Rafa thinks we could win the title

[Guest Phil C]

...if we won today (which we did...).....

 

Really?!!!

 

 

Rafa speaks

 

 

RAFA: WIN WOULD REKINDLE TITLE HOPES

By Paul Walker, PA Sport

 

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Rafael Benitez believes beating Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime would rekindle Liverpool's Premiership title hopes.

 

The Reds are currently 14 points behind leaders Manchester United ahead of what promises to be a pivotal weekend in the title race (United visit Arsenal on Sunday).

 

And the Spaniard believes notching his first league victory over Jose Mourinho's men could change the course of Liverpool's season.

 

Benitez said: "If we can beat Chelsea, then we can also talk of the top, why not? But we have to win first.

 

"For us to win this game will be a boost for the rest of the season. We know we are really close and then people will start talking about the Premier League or second position. It will give us more focus.

 

"It is an important weekend for us because the other major game is Arsenal against Manchester United. For the top four it is a very crucial time, these results are so important for us all."

 

Ahead of the big clash Benitez issued a decree that none of Liverpool's players say anything even vaguely provocative about their big rivals from West London.

 

But he knows a victory in front of the Kop for his side, to extend their 15-month unbeaten home league record, will be the most significant domestic triumph of his Liverpool career.

 

It will be his 100th Premiership match since taking over 31 months ago, and a win will equal Bill Shankly's record over his first 100 league games at the club.

 

Benitez has won 55 of his first 99 league games, one short of Shankly's total and beaten only by Kenny Dalglish's 61 in the club's all-time list.

 

A momentous day for sure but one Benitez knows is pivotal for the club and the soon-to-be new Dubai-based backers who will be in the directors' box scrutinising their likely new acquisition.

 

Now Benitez says: "We have lost our last two home games in cup-ties against Arsenal, so we know we must put that right in front of our own fans. Now we must show character and that we are better than that.

 

"We won at Watford last weekend to show what we were capable of and now we must do the same against Chelsea, to show we are a good team and can get really close to them.

 

"If we can do that we will have another target. Previously we have been saying we must finish in the top four and then see what happens, because we were too far adrift.

 

"But if we can win we will be closer, and there is still a long way to go."

 

Spanish 'keeper Jose Reina has come closest to underlining the critical importance of the game, one that Chelsea have won in the last three occasions.

 

Reina said: "This may be our last opportunity to reduce the big advantage they have over us. A win against them would be very important.

 

"You always go one step at a time, but this could be a much bigger step forward than usual."

 

Not even talk of the controversy surrounding Mourinho's Chelsea future could disturb Benitez's focus on the match recalling that the champions were the last team to win a league game at Anfield back in October '05.

 

Benitez said: "Whatever has been said this week about Chelsea, it is always hard to play against them now, a month ago or two months ago. It does not matter.

 

"They are a top side, not with just one important player but many. This is a test for us, but then the same applies when we play Manchester United and Arsenal at Anfield in the next few weeks.

 

"If we can beat them people will say we can make a real fight of it.

 

"Against the top sides we have to improve, and we have the confidence that we can do that."

 

He added: "We have been able to beat the top clubs in cups, it is in the league that there is the problem. But they are small details, small mistakes. And if you can score first it can change things.

 

"I am not interested in what has been going on at Chelsea, I am only concerned about what squad and players they will be using, nothing else. I prefer not to talk about our opponents.

 

"They have a very good team, a good manager and good players. They have a lot of strength and we know it will be difficult, but we also know that our form in the league has been very good."

[Mondavi]

having witnessed that today, he's right to think that.

 

It would take an almighty effort, and a few results to go our way, but this will undoubtedly build some pressure if arsenal can win tomorrow too.

[Sion]

Once again we're looking back on the first 6-8 games thinking about what might have been. A couple of draws into wins and we'd be right in this, now we just have a slight chance, IF united slip.

[RafaShanks]

Think it's beyond us, unless there are some crazy results and us winning most of our games left. Mancs, Chavs & Ar$e still in FA Cup (latter 2 still in Carling Cup), as well as Europe like us. It's still mathematically possible, so haven't given up complete hope.

 

Finishing 2nd isn't, but that would mean Mancs winning the Premiership, which I simply couldn't stomach (don't want to go into whole argument about sacrificing 2nd spot for Manc not winning it).

 

We have to hit the ground running in August next season, by which time Rafa has the squad that he wants, with a few quality additons in the summer.

[Guz]

Once again we're looking back on the first 6-8 games thinking about what might have been. A couple of draws into wins and we'd be right in this, now we just have a slight chance, IF united slip.

 

Annoying thing is even if we'd lost all the 5 toughest aways, if we'd beaten Blackburn, Sheffield United and Boro we'd still be in the title race.

[Mono]

Robbed against Bolton and B'burn away but kinda lucky away to Spurs. And then Pompey were so negative it was unreal. Min we deserved away to the chavs was a draw. It could all work out yet. The mancs will have a slip up or two (hopefully one against us). I'm very confident we can get 2nd place as a minimum. Our premiership form is second to none. We have some injuries clearing up currently and a squad that generally looks eager for the next win.

There have been alot of "what if's" but the biggest "what if" of the lot we'll be asking in years to come is "what if Rafa was never our manager?"

Edited January 20, 2007 by Mono

[psl]

Annoying thing is even if we'd lost all the 5 toughest aways, if we'd beaten Blackburn, Sheffield United and Boro we'd still be in the title race.

 

Its true but all teams can do that. Chelsea can look back at dropped points against Reading, Fulham, Boro. United drew away at Reading, lost at West Ham etc.

[Kopite_Colin]

Its true but all teams can do that. Chelsea can look back at dropped points against Reading, Fulham, Boro. United drew away at Reading, lost at West Ham etc.

