Dave Hendrick: How Liverpool Can Topple Arsenal and Man City | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Strong Premier League Start: A Season of Promise

Liverpool’s return to Premier League action has been met with optimism as they find themselves second in the table after five games. In a recent episode of The Daily Red Podcast, hosted by Dave Hendrick, he offers an insightful analysis of the Reds’ performances thus far. With 12 points from their first five games, Hendrick believes Liverpool are in a strong position, especially considering the challenges they faced over the summer.

Bright Start to the Season

Liverpool’s start to the Premier League season is notably positive. “We have the best defense in the league and the joint third-most goals scored,” Hendrick remarks, underscoring their solid positioning despite some frustrating moments. Reflecting on the disappointing draw against Nottingham Forest, he adds, “We should have won that game on the basis of us being a significantly better team.”

Hendrick continues to look at the broader picture, noting that “if anybody had said to us before the season that you’ll have 12 points after the first five games, I think we’d have been pretty enthused by that.” With a new manager and a different style of play, Hendrick emphasises that Liverpool’s early success is even more impressive given the absence of crucial summer transfers for the left-back and holding midfielder positions.

Upcoming Fixtures and Key Challenges

Looking ahead, Hendrick gives his verdict on Liverpool’s next five league fixtures. The team faces Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea, among others. “Wolves have had a dreadful start…we should be going there and winning,” he says, noting that Wolves sit at the bottom of the table. He is similarly confident about the Crystal Palace fixture: “We should be going there and winning that game.” As for Chelsea, despite their mixed form, Hendrick insists Liverpool should come out on top: “We have a better team than they do, and we should win that game.”

However, the biggest challenge in the near term is undoubtedly Arsenal. Hendrick admits that while Arsenal is not a great open-play team, their threat from set-pieces remains significant. “Let’s say we lose that one,” he concedes, acknowledging that the Arsenal match could end in disappointment, but emphasises the importance of the home fixture later in the season.

Premier League Title Aspirations

Reflecting on Liverpool’s title prospects, Hendrick argues that the key to success lies not in beating their direct title rivals, such as Manchester City or Arsenal, but in securing victories against lower-ranked teams. “It doesn’t really matter how you perform against the other top clubs,” as Dave mentions fellow Anfield Index contributor Simon Brundish champions “beat the dross, win the league”.

Looking ahead to the halfway point of the season, Hendrick predicts, “We could come out of the next five league games with 24 points from a possible 30…that’s a pretty good place to be.” He forecasts that 45 points from 19 games would keep Liverpool on track for a 90-point season, which he believes is the minimum requirement for winning the Premier League. “You’ve got to get to 90 points; it might not even be enough, but you’ve got to get there,” he emphasises.

Conclusion

As Liverpool continue their season, The Daily Red Podcast offers a compelling perspective on their journey ahead. Hendrick’s confidence in the team shines through, acknowledging both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. With key fixtures on the horizon, fans can expect a thrilling campaign. Whether Liverpool can hit the magic 90-point mark remains to be seen, but as Hendrick puts it, “If we go in January and we’re aggressive and ambitious…we can win the league.”