Could this finally be Liverpool year’s for league title glory?

Brendan Rodgers Liverpool team now look like realistic contenders for the Premier League

Liverpool’s comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday took the Reds within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in-hand.

The victory proved that Brendan Rodgers team are very much in the title race.

Open

Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday has opened up the race for the Premier League title.

The Blues rivals Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool themselves all claimed weekend victories to put the pressure on Jose Mourinho’s men.

Contenders

Liverpool have gone about their business in a very consistent way in recent months, with boss Brendan Rodgers playing down their claims of winning the Premier League title. However, after that defeat of United on home soil it is difficult to deny that the Reds have a real chance of glory this season.

Liverpool’s two-goal hero at Old Trafford Steven Gerrard has now revealed that he believes the Reds have a very real chance of winning the title this season. Here is an extract from an interview given to Sky Sports after the game United victory: “ I think we’ve shown today that we’re genuine contenders and we’re going to fight to the end for this.”

The defeat of Manchester United could yet prove to be a defining moment in the season for Liverpool. The Reds have been in good form, but I believe there was still doubts about their chances of winning the league this season.

However, going to their bitter-rivals and reigning champions and performing so well seems to have given everybody great belief that this could be the Reds year to finally win the league again. The Merseysiders now have great momentum going into the last nine games of the season.

Influential

I ask the question in my article a few days ago if Liverpool’s strike-force of Luis Saurez and Daniel Sturridge could rub salt into Manchester United’s wounds? Both players had parts to play in the victory.

Suarez won the first penalty and scored the third goal, while Sturridge set-up his strike partner for that third goal. Sturridge also won the penalty that Gerrard struck against the post. It is strange to say, but I think had the pair been slightly more clinical the scoreline could have been even bigger than it was.

The Reds strike-force will have to keep up their good form if Liverpool are going to win the Premier League this season. There are no signs that the pair are likely to let-up any time soon though.

Entertaining

In these days of cautious football and teams setting out not to lose, it is good to see a team that goes out to score goals and attack teams.

Liverpool are the top scorers in the Premier League this season with 76 goals, five more than nearest rivals Manchester City, whose attacking style of play was being lauded in the early part of the season.

Many of those goals are down to Suarez and Sturridge’s partnership, but credit also has to go to Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers for the way he sets his team up and his tactical nous. He likes his teams to play passing football, but it is very effective attacking football as well.

He proved at Swansea, with poorer players that he could put together a team that was effective and attractive on the eye, and now he has set about proving that on a larger scale at Liverpool. The former-Swansea boss deserves immense credit for his teams performances this season.

Long wait

Liverpool have not claimed the league title since 1990, that is an awful long wait for fans of a club that has won the top division title on 18 occasions. Only Manchester United have won more top-flight titles than Liverpool, so 24 years is too long in the eyes of most Reds’ fans.

At the start of the season I do not think there were many Liverpool fans who dared to dream that they would win the title, but that is now a major possibility this season.

Advantage

Liverpool are now third favourites to claim the Premier League title at odds of 10/3. In many ways they have an advantage over Chelsea and Manchester City, as both Blues still have to travel to Anfield before the end of the season.

Chelsea also host London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in the early kick-off next Saturday. If Liverpool were not realistic contenders to win the Premier League title before Sunday’s game they are now, and on current form they could very well end their long wait for a league title.

Could this final be Liverpool year’s for league title glory?