3 Games in and a season on the brink OR The Not Ready For Primetime Players

Well, here we are, 3 games in and 2nd in the league on goal differential.  Not so bad on the face of it.  But most Liverpool supporters would say we've played poorly.  The media, in their shameless idiocy, have deemed us "lucky"  - they're full of shit.  Torres and Gerrard have rescued points very very late against Sunderland and Boro, but that's what players of their quality are paid to do.  You put Torres in for 90 minutes against any team in any league and chaces are pretty good he'll score.... nothing lucky about it.

Here's the problem: what happens when those two are not on the pitch? Nil fucking Nil, that's what.  And if we come away nil nil against the Mancs in less than two weeks time, I for one will take it, thank you very much.  When Torres and Gerrard are injured, I just don't see where the goals are coming from. Shit... I don't even know who'll line up against United.  Seriously.  I have no fucking idea.

Looks like the back four is pretty much settled; and it's solid.  But, will Carragher continue his scoring ways by thumping the ball into Ferdinand's ugly face, deflecting it into the net? That would be nice, wouldn't it - but probably won't happen.  Likewise, I'm not holding my breath to see a winner out of Arbeloa, Skrtl, or Dossena.  Fair enough. They're defenders after all.

Ok. So that leaves one of the following players to put the ball in the net against the Manc cunts: Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Lucas, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera, El Zhar, Pennant, Ngog, Keane, and, God helps us, Dirk Kuyt. 

That's grim reading, folks.  Sorry to say it. 

Which brings us to Keane: Time to step it up, son! Yes You Can!  Change I can believe In!  If anyone on that list of can turn the game for us it's got to be him.  Big players rise to the occasion, and what better occasion than scoring a winner, at Anfield, against United.  That said, it's a bit early to put so much pressure on the guy, and I'm still not sure where he fits in the overall squad dynamic, especially with No. 8 an No. 9 out:  I guess we put him upfront with the goal-challenged Dirk Kuyt.  I'm not crazy about it, but maybe it'll work.  I'll be pulling for Keano, and doing my part by eating a large bowl of Lucky Charms from now until matchday, if nothing else the sugar high will get me through the dreary internationals.

So that's where we are. We have the good fortune of having not one but two ridiculously talented, balls-to-the-wall, committed, game-winning badass motherfuckers on our squad.  Other top teams are lucky to have just one (Arsenal, I'm looking at you). 

The good news, such as it is, is that while we may be without them temporarily, soon enough they'll be back, banging in goals and having us singing again.  Whether that will be enough to bring us the title we all so desperately want, well...that's a question for tomorrow.