Premier League - Why Liverpool won't win the title

Eurosport - Tue, 28 Oct 17:05:00 2008

Liverpool top the table after nine games following their triumph at Chelsea - but how does their start compare to previous seasons under Rafael Benitez?

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez with captain Steven Gerrard - 0

The Reds are top of the tree with 23 points, having won seven and drawn two without defeat - three points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea and Hull.

2007/08: Merseyside title hopefuls beware: they were also unbeaten at this stage last season, having won five and drawn four of their nine opening fixtures.

That put them on 19 points, six adrift of table toppers Arsenal, who looked for the first half of the campaign as though they were going to run away with it. However, the Gunners faded and ended four points behind champions Manchester United.

The 'Pool, meanwhile, finished fourth, a further seven points behind Arsenal.

Liverpool's goals for and against column is worse this season: the record of 14 scored and six conceded compares unfavourably with the 16 scored and five conceded in 2007-08. However of those 16 strikes six came in one unanswered match at home to last year's laughing stock Derby.

2006/07: Two seasons ago things were looking bleak for Benitez. His side had picked up only 11 points - won three, drawn two, lost four - and conceded 11 goals while scoring only nine.

Man Utd were at the summit after nine matches with 22 points and went on to finally win Alex Ferguson's ninth title after watching Arsenal then Chelsea dominate in the previous three seasons.

Liverpool garnered eight points fewer than in the following season - but finished higher in third, a massive 21 points off the champions.

2005/06: With the Champions League trophy safely stashed at Anfield in August 2005, optimism was rife on Merseyside that the Spaniard could finally deliver the league championship; how wrong those excited Scousers were.

Nine games in they were no longer under any illusion of the task facing Steven Gerrard et al if they are to clinch the title. As Jose Mourinho's Chelsea won each and every one of their opening nine fixtures before roaring on to retain their crown, Liverpool whimpered their way to 13 points with three wins and four draws - scoring only seven and conceding eight.

Benitez saw the futility in playing for a point with Chelsea so clinical, especially at Stamford Bridge - they did not lose a league game at home for another three years, until Sunday's defeat - and only three further games were drawn in that campaign as he ultimately led them to a huge total of 82 points.

Enough to win the league in many other seasons throughout history, on this occasion they were only good enough for third. Chelsea topped the final table with an incredible 91 points.

2004/05: Benitez fared better at the start of his first domestic campaign, taking 16 points with five wins, three defeats and only one draw, scoring 16 and letting in only half that at the other end.

Arsenal were leading the table at that point - their 25 points indicated a team focused on defending their title after the 'Invincibles' season.

But as he romped to a surprise win in Europe, the former Valencia boss could not get to grips with the requirements of a full English season - and Liverpool finished behind Everton in fifth with only 58 points while Chelsea gathered an improbable 95 under Mourinho.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

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  1. Symcox has his head between his legs.. A skewed­ analysis based on a shallow understanding of current­ events.

    Liverpool have won the matches not playing the­ best football, and not having Torres in 3 of the 9­ matches.

    Championship winning teams have always rode­ their luck when the going gets tough for them. No­ difference here.

    The 3 points is all that matters. How­ many 'lucky' wins did Chelsea got when they won­ the league with 95 and 91 points respectively?

    I­ don't know and I don't care.

    Nobody cares.­

    The fact is that they won it fair and square.

    From thanapa t, on Thu 30 Oct 3:28AM

  2. Every year is not the same...anyway we are winning­ without playing our best football and 3 points matters.

    From Kunal s, on Wed 29 Oct 1:00PM

  3. Scousers will claim this is finally their year, and it­ could be, if their incredible streak of luck­ continues.

    But empirical evidence suggest their luck­ will soon run out. If luck does really even itself out­ over a season, then pool and their long-suffering fans­ are in for a heart-breaking 2nd half of the season­ (assuming their luck will continue for a bit­ longer).

    Lets quickly examine their performances v­ points so far. Against Sunderland they were awful and­ barley deserved a point, but somehow got 3!

    Against­ Boro they deserved zilch, but scored with a deflected­ collector's item from Carragher, and another one­ soon followed and got 3 points again!

