Can we get into the top 4 this season?

[Steve]

Following on from an astonishing season in 2013/2014, ambitious Red’s worldwide were dreaming of what could be in 14/15. It was to turn out to be a rather disappointing season all round though as the club couldn’t cope with the lose of Luis Suarez and injuries to Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool scored 101 league goals in 13/14, compared with the 52 put away in 14/15. A goal talley made even worse by conceding 48 goals, more than any of the top 4 and even more than West Ham (47). Losing those 2 played a huge part in Liverpool’s struggles throughout last season, failing to put away chances and losing ground quickly in the title race and also the race for Champions League football for the upcoming season.

With the club once again heavily involved in the transfer market this summer, will those purchases bring the team up the table and back into the top 4? Will they have enough to break the monopoly of the Manchester and London clubs to get back into the elite of Europe’s best?

Despite a 21 goal difference worse off than Manchester United, Liverpool were only 8 points off of finishing in the top 4 last season. Hammerings by Crystal Palace and Stoke City in the last 2 games left the Reds 6 points worse off, plus that small matter of another 9 goals conceded in them 2 games. It could’ve all been so different going into the new season. As it is though, Red’s fans will have to wait at least until 2016 to see Liverpool back in the Champions League.

In truth, the failings of last season had many reasons. One of those being that the club only took 5 points in games against that seasons top 4, out of a possible 24 that’s just not good enough. Compared with the 12 taken against those same 4 in 13/14, it says a lot about getting the results needed against the big boys.

This season we need to get the results against the big teams that are essential to finish in the top 4. The first half performance against Arsenal was brilliant, the best football we've played this season. Followed by a backs to the wall 45 then that result against West Ham. Hopefully we'll see a 90 minute performance that reflects that first 45 at the Emirates against man united, as opposed to the latter.