Nice try Brendan, but Liverpool are well in hunt for title

Just last month Rodgers told us his side would “never give up the fight” as they search for their first championship since the 1989/90 season, three years before the inception of the Premier League era. The Reds won their first two league games of the year, but a disappointing 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Anfield left Rodgers’ side eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal a fortnight or so ago.

Despite a 4-0 drubbing of Merseyside rivals Everton during their subsequent league outing, the likeable Northern Irishman continued to fraternise with that belief that an end to the club's haunting 24-year title drought was beyond his team.

"I think for us, as a team, it's too early for that," commented Rodgers. "I was at the Manchester City-Chelsea game the other night and I look at the squads they have, which they have built up over the last few years, and it's very difficult for us, even though we have competed right the way through the season.

"So, I wouldn't say for us this year, no. We wouldn't be challengers for it."

As football fans we are all too familiar with managers and their mind games. Much of the talk surrounding the recent meeting between Manchester City and Chelsea focused on the two managers and their pre-match verbal jousting – with Jose Mourinho seemingly assuming responsibility of master of mind games from the retired Sir Alex Ferguson.

Regardless of whether Rodgers’ intentions when ruling the Reds out of the title race were mind games or not – hoping to alleviate any pressure on his side – Liverpool must be considered up and running in this particular race for the flag.

Had Liverpool suffered defeat at the hands of Arsene Wenger's team, they would have been 11 points behind the London club – a deficit too large to overturn at this point in the season. Now they are five points adrift of Arsenal and six behind new leaders Chelsea, who secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool are well in with a shout of winning the league. It is not just their position in the table that suggests so. Performances in recent weeks – topped off with the tremendous victory over Arsenal – are evidence that Rodgers’ current crop of players are playing with a freedom and a confidence that signifies a collective belief that anything is possible.

Liverpool’s slick performance at home to Arsenal took their goal tally to 63 for the season – the second best record in the league behind the free-scoring Man City who have notched 68 – but it could have so easily been more.

To think that a team could have been six goals to the good after 20 minutes against the league leaders is beyond words, but such was Liverpool’s energetic, dynamic display that they warranted such a scoreline – only for Daniel Sturridge to waste an easy chance and Luis Suarez to crash a wicked volley off the frame of the goal as they were forced to settle with just the 4-0 advantage.

The Reds were dominant in every area of the pitch during the opening 45 minutes in which they exhibited a free-flowing, relentless display of football, and, despite drawing the second half, showed a collectiveness and resoluteness akin to many a championship-winning side down the years. They are as impressive at shutting up shop as seeking out goals.

Questions have been raised in recent months regarding Liverpool’s defensive frailties, with fingers often pointed towards the ageing Kolo Toure, who has looked off the pace. costly error in his side’s 1-1 draw with West Brom last weekend was proof of this.

Toure was cut adrift from City during the summer and picked up by Rodgers, who has a curious record of making signings that have yet to perform at the required levels. Fabio Borini, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto spring to mind. But what does that matter when most of your inheritance is paying out?

In truth, Toure would not get a sniff of a place in the back four of any of the other sides chasing the Premier League, but such was Liverpool’s need to fill the void left by the injured Daniel Agger that the Ivorian has featured 17 times this campaign. Over the piece, he has proved to be a decent signing especially with Jamie Carragher retiring when he was at the peak of his powers in the death throes of last season.

It is easy to sympathise with Rodgers, who has pointed to the squads of City and Chelsea as to one of the reasons why his side will not be crowned champions. City and Chelsea’s wealth – along with a far more successful recruitment policy – has enabled them a strength in depth that Rodgers’ side simply does not possess.

It is also worth remembering that Liverpool have lost out twice to Chelsea in their bid to sign Willian then Mohamed Salah in the two previous transfer windows, but have managed to move on without any lingering regrets.

There is no doubt that Liverpool have the weakest back line of any team in the current top four, but, as was so clearly evident in the flogging of Arsenal, they possess one of, if not the most potent attacking forces in the league. The afternoon was all the more remarkable considering Suarez did not get on the scoresheet.

Trying to claw back a six-point deficit on a Chelsea side in form at the most vital stage of the season is going to be quite an ask.

Mourinho’s team have conceded just three times in their previous 10 league matches, beating Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City on the way. They are now favourites to go on and win the league.

But Chelsea and City have yet to visit Anfield. With 13 games remaining, we have a four-horse race for the trophy. Liverpool are a clear and present danger. This season, not next.