The seasons over and it was nearly our year wasn’t it?
I don’t think that Utd won the title this season I think that Liverpool lost it.
People point to the fact that we were 8 points (maybe more) clear at one time but the truth is we were never that many points ahead as Utd had the games in hand. Only when a team has played the same as you can you claim to however many points clear.
Did the Rafa rant cost us? I don’t think so. The facts are that despite us not losing at home this season (2 home league defeats in 3 seasons) our home form cost us. Silly draws against Stoke, West Ham, Fulham & Hull have given the title to Utd. Turn 2 of those draws into wins and we would be champions.
Our performances against the other 3 in the “big 4” league was impressive. 14 points gained and only 4 dropped – all against Arsenal. How did Utd fare in the mini league? 5 points. Everyone said that Liverpool would never win the league unless their performances against the big 3 improved. We did improve and but they don’t mean anything if we don’t go and beat the likes of Stoke & Hull a week later.
We have outscored the other teams for the second season running and this has been achieved largely without the best forward in the world. I truly believe that if Fernando Torres was fit all season he would have scored 25+ goals and we would be champions. Torres missed the 4 draws at home with the above teams. If playing you would imagine he would have nicked a goal in at least 2 of those games. Sure that’s speculative but this guy has hit 50 goals- with no penalties or free kicks - quicker than Rush, Owen, Fowler and most of our goal scoring heroes from the past. The man when fit is unstoppable. I don’t think Torres has ever been truly 100% fit this season and yet he still managed 14 league goals in 24 (roughly) games.
People say that you can’t rely on Torres being fit all season and they are right. How can one man make that much of a difference? But Look at Utd. When the season started Utd were 3rd bottom after the 4 games that Ronaldo missed due to an operation. After that comeback he hasn’t missed a single league game. Since then Utd have slowly been on the rise to the top of the table. Although he hasn’t been as effective as last season take him out of that Utd team and they are a different team. A far less potent team.
Over the course of a season every team has a bit of luck. Utd have it in bucket loads. This season they have scored with 7 deflected goals while Liverpool have hit the woodwork 29 times. Fine lines and margins!
86 points were won and in the last 7 seasons that would be enough to claim the title. Utd got 90 points and that only 1 less that their greatest ever points tally. So where do we need to improve?
There will be the usual comings and goings at Anfield this summer. I truly believe we only need 3 players.
Those players are David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Glenn Johnson.
We need a left winger with Babel being told he can leave and Riera fading badly towards the end of the season Silva will be a welcome addition. Tevez is needed to take the scoring burden of Torres and Johnson is the best right back in the country. His overlapping is excellent and so to his delivery.
Who will go as well as Babel? Dossena, Lucas, Voronin, Istandje and maybe Riera could all be shown the door. I honestly can’t see us selling Alonso. I also hope we don’t buy Gareth Barry who is not LFC class.
The transfer window opens in 3 days and the silly season has already begun with us being linked to nearly every player under the sun.
I like to finish this season with a special mention to Sami Hyppia who if one Premiership player deserved a league winners medal it was him. An excellent player who read the game expertly. I hope Agger and Skrtl have learned a lot from the great Fin – they could do with watching a few of his best games on DVD.
Sami took the handing of the captaincy over to Gerrard with the dignity of a great man as he knew it was best for LFC. Hyypia recently posted a piece on the official site saying it was an honour and privilege to play for LFC for 10 years. Sammi, the honour was all ours. YNWA Sammi.
