Dan Rimmer's Reds Blog

Post #18 - Barclays Premier League Preview - West Ham v Liverpool

Eight wins on the bounce. Just six games remaining. Can Liverpool win their first League Title in the Premier League era? The onus is certainly back on them to get a result at Upton Park tomorrow against West Ham United after Saturdays turn of results. No longer are the Reds the leaders after Chelsea beat Stoke City 3-0 at Stamford Bridge who took their spot at the top, while Man City started this weekend's round of Barclays Premier League fixtures with a flourish, defeating Southampton 4-1 at lunchtime. 

But with Liverpool going to Upton Park tomorrow to face former Red Andy Carroll and his side, they could find themselves top of the tree once more. Eight wins in a row has to count for something, doesn't it? Yes, Man City have games in hand and if they win all of them, they win the title. But people also say that if Liverpool win all of their remaining games, they can win the title.

I think it is quite easy to get carried away when we see such a great team playing consistently great football, so we are always of course looking to our title contenders to slip up, such as Chelsea last weekend. It might come as a shock to everyone when we play Man City next Sunday as they are such a great side, but then again it might not come as a shock as, well so are we! Sure, eight wins in a row is great especially when you consider the teams we have faced, but I do feel that if we get the business done against both Chelsea and Man City then the title should be ours. Nobody expects us to do it, whereas the fans of Man City and Chelsea expect Pelligrini and Mourinho, respectively, to win the league having invested so much money. Liverpool haven't really invested at all in comparison to their rivals, but this will definitely have to change if we are going to be the best again. 

The big tests may come in the face of the Champions League next season, where if the Reds managed to secure a spot for sure among Europe's elite, they may have to face the prospect of facing the big boys such as Barcelona and PSG because of their coefficient ranking . But hey, to be the best you have to beat the best. We have the best fans behind one of the most impressive teams in Europe, so we can dream. West Ham serves a rather different opposition to Spurs, and that's in a good way for the Hammers. The away day has given Liverpool a fair few scares this season, most recently against Cardiff when we conceded them the lead twice before ending up winning. I think that if we do what we did that day, there will be no way back, even though we have too many goals in the team.

Route One to the big man Carroll, although not the most attractive, seems to be the best way to get the ball forward and get in on goal for West Ham. Could it be the answer for England at the World Cup? Possibly. But the main thing is that it doesn't work tomorrow. The home side in tomorrow's encounter should now be safe with 10 points clear of 18th place, and are in good form. But lets hope the Reds stop them in their tracks.

The match kicks off at 4pm, and is live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Come on Reds!