Liverpool Out Of Title Race, Already

as seen on Sports Pundit

Liverpool’s 2-0 EPL loss to Chelsea on Sunday was the Reds’ third for the season. Considering they lost just twice in the league last term yet could only finish 2nd, perhaps Liverpool’s title hopes are already gone.

And the fact remains no side has lost three of its opening eight league games and gone onto win the title since Manchester United some 42 years ago. It’s not a good omen for the Reds.

Indeed, the big question since the defeat has been just that, with everyday asking ‘can Liverpool still win the Premier League?’

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains optimistic though and told the press after the Chelsea loss, “It's important to keep calm, to keep working and improving.

"We came up against a good team who have been doing well, so we have to focus on the next game. But this year the top sides will lose points against the other teams.”

Benitez’s latter comment is based on the belief new challengers such as Manchester City, Tottenham and even Aston Villa will take points off the established top four.

The Spanish gaffer added, "We lost only two matches last season but people were always telling me about the number of draws (11) we had. Now we're winning more and losing a few more but maybe we'll have more points in the end.

“It's more difficult to convince the press (that we can still win the league) but I'll try to convince my players: one game at a time, it's the only way to improve. It's a long race. Chelsea are very strong but we'll try to stay as close as possible and see what happens in April and May."

And Sunday’s victorious Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti seems to think the Reds can, as he said after the 2-0 win, “I think it’s a long way to the end of the season and Liverpool has the quality to do a very good season.”

But despite all the talk, Liverpool’s performances this season have shown signs of a side incapable of lifting the Premier League trophy.

Benitez may talk about the three league defeats, but the Reds also recently lost 2-0 in Florence in the UEFA Champions League. The Fiorentina defeat was a woeful performance and indicative of a side incapable of rising to last season’s standards and there’s many reasons for that.

Xabi Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid is being felt, especially with his replacement Alberto Aquilani still not fit to play.

Lucas alongside Javier Mascherano in midfield, unfortunately has proved inadequate so far this season for the Reds. Indeed, it’s hardly got the makings of a premiership-winning central midfield.

Defensively there have been some worries too, with far too many goals conceded in victories at Reebok Stadium and Upton Park. Bolton’s direct play and West Ham’s pace in those matches wasn’t handled well by Jamie Carragher and his fellow defenders which is a concern.

And Fernando Torres continues to lack support up front. It’s extraordinary to think Liverpool signed Robbie Keane last season then sold him back to Tottenham, without replacing him.

Then again, Liverpool currently have scored the second most goals in the Premier League, but a truckload of those came at Anfield against sides who are going struggle on the road this campaign such as Hull City (6-1), Stoke City (4-0) and Burnley (4-0).

Against the big sides like Chelsea or Fiorentina (where they’ve drawn blanks) is where the Reds need to show their true firepower.

Indeed, Torres still remains the key man up front although Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun have provided impressive support, but Ryan Babel simply isn’t up to the standard required.

There was an argument in the European summer that the Reds needed a top-line striker such as Valencia’s David Villa to help them win the title. Too many draws last season could’ve been avoided with another avenue to goal, yet amazingly still that problem remains.

And Sunday’s loss at Stamford Bridge topped off Liverpool’s worries despite a brief resurgence of results in the league in the last month.

Now Liverpool trail leaders Chelsea by 6 points and while it’s still early days, the writing is on the wall for the Reds who seem to have been unable to build on last season’s positives.