Liverpool are gunning for The Champions League next season and here the reasons that we think they will achieve the ambition.
Form – Normally Liverpool would be looking over their shoulders at this stage of the season. And, with United in the slipstream, you would have thought that this sentiment would be particularly relevant this season. But Liverpool are playing on a completely different level to United at the moment. They look like a coherent team who are scoring for fun. Meanwhile, United are still stuttering and look miles off their fluid best.
The Competition – Tottenham are making a strong case for that fourth spot. Without playing brilliantly they have the cutting edge to grind out the results right now. But, beyond that there isn’t the usual clamour for fourth. Everton have been superb this season but their squad is still too thin to cope with the loss of Lukaku and Barkley for example. United are surely too far off the pace.
SAS – What can you say about these two? Particular praise must go to Sturridge. Suarez is so good that Liverpool could easily have relied on him alone for goals. But Sturridge has been on fire and offered a different dimension for Liverpool. This duel threat gives both of the strikers more freedom to express themselves – double mark one and the other will nail you!
Coutinho – After starting his Liverpool career so well some discerned a bit of a dip at the back end of last season. But he has kicked on again this season and become a persistent thorn in the side of the opposition. He keeps the tempo high with his quick feet and football brain. He has been a real catalyst for the team this season.
Fixtures – Yes, Liverpool have some difficult matches to navigate towards the end of this season, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham. But they face all these teams at home. The Anfield roar will be like an extra man. With no other competitions to focus on Liverpool can concentrate on taking full points. Their only top tie away from home comes at Manchester United.
Follow us on Twitter @soccersweep10
