Make no mistake, tonight’s match against Hull is a must win for Liverpool.
If the Reds are to have any chance of clinching a Champions League qualification position, they must win their remaining five games, starting tonight with Hull.
After a brutal defeat to Everton last weekend, Manchester United have dropped to the fourth spot in the standings. With a win against Hull tonight, Liverpool can climb to within just four points of catching the Red Devils, who currently occupy the final Champions League position.
After Liverpool looked to be completely out of the Champions League race a week ago, they have been given a sliver of hope. It will take a near flawless run of games by Liverpool from here on out, along with help from United, to catch the Red Devils.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers understands the importance of tonight’s match stating, “We have a tough game away at Hull who had a good win at the weekend, but for us the idea is to go in and get the victory and apply as much pressure as we can to the teams above.”
Rodgers will be without striker Daniel Sturridge once again as he continues to be hampered by a nagging hip injury.
Liverpool will instead need to lean on the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson to bring the energy and passion as they go into KC Stadium looking to pull off a must win game against Hull.
If Liverpool are going to defy the odds and secure a Champions League position, the long road starts tonight at KC Stadium.
This is the second time in two consecutive seasons our destiny is left in the hands of others. Last season we threw the title away when we should have parked the bus and not Chelsea which to me showed managerial naivety. Then instead of playing defensive against Crystal Palace, we continued to play ‘our game’ resulting in 3 Palace goals within a space of 15 minutes. In the end, we had to rely on ManCity to slip up – which they didn’t.
Now we have to rely on other teams beat ManUtd in order to make second spot.
When are we going to take the reigns and make our own destiny?
Call it anything you want; naivety in the way Brendan Rogers handled the run-in last season and in the way he’s handling this season’s run-in but don’t forget that the most successful football managers in the world such as Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, etc had very difficult beginnings.They were not an instant hit! It was a learning curve for them as well. LFC needs to be patient and supportive with B.R! He’s young and with alot of potential looking at his short track period! What I’ll request FSG is to do is to make sure that this time recruitment of players is done well to attract quality and not quantity so that LFC can challenge for the title next season.You Will Never Walk Alone.John Mwangeka, Nrb, Kenya.