Seven games from contention?

Gerard Houllier once claimed that his Liverpool side were 'ten games from greatness'. Less enthrallingly but just as significantly, Brendan Rodgers Liverpool are now seven games from contention.

More possession kept, more spirit shown, more chances created, more chances wasted and depressingly, more dropped points. A familiar pattern played out for the Reds at White Hart Lane in their 2-1 defeat. Losing away at Spurs shouldn't be seen as a disaster, especially given the resilient nature of the performance after a terrible opening ten minutes, but the defeat now places extra significance on Liverpool's next seven league games between December 1^st and January 2^nd.

Southampton, Aston Villa, Fulham and Sunderland visit Anfield in that time. Away from home West Ham, Stoke and QPR lie in wait. All are games that Liverpool can and will be expected to win. 21 vital points are available in total over the next 33 days and it is the perfect opportunity to for Liverpool to start climbing the table.

Rodgers needs results now

The problematic start thus far has been (rightly, in my opinion ) excused to some extent given the paucity of depth in the squad, the difficult fixture list and the fact that high performance levels have failed to be rewarded in the form of points on several occasions. Now though, Brendan Rodgers has seven league games where, on each occasion, he will be in charge of the stronger team. He isn't facing the might of City, United or Chelsea. He isn't taking on the much more evolved and settled squads of Everton, Spurs or Arsenal and this period of back to back Premier League games will give fans, owners and players alike a clear picture of what Liverpool can achieve this season.

Despite only 3 league wins thus far, the potential for relative success (4^th place isn't good enough, but it is all we can hope for at the moment) still remains. Currently 10 points off 4^th placed West Brom and only 4 points above the drop zone, December looks like being the measuring stick for Liverpool. Come the final whistle on January 2^nd when Sunderland visit L4, Liverpool will have played 21 league games and their position in the table will be more telling than it is at present. It is crucial then, that when the players in red make their way back to the Anfield dressing room that day, they do so in significantly better shape than at present. Excuses will be harder to come by after this batch of winnable fixtures and if the players can squeeze out a good points total (17 points or more) then the season's aims will be being reassessed in a more positive manner.

Home is where the hurt is right now for Liverpool

Amazingly, if Rodgers can guide his team through this period while accumulating the requisite amount of points expected, then his side will probably be placed well enough to make an assault on 4^th place. It is unlikely, of course, given that stringing just 2 wins back to back has been impossible for Liverpool this season, but on paper, it is eminently possible. Every team the Reds face over the next 4 weeks are weaker and should be vanquished. The woeful home record will need to be finally eradicated and consistency must be found during this period. Drawing at home to Newcastle and Man City is bearable when the performances are good. Losing to Spurs and Manchester United after being the better team in both fixtures can be put into context and digested easily enough. That will not be the case if results against the likes of QPR, Villa and Sunderland are not favourable. Promise has been shown this season, but now is the time for delivery.

Seven games to get back in contention. Seven games for Brendan Rodgers to haul his side back up the league table and if that is achieved then Liverpool will likely be within touching distance of the Champions League place that they desire. If anything would persuade FSG to loosen their purse strings significantly in January then surely it would be the potential of a quicker than expected return to Europe's premier money spinning competition.

Fourth place is, unfortunately, the most that fans can dream for Liverpool right now and despite an underwhelming opening to this season, the lack of consistency exhibited by rival teams fighting for this coveted spot means that, incredibly, a good December is all it would take for the Reds to be genuine contenders for the position again. Then it would be over to FSG to show us how serious they really are about making this club a force again.

'Greatness' is a long way off but come the new year, fourth place shouldn't be.

Sparkling Suarez puts FSG in the Spotlight

Every supporter of Liverpool Football Club has been hoping since September 1^st that when the January transfer window arrives, owners Fenway Sports Group will dip their hands in their pockets and allow Brendan Rodgers to bolster his squad. Liverpool need more quality players and more experience in their ranks. They have done all season, but now fans have a new reason to hope that their American custodians spends some significant money in 8 weeks time: To keep Luis Suarez at Anfield.

