool it’s unlikely they will win a title under benitez for the same reason Ranreiri couldn’t. He tinkers with the team too much. Their full backs are an accident waiting to happen, Kuyt is a frisby catcher and apart from running all day, is not top quality or in the same league as torres. Keane has no vision and is a selfish player.. They have been riding their luck in games (Dubious red cards for Man city, Wigan, Everton, Man Utd). Lucky OG v boro. Their only really good performance was against a flat Man Utd performance. You have to win Ugly, but you cant all the time and this will catch up on Liverpool.
United dont have the balance they seem to have last year but they have corrected that before.
Again it’s Chelsea by a country mile.
Fergie is being nice to Arsenal becuase:
1. We play good football
2. He actually doesn’t see us as his clsest rivals anymore.
The real danger for Utd. are chelsea if i were to be honest.
Brendan, Scott etc- arguing over players is subjective. Brendan- Scott is right- Benyayoun and pennant are average. Scott- brendan is right- so is fletcher and scholes is past his best.
The title is between Utd and Chelsea this year. Last year i tipped aresenal to surprise peole and they did to a degree. Despite the media pouncing on our ‘collapse’ after birmingham we finished only four points behind. Given that we lost eduardo and van persie and were robbed at birmingham (no one actually mentions the ‘peno’ anymore) we still only finished four points behind.
I don’t mind liverpool but i do agree that the actual quality of their performances has been poor despite winning- so it depends whether you believe that lazy media analysis where teams who play bead and win will win the championship.
By the way scott- it wasn’t a ‘dodgy peno’ it was a dive
So Brendan, are Hull City title contenders for improving their consistency?
Aside from United, what quality opposition have Liverpool faced? Middlesbrough? Wigan? Hahahaha
Benayoun and Pennant quality? Better than Nani and Park? Sure thing, and Ayrton Senna is gonna win the F1 Title this season
Fletcher has made more impact this season than Mascherano has. His performances have been excellent and has stepped up to the plate when our FOUR first choice centre midfielders have been out injured (Scholesy, Carrick, Hargo and Anderson-son-son)
Our whole team is streets ahead of yours. It will show over 38 games, not 8. Come back in May and we’ll see who’s Champions. I’ll put my life it won’t be any deluded Scousers lifting a trophy. AGAIN.
1. Man United
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool – AGAIN
Good luck getting at least a point at the Bridge, you’ll need all the luck in the World. AGAIN.
Stupid.
Can somebody asnwer me a question please. Who has more Premiership medals. World class midfielders Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel, Yoshi Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, and JJJJJJJJJabi Alonso or not-Liverpool-quality-and-players-Fat-Rafa-doesnt-rate Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-Sung, Nani, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, and Anderson-son-son?
I wonder who it could be…
Scousers = Deluded morons with deluded conceptions of football
Ste- Frank Lebeouf has a world cup winners medal……
man u 1 everton 1 whats your point
And so does Kleberson.
Jonny Greening 1-1 Gerrard. Lol.
i think arsenal will get stronger with the yearly injury to van persie about to happen an the return of eduardo an rossicky,how are liverpool gooing to improve?? the first team to play 11 men behind the ball againts liverpool this season was stoke an they got a draw,other teams will copy that an liverpool will lack the creativity to deal with it!
Well done Whisky nose, keep talking us down & we’ll keep proving you wrong.
Lucky again today? Completely outplayed the rent boys. What would sad old Ferguson have to say now?
Franco – Your only goal was a deflection. Hilarious that you have the nerve to come on here and insist you weren’t lucky, when the only reason you won today was because of a lucky goal.
Who score the most from deflection.. its chelsea.. I guess they are lucky thou out the season… so funny how ppl can say liverpool win today is lucky.. they played really well and even came out and attack in the 2nd half
Any views changed after today’s game?
AJ – No. Liverpool are winning their games because of accidental goals or because their opposition has been reduced to 10 men. That can’t happen all season.
So what that Arsenal have lost 2 games??? We are 4 behind the dippers and 1 behind ChelskiSibneftDynamos ahead of Utd by 4 points although they have a game in hand. Liverpool have been very lucky this season, also in the Champions League aswell, but it won’t last, it can’t. As for Arsenal, well if you count the 3 wrongly ruled out goals against teams like Sunderland and Hull we would be top of the table, unfortyunatly for us the referee’s and linesman haven’t seen it that way and have punished us unfairly and incoreectly. never mind, hopefully, it’ll even itself up over the season, in which case the scousers have a very nasty surprise waiting for them!
1. Liverpool just dont have the quality to sustain a a proper challenge. Take gerrard torres and carragher out of the team and you are left with mediocre crap.
2. Smash and grabs v boro sunderland villa liege marseille and atletico. Incredulously lucky in all of these
3. Took the ref to help em out to get summat against city and wigan. When they should have got nowt.
4. Defelected goal v rboys
5. A pathetic performance by us. Yet it needed to xmas gifts to overcome us. and then it was huff and scuff.
6. Inferior squads to us and rboys
In the end dominance class and the cream always rises to the top. Have your luck and smash and grabs, daylight robberies now. I mean ofcourse you dips are going to be a bit deluded…seeing a whole generation of dippers dont know what a title is…or how it feels to be top of the league or be in the race. So enjoy your moment in the autumn sun now….lol lol
And remember 10 titles in 16 years…we ve been there and know its 38 games not 8. Trophy is handed in MAY not when the leaves fall. lol
Deluded dips…large it up..u’ll see what happens come may 2009…..it always does