Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United are battling it out for fourth, but Liverpool may just pip them to the post come May.
1) The confidence factor.
After winning the Carling Cup, the whole club will be on a high. Arsenal fell apart after their final defeat last season, Liverpool can use the momentum to a positive effect. Players who have struggled to live up to their price tag may now find themselves invigorated. With an FA Cup quarter final around the corner too, the club can go out all guns blazing until the end of the season, knowing Europa League football is already secured as a minimum.
2) Key players are fresh
One bugbear of Liverpool fans is that they have barely seen star men Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard in action together. They will hope both remain fit until the end of the season. The eight game ban the Uruguayan was served with will at least spare him from fatigue at the season’s end, while the club captain will also feel like he is raring to go. Suarez and Carroll now have an opportunity to strike up a partnership, and there have been tentative signs of encouragement so far. If Liverpool are to be in with a chance of fourth the pair will need to flourish.
3) Games in hand
Thanks to the Carling Cup, and their FA Cup quarter final, Liverpool will end up with games in hand on their rivals. This will enable them to see exactly what they need to do in their remaining matches. It will also mean they will continue to be seen as the dark horses in the race for fourth, with the spotlight on their rivals, they can keep their charge low key and sneak in at the last moment. By staying low-key it will keep the pressure off their games and help the team’s performances.
4) Rivals problems
While Liverpool are coming off their first trophy win in six years, rivals Arsenal are facing up to a seventh without a trophy. Despite a thrilling win over Spurs, the Gunners remain at a low ebb, and Chelsea face their lowest placing in almost 10 years. So while their rivals are filled with self-doubt, Liverpool now have the confidence and belief which they do not, and this can only be an advantage.
5) Good fixtures
Liverpool can argue that their fate lies firmly in their own hands. They have home ties against both rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, who they both beat away, and travel to Newcastle. They have played both Manchester clubs twice and have home games against struggling Villa and Wigan. Their toughest away games on paper apart from Newcastle is Sunderland, and Norwich on the final day, a fixture where they could have all to play for.
Our verdict is Liverpool can do it, but they need to lay down a marker by beating Arsenal in their next game.
– What do you think, can Liverpool finish fourth?
image: © neate photos
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