December 25th – a date that stands out in the calendar and a time of year that sees friends and families celebrate the Christmas holidays. In a footballers diary, it’s business as normal. Training, match preparation and tactical discussions. For Liverpool, it’s a vital period – two games in three days that will potentially define the season.
Talk to any Liverpool fan and most will be content with the way the season has progressed. Currently sat 2nd in the table, with a strike force that has scored eighteen goals in only twelve games, the Reds are nine points better off than at this time last season and are only three points worse off than what eventual champions Manchester United had at this stage.
The December period is always crucial. The bigger picture, eleven games in the months of December and January says it all – nearly 30% of the season is played in those two months. Throw in a transfer window – and the inevitable will he/won’t he conundrum regarding a Uruguayan striker – and it shows what a tough task is ahead. The first sign of discontent, the first moan at a team mate, the first poor challenge on an opponent and you can see the headlines already regarding Luis Suarez.
The crucial period is one that has already been highlighted in every Reds diary. Man City away on Boxing Day and Chelsea away three days later. The game against Man City, who have been absolutely lethal at home this season, will be Liverpool’s toughest test of the season, partly due to City’s form, but also the timing of the fixture, as you can imagine preparation won’t be ideal going into the game due to the Christmas period and the turn-around of time between the games prior. Take a point there and move on.
Chelsea later in the week will also provide a stern test and preparation there will no doubt be impacted by what happens in the City game. The Mourinho factor also comes into it here. Again, take a point there and move on.
Going into the Hull City game on New Year’s Day, if Liverpool are inside the top four, or even three points outside of it, then Brendan Rodgers will feel confident that he can bring Champions League football back to Anfield. The fixture list may have been tough on our Christmas run-in, but the second half of the season has been kinder, albeit with away trips to Southampton and Man United.
Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City all have to come to Anfield in the second half of the season. I’m not for a second saying we’ll win all those games, but it plays to our advantage playing in front of our crowd, and when the Liverpool crowd is behind its team, there’s no better sound in football. There’s a reason why Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – far and away the two best modern day footballers a generation has seen – have come to Anfield and been anonymous for ninety minutes in recent seasons. It’s because when Liverpool need a win, and the Kop is in the oppositions face for ninety minutes, more often than not Liverpool get the win. It’s an atmosphere that brings grown men to stunned silence. If Liverpool are within touching distance of a top four finish – or dare I say even more – the Kop will be absolutely electric in those league games.
Currently, the Reds are averaging 2 points a game. This will more than likely change as the season progresses, but under that average, they would finish on 76 points. Good enough for fourth in four of the last ten seasons, third in five of the last ten seasons and even second in one season. The average points for fourth in those ten seasons is around 68, which is more than capable of being achieved this season.
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and brings some fantastic moments that stick in the memory for years to come. The start of a New Year is a celebration of what the next twelve months may bring and a time to reflect on what has happened in the year. Liverpool are progressing well under Brendan Rodgers and 2013 has been a fine example of that. There’s no reason why the Reds can’t end the year in style – with victories over Manchester City and Chelsea being the perfect Christmas present.
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