Luis Suarez admits he is unsure if Liverpool can win the title this season, but firmly believes they can achieve a top-four finish.
The Reds are enjoying their best campaign for some time, and are just four points behind Chelsea with 12 matches remaining. They also have an advantage in that the Blues are yet to visit Anfield, as are third place Manchester City. It is perhaps understandable, then, that their supporters are dreaming of a first title since 1989-90.
Suarez has played a key role in their successes of this season, having scored 23 goals in 21 Premier League matches, as well as assisting in 10 more. You would therefore expect the former Ajax forward to be more confident than anyone else about their chances of winning the league, but the 26-year-old admits he has his doubts.
“Can we win the title? I’m not sure,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “I think this season the Premier League is so difficult. Every team can lose games. Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have been dropping points. “We are very strong at home and we must keep going like this. In football, you never know what can happen.”
If Liverpool were to win the title, it would perhaps be the biggest surprise since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93. On the other hand if they don’t finish first, it would hardly be classed as a failure. What would be disappointing for them is if they finish outside of the top-four, and therefore miss out on the UEFA Champions League again.
This is one competition Suarez is desperate to play in, to such an extent he was willing to leave Anfield for Arsenal during the summer. However, he is now glad he stayed on Merseyside, where he has since signed a new contract, and he is growing increasingly confident that he and his team-mates will be amongst Europe’s elite next term.
“To be in the Champions League is what we all want,” the Uruguayan added. “This is our objective – to play in it next season. I want to be there with Liverpool. It’s an unbelievable competition. It’s where we want to be – playing against the top teams in Europe. When I arrived here, I said it was my dream to play for Liverpool and play Champions League here. I know I can achieve my dreams here.”