    Against United,­ although clearly the better team, they still needed an­ own goal and a gift to win, they might never have­ scored otherwise.

    Against Villa they created the sum­ total of 0 chances and the same number of shots on­ target, but somehow got a point!

    Against Everton they­ were dull & clueless, but were gifted 2 goals in as­ many minutes and then Cahill gets sent off dubiously to­ guarantee another 3 points.

    Against City they're­ completely outplayed, and looking certain to lose,­ until City go down to 10 men, and it still requires­ Robinho to miss a sitter for them to get another hugely­ fortunate 3 points. Last week, the mighty Wigan outplay­ them in their own back yard, and low & behold­ another dubious sending off rescues Liverpool once­ again! And finally yesterday, a deflected goal, another­ 3 points!

    Now you gotta be totally blind not to admit­ pool are having not just more than their fair share of­ luck, but the kind of streak that happens once in a­ lifetime.

    The question now is will it last long enough­ for them to win the title? Can they actually win a game­ without lady luck's help?

    All shall be revealed in­ the next 7 months!

    From utamudar, on Wed 29 Oct 9:27AM

  4. Scousers will claim this is finally their year, and it­ could be, if their incredible streak of luck­ continues.

    But empirical evidence suggest their luck­ will soon run out. If luck does really even itself out­ over a season, then pool and their long-suffering fans­ are in for a heart-breaking 2nd half of the season­ (assuming their luck will continue for a bit­ longer).

    Lets quickly examine their performances v­ points so far. Against Sunderland they were awful and­ barley deserved a point, but somehow got 3!

    Against­ Boro they deserved zilch, but scored with a deflected­ collector's item from Carragher, and another one­ soon followed and got 3 points again!

    Against United,­ although clearly the better team, they still needed an­ own goal and a gift to win, they might never have­ scored otherwise.

    Against Villa they created the sum­ total of 0 chances and the same number of shots on­ target, but somehow got a point!

    Against Everton they­ were dull & clueless, but were gifted 2 goals in as­ many minutes and then Cahill gets sent off dubiously to­ guarantee another 3 points.

    Against City they're­ completely outplayed, and looking certain to lose,­ until City go down to 10 men, and it still requires­ Robinho to miss a sitter for them to get another hugely­ fortunate 3 points. Last week, the mighty Wigan outplay­ them in their own back yard, and low & behold­ another dubious sending off rescues Liverpool once­ again! And finally yesterday, a deflected goal, another­ 3 points!

    Now you gotta be totally blind not to admit­ pool are having not just more than their fair share of­ luck, but the kind of streak that happens once in a­ lifetime.

    The question now is will it last long enough­ for them to win the title? Can they actually win a game­ without lady luck's help?

    All shall be revealed in­ the next 7 months!

    From utamudar, on Wed 29 Oct 9:05AM

  5. Dont You Have ANY Idea About LIVERPOOL

    WE'RE­ WINNING IT THIS YEAR!!
    AND NO PERSON IS STOPPING­ US

    LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL

    LETS GO FUC"IN MENTAL­ LETS GO @#$%*IN MENTAL, LAH LAH LAH LAH !! Hahaha

    From , on Wed 29 Oct 4:02AM

  6. I hope Liverpool can learns from this reports,and­ proves to this writer that he is wrong about Liverpool­ this seasons...............Liverpool can do it this­ season......."You w'll never walk­ alone"......

    From ahsun236, on Wed 29 Oct 12:29AM

  7. The difference this time is they are not being rotated­ as much. The team is beginning to settle and has much­ better balance with Riera. The time to talk about­ winning titles is Easter.

    From Dan, on Wed 29 Oct 12:26AM

  8. wake up @#$%,at the moment Liverpool are the best taem­ in England,the only people that know if that will­ change are fortune tellers and soothsayers,however they­ have shown that they have the potential to win it­ unlike Man U and Chelsea(Arsenal and Hull look to be­ their only dangers with Arsenal being the most­ realistic).MANC @#$%!!

