3 weeks tomorrow since the defeat to Hull, questions were rightly been asked of this current Liverpool side. Completely outfought, complacent and downright shambolic at times that Sunday afternoon, it looked like what most opposition fans had been waiting for: Liverpool falling off the wagon so to speak. Fast forward to Saturday 21st December, Liverpool again sit pretty at the summit of Barclay's Premier League on the back of 4 wins on the spin since that defeat.
The reaction of the players, staff have been nothing short of and I don't think Liverpool fans can say it at the moment of winners/championship mentality. Liverpool sides of the past bar the 2008/09 vintage crumble under the weight of expectation, past glories and self belief on and off the pitch. What we have witnessed this season and so far under the Rodgers era is a club which bounces back and with more than a bang coinciding with Luis Suarez of course but his confidence has spread to every aspect of the squad. Players like Allen, Coutinho, Flanagan, Henderson, Lucas, Sterling and the ever impressive Sakho are just the core of players along with Suarez who have taken Liverpool to the summit.
The injuries to Gerrard and Sturridge haven't impacted as of yet on the side but a side which is sure to be tested come Stephen's day at Manchester City. On the back of the four wins on the bounce, Liverpool head to the Ethiad not in trepidation but with burgeoning confidence with no fear. Manchester City have the expectations of title challengers, at home they are impressive on the contrary it is astounding. They have put 6 past Arsenal and Spurs plus 4 against United, healthy respect but Rodgers knows he has the arsenal to hurt a Manchester City defence equally as much as City have an attack that can hurt Liverpool's defence. Like at White Hart Lane a week ago Allen, Henderson and Lucas will be key. If Lucas can do half a job as he did on Yaya Toure 2 years ago, this game more so than Spurs could be a statement to the rest that Liverpool are title contenders.
There is a fine line between success and failure we only have to look at the sacking of Andre Villas Boas to see that. For the first time since the halycon days of the late 80's and early early 90's(1991), Liverpool are a club finally with stability and everyone from the top to the bottom are aiming for the same target. The indication of this is the mark of making Luis Suarez the highest paid Liverpool player of all time, a statement in itself like last summer that we are not selling our best player if we do so it will be for the benefit of the club to receive what he is worth. If the release clause as reported in The Times by Tony Barrett is true, we could be witnessing the first £100 million pound footballer but all that depends on how Liverpool progress from here.
The result against City ever this early into Rodgers reign would be an indication to everyone to take Liverpool's challenge seriously which suits Rodgers fine and the supporters as it will recognising of what a fantastic job he is doing. Liverpool publicly let it be known top 4 was the target, come 7.15 pm on Stephen's day quiet murmurings of a possible title challenge could become reality to not only within the club but outside where the view is drastically different at the moment.
As the Buddha's refer too, the mind is everything. What you think you become.
