LIVERPOOL v NEWCASTLE UNITED
Entry posted by JayJay ·
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From Charlie Nicholas of Skysports
It is the season of goodwill so I have to start by paying Liverpool my compliments.
He might have taken some time to get there and he may have done it extremely slowly, chopping and changing his attacking options and frustrating me along the way, but I have to pay Rafa Benitez full respect.
I might remain unconvinced, but they are now in a position to challenge Chelsea - and as an Arsenal man, I would gladly swap places with them! They should not be ruled out of winning the title either, and of the chasing pack you have to say right now they are best equipped to challenge the champions.
The reason? Chelsea aside, they are the best balanced side in the Premiership.
I still don't think Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes are the strike pairing to take them to the title, but while they are among the goals, you have to expect Liverpool to kick on over Christmas and the New Year.
Defensively they have been sensational. Jose Reina, Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher have been so solid, the whole unit has a calmness about it and unlike Arsenal for instance, they get excellent cover from the midfielders in front of them.
Rafa has picked a more stable side of late and although you have to say the sides they have beaten on this winning run are sides you would always expect Liverpool to beat, you cannot knock them.
My one concern is still Djibril Cisse scenario. I know Cisse has said he is happy and wants to stay, but from where I am sat, it just seems that Rafa doesn't like him.
When that happens, as a striker you tend to start playing for yourself before you worry about fitting into the team pattern and it also means that whenever the second half comes around and the subs start warming up, you are constantly looking over your shoulder.
And that is not good - for the player or the team. I don't think Cisse has done too much wrong and one thing Liverpool are going to need if they are going to build on this run is more striking options.
Rafa has talked about buying wingers and defenders in the window, but a striker? No. And although they have found some form as I said, are Crouch and Morientes really going to be the pair to push Chelsea all the way?
What they could do with, dare I say it, is a Michael Owen!
I know Newcastle have had it hard this season, not helped by the most horrendous run of injuries I can remember, Michael Owen is an absolute gem that guarantees you one thing and one thing only: goals.
When he was out injured and they lost to Chelsea and Everton, Graeme Souness's job was supposedly on the line. Michael comes back, they beat Arsenal and he gets a hat-trick against West Ham and all of a sudden it's not so bad.
He and Alan Shearer will stretch even Liverpool's defence to the limit because the one thing that Michael offers - and Liverpool might be lacking - is variety.
He gives them another option, particularly away from home. It means they can sit deep and stretch the game, maybe hit the corners and they know he can make something happen. Although there are plenty of players more technically gifted than Michael and although we keep thinking he can't make it look that easy, he keeps doing it.
If Newcastle can keep him fit and maybe bring back one or two of the injured players like Emre and Kieron Dyer then I don't see any reason why they can't challenge for a European place in the new year. I know the Toon Army think they should be there all the time, but I still think a top-six spot should be the aim.
They are only a couple of wins away from being on the fringe of those sides chasing a UEFA Cup spot, so if the Geordie fans can stop nagging Souness there really is plenty of Christmas cheer to be had. And I happen to think a point at Anfield will be one present they will gladly accept!
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