The recent upturn in form has seen many Liverpool fans look towards the future with optimism, pointing to a young, up and coming squad as enough evidence that the glory days are on their way back to L4. Signings like Coutinho and Sturridge have given the players a new lease of life and have seen them win their last six league games by three goals or more. BUT, we have heard it all before. I for one have been in this position, many a time I have claimed that Liverpool have finally turned the corner only to end up back at square one. In Rafa’s last season, the boxing day victory over Wolves and an emphatic Steven Gerrard performance led me to believe we were going to be okay. I was wrong, we finished 7th that season and Rafa was to leave the club. When we achieved 3 straight league victories under Roy Hodgson the following season, many believed the teething process was over and we would progress up the league ladder. Again, it was a false dawn and not even the return of Kenny Dalglish could return us to our rightful place. This season it has been a similar story, we have been a few games unbeaten, lose a game and embark on another unbeaten streak, only to take one step back, but in terms of the more distant future, Liverpool fans now have genuine reasons for optimism. The defence have struggled more than anyone this season as they get to grips with being ball playing defenders, but Glen Johnson has been one of the best players in the league with his resurgent performances from right back. Jose Enrique too has become more of an attacking threat due to the man management of Rodgers. Our captain Steven Gerrard too looks like he has been given a new lease of life and not to mention the unstoppable Luis Suarez, the revitalised duo of Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. Then there are Sturridge and Coutinho, two young players with bags of potential who have given this side much needed pace, intelligence and creativity meaning we are more of a potent threat in the final third and we are reaping our rewards for a wise transfer window. Liverpool Football Club is now playing the same system, the same philosophy from the first team to the u10s, mirroring what is seen at Barcelona’s famous La Masia complex. Will it have the same rewards? Only time will tell. Do Liverpool fans have legitimate reasons to be optimistic for next season and beyond? With a couple of strong and efficient signings, there’s no reason why a serious top 4 challenge is beyond us next season. We are not far off this season considering the problems during the first few months of the season, the players are fully embedded in this new philosophy and the only way is up. How quickly we go up is unknown, but there are plenty of signs to show progress is inevitable. Exciting times could be returning to Liverpool and the fans deserve to bask in the glory more than anyone.

A news article on 2013-03-07 18:33:00 from: The Anfield Opinion

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