http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 might be the title contenders for the next season - Barclays Premier League Special
Liverpool have put together some great performances in recent games, and there is a genuine belief at Anfield that their team is much closer to being a title contender next season than people might believe.
The closest Liverpool has come to winning the league in recent years was back in 2009, when the Reds ran Manchester United close and attained a record 86 points. Many believed that Liverpool were finally making a serious bid for the title, and just might end their title drought that dated back to 1990.
However it was not to be and the following season, the club’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. There were big financial problems and the new owners, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tom-c35214 Hick and George Gillette, had some a fractious relationship that did not help the club’s cause in any way. The most detrimental aspect of the regime, however, was the transfer policy of the owners.
One of the most dependable defenders in the team, Sami Hypia, was forced to leave the club as he was not offered a new contract. But the biggest blows to the club were the transfers of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Álvaro-Arbeloa-c5282 to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Alonso, who had been one of the most important players for the Reds in the midfield, was replaced by an inexperienced half baked http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603. The Italian struggled with his fitness and was later sold back to Italian football.
By that time Liverpool had run out of the race to finish in top four and missed out on a chance to keep their UEFA Champions League place. The club finished in 7th place last season and it was their worst finish to a premier league season in more than a decade. Rafael Benitez, the Spanish manager, was also given the axe and Roy Hodgson, the former Fulham boss, took over the reins.
The new season did not start according to plan; there were big plans in place but things just did not go the club’s way. Hodgson failed to apply the same tactics that he used at Fulham, and had the rude awakening that managing Liverpool and Fulham were two different propositions.
Things once again started to take a big turn for Liverpool, as another American based business group, Fenway sports, bought the club after a long legal battle with the former owners who were not ready to let go. With the arrival of new owners, Roy Hodgson was put out of his misery and Kenny Dalglish, a former player and manager at the club, took over.
The start for the new boss was not ideal but slowly he started to lay the ground work for the revival of Liverpool. The team that had spent some time in the relegation zone at the start of the season fought its way into the top 6 and with some sterling performances in recent games they have certainly shown that bigger and better things are to come next season.
Liverpool have not won a single title since the premier League era, but they are level with Manchester United with 18 league titles. This season may be all but over for them, and even a Europa league place is not likely. But all Liverpool faithful are holding their breath and waiting for next season to pose a real challenge for the Premier League crown.
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