I said at the start of the season that for the first time in many years, Liverpool have a genuine chance of contesting the title. Nothing I've seen in the first quarter of the season has made me change my mind.
I don't think they are playing brilliant football but I do think they've played quite well at times in various games and they've shown huge desire, particularly in the four games when they've fallen behind and come back to win.
Benitez: learning what the fans want?
I don't think they are purring or at full tilt yet, which is good for them if there's better to come. They're sitting joint top of the table, they're unbeaten this season and on the face of things this is an opportunity for Liverpool to contest the league.
But only if Rafael Benitez wants to do so.
Over the next few months we will find out if he really is willing to have a go at winning the Premier League. Can he resist the temptation to rest players in certain games? Too often his stats and his computers have said that players are tired and he has rested them when he didn't really need to. Over the last three years that has cost them an awful lot of points.
Over the next few months we will find out if Benitez really is willing to have a go at winning the Premier League. Can he resist the temptation to rest players in certain games?
Andy Gray
Quotes of the week
12.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Chelsea v Liverpool
1.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
West Ham v Arsenal
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Of course you need to keep an eye on somebody like Fernando Torres, particularly after his efforts at the European Championships, but a 24-year-old doesn't need resting in September or October. It's been noticeable that Benitez has kept playing the likes of Torres and Steven Gerrard so far this year and perhaps those players will drop out of a Champions League group game once they have clinched qualification.
They should do that soon and perhaps Torres can have a rest on Matchday Five and Matchday Six. You should only rest your big players occasionally in games that don't mean anything.
Manipulates
The way in which Benitez tinkers with and manipulates his team selection will determine how close they will go to the title.
I still believe they can be in the frame next April if they want to be. That's because the squad has the experience now and also because Benitez has learned that Liverpool fans actually want to win the league again.
Of course it is a major achievement to win the Champions League, but that competition is much easier to win than the Premier League. In the Champions League, you only need to play a maximum of 17 games and you can probably win it by only winning 10 of them. You obviously cannot win the Premier League with just 10 wins!
Benitez has already proved he has what it takes to steer this team to the Champions League, but has he got it in his make-up to do what he did in Spain and win a major title?
He might deny it, but I think he has definitely prioritised the Champions League in the past and there have been too many occasions when he has unnecessarily rested players. He has been too often the tinkerman, but I think he has learned his lesson because he has been less so this year.
If you look at the spine of the side it has remained more or less intact all season. Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel (or Daniel Agger when he's injured), Xavi Alonso, Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt. Torres and Robbie Keane have all played when necessary. With that consistency of team selection, I don't think it's a coincidence that Liverpool have had their best start in years.
Challenge
Of course, there's no reason why a big club like Liverpool can't contend both the Premier League and Champions League in one season. Perhaps they can rest players in later Champions League group games or in the FA Cup if they don't want to take that too seriously and they would still have enough to challenge for the biggest two club competitions in the world.
At the other end of the scale to Benitez, you've got a man in Luiz Felipe Scolari who says he wants to win all four of the competitions his team are playing in. That's the kind of thing I like to hear from a manager.
Speaking of Chelsea, I think we will learn a little bit more about Liverpool after their Super Sunday clash at Stamford Bridge.
I'm so interested to see what Benitez does with his team. If Torres and Keane are fit will he pick both of them and put Gerrard in midfield? Or will he get that cautious streak again and play Gerrard off a lone frontman in front of a four-man midfield?
I hope he has a full squad to pick from because that will give us a great insight into how he feels. Is he confident and full of belief or is he worried about Chelsea?
All the talk is that Torres is out, but I don't believe it's a big injury and having had a rest in midweek I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an appearance on Sunday.
Chelsea have an astonishing home record - but I've said a couple of times this year that every home game Chelsea play without losing means they are a game closer to losing one. Somebody is going to beat them at some time.
Liverpool are certainly capable of doing that, although these games have been a little tight and a little dull over the last few years when Jose Mourinho and Benitez have been in charge.
I'm hoping that Scolari's influence will give us a more open game, particularly when you combine that with Liverpool's new-found belief. It would be great for the game of football if we saw a nice attacking match on Sunday.
But if you were to ask me now if Benitez will open the game up away from home against a team like Chelsea, I'd say no.
I just don't think it's in his nature.
Comments (32)
Levi Willis (Liverpool fan) says...
