Brendan Rodgers has pulled no punches when asked about Liverpool’s hopes this season, having declared they are well in the race for the title.
Not many pundits, and possibly only the most ardent of Reds fans, would have even thought their long wait for a 19th league title could be in reach this term. However, in what has been a mightily impressive campaign for the Merseyside club, they are currently fourth in the table and are just six points behind leaders Arsenal.
Manchester City and Chelsea sit directly below the Gunners, but tellingly, all three have to visit Anfield before the end of the season. And with Luis Suarez in the form of his life, and the likes of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho also stepping up to the plate, Rodgers insists his side are certainly in the title race.
“We’ve got all those teams to play at home, and we’re only six points off the leaders, so you have to feel that we are (in the title race), and we have the confidence and belief in ourselves,” he said. “Of course, everyone will talk about the three clubs in front of us because they’ve got squads that have been around there for years and have big squads to choose from. For us it’s a case of trying to fight to be up there.”
The Reds will expect another three points on Saturday evening, when Aston Villa visit Anfield. Paul Lambert’s side have again struggled this season, and their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Monday night keeps them perilously close to the relegation zone. With 21 matches played, the Midlands side are just five points above the bottom three.
