Have Liverpool sent a “massive message” to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal? Or is everyone just waiting for them to wobble?
by stresster on October 27th, 2008
| 374 words |
We’ve had several false dawns before, as far as Liverpool and a Premier League title challenge are concerned. Indeed, the Reds haven’t really got anywhere near winning the league under Rafael Benitez and, with less than a quarter of the season gone, the bookmakers still have them as third-favourites to land the spoils. However, could this campaign see them finally realise their potential?
The Guardian report that Rafael Benitez is insistent that the Merseyside club’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge has sent out a massive message to their title rivals, claiming that clubs will now have to sit up and take notice after they ended the Blues’ 86-match unbeaten run. While it was an outstanding performance from the visitors to win the game, especially without Fernando Torres absent, does this result mean anything more than three points gained in the league?
“I think everybody was talking about the statistics against the top sides before,” said Benítez, referring to Liverpool’s failure to win an away game against one of the other top-four clubs during his reign. “We needed a win here to improve. We were coming here unbeaten and they were unbeaten for a long time so it was a massive game, and to come here and show the character the players showed today was a big boost for the rest of the season.
“I think [the win] means that we have the belief, that we have the mentality we need against the top sides,” continued the manager, who hailed the “quality” his players had demonstrated to overcome a Chelsea side who had not tasted defeat under Scolari. “To win here was a really big thing for everybody, and so to win here sends a massive message to the other teams of what we can do.”
Liverpool certainly deserve their moment of glory, although Xabi Alonso’s goal came as a result of a fortunate deflection, which then gave Benitez’s men the confidence to get their foot on the ball and stretch Chelsea. Now it’s all about continuing the winning run at home to Portsmouth; an inability to land anything other than three points would mean that Sunday’s achievement will no longer seem as significant as it does right now.
Discuss the latest transfer gossip at the Brand New COS forum!
We're giving you £10 FREE so show some bollocks and BET NOW!
Tagged Under: Chelsea FC, liverpool fc, rafael benitez
9torres - October 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
John Terrys a d**k, he is a f***ing d**k, and when he went to Moscow, he missed the winning kick. He couldn’t hit the target, he fell onto his bum, to leave their dreams of victory, as dead as Lampards…
9torres - October 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Nothing can be judged untill the end of the season. Only then can we see if this three points makes a difference. Like Rafa said, one game at a time.
truered - October 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
9torres. I am ashamed that you call yourself a liverpool fan and that you associate ur ignorant and nasty songs with someone of the calibre of fernando torres. you are a prat.
9torres - October 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Its a football chant made up by united fans, it has nothing to do with liverpool fc. it is also not my song as i did not compose either the words or the tune. sorry if me posting a joke song from another forum has caused anyone offence.
Also, anyone who was offended by this please do not attend any real life football matches as the contents of the songs sung by some supporters may cause you to explode in a fit of distaste. Again, apologies to anyone else who is that far up their own arse.
Xyth - October 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Liverpool is the luckiest team this season .
Yesterday the played well, but still not coninced that they are better than Man Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea.
Just wait till their luc runs out, and then we’ll see what Rafa has to say.
calvo - October 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
well deserved so far for l´pool.every club needs luck and every team would welcome a bit of luck.its not to say l´pools success´ have solely been on luck alone.however how long will this last (them being top)no one honestly knows as l´pool have not had this situation placed on them for many years.what should be applauded is the way they have gone about there jobs without torres and skrtel,which is obviously a good sign.but i still feel that come easter they may still fall short.i wouldnt be too confident just yet but they are certainly making it interesting this season.
Lucifer - October 27th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The most impressive thing I saw in the Liverpool victory was their fitness levels. I must admit they ran and ran. They won with a streaky goal and created very little otherwise. Chelsea created even less as I can’t remember a significant save by Reina. Neither team can string a 6 pass move together consistently in the way that Arsenal or Man Utd can. It’s all about closing down opponents and denying them space. But yes, they can win the PL. It’s just that it would be a sad day for football if they did, playing their kick and rush style of football. Liverpool are the new Chelsea.
