up) and
far from it in my case, however i am totally realistic about LFC which means, YES, we have a great chance to challenge for the title (as and when the team settles and we stop conceding and start scoring - so we 've had another slow start to the campaign, we can only really take stock of that when the season ends) but also recognise that should we tally 80+ points again then the gamut of journos etc that predicted us to give chelsea something to think about really would have a case in point.
As it stands I feel we need to compound the improvement benitez oversaw last season and look *if* we can't come out of the traps flying like chelsea and manure have (both taking double figures+ in points from the first 15) then this needs to be addressed, it's NOT an improvement on last season but like last season could be pointed to as where valuable points have gone missing.
If we beat NUFC then things will look a little better (and we'll just about be in the top half). It was a given that we had to go to the main rivals and come away with some sort of result, out of one such game that hasn't happened. Let alone that we go away to newly promoted sides and not beat them, bread and butter points.... Despite not playing well the age old sign of a good sign grinding out results as chelsea have done is a harsh lesson for us.
Take a look at last seasons table and note the subtle difference (say 100%) success vs the teams above us would have made. All points are vital and ATM benitiez is aware that there is a cloud over LFC, his reaction and statements post match yesterday said it all.
Rafael Benitez today shot down ridiculous suggestions that Liverpool's title challenge is already over despite his team having only played four games Premiership games this season. With Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and now Manchester United all having lost games within the opening weeks of the season, the Reds manager believes that now is not the time to spend too much time studying who is sitting where on the Premiership leaderboard.
"We need to keep going," insisted Benitez, after spending the night reflecting on a Premiership defeat to Chelsea which was far from deserved. "It's a long race. All we can do is think of Newcastle and the next three points. We will see how close we are later on.
"This is not the time to be thinking about the league table. As a manager, I need to see if the team is improving and it's clear to me it is.
"The key for us is to start scoring goals. After three games away from home, in which we created a lot of chances, I'm sure we're going to start scoring soon.
"We'll see how the players are in two days, but it's good for us to be back at Anfield now where we're usually stronger.
"Tactically, the team looks much better. We deserved more from the game because we did good things for a long time. We created enough chances to score first and draw later. We conceded a good goal, but just couldn't score ourselves. We did the right things against a good team.
"The disappointing thing is that we are losing but I have confidence in the team if we keep playing like this. It's clear we need more points but there's a long way to go. It is the beginning of the season.
"The players were really disappointed in the dressing room because they know they created chances, played well and controlled the game. It's a pity when you don't deserve to lose and you know you deserve more, but the players can keep their heads up." --