Yes Andy Gray is right, I don't believe we are playing brilliant football, but we have shown huge desire, which has been missing in too many league campaigns, A lot of Mighty Reds fans are getting carried away despite the players and manager telling as not too. The thing is I think we can finish second at best! Chelsea squad is too strong. Look at us against Pompy, we struggled big time, our passing was too slow and our second string was stale. I hope I¿m wrong! Is willing to have a go at winning the Premier League He hasn¿t got a choice at the moment. I think if it were up to him he would be content with finishing in the qualifying position for the CL and then trying to win the CL itself. Clearly Benitez is a great manager in the one of games, but does he really care if we win the league? I don¿t think so. One thing for sure is that he understands what it means to us fans. Can he resist the temptation to rest players in certain games? No he can¿t. But he¿s getting better; he¿s now resting the insignificant players, which is a big bonus for us. Challenge I would have to agree with Andy here, but to be honest I don¿t think our players are good enough to mount a serious challenge and it pains me to say that. The reason being is we are too week on the flanks. Reira can retain the ball unlike Yossi Benayoun, but both wingers (kuyt and Reirra) lack the ability to outpace their opponent or get a cross in resulting in a goal on a consistent basis. He won¿t pick pennant or bable in the premiership unless he has too; this leaves us with little option but to play through the middle. Sooner or later we will get found out and teams will congest the middle of the park leaving us helpless. I¿m hoping we can get to January and Benitez will realise what our weakness is are. I
Posted 11:59 31st October 2008
Wayne Ivory (Liverpool fan) says...
im only 16 and have never seen liverpool win the league in my iftime ..time for that to change ...hopefully :) liverpool have picked up 26 out of 30 points so far (would of been 29 if gerrards goal v stoke was allowed to stand) ..without playing very well its worth noteing , we have come from behind against manchester united without torres and gerrard(who did come on) and won ..we go to chelsea who have not been beaten at home in four years without torres and we put in one of the best performances at the bridge since the 86 game run started ..and STILL no-one is taken liverpool seriously ..if chelsea had of won that match ..every-one would talk about another chelsea title on the horizon ..liverpool are much better then people think . who thought liverpool would go to the bridge and win (apart from liverpool fans and even still there were some people in red doubtin us) ..Rafa benitez has also proved so far this season that he is the best manager in the world tactically ..by goin behind 5 times in the league and bringin on subs that change the game ..he came out on top against big phil and fergie .. wher is the credit for benitez ? in my opinion ..RAFAEL BENITEZ IS THE ONLY MAN WHO CAN DELIVER THE LEAGUE BACK TO ANFIELD
Posted 11:21 31st October 2008
Steffan rhys Lewis (Liverpool fan) says...
i aggry totally with andy gray is thoughts. Im happy that benitez has stuck to the spine of th team in the premiership this year, it's shows to us fans that he as much as us wants to end our 18 year wait. You hear Andy Gray sayin that over the last few years he's rested key players at the wrong times, but i aggry with benitez as he felt liverpool didnt have the squad to challange for the title, and only had the squad to challange for the champions league. But this year i feel the squad is strong enough to challange, especially with the likes of keane and riera coming in! Im also over the moon with skertel performances, for me the best defender in europe at the moment. But agger has come in and done an excellent job. Im excited for may as im sure we will end our 18 year drought!!
Posted 20:29 30th October 2008
Zinc Grantham (Liverpool fan) says...
Rafa has a great squad with a balance not seen at Liverpool since the 80's . He has been proved right . He knows what he is doing. Does andy grey and the other critics beleive we had a chance prior to this season.with the players rafa inherited he was lucky to finish fourth . Take gerrard out and you'll see what I mean. It's not as simple as not rotating that wins you the title .micheal owen suffered as a result of burnout rafa knows this he had to change the lineup whenever he could to finish fourth compete in Europe and build our team and reputation. Would torres have come four years ago I don't think so. . It's rafa that has brought us so far his tinkering his ideas . He deserves all the credit . It cannot happen overnight course he wanted the title when he came to lfc. But let's improve on biscan cheyrou and traore first .
Posted 21:09 29th October 2008
John Smith (Liverpool fan) says...
I would probably agree with most of your comments on this one, I think rafa has tinkered a little too much over the past few seasons but then again we have come along way since finishing 30 points off the top. People talk of all the money rafa has spent but I think if the maths is done we will find he has recuperated the majority of that back with the sale of people like Bellamy, Cisse, Crouch etc He has his own group of players now but I still think we are a little light in some departments so maybe work in progress for January. I would like to see us add another striker, would love that to be Michael Owen more than anybody else. I think he is still one of the best around although a little injury prone he gets alot of criticism for his tactics but how many of his critics have won La Liga, European cup, FA cup etc etc?? I tink most liverpool fans are happy knowing we have one of the best football managers in the world and are absolutely delighted at the fact we are back in the spotlight and genuine challengers, a position as carragher said we should be in because thats what the club is all about. Long may it continue...