Monstermash - October 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
A very good signal of intent for the rest of the season and signs of a title winning side but can’t afford to get carried away. In the past (although not under Rafa) we have been able to get results such as this but faltered against the ‘lesser’ teams whilst the likes of Man U win home and away against 80% of prem teams which is what we need to do. Keep reading from that play book Rafa.
Red dawn - October 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
To all you sour grapes! Brace youselves Cause as Rafa said last week we only reached 70%! I’d hate to know what they would do when they reach 100%. Oh and one last thing we we’re without Torres & Skyrtel!! Liverpool you were immense! Y N W A
Red dawn - October 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Special praise goes to XABI,CARRA & RIERA …….you were great!
ronnie's shagging ronald! - October 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
What a shame that some of the people posting on this site think that Premier League football is simply about stylish 6 pass moves and fancy, completely unnecessary trickery. Yes, although they are entertaining for no-brainers who solely need circus tricks to be mentally stimulated; it can be said that the game on Sunday produced a virtuoso performance from Liverpool. They were strong, organized, took the game to Chelsea and asked questions of them. What could Chelsea come up with? The Xabi Alonso goal, as fortuitous as it was, was still deserved as a testament to the attacking play that was produced. Liverpool look more penetrative when they went forward rather than Chelsea under the same circumstance. One thing that can be said is that Liverpool are not playing anywhere near their best football. Since the time of “longball” yesteryear Liverpool. You’ll find that nearly no long balls were played; in a game where that tactic would have been almost always employed in the past with the likes of Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch in the team.
This new style of football that Liverpool are now playing, is without shadow of a doubt unique in respect to previous Liverpool teams of old and other teams in the league. If we can get to 100% and keep vital players fit; adding to that we sign a few players in key areas in January; it is every likely that, although not considered title challengers yet, may find themselves in a competitive position; which to be fair has not been achieved since the season when we scored 82 league points, won the F.A cup, the UEFA cup, the League cup, the Charity shield and the Supercup under Houlier.
LIverpool have few pieces missing from creating a squad which can reach those heights. One thing to point out, is that we have achieved most of all of our success under a better budget than any other club in the league. We don’t spend 18m on injury prone players like Hargreaves…unproven players like Anderson/Nani and pay outrageous money for squad players Carrick/Park. Then to add insult to injury leave possibly our best players on the bench..in United’s case namely Tevez.
Furthermore, our fans create an atmosphere unlike that of any other; in form, in prose, in song, in heart, in passion, in unity and as brothers and sisters.
We have never been and never will be glory hunters.
YNWA
Irish Scouser - October 27th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
The claim that Liverpool are lucky is the single biggest myth in football now, apart from the myth that Ronaldo is the world’s greatest.
1.Martin Skrtel, Liverpool’s rock, is out for most of the season.
2. Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s best, has been injured twice and missed United and Chelsea.
3. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s captain, was injured already,
4. Hicks and Gillett, Liverpool’s owners, are destroying the club from within, not giving Rafa any spending freedom (Gareth Barry) and threatening to sack him.
5. Mascherano, Babel and Lucas, 3 key players, were away at the Olympics for the start of the season.
6. LIVERPOOL HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD GOAL DISALLOWED AGAINST STOKE AND WERE ROBBED OF 2 POINTS!!!!!! They should be 5 points clear.
If you want to see luck/cheating, watch United against Bolton, Blackburn and Celtic this season - 4 free goals already this season.
RJP - October 27th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Liverpool will drop points like Arsenal last season, Arsenal will win the league this season.
liver red - October 28th, 2008 at 12:15 am
9torres i must be up my own arse cos i think your a dick head also.and getting back to the column,would everyone be saying the same if chelsea had a bit of luck then went on to play nice football.dont think so.we deserved to win just like against utd but people think these results are down to either utd having an off day or luck in the case of chelsea.give credit where its due we got the job done in both cases and in some style too.
ynwa
THE CHOSEN ONE - October 28th, 2008 at 4:45 am
LUCIFER
DID YOU SAY ITS ABOUT CLOSING DOWN PLAY?
