"Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league....."

We turn into the new year 3 points clear at the top of the table; isn't that what we all asked for last summer?

We wanted to be up there fighting for the title, to be in with a chance after Christmas and be amongst the title challengers, instead of falling away before December as we had done for the previous decade. Well here we are, and in a better position than many of us thought possible, and if we're being honest, without actually playing that well.

We've drawn 4 home games with Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull that really we'd be expecting to win. We lost at White Hart Lane after giving one of our best performances of the season and completely dominating the game; we should have been 4-0 up after an hour. That's football. But we also left it late and scraped wins from the games with Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Man City amongst others. At times it hasn't been pretty, but we're all where we wanted to be at the turn of the year, at the top of the pile and in there fighting for that title that's eluded us for the best part of two decades. Results always come before performances.

Another criticism of recent seasons has been our inability to beat the sides around us. Our record against the other "big 4" under Benitez was an embarrassment. Every season we'd finish bottom of that mini league, being turned over home and away by United, while hardly ever getting anything out of our trips to Chelsea and Arsenal. This season however, we've beaten United at home and Chelsea away, while drawing away at Arsenal in a game we really should have won. A lack of desire and ambition maybe cost us, or maybe an Arsenal side rallying around after the sending off made things even harder. Either way, our record in those games has improved massively, and is a huge factor in our current league position. Long may it continue.

The last two league games have also seen a step forward in performance with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bolton coming before a 5-1 win at Newcastle that could easily have been a cricket score. There is also the return of Fernando Torres to the side that can only strengthen the side and give us far more firepower for the remainder of the season. Things are looking bright, and with our trip to Stoke on Saturday coming 24 hours before United and Chelsea clash, we have a chance to open up clear daylight and put pressure on the chasing pack. This is the position we all wanted, lets make the most of it.

There is of course the Gerrard situation, and how that may impact the side on the run in. For me, unless he is found guilty and locked up for a few months, then it will have little or no effect at all. Steven Gerrard is a professional in every manner of the word. He is no Joey Barton is he? Maybe it was a case of wrong place at the wrong time, and these situations do happen to the best of us, but he's far too professional to let it affect his game.

None of us know what actually happened that night. Unless you were there and witnessed everything, then you don't know what happened. Rumour and second hand information can be damaging; mud sticks. So forget about mud throwing and let the courts decide who committed any crimes before passing judgement. Some of the headlines of a 5 year jail sentence are laughable, and obviously written by sensationalist hacks with no grasp on how the legal system functions. If he gets 5 years in jail then I'll buy a season ticket at Goodison or go into the Stretford End naked with a Liverbird tattooed on my right bum cheek. It's not going to happen.

The whole situation is out of character for a model professional, and fuelled by the media purely because of who he is, when non of whom know if he has done any wrong. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Roll on Stoke on Saturday, roll on the two derbies that follow in the space of 6 days, roll on the rest of the season, as with a fully fit Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres linking up once again, who knows where they might take us.

Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league!

Paul Jones

Comments

[Midfield General]

You have choked completely, and United are just warming up.

"Maybe it was a case of wrong place at the wrong time, and these situations do happen to the best of us" - WHAT A LINE!! Maybe the "best of" you scousers but I'm usually able to avoid beating people up quite easily. Unbelievable what nonsense you lot believe

[Peter Amazed]

With Gerrard's importance to Liverpool and the money both club and player have for legals I doubt there'll be enough evidence to prove Stevie was even in the country at the time.

[bob murphy]

Don't think it's fair to compare Stevie to lee Bowyer and joey Barton, he doesn't have the same history as that sort have shown on more than one occasion. the truth will come out in time in the court case. None of us would like to have our careers judged upon what occurs in our personal lives and he is at the top in his.Come on the red men...

[nickyboy]

BRILLIANT ARTICLE.
YNWA.

[manav]

Half way, well done. Now its time for the hard part: pressure, fixture congestion, testing of the squad across PL and CL. We shall see, seasons has just started.

[Jonathan Main]

All very admirable I'm sure. What makes Gerrard any different to Lee Bowyer? Remember all those years ago when he was pilloried by fans up and down the country BEFORE his case went to court? Seems you want one rule for Stevie G, one for Bowyer, Barton etc, well I'm sorry but it doesn't work that way!

[Marc Melander]

Good article - missing only a reference to our player of the season, Xabi Alonso. The best passer of the ball at Liverpool FC with ease. All those who are lauding Benitez should remember that he did his best to offload Xabi as part of the ridiculous plan to sign Barry. I hope that Keane's hospital pass to Alonso has not resulted in a metatarsal break. If it has then kiss the League goodbye.

When will Liverpool fans realise that being top of the league only counts after the last game of the season ? ABL fan !

[JVS]

The fans will leave him alone if only the press would .... the round of articles campaigning for him and proclaiming him innocent has been a disgrace to the notion of independant reportage ( in particular, Henry Winter, bow your head in shame) and the only intelligent piece to date was from the pen of Rod Liddle. Let's allow the courts to decide shall we ????

[Wei Wong]

It's been too long since LFC has won the domestic trophy. I am just thrilled to see them top of the table going into 09. Gerrard's off-pitch problem is just a minor distraction on his personal time. If you watched the FA 3rd round against Preston, Stevie was all professional. That said going forward, the return of Torres and others, LFC will, in my opinion will continue to win matches and will be hard to overtake in the league. This fan here has a strong beleif that the wait is over. I have one last comment, "We're gonna knock Man U off their F'n perch".

[Øravík]

Well written and true in every sense.
And Stevie G. 5 years in prison? Not even Saudi Arabia under their Sharia would come to that conclusion...

[FOD81]

its a 5 year max under sentencing guidelines. 1st offender for a minor assault, even if he's guilty he'd never be put in prison. 100 hours community i reckon, teaching kids football like cantona

[Fire Marli]

Thank you for that at least some bloggers have the sense to say innocent until proven guilty. Despite the media trying to make headlines.

[David]

'these situations do happen to the best of us'

Funnily enough I have never been arrested on suspicion of anything. Maybe it is a common occurence on Merseyside but don't tar us all with that brush!

[Rob]

Our squad is rather too thin, we play too narrowly, we lack variety, we have no money and have to sell half the squad to buy anyone, one of our two senior centre forwards has hardly played, the other has hardly scored...

And yet, and yet, we're on top of the league. And even if we don't stay there, I'll be delighted at the way things have gone this season. The financial situation will improve, we will be able to add depth to the squad, we will be able to add variety and width to our play, we will be better able to cover for injured/underperforming strikers. Things will get better, Rafa has shown us this much.

And if, with all our limitations, we can be top at the turn of the year, well, there's rather a lot to look forward to. Maybe this year, maybe next, or the year after that. But we keep getting better all the time - and how many other 'big' clubs have been able to say that of late?

[Kz]

Regardless of what happen outside the field, let's enjoy every moment the team has achieved. It will be better and better from now.

[franco]

Fair summary of the season so far. Undoubtedly our best chance in last 10 years with rivals not exactly in top shape themselves. We will need luck at times and Steven & Pepe must remain fit. Ferguson has a point about nerves playing a part but the fact that he is making such comments shows where he thinks the threat is likely to come from. The old maxim applies about taking each game as it comes but with a fair wind who knows?

[tony]

totally agree ref gerrard let the court decide but we will support our captain marvel stevie g,torres,alonso we have a chance to be champions i just hope we grab this chance with both hands starting at stoke on sat keep ya chin up stevie g