Time to worry - or not?

While I am the first to admit that 1 player does not make a team, there is a Strong argument that Alonzo is missed, clearly based upon the first 3 games of this season, we have looked light on in midfield.

Is this man going to make the difference, the problem is we won't know for another 6-8 weeks. I hate to say this but it will be all over by then, certainly based upon last nights performance. Have to be honest, we looked pretty ordinary against a team, we should have beaten easily.

For a large amount of time last night, we ran around in circles, or kept passing the ball sideways as we appeared unsure on how to break down the Villa defence, which I have to add included a 5 man midfield, coupled with the fact that our ex goalkeeper pulled off some good saves.

I watch with baited breath to our next game - away to Bolton, clearly a team we should beat easily - however things are not quite the same anymore!

Fighting on

Whatever happens at least we're keeping up our end of the bargain and beating everyone that's put in front of us in the faint hope that Manchester United will lose two of their final four games and, provided we win our final three, we take the Premier League crown this season.

And that's not a line you will have heard said in realistic terms at any point over the last 19 years since we were last champions of all England. To be able to say it is in itself an achievement despite the ethos of this club dictating that if you are second you are nowhere.

To still mathematically have a chance with three games to go is a massive step under Rafa Benitez. And given the series of setbacks we've suffered this season with injuries to Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard as well as countless silly draws, that is progress.

I don't think we'll do it being brutally honest. With the form United are in it is incredibly hard to see them capitulating now given they have made a habit of doing the business when it really matters.

Still, their run in isn't easy. Rivals Arsenal and Man City at home, tough away games at always difficult Wigan (although who would be surprised if Steve Bruce, United to the core, let his side roll over and be beaten) and relegation battling Hull City on the last day.

It would be an achievement to take it to the last day and that is a realistic goal. Of course it is all dependent on us maintaining our winning run. Not an easy task when we face Europe chasing West Ham at Upton Park next weekend, never an easy place to go.

But despite the odds being stacked firmly against us we are playing well, scoring goals and winning and that is the form of title contenders, which we have been and still are, no doubt about it.

The fat lady hasn't started yet!

Long may she stay quite!

With Manure winning 2-0 overnight and moving 3 points clear of Liverpool and still with a game in hand, the odds on winning the League are moving more towards them and away from Anfield.

However I actually don't feel that bad about it, this season and I acknowledge that there are still 5 games to go has been a success.

A lot depends upon how you measure success, if it is measured in silverware that I agree it doesn't look that good. However if you measure in terms of improvement, then I believe it has been an outstanding success.

I am suggesting that we will finish second (unless my prayers are answered and Manure fail in the last few games) a great improvement and a big step forward. We beat Manure twice and in the process we gave them a real pasting at Old Trafford - that really must have hurt Old Fergie - beat Chelsea twice and broke their long standing home (without losing a game) record - drew twice with Arsenal. Featured in one of the best ever Champions League matches when we drew 4-4 at Chelsea, a game that most people except Liverpool fans thought we had no chance. Oh how close we came to pulling off what seemed the impossible and without our captain!

Lets not forget, we beat the great Real Madrid both home and away and they never scored against us in a overall 5-0 demolition of this very good side.

There are just too many positives for me to feel downhearted about this season. The problem is that Liverpool Football Club and its fans set and expect such a high level of achievement that even coming second in the best league in the world can appear to be a disappointment.

Well for me who has supported this great club for nearly 50 years -

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT!

A reminder of 20 years ago but hope remains

As some of you will recall, 20 years ago it was late drama at Anfield in a game between Liverpool and Arsenal that ended the Reds title hopes.

Back then it couldn't have been more dramatic. With the title destined for Kenny Dalglish's side yet again, Michael Thomas raced through the Reds backline and with the very last kick of the Football League season scored the goal that gave Arsenal the title instead. It was a dark moment in the history of Liverpool Football Club coming just a matter of weeks after the darkest of moments at Hillsborough.

Fast forward almost 20 years later and to last night where Andrei Arshavin raced through on goal in the 90th minute to score his fourth of the game and put Arsenal in front, looking to have ended all hopes of Liverpool winning the league they have won just once since that fateful night in late May 1989.

At the end, it was by no means as dramatic as that night. Furthermore Yossi Benayoun's 93 minute close range finish earned a point that put us back on top and could prove crucial as our captain sagely observed.

But if we're being honest it wasn't enough when we had said beforehand that six wins from the last six was a must. Assuming Manchester United win their two games in hand they go six points clear at the summit and with five games left there may not be enough time for us to claw it back and end the title famine.

But then who could have predicted two 4-4 draws in our last two games, or a 4-1 win at Old Trafford or any of the remarkable late comebacks or wins we have witnessed at Anfield and on the road throughout this season?

It's been an unpredictable campaign, full of ups and downs and late drama. Whose to say that with five games left that there can't be a bit more?

It's not over yet, not till it's mathematically impossible.

A powerful message has made a difference

On Wednesday at Anfield, the 96 people who died at Hillsborough 20 years ago were not just remembered and honoured, their long suffering families were given hope.

Last night and the next six

I haven't got too much to say about last night except everyone on that pitch did Liverpool Football Club and the memory of the 96 very proud indeed.

We could not have asked for more and it was only the cruel nature of Chelsea's first goal that swung the tie in their favour and gave them the confidence to finish off the tie even after a late scare.

We remain an excellent side and one capable of winning the Premier League title this season, we are certainly closer than at any point during the last 19 title-less years and that is an excellent achievement in itself given we have had to cope for a large portion of the season without our talisman, Fernando Torres.

We are reliant on others to help us out but more than a few people have said to me that if we win our final six games, and this is a big if then we will be champions. And to be champions this season would mean so much.

Six games to go, let's go!

Remembering the 96

I’ve supported Liverpool pretty much all my life and I have contemplated for a long while writing something about Hillsborough, never really being able to decide how or what to write about.....