Posted 15:28 29th October 2008
Liam Gallagher (Liverpool fan) says...
Chelsea have finally been beaten at the bridge! Liverpool are definitely title contenders this year. Andy is spot on regarding Rafa's strategy in the last few years. Everyone says it's been 18 years etc since Liverpool last won the title, but let's not forget how long the dry spells were for Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc. You have to believe that every time you step on the pitch you have a shot of winning the game and I don't believe that's been the attitude at Liverpool for a long time. Thank God it's back. It's time to re-establish the Red Army as the premier team in England with the pedigree of former giants who have worn that famous Red shirt. YNWA.
Posted 14:54 29th October 2008
Douglas Dessecker (Liverpool fan) says...
Andy, I agree with you that Rafa has prioritized the CL over the EPL in the past. However, I believe it was because Rafa realized he did not have a powerful enough squad to contend the Premiership. This year he sees his team's chance and he has shifted the priority. Man U has stumbled, Arsenal has too many young and inexperienced players to really contend, and Chelsea have a freshman manager. All these factors are in Liverpool's favor. This could very well be their year. I realize we are only nine weeks into the season. But with the couple of games in which we had to come from behind to win, it seems to me that this season will become very special for LFC.
Posted 20:11 27th October 2008
James Widdowson (Liverpool fan) says...
If I'm to be honest, I hate Andy Gray, but I agree with all he said. Benitez has always favoured the Champions League, and you can't balme him. He has known ever since he took over that we didn't have a team capable of winning the league, so he thought our biggest chance of a major honour is by winning Europes major tournament. But I now feel that after beating Chelsea, we truely have a team capable of winning the title. But this will only happen if he keeps the spine of the team the same, and only if were still in the title race by the time March of April comes around.
Posted 21:59 26th October 2008
Vince Connolly (Liverpool fan) says...
Hi Andy, I agree with your comments totally, but i do agree with my fellow LFC supporters also. How could we have mounted a serious challenge on the PL title with Biscan, etc, let alone win the Champions League with them. One of the best finals ever and will definitely live long in my memory! Now for this season, it's time he stopped the rotation, as players in their 20's shouldn't need to be rested and it will also let them build up fluidity, helping them understand each others strengths and go on and win us that title we have been missing and craving for, for so long! Come on the Pool, God Bless Rafa and the mighty Pool!
Posted 21:14 26th October 2008
Jacek Cierlinski (Tranmere Rovers fan) says...
Andy is absolutely right. But he didn't mention that the biggest problem for Rafa are the club's owners. I hope that Yanks' eyes will be opened wider and their bank accounts will follow on January. Red's bench is definitly too short.
Posted 17:51 26th October 2008
David Finn (Chelsea fan) says...
mmmm yes he has some valid points and looking at the response ie all liverpool fans who are optamistic and so they should be they have had a great start excuse me for my spelling its always a tight game between these two as with man u and arsenal these teams are not the top four for nothing eh what i am excited about is next season when theyll be another couple of teams with money challenging which is a must for the english premiership before it goes completely stale and predictable So game on may the best team win and that being chelsea of course lol
Posted 09:03 26th October 2008
Faz Shah (Liverpool fan) says...
A lot of good points but clearly the fact that Rafa hasnt had the squad to compete has made him prioritise. One other thing, if the Champions League was so easy how come Arsenal are yet to win it? how many attempts? ManU won it twice in 20 years.... tells me quite the opposite to what Mr Gray is saying!
Posted 08:23 26th October 2008
Olakunle Yusuff (Liverpool fan) says...
This comment by Andy co incides with my view of Rafa. The truth is that No manager (and that includes Rafa) should make his preference for a certain competition over others known to anybody, not even his players. Now the pressure is on to get our first League title in 18 years. I hope with the depth we have in the squad, a positive step in that direction will be taken this afternoon at Stamford Bridge
Posted 08:18 26th October 2008
Bisi Akinyemi (Liverpool fan) says...
I think Andy was right about everything regarding LFC. It's the first time in many years Liverpool are playing with a lot of desire and confidence.......The game on sunday will be very tight but I can see Liverpool being victorious......
Posted 00:41 26th October 2008
James Ross (Arsenal fan) says...
