With five matches played so far in the English Premier League, Liverpool have lost three and only one of those defeats came from the hands of a top team in Manchester City.
Brendan Rodgers recently said in an interview that they have to prove they are a Champions League team and it’s left to be seen if the Reds will cope with the extra pressure of European football with the team expected to make the top four this season.
Luis Suarez was the best EPL player last season as he singlehandedly carried the team to a second place finish behind eventual winners, Manchester City with 31 Premier League goals with compatriot Daniel Sturridge scoring at least 20 goals.
Much has been said about how Liverpool will cope with the departure of the striker to Barcelona but the manager is convinced that the new crop of players will help maintain the balance I the squad.
Mario Balotelli was the highest profile transfer in Liverpool this summer directly replacing Luis Suarez but the Italian is not anywhere close to the Uruguayan and Liverpool seem to be looking to find a rhythm with the assembling of their new squad.
A top four finish is now the goal of at least seven teams in Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Everton, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool making it highly difficult for teams in the English Premier League to make it to the Champions League.
Even before the start of the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool was not consistent with their results and the recent loss to West Ham on the back of a champions league match in Anfield is raising a lot of question as to whether Liverpool will be able to cope with the responsibility.
Their Champions League 2-1 victory was at home and they will still have to travel for away matches which might take a toll on their overall performance.
Liverpool struggled to overcome Middlesbrough on Tuesday in the Capital One cup when they won 14-13 on penalties and Rodgers will be hoping his team can return to winning ways in the English Premier League this weekend.
With many acquisitions in the summer, the team is yet to reach the level they played at last season although Raheem Sterling have been in excellent form and seems to be the only spark in the team so far.
Several seasons back, Tottenham finished in the top four but they could not maintain the place because of the lack of balance.
This might be the case with Liverpool this season except something drastic happens.
Manchester United have the quality and the lack of European football might be of an advantage to the Rd Devils; same privilege enjoyed by Liverpool last season.
Arsenal have the experience in picking the fourth position in recent years and with Chelsea and Manchester City having the required quality for a top four finish, it will take something special from Rodgers and his boys to make the top four this season.