YOU MEAN LIKE WE DID AGAINST MAN U?
MADE THEM PLAY LIKE A CONFERENCE TEAM?
SIR TAGGOTS WORD NOT MINE!!
DO YOU MEAN LIKE WE CLOSED DOWN CHEASEA?
MADE THEM LOOK ORDINARY?
I DO AGREE THAT NOTHING IS WON IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER
BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN LOST YET.
MARK MY WORD
ITS HOW LIVERPOOL PERFORM THIS YEAR AGAINST THE LESSER TEAMS
NOT THE BIG 4 OR 5 THAT WILL DETERMINE IF THEY OR WE WIN THE TITLE OR NOT. NOTHING MORE OR LESS.
EVERTON DONE DEAL
MAN U DONE DEAL
CHELSKI DONE DEAL
ARSENAL ? WELL C
YES AS RAFA SAYS ITS ALL ABOUT CONFIDENCE
OK THE CHOSEN ONE SPEAKS.
BY DEC ENDING WELL BE 6 POINTS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
MAYBE EVEN MORE
AND THE FANS WILL PUSH US HOME
AS LONG AS WE HAVE A GOOD NOVEMBER
BAD NOVEMBER NO TITLE
GOOD NOVEMBER TITLE
ITS SIMPLE
OH AND IF WE R 6 POINTS IN FRONT WELL BEAT UTD AT OLD TRAFFORD.
YOU HEARD IT FIRST FROM ME
LAUGH NOW AND APOLOGISE LATER
SO SHALL IT BE WRITTEN AND SO SHALL IT BE DONE!!!
kopfan - October 28th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Liverpool did a good job on manure then, and Chelski now. These so called fans of these teams can go on and say Liverpool were lucky to win. Yes we were LUCKY ! We were lucky that manure conceded an own goal under pressure that made the equaliser and the winning goal by Babel was also lucky coz Mascherano was lucky to be on the opponents box fighting for the ball … now at Chelski we had a deflected shot into goal , we were LUCKY again .. when we came back to win those games against 10 men teams recently , Pool were really lucky lucky lucky… so now we are at the top of the table and we are lucky to be there.. Pool were denied a valid goal @ home against stoke , we lost 2 pts .. we were lucky we didnt lose the game …hmmmm so now to win a league , we dont need to have quality players/managers but we just need luck .. is that how manure won the league and the champions league ? with luck ? and how abt chelski ? winning the 2 previous league titles were coz of luck ? if thats wht u called luck then i will take it that liverpool are also winning coz of luck …the opposing managers already made statements saying that liverpool made manure a conference team and chleski were playing hopeless long balls into the box and hoping to make something happen .. is that the quality of sexy attacking football going wrong? or players lost on how to counter Liverpool’s fantastic play? or for u guys its lucky play ….ynwa !!!
kopfan - October 28th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Rafa has done a wondeful job with minimal resources and hope he continues with Liverpool to give them the mentality in winning games. The previous seasons we didnt have a good start and we didnt have more quality players like the other Top 3 teams. This is the season we should be giving a good fight and we have proved that we mean business. Pool have to up their tempo and sustain this winning mentality and hope it will bear fruits come May…Even if we dont win the title , we should prove that we can challenge the top teams and not make it a 2 horse race anymore….best wishes to the Reds team and Rafa. Keep up the good work and the fans will be behind you through thick and thin .. you lads deserve it …you have made the club and the fans proud. YNWA !!!!
kermit - October 28th, 2008 at 7:33 am
now buy gareth bale for left back and anyukov the russian right back for there and we are set
oh and schweinsteiger for right wing
9torres - October 28th, 2008 at 8:26 am
liver red, get over it, it was a risky post but to be fair, i’d put my money on a lot of people having a chuckle at it even if they wudn’t admit it
shk - October 28th, 2008 at 9:28 am
THE CHOSEN ONE.why is the united supporters more bitter than the chelsea supporters and they were beaten.we already forgot we beat united ass.on a more serious note a do agree not count our chickens yet as manunited and chelsea have more experience in winning the league.however great start though.we should not forget that beating united and chelsea at home for that matter and convincingly is a moral booster and will only motivate liverpool.