Very good article and I will be interested in seeing how Liverpool fair at the Bridge. Beating United must have given them some confidence in the league and a win at the bridge might help propel them to a great season. I think their starting lineup is on par with Chelsea, United and Arsenal but I have doubts about their depth. (Same with Arsenal)...I think they could do the same as Arsenal last year and race out to a lead but be caught by Chelsea or United after the turn of the year. A serious injury to Stevie G or Torres could cause this. In Liverpool's favour they are not as young and inexperienced as Arsenal were last year. Still I think they could be overhauled by a deeper squad if they suffered some injuries to the first 11.
Posted 00:21 26th October 2008
Ade Animashaun (Liverpool fan) says...
I can't but agree with Andy Gray about his analysis about my dear team Liverpool.It's high time RB realized he needs to select his best team and do away with selecting the likes of Lucas the Brazilian and keeping Robbie on the bench under the illusion his partnership with Torres has not yet clicked. The misfortune Liverpool have suffered in the past 12months has to do with loosing key players during international matches. Babbel was in form when he got injured with Holland, Macherano was lost to the insignificant and inconsequential under 23 World cup as an overage player. Xabi Alonso at a point got injured for Spain. You may say all teams suffer this but i think Liverpool have lost out the most. I also feel RB does not know what team selection is best and how to utilize his substitutes atimes though he's managed better this season. When you look at the way Asimao tore apart the Liverpool defence then you wonder why he was not bought save Tom Hicks & Co's unnecessary interference. I would also like to advise him to bring back Martin Skirtel immediately he is available as Daniel Agger has not risen up to the challenge and has beeen below par so far offering no cover for the almost faultless Jamie Carragher once in a while when he makes a rare mistake. Riera has been an unexpected revelation. RB should resist using some of the unknown squad youngsters that he played during the pre-season friendlies as they need more experience save the League Cup matches. He should also know Liverpool's weakness in the past four seasons have been conceeding late goals when they have a slim one goal lead due to inability to shut out their opponents in the midfield and defence. Similarly tthey need to improve on their one touch football and play forward or down.RB should be wary of Joe Cole and Frank Lampard on Saturday, they have a knack of scoring against Liverpool and should tighten his defence 15mins from time if we are ahead.
Posted 21:05 25th October 2008
Oba Deee (Liverpool fan) says...
Good article but for the tinkerman comment. Rafa now has the 'spine' of the team he's always talked about intact... and thats why he's been playing a relatively stable team. Surely there are still some of us who think a player like Babel belongs to that spine. Having said that, i really feel we have what it takes to beat Chelsea now... and if we don't, i'll tie it down to the unpredictable nature of the game rather than Chelsea's class or our lack of it!
Posted 19:35 25th October 2008
Nobby Stiles (Liverpool fan) says...
Andy Gray is correct....this season its all down to Rafa.......we have got off to the best start that i can remember for many years and the team is oozing confidence......how many times over the last ten yeas have we seen Liverpool go behind and then dominate with no success.......this season they believe they can score when they go forward....and its great to see the goals coming from all over the pitch....in Riera we have true width and, so far, a little class i think all Liverpool fans wasn't sure was there....Chelsea have not really faced us with true width....despite Pennants efforts in previous games.....and i believe if Liverpool can get ahead early they can take the top spot by Sunday night.....Rafa keep your cool this season and keep the heart of the team playing week in week out and there's a chance next year we'll see the biggest party in Liverpool since Istanbul!!
Posted 17:08 25th October 2008
Peter Yiannis (Crystal Palace fan) says...
Liverpool's Achilles heel is....Rafa Benitez ! Over the past 5 seasons he has shown to be tactically erratic , unpredictable , over-rotating ,over - cautious and playing players out of position manager. The last 5 years he has spent more money in the transfer market than any other manager ( Bar Chelsea ) and it has been to Liverpools FCs credit that he has not been sacked for lack of success...especially last season. This is the only season that he has what seems like a settled squad with some really good players who are quite capable of winning both the PL and CL. Will they win either or both of those trophies? My quess is ...they won't ,because Benitez is incorrigible. A leopard doesn,t change his spots and Benitez will continue making those dubious team selections and incomprehensible tactical changes. Liverpool are enjoying their best start to a season for many a long time and long may it continue. With this squad they have a genuine chance but the main catalyst to their success or not, is Benitez. I hope he has learned from his mistakes of the past. Somehow i doubt it.
Posted 15:51 25th October 2008
Philippe Choong (Liverpool fan) says...
I agree fully to Andy Gray's analysis! I hope for an early goal... probably from Chelsea & a second half come-back from Liverpool!
Posted 12:19 25th October 2008
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