What, no one? OK then, since you asked In August and September 1998, we started the season with a tricky 2-1 away win. Then, we had to settle for a home draw against title rivals. For our third game, we travelled up to the North East to play a celebrity manager and his limited but up-for-it side and gained an ultimately comfortable victory. Following the international break, we then thumped a relative minnow in our fourth game to go top of the league with a game in hand over our closest rival and the best goal difference in the division. We finished seventh that season.
I almost got that but was busy searching my archives Coventry had me stumped, though. I also recall a season with Houlier when we won 10 out 12 games or something like that. We subsequently imploded, finishing 5th. In other words, many a slip 'twixt lip and cup. But I like this start.
The best thing about our start is that we haven't conceded a goal from open play yet. Only the two penalties. Torres is not only the quickest bastard I've seen in a while, he's a strong son of a bitch! Love him!
We have started well before and not ended up as Champions. I don't see that as being particularly relevant or indicative of future events. Everyone knows that it is better to start well than not start well. If we are aiming for about 90 pts then we have 10 on the board already and dropped only 2 pts. We have also built up a nice healthy goal difference already and have players returning from injury with Kewell, Aurelio and Gerrard to return shortly. The important thing is to be top after 38 games rather than 4 but everyone agreed Liverpool were handicapped with a poor start in recent seasons. Now we have an excellent start so far which is exactly what our aim was. Liverpool have not scraped their way to 10 pts, we have looked ominously good with slick passing, great passing moves and a wealth of attacking threat combined with tremendous steel in midfield and a solidity in defence. The season is only just started but so far Liverpool have looked impressive. Hopes from our rivals for Torres to struggle in England have proved false, he looks well settled and very sharp. Voronin has arrived with little attention and with a dismissal as a free transfer for the bench. Instead he has looked instantly at home - strong, aggressive and quick with a powerful shot. Kuyt has continued his work-rate from last season, Arbeloa now looks comfortable in English football and has played very well as LB or RB. Benayoun showed his qualities against Toulouse and should also do well in the Prem. Mascherano continues his excellent form and has improved his creative passing. Hyypia shows he is still an excellent defender and Agger just gets better all the time. Pennant is continuing his superb form from last season and is playing with great confidence. Babel is looking better and better as he settles more. Lucas and Leto made their debuts and did well. Gerrard looked very good in the beginning of the season before his injury. Carra may miss a few more games but will be pleased to see his absence has not cost us so far. Finnan has continued being consistent. Riise has also done well. Crouch is still to feature in the Prem but has played well in Europe so far. Sissoko also looks fit and confident as does Reina. Apart from Babel, almost all the Liverpool players seem to be on top form. The personal confidence as well as the team confidence must be really high at the moment. Let's not get carried away but the truth is Liverpool are looking very good at the mo.
If there is an up side to Carragher's injury, it's that it doesn't impact his mobility. I've had an intercostal strain, and rib ailments hurt like a bugger, but they heal up well, and afterward, re-injury isn't a big worry. Torres is a real phenom. His control is very deft. He doesn't remind me of Henry, but he has the pace and the physicality to play defenders off both by sheer strength and being able to push the ball ahead and beat them to the spot. My predictions on how many he might score must be revised upward. I can see El Niño on 18 - 20 league goals, 25 + in all competitions. If Torres doesn't score that many, it will be because defenses start packing in on him, which will open up Voronin or Kuijt. It's too early to mail in the results, but Liverpool have bought the prize bull, boys and girls.
No, not every striker but almost every midfielder, defender and striker dives in La Liga....it's the center of the epidemic.
or the epicenter of the pandemic... or the Giant Panda of the Madrid Zoo/Aquarium formerly a central defender for Juve...
Just got to say that Liverpool looks SO different this year. Much more confident. Torres is a monster.
MoM easily goes to Masch - amazing stabbing tackles. He gets the ball everytime. His timing is impeccable, gets the ball, not the player Pennant also looked dangerous and had some excellent runs and crosses. Torres is proving to be the real deal. Hope he gets 20+ for us. Babel did ok but has a lot to learn. He kept giving up possession. Yossi did not have a great game but only played about 30 min.
i agree and i reckon its also to do with our quick attacking plays that dont let the opposition flood back. this mite come from a better first touch and also us taking more risks, which is exciting and part of the reason why we scored so much vs derby...also they were crap and made many errors
Bravo. It's important that we all remember that it was Derby County -- Derby County -- that we just hammered 6-0. That should be expected of any title-challenger. We have yet to enter the tricky part of our schedule (which happens in October), so until then, I'm content to be cautiously optimistic and nothing more. Still... its hard not to feel confident these days, eh?
Very true Springbok, that said though how often have we screamed that Liverpool just haven't been putting teams away over the last few seasons? But yes, get through October, hope we don't get a reappearance of the mysterious "Let's stop playing" virus in November again and see where we are come Christmas. Much the same I hope, the M*ncs in the office are gloriously quiet lately...
Well said as far as last year's goal output in a game like this vs this year. Hope the floodgates remain open against Derbyesque teams. Good win.