Liverpool is unbeaten in its last five Premier League games, without conceding a goal in their last four. Kenny Dalglish has the Reds playing with confidence again and playing an attacking and attractive style of football, to boot.
The Europa League starts up again next week, and given that it’s the Reds only chance for silverware this season, you’d assume they’d give it all they’ve got. But the real goal for this season has to be getting back into the top four, and for the first time all season, they certainly look capable of doing so.
The Reds went out of the domestic cups early on and so are left with just two objectives: Europa League and top four. But which comes first?
The first knockout stages of the Europa League are against so-called lower opposition Liverpool should have no trouble getting past, especially the way King Kenny is running the team. He can even afford to rotate the squad and give his first-team players a rest or two in the early goings.
But as the games start to pile up and the opponents get tougher, what will Kenny’s policy be then? It’s an easy assumption that Reds fans and players (though they’ll likely say they want to succeed in everything they can) will want to be playing in the Champions League next season rather than hoisting the Europa League trophy this season
But the Reds have just 12 Premier League games left, the toughest of which (on paper) are a visit from Manchester United in March and the trip to the Emirates in April. They have gone out of the domestic cups early enough in recent years that they should be used to playing in just two competitions at this time of year. The Reds also finally look to have a deep enough squad to keep everyone fresh for each game.
The most important effect Kenny has had on Liverpool is without doubt reinvigorating the fans. The Liverpool fans could often be heard over the home side’s fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the buzz around Anfield is back to being a happy one.
The Reds faithful weren’t wild about the Europa League last season or this one, but perhaps Kenny’s influence will have changed that too. Sparta Prague comes to Anfield in two weeks for the clubs’ second-leg tie, and it should be a good indication of how the team and fans will treat the Europa League this season.
Liverpool should be expected to make it to at least the semifinals, like last season. Failing to do so would cast a shadow over the club, but it is one people would probably quickly rebound from as long as they can keep up momentum in the Premier League.
The ideal result would probably be Steven Gerrard lifting the Europa League trophy in May, just before the final game of the season at Aston Villa, but dreaming of a bigger one for next season.
But even if the Premier League comes down to the wire, don’t expect Kenny or any of his players to just give up on Europe, and don’t be surprised if Kenny’s magic has worked the Europa League into the hearts of the Reds faithful.
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