Will Liverpool rally this season?

By: Rob | August 25th, 2009

First off, apologies for my absence for a few days, it went a bit crazy my end over the weekend. Its all alright now though, thank you for asking. Anyway, on to what a missed.

So, Liverpool suffered a defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last night. Last season it perhaps would have been slightly less surprising, but with Villa down Gareth Barry and Liverpool’s expectations raised after a season where they only lost twice, it seems like a worse defeat than it would have at the tail end of last year.

The result has caused two reactions across the internet. The first is “Liverpool are out of the title race” and the second is “You’re being an idiot, its only August”.

Both are quite reasonable points really. While its overreacting to suggest Liverpool are out of the title race already (see so many Man United seasons from recent years) but considering they only lost twice last season and didn’t take the title, its going to be a massive confidence blow for the squad.

And confidence appears to be what’s lacking in the squad at the moment – surprising for a team of international footballers looking to build on such a strong showing last season. But in a season where Manchester City are looking at really attacking the big four, and Spurs will claim to be doing the same (you have to admit, it has been a good start…) there is a worry for all the current Big Four that if they do start to drop in form, they could fall out of the Champions League spots.

Not that I’m saying Liverpool will, but it’ll be interesting to see if they rally, and when they rally. Alot of fingers have pointed to Xabi Alonso’s exit to Madrid as a cause for Liverpool’s two losses this season, and he was really good this season. Frustratingly they have a good replacement in Alberto Aquilani, but he is injury prone, and missing the start of the season. Liverpool do have enough central midfielder that they shouldn’t miss Alonso as much as being claimed.

They do put too much pressure on their two world class players – Gerrard and Torres. If they aren’t playing, or aren’t performing, its tough to see where goals will come from for them. That of course was the curse last season, as the two losses only tells part of the story – they drew far too many games without scoring.

So can Liverpool pull it back this season? How are we feeling about them now?