It’s been onwards and upwards for Liverpool in the last few weeks. Hicks and Gillett have been ousted and the team have climbed out of the relegation zone, but John Baines believes the acid test of where Liverpool stand at the moment comes with the visit of the champions.
The reverse fixture last term was indicative of the Reds season as a whole. Wilting outside the Champions League places, they were torn between not losing their final home game of the campaign, and giving a helping hand to arch rivals Manchester United in their quest for a 19th league title. The solemn trudge around a sparsely populated Anfield following the final whistle was as big an anti-climax as Liverpool’s futile assault to finally end their own title drought.
Any aspirations that that was as bad as it would get were quickly shattered in the opening few weeks of the new term, and before Sunday’s clash with Chelsea, Liverpool look enviously up twelve places and thirteen points above the side they finished ahead of the season before last. As much as Chelsea have flourished under Carlo Ancelotti’s stewardship, Liverpool’s demise has been brutal, and somewhat self inflicted.
The shame of occupying the relegation spots have rescinded in the last fortnight and there have been glimpses of a resurgence in the hard fought back to back league wins over Blackburn and Bolton, and the Europa League comeback against Napoli. However, those victories have been achieved with more perspiration than inspiration, with a sterner examination coming up against the Londoners.
Although recent victories have eased the noose around Roy Hodgson’s neck, there is a sense the Kop is still less than enamoured with the former Fulham boss and they style of football he has put on offer so far. His hand has been weakened by the form and fitness of Fernando Torres, but in fairness to El Niño - just as much as his own lethargy – the paucity of service in his direction has meant he has too often found himself ploughing a lone, fruitless furrow up front.In addition to Torres’ woes, former Blue Joe Cole has been struck by a bout of new boy-itis, and has looked well short of his best. With a dearth of attacking options, it doesn’t help when two of your main attacking aces have rarely been the trump cards.
It is noticeable the oft used ‘big four’ term has been ditched for the past twelve months – a testament to Tottenham and Manchester City’s growth – but also to Liverpool’s recession. The proximity of the middle and upper echelons of the table show Liverpool to be just five points off fourth place, yet nothing about them so far resonates that they belong in that quadrant. Chelsea will now provide a good barometer of where Liverpool stand.
Performances of late have been of grit rather than guile, yet Ancelotti’s men will not be flustered by sweat and toil. Liverpool need to combine vigour with verve if they are to unsettle and ultimately undo Chelsea’s swagger. Plenty of sides can hustle - as Blackburn showed last week by chasing Chelsea down – but it is the clinical cutting edge and quality on the ball that ultimately cost Rovers dear. It is a facet which has been missing from Liverpool this season, and one which earmarks the have’s from the have not’s.
Come Sunday evening, we will see exactly what Liverpool have.
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