 

Somebody needs to stick their studs all the way through Ronaldo and put him out for a good few weeks. If that happens, we have a real chance becuase he's created so much for them this season - they look so ordinary without him (even with Rooney & Saha). If he was taken out, I really think they would struggle for a few weeks, and that may be enough to give us a sniff. But we've got to hope maybe one of the smaller clubs in the FA Cup are a bit rash and hurt him with a bad challenge to hve any hope.

Edited January 20, 2007 by Kopite_Colin

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

I know this sounds crazy but I am worried about the West Ham fixture. They are fighting for their lives down there and it will be very difficult. Each game as it comes though, I suppose.

[Guest Scot]

We can push hard, make a run, add to the pressure and see what happens. That's all we can do now.

[CarraLegend]

I know this sounds crazy but I am worried about the West Ham fixture. They are fighting for their lives down there and it will be very difficult. Each game as it comes though, I suppose.

 

Their s****, we'll t*** them, 4-0 and a Lucas Neill leg break.

[Paul B]

Be fascinating to see now how Rafa's rotation/resting policy employed earlier in the season reaps dividends. Okay, it's meant we are off the pace but others could start to feel the strain and fall away while our lads are fresh and up for it, particularly as we're only battling on two fronts now.

[The Invisible Man]

Chelsea's remaining fixtures

 

Chelsea v Blackburn,

Charlton v Chelsea,

Chelsea v Middlesbrough,

Man City v Chelsea,

Portsmouth v Chelsea,

Chelsea v Sheff Utd,

Watford v Chelsea,

Chelsea v Tottenham,

West Ham v Chelsea,

Chelsea v Man Utd,

Newcastle v Chelsea,

Chelsea v Bolton

Arsenal v Chelsea

Chelsea v Everton

 

 

Our fixtures

 

West Ham v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Everton,

Newcastle v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Sheff Utd,

Liverpool v Man Utd,

Aston Villa v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Arsenal,

Reading v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Middlesbrough,

Man City v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Wigan,

Portsmouth v Liverpool,

Fulham v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Charlton,

 

United's fixtures

 

Arsenal v Man Utd,

Man Utd v Watford,

Tottenham v Man Utd,

Man Utd v Charlton,

Fulham v Man Utd,

Liverpool v Man Utd,

Man Utd v Bolton,

Man Utd v Blackburn,

Portsmouth v Man Utd,

Man Utd v Sheff Utd,

Chelsea v Man Utd,

Man Utd v Middlesbrough,

Everton v Man Utd,

Man City v Man Utd,

Man Utd v West Ham,

 

Plenty of games United and Chelsea could slip on whereas we have the easiest run in

[Guest Anders Honoré]

We can catch chelsea but ManU needs to have a terrible two weeks before the title is realistic.

[CarraLegend]

One game at a time and all that..........but............all we can do to start with is win our next 4 which looks pretty comfortable on paper (Although often thats never the case), see how Utd get on at Spurs and Arsenal and see what the position is for when they come to Anfield. Just dreaming probably but if we can win the next 4 and they lose tomorrow and draw or lose at Spurs that sets it up at Anfield where we could go 6 or 5 points behind.

 

They've got a hell of a lot of tough aways while ours look great and we all know how good we are at home, unlikely still really and it requires Chelsea continuing to f*** up but you never know. I hope we give it a massive go.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Think it's beyond us, unless there are some crazy results and us winning most of our games left. Mancs, Chavs & Ar$e still in FA Cup (latter 2 still in Carling Cup), as well as Europe like us. It's still mathematically possible, so haven't given up complete hope.

 

Finishing 2nd isn't, but that would mean Mancs winning the Premiership, which I simply couldn't stomach (don't want to go into whole argument about sacrificing 2nd spot for Manc not winning it).

 

 

let's just worry about our games. If they win it, they win it. No point in us giving up though.

 

Wouldn't it be nice to sing at them & the chelsea b******s next year "You lost the league on merseyside"

[RafaShanks]

 

Our fixtures

 

West Ham v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Everton,

Newcastle v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Sheff Utd,

Liverpool v Man Utd,

Aston Villa v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Arsenal,

Reading v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Middlesbrough,

Man City v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Wigan,

Portsmouth v Liverpool,

Fulham v Liverpool,

Liverpool v Charlton,

 

whereas we have the easiest run in

 

Don't think our run in is particulary easy at all. Some tricky away games in there, starting against West Ham. If we can come out of all those unscathed, we would have done well.

[_00_deathscar]

having witnessed that today, he's right to think that.

 

It would take an almighty effort, and a few results to go our way, but this will undoubtedly build some pressure if arsenal can win tomorrow too.

 

Well we've won our last two major trophies the f***ing hard way...so why not this one.

[Dublinred4ever]

Their goal difference is as good as an extra point as well unfortunately

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

Their s****, we'll t*** them, 4-0 and a Lucas Neill leg break.

 

That would suit me, especially if inflicted by Carra, karma and all that!

 

It's a shame we aren't playing the Newcastle game next, they are a shambles at the moment, we'd batter them especially without Given in goal.

[Tosh]

Arsenal losing 1-0.

 

Mancs 9 points clear? Us 14 points behind...No chance. They just keep grinding out the results..

 

 

Edit, Arsenal equalise!!!!

Edited January 21, 2007 by Tosh

[_00_deathscar]

ARSENAL WIN!

[meepins]

Arsenal losing 1-0.

 

Mancs 9 points clear? Us 14 points behind...No chance. They just keep grinding out the results..

Edit, Arsenal equalise!!!!

 

[badtodabone]

place and eleven off the top

14 games to go i think we'll get second but im still hopin for a dream to come true.

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

This weekend has certainly made things a little more interesting.