Reds can win Premier League 2009/10

I am looking forward to the new 2009/10 season of the English Premier League with hope and excitement.

It has been almost two decades since Liverpool last won the Premier League (I think it was called the First Division back then). And the time has come for us to reclaim the crown, and not let MU break our record for the most number of titles!

Last season, we came agonisingly close, finishing second, despite Torres playing only 20 games due to injury. If Torres and Gerard stay fit, I reckon we have a team that is strong and experienced enough to push for the title. Most squad members from last season are still around, except for Arbeloa and Alonso who have moved on to Real Madrid. Rafa has spent the money well to bring in exciting new talents Glen Johnson and Aquilani as replacements - these two players will add attacking flair to the side.

We definitely need to attack more and make extra effort to win games - we had too many draws last season which proved to be our undoing. Glen is an attacking right back who likes to go forward - he can put in those high quality crosses for Torres et al to bang them in. I have not seen enough of Aquilani to comment, but from what I have read about this guy, he is a great passer of the ball, just like Alonso. The guy is also more dangerous and has a better strike rate than Alonso - sadly however, he is still injured so we need to wait to see what the guy can do.

Meantime, we have Lucas who is more than capable of filling in for Alonso. Lucas has been in good form during the pre-season, scoring a goal in the recent1-2 friendly loss to Atletico Madrid. I must admit that I am somewhat disappointed with Liverpool's poor pre-season form, who only managed wins against an outclassed Singapore side and minnows FC Lyn.

Results from Liverpool's pre-season friendlies:
St Gallen 0, Liverpool 0
Rapid Vienna 1, Liverpool 0
Thailand 1, Liverpool 1
Singapore 0, Liverpool 5
Espanyol 3, Liverpool 0
FC Lyn 0, Liverpool 2
Liverpool 1, Atletico Madrid 2

I hope the team will put all those pre-season games behind them now, and give Liverpool a good start to the League competition when it opens this weekend.

By the luck of the draw, we will be playing in the first match of the season, the same team that we played in the final match of last season i.e. Tottenham Hotspur.

We easily brushed Spurs aside 3-1 in that last home match played at Anfield. However, this weekend's match will be an away game, and I am sure all of us still remember that this was one of only two away games that Liverpool lost throughout the whole of last season. We will be looking to avenge that defeat, which was caused by an unfortunate own goal by Carragher and a heart breaking last-minute goal scored by Russian striker Pavlyuchenko.

Both teams' central defence are facing injury problems going into the match. Liverpool defender Carragher took a knock on his ankle during the Atletico Madrid game, and both Agger and Skrtel are also racing to be fit in time for this weekend's game. Spurs has a much bigger crisis at hand, with Michael Dawson, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate all sidelined by injury. Redknapp has signed Sebastien Bassong from Newcastle as replacement, but the player will miss the Liverpool game as he is suspended for the first two matches. The game may also see ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch playing in his first match for Spurs against his former team mates.

Previous league results between these two teams:
2008/09 Liverpool 3, Tottenham 1
2008/09 Tottenham 2, Liverpool 1
2007/08 Liverpool 2, Tottenham 2
2007/08 Tottenham 0, Liverpool 2


Enjoy your football!