If you are expecting this article to be objective forget about it. I consider myself a very passionate fan of Liverpool FC and writing about them objectively (especially when it comes to games that matter) is impossible. Throughout the Premier League season, I will be writing about Liverpool on occasions that are appropriate, this being the start of the season seems like such an occasion. Instead of previewing the entire season (of both the league and of Liverpool) I think it makes more sense to preview Liverpool’s opening game against Sunderland. If you want full season previews, there are blogs devoted to Liverpool and the EPL which will offer far more insight than I can.
Liverpool comes in to this season with a sense of renewed hope. I say renewed because the last two years have been nothing short of hell with awful defending, injuries, a terrible ownership situation, the worst big club manager ever (Hodgson), and allowing goals in the last 5 minutes at a rate that would make Arsenal blush. Last year a new ownership group (also owners of MLB’s Red Sox) took over and in just a few months in charge made things much, much better. They showed that they did their research when they brought over Luis Suarez from the Erdeviese, easily the best signing of last year. They fired Roy Hodgson whose eye-gouging brand of soccer and insistence on playing dead-weights Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen made him one of the least popular managers in Liverpool history. Of course, as the British media would have you believe, it was all Liverpool’s fault that Roy could not succeed, not his own incompetence and inability to manage a big club. Lastly, they hired a guy who truly bleeds Liverpool red and actually won some titles as a coach to be the new manager, Kenny Dalglish (the best player of all time for Liverpool). Those changes were made mid-season and Liverpool finally started playing well again, and had they not lost their last two (pretty meaningless) games, they would have finished with the best record vs. The top 6 sides of the table that year. This summer Liverpool has spent cash like never before, actually signing a lot of players while selling none (something that was impossible in the Benitez era). How the new signings will fit in remains to be seen, as do a few transfer sagas, but those are for another article and another time.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, on to the preview:
First of all, I hate Sunderland, I really do.
I hate their manager Steve Bruce (and his obvious racism to foreigners, best seen by how he spoke of Benitez vs. Any British manager), at one time rumours had him being the Liverpool coach, and I would seriously have considered not following the team any more.
I hate how recently, every time they play against Liverpool some sort of controversy must happen as
this video, and
this one will show you.
The fact that in the last two years Liverpool have not been able to get points off of them easily adds to the hate.
I do not know much about Sunderland (nor do I want to) but from the various previews I’ve seen experts have them anywhere from the top 8 to being relegated, basically, they have no clue either.
As for Liverpool they come into this game without captain Steven Gerrard who will be available after August.
This is a blow to them as Gerrard on form can win games by himself (sadly, these games are getting more and more rare as his age and injuries begin to pile up).
They also come in with a very scary Left-Back problem.
When Fabio Aurelio is fit (never) he is all class at the position, but in the last 4-5 years Liverpool have not really had anyone who could play there, guys were either too young or playing out of position as a result they have been routinely torched by opposing wingers.
The last time Liverpool had Fabio Aurelio play a lot of games they had an amazing season with this game being the cream of the crop.
Update: During the writing of this, Liverpool went ahead and signed Jose Enrique from Newcastle...so ah that left back situation now looks great!
Another thing Liverpool has now that they never had (slight exaggeration) is a true wing-player in Stewart Downing.
Having watched his performances in pre-season games I can safely say that I will really like him and what he brings to the side.
He should be an excellent compliment to Andy Carroll.
It remains to be seen how Dalglish will manage the team or even what the first 11 will be, but it is important for Liverpool to kick things off on a winning note, as this will be a very tight year in the EPL in my opinion.
I do not expect Liverpool to contend for the premier league crown, but a top 4-5 finish would be nice to see, and if they start the campaign off with a 5-0 trashing (wishful thinking by me, I really hate Sunderland) all the better.
My prediction for this game: There will be controversy.
