The rise, fall and potential rise of Liverpool

There’s no doubt that this season has been a re-building process for Liverpool, having lost arguably the finest striker in Europe in the summer transfer window as well as long serving centre back Daniel Agger it was tough to see them maintain the form that saw them just piped to the post by Manchester City in last season’s title race.

Attentions switched to players such as Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson with the main man now being Daniel Sturridge his time to shine had come.

The changing and re-shuffling which had happened at Anfield was evident in the first few fixtures results such as the 3-1 loss to Manchester City became quiet regular and a push for a champions league spot seemed to be becoming more and more distant with each passing weekend.

With Daniel Sturridge injured and Mario Balotelli being non-existent in front of goal things were starting to look grim around Liverpool.

The reputation the club had re-established for itself last season as serious contenders was being diminished.

Even in the Champions league the greatest achievement of Brendan Rodgers reign to date the club did not excel, in a group with Basel and Ludogorets they failed to advance and looked shaky in all of their fixtures.

The problems within the team where not solely to do with the forwards and the team’s lack of goals it was also in their back line, Dejan Lovren was playing terribly at centre back and Mamadou Sakho was none better, even Martin Skrtel who had re-established himself in Rodgers team last season as not only the club’s top centre back but also as the clubs main goalscoring threat from set pieces, was floundering.

The backs where being left exposed by a lack of domination and cover from Midfield and also through they’re own mistakes goals were being leaked constantly.

The fan’s where doubting Rodgers and also the way in which Fenway sports group where running the club, following the disaster that was Hickes and Gillette the decision-making was veering the club back towards the murky depths they plunged from around 2009-2013.

By January Liverpool where out of the champions League and a place in the top four was not in sights, things where getting worse and worse.

A capital one cup exit was soon to follow but it was in this semi Final that a glimmer of a resurgence began to come to light, Coutinho was electric and so to Sterling who grabbed the equalizer in the first leg. A brilliant performance against the best team in England.

This unfortunately was not the catalyst for a return to form of last season’s runners up but it did give the fans some confidence in the team and also helped to restore some of their confidence in Brendan Rodgers.

Then the turning point came after which things began to fall into place, Manchester United vs Liverpool is historically a very special fixture and draws an eager crowd, but this season was different Liverpool were miles off a champions league place and came into a fixture which they won 3-0 the previous season not as favourites to win and so it proved, a 3-0 reverse to Manchester United and the City went into mourning.

But rather than being the final nail in the coffin that had been the 2014-15 season it acted as a springboard which sent Liverpool rocketing up the table claiming scalp after scalp on a run which has gone over 10 matches so far.

Wins against Manchester City, Tottenham and a host of other clubs has put Liverpool in pole position to maintain their champions league status for next season.

The midfield has clicked with Coutinho and Jordan Henderson being the driving force, Henderson dominating Midfield and chipping in with vital goals and assists as well as crunching tackles while Coutinho has been a mercurial revelation purring around the pitch tormenting teams with his Brazilian flair, while Raheem Sterling has returned to the form which saw him held as the bright light in English footballs future.

At the back Liverpool have become solid as a rock and players like Dejan Lovren and Sakho appear to have settled into the team very well.

While up front the return of Daniel Sturridge to the team and to the score-sheet has given credibility to the attacking line, even Mario Balotelli has begun chipping in with his fair share of goals such as a winner against Tottenham.

With the end of the season drawing closer and closer Liverpool now find themselves in a position where an FA cup win is possible and a place in the Champions league is looking likely a testament to the amazing solidarity and strength of character shown by Rodgers young team.

All eyes go towards Old Trafford for the most vital game of this season’s race for the champions league, and this time Liverpool may just be favourites.