Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
It is time. Time to discover whether or not Liverpool have what it takes to be champions. Not champions of Europe, that staggered and seeded competition, winnable with just the right balance of Alamo-style defending and quick goals on the break. Champions of England. A far harder accolade to win. It is the league that Liverpool fans value more than Europe and rightly so. 38 games over nine months is a far greater test of ability and it is one that, so far, they have failed.
Too many draws and too many rants, say Liverpool's detractors. Too many injuries and too many over-cautious opponents, say their defenders. Funny that it never stops Manchester United, isn't it? Liverpool haven't been unlucky, they've just lacked the confidence and swagger of their rivals, the concrete belief in their own abilities. When a team turns up at Old Trafford and fortifies themselves on the edge of their own penalty area, intent on sitting deep and frustrating their opponents, it never seems to matter. United just storm past them anyway. Liverpool haven't got that spark. Well, they haven't got it in the league, at least.
In Europe, it's a different story. Real Madrid, lest we forget, had been charging hard on the heels of Barcelona in La Liga, reducing a gulf of points to a mere gap and stringing victories together with ease. They were motivated, they were focused and yet they were still utterly annihilated. If it hadn't been for Iker Cassilas, it could have been seven or eight. How can they tear through one of the most illustrious sides in Europe, but trudge through 90 minutes against West Ham, barely creating a single chance of note. Why is that they can go to Marseille and Eindhoven and return with the spoils, but the only thing that they come back from Middlesbrough with is their tails, forced firmly between their legs.
If they beat Manchester United today it will not put them in pole position for the title. They will be back within sight of their quarry, but they will need to win every game and then hope for other results to go their way. A gap of four points could still be a gap of seven when United play their game in hand. Anything can happen in football, but it's looking more and more likely that, regardless of today's result, Ferguson will be lifting the trophy for the third time in succession.
But that's not the point.
Winning at Old Trafford will prove that there is a title-winning side in there somewhere, waiting to be released. Liverpool must show that they can play in the league with the same intensity that they displayed in Europe on Wednesday. There have been signs of the belief and the fire required to win a title this campaign. Look at the late goals they've scored, the victories plucked from the precipice of defeat. They can do it, I'm sure that the potential is there. But will they show it when it counts?
Liverpool will not win the title if they win today, but they will at least prove that they can. After years spent swirling in United's wake, that will do just fine for now.
Too many draws and too many rants, say Liverpool's detractors. Too many injuries and too many over-cautious opponents, say their defenders. Funny that it never stops Manchester United, isn't it? Liverpool haven't been unlucky, they've just lacked the confidence and swagger of their rivals, the concrete belief in their own abilities. When a team turns up at Old Trafford and fortifies themselves on the edge of their own penalty area, intent on sitting deep and frustrating their opponents, it never seems to matter. United just storm past them anyway. Liverpool haven't got that spark. Well, they haven't got it in the league, at least.
In Europe, it's a different story. Real Madrid, lest we forget, had been charging hard on the heels of Barcelona in La Liga, reducing a gulf of points to a mere gap and stringing victories together with ease. They were motivated, they were focused and yet they were still utterly annihilated. If it hadn't been for Iker Cassilas, it could have been seven or eight. How can they tear through one of the most illustrious sides in Europe, but trudge through 90 minutes against West Ham, barely creating a single chance of note. Why is that they can go to Marseille and Eindhoven and return with the spoils, but the only thing that they come back from Middlesbrough with is their tails, forced firmly between their legs.
If they beat Manchester United today it will not put them in pole position for the title. They will be back within sight of their quarry, but they will need to win every game and then hope for other results to go their way. A gap of four points could still be a gap of seven when United play their game in hand. Anything can happen in football, but it's looking more and more likely that, regardless of today's result, Ferguson will be lifting the trophy for the third time in succession.
But that's not the point.
Winning at Old Trafford will prove that there is a title-winning side in there somewhere, waiting to be released. Liverpool must show that they can play in the league with the same intensity that they displayed in Europe on Wednesday. There have been signs of the belief and the fire required to win a title this campaign. Look at the late goals they've scored, the victories plucked from the precipice of defeat. They can do it, I'm sure that the potential is there. But will they show it when it counts?
Liverpool will not win the title if they win today, but they will at least prove that they can. After years spent swirling in United's wake, that will do just fine for now.
