STRAIGHT TALK
Steve McMahon
After their league defeat to Tottenham, Liverpool have shown great resilience to get back to winning ways.
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| IN CONTROL: Rafael Benitez. |
While the Liverpool sides of old would have gone on to lose more games after tasting defeat for the first time, there seems to be a new-found confidence in this current side, something that bodes well for the Liverpool sides of the future.
They were very good against Bolton and, before that, they also played well against Tottenham in that first league defeat.
Right now Chelsea may have a superior goal difference, but if you had offered Liverpool fans their team's current lofty position at the start of the season, they would have bitten your hand off.
Just take a look at the misfortunes of Arsenal who are already nine points behind Chelsea and Liverpool.
You simply cannot predict what Arsenal will produce in their next game - they have a habit of letting people down when you expect them to go on and win a game.
There is a lack of consistency that used to be a hallmark of Liverpool. Whereas for Liverpool, they have been showing consistency from the very start of the season.
Rafael Benitez must have been thinking about that when he decided to drop Fernando Torres and warned him that he would have to fight for his first-team place. In Torres' absence, Liverpool have been winning games, and kept their position at the top of the heap.
To be honest, it's all mind games really. Benitez has to do what he has to do, and make sure Torres doesn't take his place for granted. Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Keane have stepped up to the plate in the Spaniard's absence.
But I have always believed that you should play your best team. Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe, if not, the world. So how can Benitez leave him out, especially when he seems to be taking the task of winning the EPL so seriously this time?
Liverpool might, just might, look to buy players when the transfer window re-opens in January.
As I have mentioned before in this column, the Reds need cover in the wide areas and maybe another defender. Then again, I would be quite happy if Liverpool didn't open the cheque book. Why?
Well firstly, the 'F' word that is so prevalent at the moment. The worldwide financial turmoil is making football clubs think twice before splashing the cash on new players. They just can't afford to spend money willy-nilly anymore.
Secondly, I think Liverpool already have a good enough squad to be title contenders.
True, there is still a long way to go, but if Liverpool are to stay in contention until next May, they will have to show enough consistency, get a little bit of luck, and play their best team week in, week out. And finally, they have to believe in themselves.
Former Liverpool midfielder and England international Steve McMahon is a pundit on ESPN
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