United in a typical pose
Could fate really be such a cruel mistress as to allow United to finally overtake Liverpool in the number of titles won, only to see them catch up a mere season later?
“Surely not!” I hear you cry almost incredulously in unison, yet as I’ve learnt over the years as a United fan, its more often complacency that leads to our defeats, rather than lack of ability.
In ’92 we were sure to beat Forest at home and West Ham away, in 1995 Blackburn werent good enough 1998, Arsenal would never catch us- just ask Fred Done, in 2003 we’d put Arsenal back in their place and didn’t need to worry about them again, Roman’s billions? Pah! Nothing to fear there.
You get my point. It’s been too easy over the years to dismiss any sort of threat to United, with the disdain many of us believe they deserve, but let’s face some ‘facts’ as a certain Spanish waiter once said, United don’t always have things our way, despite what we may sing.
This pre-season has almost been a gift from baby Jesus, United have bought three top class young players while our rivals have done very little and in some cases gone backwards. With Chelsea’s best midfielder out for several months- sorry but it is a massive boost for us as much as it is a loss for them, Arsenal struggling to keep hold of their players when they also need to buy a goalkeeper, striker, defender and a midfielder it’s easy to feel somewhat overjoyed at how the Summer has begun. Then there’s our noisy neighbours facing the potential loss of a certain Argentinian, who somehow hasn’t turned out to be as loyal as they thought, ooh the irony.
Only one team seems to be bothering to try and assemble the sort of squad that can really challenge United next season and unfortunately it happens to be our less educated friends from down the M62.
Liverpool have picked up where they left off in the January transfer window by spending big. They were fortunate in January in the fact that Chelsea were willing to pay over the odds for a player who looks like he’d rather spend an evening having his nails pulled out than he would playing football.
This Summer though, Liverpool have dipped into their own pockets – yeah, I know “instead of the nearest bin”- to spend money on the likes of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.
Henderson I’m not a big fan of to be perfectly honest and this isn’t my Mancunian tinted spectacles working overtime, I’ve said ever since we were linked to him, I felt he was a poor man’s Michael Carrick. Adam is a player I did admire last season though, I even wrote a post advocating a United bid for him as I genuinely felt we could use his dead ball ability – not just from free kicks and penalties but corners which have been a problem for us for some time now.
Given the choice of Downing or Ashley Young, I’d pick Young but that doesn’t mean Downing is a complete waste of space, in fact he may well rise to the occasion at a bigger club.
The point is Liverpool have three players who have shown they can perform in the Premier League to a high standard- albeit rarely in the case of Henderson, while all United’s other rivals have done very little.
More importantly Kenny Daglish seems to have some form of plan for getting players who could benefit Andy Carroll the most. Carroll’s aerial threat will be utilised nicely by Adam and Downing, while Luis Suarez could feed off the knockdowns, not an all too terrible attack if we’re disgustingly honest.
Add to the mix the youngsters who were given a chance at the back end of last season and did a decent job, plus the experience of the barely comprehensible Jamie Carragher and title throwing Steven Gerrard, not to mention arguably the League’s best ‘keeper and you have the makings of a title challenging side.
It’s easy for me to rant about how Downing wouldn’t get in our side or Carroll will probably be in prison by the time the season starts but I’ve been equally as flippant about our threats in the past and sometimes been left with an omelette on my face.
Don’t forget in 1995 Jason Wilcox wasn’t good enough for our bench, in 2002 the Arsenal defence was past it, in 2010 Chelsea were no longer a threat.
It’s easy to dismiss Liverpool and would be very enjoyable but just for now I’ll err on the side of caution and say while I still believe it’s United’s title to lose, the new arrivals at Anfield plus the galvanising effect a certain Scottish manager has had on the club, shouldn’t be ignored just yet.
Am I worrying too much about a team that’ll struggle to make the top four? Is it City and Chelsea we should be focusing on? Will Liverpool ever win the title again?
Feel free to comment suggest and abuse below.
manchester united fans are so over confident.its not good at all.by the end of the season we will see these manutd fans hiding with shame
fergesons biggest fear is back.king kenny is back.with out new signings we will rock and rule next season.wait n watch how our attacking force banish the goals.never 4get we defeated u 4-1 at ur place and never forget nani went off crying last season.wat a shame wat a shame
Thanks for the read – been a Liverpool fan all my life, and will be til I die. But, the thing that got me – was that this was written by a manc, who has openly, and willingly gave us Liverpool fans a worthy read on WHAT CAN BE, regardless of personal hatred for our club, the author here has been honest, and its clear certain Man U fans will be worried by the resurgence.
Only time will tell how well our new acquisitions turn out, for better or for worse.
Although it turns my stomach to say this, and I will probably never say it again to a Manc Fan, but good luck for the coming season. Lets hope its a good fight between us two.
Forget City, Arsenal, Chelsea and *ahem* Spurs, the league for me has always been about LFC and MUFC, regardless.
YNWA.
don’t be so confident, i would better ask who will be challenging city for the title.The city squad has improved and cannot see anyone matching them.
I won’t go and talk about perches and things like that. It’s disrespectful.
I’m sure Fergie would never have talked about his perch should Kenny have kept his manager’s job in 1991. Anyways.
To answer your question. Yes. LFC will be there and is a serious threat for the title (Fergie himself admitted).
I’ve heard pundits saying that it’s difficult for a club which came out 6th to win the league straight away… I think they’re all missing a point!!! It you take the number of points Kenny collected from the time he took over till the season’s end, then i think Pool would have been in the top 4 position. On top of that, the club’s strength in depth was appalling. Look at Man Utd’s, City’s, Chelsea’s, Arsenal’s even Totenham’s benches you’ll see.
On top of that, no Gerrard, no left back, no right back, Carragher injured, Agger injured, Caroll himself out. Players of 17 and 18 were being used. And yet the results were there 3-0 to Man Utd, 3-0 to Man City, 2-1 to Chelsea etc.
This year Kenny is assembling his own team together and all his ex players have praised his knack in detecting new players.
So here are my views on the situation but well done to Man Utd last year for their 19th title. If you come on top, you deserve it. That’s it.
Correction: 3-1 to Man Utd.
Correction: 1-0 v Chelsea
I agree… I don’t think we will win the league but it is a slight possibility. We had hardly any players and it shows just how good a keeper Reina is that he played through the season injured. This is why I think he wasn’t as good at saving pens. Top 4 here we come! (At least)
I accept your opinion that Young is better than Downing, however we feel Downing is better and unfortunately for Manu, the stats back that up, as well as the fact that Downing was Villa’s Player of the Season. According the SSN stats, Young is also a bit of a train-smash when it comes to discipline #yellow cards #red cards.
all i know is 1 on 1 Liverpool will kill united also henderson is much better then carrick
Last game Pool smoked Man U and that was without the new signings. I don’t think there is any question they have the ability. Consistency will be the test.
What makes me laugh is that scott parker got player of the year, and nobody wants to sign him.
I think the comment about Benetiz is racist! Shame on you mate!
Your own fans must be racist then if that’s the case. http://forums.liverpoolfc.tv/showthread.php?t=87283
Dalglish builds teams. He doesn’t choose individuals who look good. He sees what they can offer to his team mates. He knows what Carroll and Suarez need and has gone and got it. Henderson has excellent vision and skill to back it up. He was at the top of assisted chances last season playing for an average team. However, he won’t be a regular starter next season. Who knows what the formation will be but we only have the league to worry about so you can be pretty sure our team will be at it’s strongest possible week in week out.