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Renaissance Man
Two-fifths of the way through a week in which we have to constantly remind ourselves that Manchester United still need a point to claim a record 19th title, Liverpool must be wondering what might have been.
The Reds' 5-2 thrashing of Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday evening moves them up to fifth in the table ahead of the teams immediately above and below them - Manchester City and Tottenham - playing each other at Eastlands tonight.
In their five games over the past month, Liverpool have won four and drawn one, scoring 17 goals in the process including two hat-tricks from Maxi Rodriguez.
It is a far cry from the club's travails in the first half of the season under Roy Hodgson, when they were the butt of every joke going.
There was the embarrassing court battle with Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the ownership of the club which gave everyone a crash course in transatlantic corporate law, introduced us to Texan judge Jim Jordan and earned Martin Broughton a knighthood. Well, running British Airways might also have had something to do with that, to be fair.
On the pitch things weren't much better, with Hodgson's cards marked ever since back-to-back defeats to Blackpool and Everton in October.
Liverpool were 12th when new owners Fenway Sports Group finally put a brow-beaten, ghostly Hodgson out of his misery and replaced him with the man who under different circumstances might never have left the job - Kenny Dalglish.
Since then, the Reds have rocketed up the charts quicker than Paul Hardcastle's '19' will this week if United fans get their way. Thanks to those lovely people at Opta, we can see that Liverpool have picked up 33 points from their 16 games under Dalglish, second only to Chelsea in that period.
Over the course of a full season that rate of accrual would give them 78 points, a potentially title-winning total this season should Manchester United only pick up the single point they need to claim this year's crown.
Comparison with this season's other managerial changes in the Premier League puts the turnaround into even greater context.
Newly-promoted Newcastle were 11th in the table when they sacked Chris Hughton in December, the same position they currently occupy under Alan Pardew. "The board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward," a club statement read at the time, presumably dictated by Derek Llambias while running on a treadmill.
Sam Allardyce's Blackburn were 13th before Christmas. Now Steve Kean's Rovers are 15th, three points from safety with games against United and Wolves to come. Recently-installed Ewood Park owners Venky's Group said at the time: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club." How's that working out for you, guys?
Ironically, the most successful managerial switch aside from Dalglish's this term has been that of Hodgson replacing Roberto di Matteo at West Brom.
The Baggies were 16th when they fired the Italian in February, two points off the bottom three following a run of 13 defeats in 18 games. Now they are 13th and have been virtually safe for a few weeks. Hodgson is further proof that when a big club loses a successful manager, it pays to wait for some other chump to take the job first.
Of course, Dalglish has been helped greatly by the arrival of Luis Suarez, as well as Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles (temporarily) and Maxi finding their scoring boots.
If any fan of La Liga wants an easy point in the perennial and tiresome debate over which league is the best in the world then they need only look at that scoring run from former Atletico Madrid man Maxi, who was so abject for much of his time at the Vicente Calderon.
Still, the Argentine has bagged seven goals in three games, while Kuyt has become the first Liverpool player to score in five straight league games since Michael Owen.
All the way through this red renaissance the overriding image has been that of Kenny's cheeky grin - save perhaps for his recent spat with Arsene Wenger at the final whistle of their 1-1 draw.
As well as drawing with the Gunners, Dalglish has masterminded wins over United, City and Chelsea since returning to the club. Spurs have plenty of reason for trepidation ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield.
Yet Dalglish is still only officially there in caretaker capacity. Asked about his future following last night's win at Fulham, he said: "When we've got something to tell you, we'll tell you. Nobody's under any pressure whatsoever."
If Liverpool can take this form into next season, then Alex Ferguson might beg to differ.
- Tue May 10 08:55AM
Two-fifths of the way through a week in which we have to constantly remind ourselves that Manchester United still need a point to claim a record 19th title, Liverpool must be wondering what might have been.
The Reds' 5-2 thrashing of Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday evening moves them up to fifth in the table ahead of the teams immediately above and below them - Manchester City and Tottenham - playing each other at Eastlands tonight.
In their five games over the past month, Liverpool have won four and drawn one, scoring 17 goals in the process including two hat-tricks from Maxi Rodriguez.
It is a far cry from the club's travails in the first half of the season under Roy Hodgson, when they were the butt of every joke going.
There was the embarrassing court battle with Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the ownership of the club which gave everyone a crash course in transatlantic corporate law, introduced us to Texan judge Jim Jordan and earned Martin Broughton a knighthood. Well, running British Airways might also have had something to do with that, to be fair.
On the pitch things weren't much better, with Hodgson's cards marked ever since back-to-back defeats to Blackpool and Everton in October.
Liverpool were 12th when new owners Fenway Sports Group finally put a brow-beaten, ghostly Hodgson out of his misery and replaced him with the man who under different circumstances might never have left the job - Kenny Dalglish.
Since then, the Reds have rocketed up the charts quicker than Paul Hardcastle's '19' will this week if United fans get their way. Thanks to those lovely people at Opta, we can see that Liverpool have picked up 33 points from their 16 games under Dalglish, second only to Chelsea in that period.
Over the course of a full season that rate of accrual would give them 78 points, a potentially title-winning total this season should Manchester United only pick up the single point they need to claim this year's crown.
Comparison with this season's other managerial changes in the Premier League puts the turnaround into even greater context.
Newly-promoted Newcastle were 11th in the table when they sacked Chris Hughton in December, the same position they currently occupy under Alan Pardew. "The board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward," a club statement read at the time, presumably dictated by Derek Llambias while running on a treadmill.
Sam Allardyce's Blackburn were 13th before Christmas. Now Steve Kean's Rovers are 15th, three points from safety with games against United and Wolves to come. Recently-installed Ewood Park owners Venky's Group said at the time: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club." How's that working out for you, guys?
Ironically, the most successful managerial switch aside from Dalglish's this term has been that of Hodgson replacing Roberto di Matteo at West Brom.
The Baggies were 16th when they fired the Italian in February, two points off the bottom three following a run of 13 defeats in 18 games. Now they are 13th and have been virtually safe for a few weeks. Hodgson is further proof that when a big club loses a successful manager, it pays to wait for some other chump to take the job first.
Of course, Dalglish has been helped greatly by the arrival of Luis Suarez, as well as Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles (temporarily) and Maxi finding their scoring boots.
If any fan of La Liga wants an easy point in the perennial and tiresome debate over which league is the best in the world then they need only look at that scoring run from former Atletico Madrid man Maxi, who was so abject for much of his time at the Vicente Calderon.
Still, the Argentine has bagged seven goals in three games, while Kuyt has become the first Liverpool player to score in five straight league games since Michael Owen.
All the way through this red renaissance the overriding image has been that of Kenny's cheeky grin - save perhaps for his recent spat with Arsene Wenger at the final whistle of their 1-1 draw.
As well as drawing with the Gunners, Dalglish has masterminded wins over United, City and Chelsea since returning to the club. Spurs have plenty of reason for trepidation ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield.
Yet Dalglish is still only officially there in caretaker capacity. Asked about his future following last night's win at Fulham, he said: "When we've got something to tell you, we'll tell you. Nobody's under any pressure whatsoever."
If Liverpool can take this form into next season, then Alex Ferguson might beg to differ.
LOL
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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