Our subsequent fall from the elite has been plagued with three successive transition seasons, dubious purchases, different footballing philosophies, and a raucous change of ownership.
As we enter into 18 months with Brendan Rodgers, we see a Liverpool that appears to be fit for a proper challenge, untainted by previous managers and old footballing style, and spirited enough to see us in line to end the year pushing for the title.
Whilst challenging for the title is certainly not out of the realms of possibility this season, the goal from the outset was surely a top four finish.
It appears that, since the second half of last season, Rodgers has marked the games against lesser teams in the league as the most important. Liverpool now has a status as the team that bullies the bottom half of the table.
We saw in the opening games of this season the value that Rodgers placed in getting points from these lesser teams. The level of guile and grit we used to win showed was perhaps a ploy to get some kind of momentum going, before we set back into our usual domineering and very attacking style.
We also seem to have, tactically, found a system that frees up plenty of space for our most skilful players. The team seems very well drilled in the passages of play, especially the forward passing. Whilst there are still questions over the crossing and general six-yard box finishing, we have come on leaps and bounds in set pieces and seem dangerous from all of them.
In the current Premier League climate, where all teams – bar Arsenal – appearing to be fragile in some way, now is the time for us to make a proper push for the top four.
The ability for us to bounce back is another important feature of our time under Rodgers. We seem to treat losses as a wakeup call rather than something that starts off a slump.
In the games against poorer sides, we seem dynamic and decisive, and there is a real sense that these teams fear facing Liverpool – a far cry from recent seasons, where these teams regularly upset our form.
So, how does this bode for our prospects of a top four finish.
After 15 games, Liverpool sit in second spot with 30 points. The points-per-game ratio here would predict 76 points by the end of the season.
In the last four seasons, the team finishing fourth has had a points tally of 70, 68, 69, and 73 respectively. These points totals have featured at least 19 wins, and have also had some leeway for losses, with Arsenal having losing as many as 11 times in 2010-11.
It all looks positive, and we do look to be heading in the right direction. I believe that there should be no excuses this season. All factors considered, it is unlikely that we will have such a perfect chance to make top four. The team needs to remain switched on and determined.
For fourth-place ambitions, we are already ahead of where we should be in terms of points gained. This will allow some pressure to be taken off.
The fixture-congested festive period will test the team’s mettle, especially the back-to-back games against Manchester City and Chelsea at the end of December.
For the first time since the 2008-09 season, it all seems to be clicking into gear. There appears to be great harmony within the club, and there are clear plans put in place to achieve the goal of getting back into the Champions League.
Three horrendous losses aside, and with a tough set of fixtures ahead, we are on course for a great achievement.
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