    From Prague H, on Wed 29 Oct 12:14AM

  9. We onl started well one season! And were still 6 points­ behind Arsenal at this stage

    From Redbrendy, on Tue 28 Oct 11:07PM

  10. It isn't utterly useless at all! it quite rightly­ points out that in previous seasons under benitez, you­ were in very strong positions and failed miserably. You­ can't get away from the facts. If he gave his­ opinion on the matter it would become a debte and then­ render useless.

    I think that this article points out­ what all liverpool fans don't want to hear.

    From Dave, on Tue 28 Oct 10:13PM

  11. why do they always put liverpool down, liverpool are at­ the top so get over it we have every right to win the­ premier like any one else.

    From Tracey o, on Tue 28 Oct 10:11PM

  12. What an utterly useless article!

    All you've done­ is offer evidence that since Benitez has taken over­ we've done progressively better in the premiership!­ This article might hold weight if it had shown that we­ hadn't improved...

    Maybe you should've just­ been honest and admitted that your gut's telling­ you that Liverpool won't win it because we've­ flattered to deceive in the past. At least then your­ writing might've been respected as opposed to­ rubbished by countless people for it's lack of­ depth!

    From Redbrendy, on Tue 28 Oct 9:54PM

  13. even though i dont suport liverpool i still think that­ they got a advantage over chelsea.I will laugh if man u­ and arsenal dont make it to the champions leguea.

    From qekrezi, on Tue 28 Oct 9:42PM

  14. Hmmm, useless article, written by useless person,­ allegedly working on a useless channel. All us reds­ know that there is still a long way to go, but there is­ more belief that we could go on an win the league in us­ now. And remember, we're only just beginning to­ play our football, once the team gel properly, we could­ be on for at least a couple of trophies this season.­ But lets have the Prem please lads. From Reyno

    From Paul, on Tue 28 Oct 9:38PM

  15. who ever wrote this has no idea of what's happening­ behind the scenes at anfield.

    The players are more­ mature and the team is more balanced with the­ introdution of Albert Riera, Robbie Keane was a Spurs­ Captian and a current R-Of Ireland captian...his­ experience and leadership is helping the other players.­ Sammy Lees appointment is crucial as he knows the­ Premiership & English football. Rafa rested many­ players last season for important league games because­ of our poor start to the champions league...is he­ resting players now??? No There's a togetherness in­ this squad of players they believe in eachother now­ theres a hinger which i havent seen in a reds shirt­ since 1990

    It took ferguson 7 years to win his 1st­ league title for manure! Liverpool are to me firm­ favourites

    I don't see them losing a game for a­ long long time

    From waleed, on Tue 28 Oct 9:34PM

  16. I must be sincere with everyone here.liverpool is a­ team that have got quality players in his team but it­ becomes a matter of speculation and wonderment fo their­ inability to win the league. I must confess his is a­ good start but I don't think they can hold on to­ the challenge because thay are inconsistent at there­ away games moreso looking at the game they played­ against wigan, just imagine such against more defensive­ and well organised team they might not be able to do­ the come back they did and remember it was possible­ because they were one man down I mean wigan.when it get­ to the second stage of the league liverpoo do perform­ below exceptations that is jus the truth about them and­ about the article.until then keep on supporting sport­ and stay away from crime.

    From yemi, on Tue 28 Oct 9:21PM

  17. how is that idiot that wrote that article in column­ 363. from glenn fan from the 70s to present day.

    From Glenn, on Tue 28 Oct 9:15PM

  18. Even if Liverpool get past xmas in 1st place I fel they­ will suffer a Newcastle and implode. They have no­ experience of sustained pressure like United/Chelsea. A­ one off game they can handle (Champs League Final) but­ put them in a situation where the pressure lasts for­ weeks and numerous games....is unproven and they will­ fail. Better luck in a few years Scousers!

    From RAY, on Tue 28 Oct 9:10PM

  19. Even though i dont support Liverpool, i think that you­ have some sort of envy over them topping the table,­ perhaps a chelsea supporter. I think it is a bit­ pathetic that you took all the time to post this­ too!
    Its only football. :)

    From Jamie, on Tue 28 Oct 9:09PM

  20. I assume Jonathan Symcox is also expecting house prices­ to rise in 2009.
    After all, that's what they did­ in the last few years.

    From Ed, on Tue 28 Oct 9:07PM
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