We need to accept that Liverpool cannot defend the Premier League title.
It looks like Arsenal will lock horns with Manchester City for the title – with the Reds locked in the race for the Champions League.
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It’s been a difficult season for Arne Slaughter – he can’t get any consistency from the league title. The manager has also been struggling to integrate £450m worth of new signings and he has been dealing with serious injury problems.
The poor result leaves Anfield in contention with Chelsea and Manchester United for a Champions League spot, with Aston Villa comfortably ahead at the top of the table.
Thanks to England’s coefficient, fifth place will most likely be enough to secure a return to the Champions League – bring it on Participation fees, prize money and broadcast revenue could exceed £100m.
Liverpool can’t live without the money, but there’s every reason to believe the club will take a decisive step to secure it.
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Liverpool are expected to take the lead comfortably
In midweek games, opponents Manchester United and Chelsea suffered draws with West Ham United and Leeds United respectively.
In the end, the Reds defeated Sunderland 1-0, regaining two points in the game and entering the top five.
The upcoming series of games are all very winnable – Arne Slaughter is targeting 15 points from the next 15 games.
First, in the next three league games, Liverpool will face three of the current bottom four. Crisis club Nottingham Forest is ranked 17th. In addition to the away game against Trichy Tree, Liverpool will face West Ham United at home (18th) and Wolves away (20th).
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There have been more bottom-placed teams since then, such as Tottenham at home (16) and Brighton away (14).
After the Brighton game, we head into the international window – Liverpool face Fulham (home), Everton (away) and Crystal Palace (home) in their next three games.
Manchester United and Chelsea face difficulties
In contrast, United only face Crystal Palace, currently in the bottom half, in their next five games.
Before March ends, they have games against Everton (away), Crystal Palace (home), Newcastle (away), Aston Villa (home) and Bournemouth (away) – games they won’t be looking forward to.
While Chelsea’s next game at home to Burnley looks tame, they have back-to-back fixtures against two of the top three – away to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
The time for optimism has arrived
They face Newcastle at home and Everton away before the international break – which is by no means an easy game. They face Manchester City and Manchester United at home after the break, meaning they will face each of the top four in their next seven games.
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At the moment, Liverpool fans are not that optimistic about a return to the Champions League, especially since they have to face Manchester United, Chelsea, Villa and Brentford in the run-in.
But there’s every reason to believe that by the March international window, the table will have changed significantly – and Liverpool will have some breathing room in their bid for the lucrative Champions League prize money.
