The next couple of weeks are going to be very important for Liverpool with two games away to Chelsea, one in the League and one in the Carling Cup, and a home match against Manchester City sandwiched in between. Liverpool need to keep picking up points to continue in their quest for a top four place, and the cup tie will also be very important for the club as Liverpool are desperate for silverware after a barren spell.
The cup tie away to Chelsea comes less than 48 hours after the Manchester City match and Dalglish has expressed his anger at the date of the fixture and has threatened to play a second string team against Chelsea. I just wonder if the fixture would have been changed if it was Manchester United that was in our position, I’m sure the authorities would have bent over for Fergie.
I just have a feeling that these three matches will shape our season, if we can come away with decent results in these matches then I think we will kick on and have a really good season. City and Chelsea are two of the strongest sides in the league so it is going to be a great test for us, and it will let us see how we measure up.
In my view Liverpool have nothing to fear in these matches as we have a real attacking threat now and we are also looking solid at the back now. Chelsea look good going forward but they do look dodgy defensively and are losing quite a few goals.
City are flying right now, but I think the players and supporters will be really up for it at Anfield and I can see us beating them on our own patch. Our squad is looking healthy and Carragher and Gerrard should be back for these matches too, which will be a real boost.
I would love to see us getting to a cup semi-final but I think Kenny will have to play his best team to win the cup tie with Chelsea, and it doesn’t look like he is going to do that, which is a shame, although we have a good squad and some great youngsters that may surprise Chelsea.
I can’t wait for these games and this international break has just been so frustrating as we have had to wait two weeks between matches. Hopefully everyone reports back fully fit after these matches as Kenny will need options over the coming weeks.
So exciting times for Liverpool supporters and I have confidence that we will do well in these games setting us up for the remainder of the season and giving other teams something to think about.
Written by Jamie McLaughlin, who writes for Anfield News
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