Liverpool will only play three games during the month of November, but all three are against elite opposition and could be a direct indicator of the team’s ability to challenge for honors.
The arrival of Kenny Dalglish has without doubt caused an upturn in fortunes for the Anfield club, and the Reds are currently riding an eight game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Defensively the Reds have been solid letting in only 10 Premier League goals (the same as league leading Manchester City), and right back Jose Enrique is beginning to be tipped for a call-up from world champions Spain.
At the other end of the field, Uruguay international striker Luis Suarez recently made the shortlist for the Ballon D’or World Footballer of the Year Award.
When you look at the above evidence you would assume all is well among the Liverpool support, but sadly that is not the case.
Optimism was sparked when the Reds dominated possession against Manchester United and gained a point, but since then two draws against newly promoted Norwich City and Swansea City have dampened expectations.
The Reds dominated possession in the Norwich and Swansea games but showed worrying signs of being unable to convert that into goals. The common concern is that such a lack of cutting edge will cost them against the elite clubs in England, and that theory will be tested during the month of November.
After the international break Liverpool will travel to face fourth placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, before playing host to league leading Manchester City on November 27th.
If Liverpool gain positive results form these two games it will be seen as concrete evidence that they can challenge for the top four spots. If Liverpool are beaten twice, they will likely be replaced in the top six by Arsenal and be on the outside looking in with regards to European qualification.
While winning the league is a long shot for Liverpool this season, returning European football to Anfield is a stated goal of the new ownership regime at the club.
Winning a domestic trophy is another route to European football, and it would also be a boost to the Anfield fan base if the club won its first silverware since the 2006 FA Cup.
To that end, Liverpool will travel to Chelsea again at the end of November in a Carling Cup quarter-final, and victory there would have them two games away from glory.
Liverpool could be boosted during this crucial run of games by the return of inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard scored on his return from injury for the Reds in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United, but has since suffered an ankle infection and will miss England’s two games over the international break.
Reds boss Dalglish has assured fans that Gerrard has not suffered a recurrence of the same injury that caused him to miss six months earlier in the year. He was in our minds for the (Swansea) game, it just flared up. It’s nothing to do with any injuries before, it’s an infection.”
If Gerrard returns, it will be a huge boost for the Reds for three crucial fixtures, and it could mean the Anfield support is in very high spirits when they hang up their advent calendars at the start of December.
Defensively the Reds have been solid letting in only 10 Premier League goals (the same as league leading Manchester City), and right back Jose Enrique is beginning to be tipped for a call-up from world champions Spain.
At the other end of the field, Uruguay international striker Luis Suarez recently made the shortlist for the Ballon D’or World Footballer of the Year Award.
When you look at the above evidence you would assume all is well among the Liverpool support, but sadly that is not the case.
Optimism was sparked when the Reds dominated possession against Manchester United and gained a point, but since then two draws against newly promoted Norwich City and Swansea City have dampened expectations.
The Reds dominated possession in the Norwich and Swansea games but showed worrying signs of being unable to convert that into goals. The common concern is that such a lack of cutting edge will cost them against the elite clubs in England, and that theory will be tested during the month of November.
After the international break Liverpool will travel to face fourth placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, before playing host to league leading Manchester City on November 27th.
If Liverpool gain positive results form these two games it will be seen as concrete evidence that they can challenge for the top four spots. If Liverpool are beaten twice, they will likely be replaced in the top six by Arsenal and be on the outside looking in with regards to European qualification.
While winning the league is a long shot for Liverpool this season, returning European football to Anfield is a stated goal of the new ownership regime at the club.
Winning a domestic trophy is another route to European football, and it would also be a boost to the Anfield fan base if the club won its first silverware since the 2006 FA Cup.
To that end, Liverpool will travel to Chelsea again at the end of November in a Carling Cup quarter-final, and victory there would have them two games away from glory.
Liverpool could be boosted during this crucial run of games by the return of inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard scored on his return from injury for the Reds in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United, but has since suffered an ankle infection and will miss England’s two games over the international break.
Reds boss Dalglish has assured fans that Gerrard has not suffered a recurrence of the same injury that caused him to miss six months earlier in the year. He was in our minds for the (Swansea) game, it just flared up. It’s nothing to do with any injuries before, it’s an infection.”
If Gerrard returns, it will be a huge boost for the Reds for three crucial fixtures, and it could mean the Anfield support is in very high spirits when they hang up their advent calendars at the start of December.
