To be truly honest, at no point up to now have I ever genuinely believed we would win the league this season. I've just never felt we quite had the depth or that true killer instinct that gets you over the line. We certainly aren't far off, but we have also been up against the most financially doped club in British football history. Despite those feelings, I've always hoped I'd be proved wrong, and I very well may be yet.
I don't think any of us even dreamed we would be in this position at the start of the season. It wasn't so long back that all we wanted was a team that could at least compete and give us some excitement. We now have that, and Klopp has managed this in pretty quick time. We aren't yet the finished article, but we are up against the wealth of a nation and a cheating club on financial steroids who pretty much are the finished article. Thing is, we are still neck and neck with them, despite having our blip.
I think the reason some heads have gone is that too many bought into the idea that if we had beaten them at their place and gone 10 clear, we'd have it sown up. We didn't manage it, but I still think far too many bought the idea that we were definitely going to do it this season when we were 7 ahead. There was always far too long to go in the season to be even thinking along those lines though, and 7 points is not a lot with so many games still to play. Look at Spurs. Not long ago they seemed dead and buried as far as the league is concerned. Now they are right in the mix. Early on, Chelsea looked good, but now they are well off the pace. Things can change so quickly. City were ahead for quite some time and their goal difference was way ahead, but we hauled them back, overtook them and cancelled out their goal difference. They have responded, and we have time to do the same. We are level on points with a game more to play. Who knows how it will pan out now? The real frustration is coming from seeing the lead dwindle, but I think it was always going to. Unless one of us implodes and lets the other pull ahead, this is going to be very close, and certainly not decided in February. There is a lot more to come yet. This could be the kick up the arse we need. This could be where City think they've done the hard work and get complacent. Who knows?
We've got what we asked for - a team that can compete. Nerves, highs, lows etc go with that territory. From here on in I think we just have to get behind the club and give them our all. We have nothing to lose by doing so, and maybe everything to gain. This is far from over...
