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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool FC comment: are Kopites 'crazy' to dare to dream of a Reds title challenge?
เดอะค็อปบ้าหรือเปล่า กล้าฝันว่าหงส์ลุ้นแชมป์
เยือร์เกิน คลอพพ์ ผู้จัดการทีมลิเวอร์พูลขอบคุณแฟนๆ หลังจบเกมบาร์เคลย์ พรีเมียร์ลีก ระหว่างแมนเชสเตอร์ ซิตี้กับลิเวอร์พูลที่เอติฮัด สเตเดียม เมื่อวันที่ 21 พฤศจิกายน 2015 ที่เมืองแมนเชสเตอร์, อังกฤษ (รูปโดย John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
ก่อนการแต่งตั้งเยือร์เกิน คล็อพพ์ บ่อนรับพนันอย่างถูกกฎหมายได้ให้อัตราต่อรองที่ลิเวอร์พูลจะได้แชมป์พรีเมียร์ลีกที่ 100/1
พูดให้เห็นภาพง่ายๆ ก็คือเป็นอัตราต่อรองที่คุณจะเจอเอลวิสกำลังขี่เจ้าม้าเชอร์การ์บนถนนวอลตัน เบร็คนั่นแหละ (เอาเป็นว่าโอกาสแทบเป็นไปไม่ได้ละกัน 555 - ผู้แปล)
ผ่านมาสองเดือน ที่คล็อพพ์ได้เปลี่ยนแปลงอนาคตของสโมสรแห่งนี้ ทำให้อัตราต่อรองลดฮวบลงมาเหลือแค่ 14/1
สิ่งที่แทบเป็นไปไม่ได้ ตอนนี้ได้กลายเป็นสิ่งที่ไม่น่าจะเป็นไปได้แล้ว เมื่ออัตราต่อรองของหงส์แดงอยู่ในอับดับสี่ เป็นรองแค่เพียง แมนเชสเตอร์ ซิตี้, อาร์เซนอล และแมนเชสเตอร์ ยูไนเต็ด
"พวกคุณบ้าไปแล้วเหรอ?" เป็นคำตอบของคล็อพพ์หลังจากถูกถามถึงความเป็นไปได้ในการลุ้นแชมป์ หลังจากเพิ่งฉลองชัยชนะนัดแรกในลีกในยุคของเขาที่สแตมฟอร์ด บริดจ์
Wary of expectation levels getting out of control, you still won’t catch the German coach publicly discussing the possibility of the Reds forcing their way into the race for the big prize.
James Milner of Liverpool celebrates his penalty goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Swansea City at Anfield on November 29, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Yet in the wake of Sunday’s hard-fought win over Swansea City, a growing number of supporters are doing exactly that. Leaders Manchester City are just six points better off. There are still 72 points left to play for.
Qualifying for the Champions League remains the overriding priority and if Klopp delivers that top-four finish his first season at the helm will go down as a miraculous success considering that when he arrived Liverpool were stuck in mid-table having taken just 12 points from eight matches.
However, it’s not just blind faith that has led to some daring to dream of the Reds climbing to the summit between now and May. With so many of their rivals stumbling, opportunity knocks for Liverpool if they can maintain momentum.
This is a Premier League season like no other
There is no outstanding team in the top flight this term. City remain the hot favourites having splashed out £150million last summer but Liverpool's ruthless demolition of Manuel Pellegrini’s side at the Etihad recently laid bare their glaring weaknesses.
City recovered to beat Southampton 3-1 at the weekend but Sergio Aguero was forced off again as he suffered another injury scare.
Losing Aguero for another extended spell would be a huge blow, especially as fellow strikers Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho have scored only three league goals between them this season.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the second during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
United remain within touching distance of top spot but have failed to convince and unrest is growing among their fanbase over the dour style of football served up by Louis van Gaal.
They lack both ambition and firepower and have a lengthy list of injuries with Wayne Rooney going off against Leicester. United are already without the likes of Phil Jones, Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia.
This was supposed to the year when Arsenal kicked on but doubts continue to surround Arsene Wenger’s men who have taken just two points from their last three league games against Tottenham, West Brom and Norwich.
The bruising draw at Carrow Road came at a cost with Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny all hurt. Sanchez’s hamstring strain will deny the Gunners the services of their biggest talent for a pivotal stage of the season. They are already without Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez leaves the pitch with an injury during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Adam Davy/PA Wire.Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez leaves the pitch with an injury during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Leicester City’s heroics under Claudio Ranieri command respect but it’s difficult to see them lasting the pace. Tottenham have to be taken seriously with Mauricio Pochettino having worked wonders at White Hart Lane but they rely heavily on Harry Kane staying fit.
Champions Chelsea have shown signs of a revival after their nightmare start but already look too far adrift. Jose Mourinho’s fallout with Diego Costa further reduces their chances of forcing their way back into contention.
History suggests that Liverpool could yet mount a challenge.
Klopp’s side are closer to the top now than Brendan Rodgers’ men were at the same stage of the memorable 2013/14 season.
Back then, Liverpool were seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal after 14 league matches on 27 points. During that thrilling campaign it was only in the New Year that the Reds truly looked the part - putting together a stunning 11-match winning run from February to mid-April - before that crushing defeat to Chelsea left their title hopes in tatters.
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson during the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 29, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
Klopp has now a selection headache of a very different kind.
The Reds boss was hampered by an injury crisis from his first week in the job. Joe Gomez and Danny Ings suffered cruciate ligament injuries.
They joined captain Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Jon Flanagan, Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino on the sidelines. Klopp was down to the bare bones.
Yet now the landscape is very different. Defensively, the squad is still thin with Mamadou Sakho’s knee injury likely to keep him out until the turn of the year.
But going forward Klopp now has real options. Henderson, Sturridge, Benteke and Firmino are all back, while Philippe Coutinho has been passed fit after a hamstring scare. It’s a timely boost as Liverpool approach the busiest period of the season.
Christian Benteke of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool have already faced their toughest tests.
The fixture computer gave the Reds a daunting start which ended up costing Brendan Rodgers his job and saw Klopp accept the challenge to plot the club’s resurgence.
Now they have come through that gruelling run in decent enough shape and in a great position to really push on. Liverpool have already played away to Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Everton and Stoke. They must all travel to Merseyside in the second half of the campaign as Klopp looks to turn Anfield back into the fortress it once was.
In the short-term, Liverpool have a run of games which gives them the perfect chance to end 2015 with a bang.
It’s Newcastle (away), West Brom (home), Watford (away), Leicester (home) and Sunderland (away) before the turn of the year. If the Reds can sweep them aside you can guarantee that 14/1 will no longer be available.
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