Suarez is without doubt Liverpool's leading light these days. Indeed, he's probably the Premier League's leading light right now. His skill, inventiveness, work rate and recently his terrific output of goals means that the prospect of a Liverpool team taking to the field without him is a terrifying proposition (and I certainly don't mean for their opponents). Despite receiving a new contract this past summer, his happiness with his life on Merseyside and his mutual love with the clubs fan base, Suarez's departure seems more likely every time he shines like a diamond amongst the dirt for the Reds.

Liverpool have been here before. It was just shy of two years ago that a world class foreign striker seemingly in love with the club, paid handsomely and idolised by Kopites the world over eventually decided that he could leave all that behind to seek trophies at pastures new. Fernando Torres' move to Chelsea hasn't been plain sailing for the Spaniard but nearly 2 years on, Torres still hasn't been effectively replaced (Suarez was bought as a foil for the Spaniard, not as a direct replacement) and his qualities are desperately missed at Anfield. Meanwhile, in that time, his new club have won an F.A Cup, the Champions League and currently sit just a point from the top of the Premier League table. In short, they are miles in front of Liverpool.

Why Fernando Torres left Liverpool

If Suarez continues to perform to the extraordinary levels that he has reached thus far this season and then, just as happened with Torres, Champions League clubs with deeper pockets and better trophy prospects will be lining up down Anfield Road to try and tempt him away. Be it Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona, PSG or Real Madrid, Suarez is likely to have enticing offers come his way when this season is in the record books. Liverpool must do everything they can to retain the services of their only world class forward and that process must start in January.

John Henry and co need to get Liverpool back into the Champions League and they need to do it as quickly as possible. With their current squad that just isn't a realistic proposition. It will only become a realistic possibility if serious investment in the playing staff is allowed. The longer you are out of Europe's elite competition, the harder it is to attract top quality players and get back in there. Not being in the Champions League means your Champions League quality players will start to cast envious glances at clubs in the competition and their services become increasingly difficult to retain. Torres left Liverpool because he didn't think they had a short term route back to the top table of Europe's elite clubs. Sadly, he was right. How long before Luis Suarez starts to feel the same way? How many games must he carry almost the entire attacking threat of his team while surrounded only by promising youngsters, fading former stars and downright mediocrity before he decides that enough is enough and he can get a better deal elsewhere?

Suarez showcased his genius with this goal against Newcastle

It would be surprising if these thoughts aren't already forming in the Uruguayan's mind. Like all Liverpool fans, he will likely be waiting with baited breath when January comes around to see how serious FSG really are about restoring Liverpool to their former glories in a timely fashion. It's all well and good having a long term plan and appointing a manager to carry it out and youngsters like Sterling, Wisdom, Shelvey and Suso might be fantastic players in a few years time but for a world class striker in his prime right now, a few years down the line probably matters little. He will want success as soon as possible and progress needs to be made in the forthcoming transfer window to facilitate that progress. If FSG can give their manager the funds to significantly improve his squad this winter then it will at least be an assurance that short term, the club are attempting to take serious strides forward and make a significant effort to get back to where they believe they should be. If they don't offer Rodgers a fistful of dollars and he has to continue to rely on kids from the academy and players like Downing, Cole and Enrique week in week out then could anyone really blame Luis Suarez for considering his future?

Suarez is an elite footballer who has the qualities to play in any side in the world. A new contract with a big pay rise only goes so far. He, like the clubs fans, needs reassurances that players of his ilk will be coming through the Shankly Gates soon to help him get Liverpool back into the Champions League and prevent them becoming a perennially mid table outfit. FSG need to bite the bullet, financially back the manager that they appointed and keep their best player happy. If they don't then Liverpool can forget the Champions League and they will probably have to forget Luis Suarez too.