calvo - October 28th, 2008 at 10:16 am
ronnie’s shagging ronald! - October 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm-you seem to forget that what you referred to as unproven and injury-prone and squad players actually won the epl and the champions league.so the unproven proved they can handle the league by WINNING the league,anderson stepping in for scholes and more than holding his own against gerrard and cesc.nani scoring against spurs that set us on an unbeaten run.but i suppose the fact that babel cost a bit and is unproven escapes your memory!carrick playing an instrumental role in utd retaining the league after winning the league the season before.there is a long long way to go before anyone can starting claiming the bragging rights to anything.great start that cannot be ignored but arsenal spoke the same language last season and look what happened then.
Donavan Ried - October 28th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I think we will have to beat Arsenal first, which won’t be easy as they now know what sought of form we are in ….. But I think Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal are all standing up and taking notices now….. We need to push on now and strengthen in the next transfer window as well as tap in the talent we have in the reserves…. Use them in League cup games, win lose or draw they need the experience. It is time for everyone to stand up and be counted….YNWA
Donavan Ried - October 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Lucifer - October 27th, 2008 at 4:56 pm ….. “Neither team can string a 6 pass move together consistently in the way that Arsenal or Man Utd can2″ ……What is the point of string together a 6 pass move if you achive nothink at the end of it
.Xyth - October 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm ………….”Liverpool is the luckiest team this season”…… Make a differance for us to have some of the luck that Chelsea and Man Utd seem to have week in week out
9torres - October 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm …….. I think that those of us how read your comments regular kwon what your about …… we know that you are bigger than that … YNWA mate
Irish Scouser - October 27th, 2008 at 7:47 pm ……….”The claim that Liverpool are lucky is the single biggest myth in football now, apart from the myth that Ronaldo is the world’s greatest.”……Lol,(a mouth full of tea just shot out of my nose)
THE CHOSEN ONE - October 28th, 2008 at 4:45 am …… Both games Chelsea and Man utd were 6 pointers…. The 3 points they lose to us, and one game less that each of them can get points for …… Don’t you love hearing Chelsea and Man utd fans bitch…..lol
Donavan Ried - October 28th, 2008 at 11:23 am
There I go again forgetting to proof read, sorry for any spell mistakes
ronnie's shagging ronald! - October 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I don’t really think that Liverpool will win anything this season Calvo (as i stated in my previous comment). And yes, all the comments about Manchester united players happen to be true. Scholes is what won you both the premier League and the champions league. Not ronaldo, not rooney, not tevez and sure as fuck not nani and anderson/carrick. I have a lot of time and respect for Paul Scholes. Just look how you’ve been playing since you lost him. Losing scholes for united is like liverpool losing torres, carra, mascherano, gerrard and riena. United have been playing shite tactically this season because of the arrival of Berbatov. The attacking flow has been disturbed and his trademark languid style of play doesn’t really suit united’s fast pace counter attacking play, with the interchanging of rooney ronaldo and tevez. Scholes bridges the gap between midfield defense and attack better than any player untied have in thier ranks. If you think that either anderson (predator) or carrick is a suitable replacement of equal caliber for scholes you truely know nothing about football. And oh yeah, babel was a bargain he cost 10mil and was already a dutch international and he’s 20 years old. Don’t chat shit for the sake of proving to the world that you know something. United have decent players yes, but it is the some of the combined parts that made you win last year; and scholes was the most integral part.
I’m not trying to get brownie points by cussing united; but simply delivering an objective view. There is not one realistic united fan out there that wouldn’t say that they spend way too much for players regardless of how good they are; but then again there aren’t that many “real” man united supporters out there.