Filed under: Liverpool, Premier League, Football
After almost eight months of happy headlines, Liverpool's deserved defeat against Galatasaray has taken some gloss off the pre-season optimism surrounding Anfield.Kenny Dalglish has returned, George Gillett and Tom Hicks are just distant memories and new owners Fenway Sports Group have spent more £100 million since they took the reins at Liverpool.
A busy summer of transfers has also boosted the excitement levels among Liverpool's fans even further.
However, the Galatasaray loss followed a similar defeat to Hull City last weekend to prove that not everybody is reading the same script as Liverpool.
But that is not a bad thing. In fact, it could turn out to be a very, very good thing.
On forums and Twitter alike, the general impression being given by Liverpool's fans is that the club are "back", that they are bona fide Premier League contenders once more and that "King Kenny" only has to wave his magic wand this season and the silverware will follow.
But the Galatasaray result may well inject a healthy dose of pessimism into Liverpool's fanbase and dampen down an expectation level that had been getting ever more rabid.
Thursday's match in Istanbul underlined that Liverpool's squad still needs to gel, Dalglish still requires a left-back and Liverpool are still a mile away from full match fitness.
None of those issues are life or death - but it is important that they are flagged up and that Liverpool's fans begin to realise that Anfield will not necessarily be the scene of non-stop triumphs this season.
Dalglish said: "I think they looked a bit sharper than us at the start of the game. It was the same as at the weekend in that we played a lot better in the second half than we did in the first half.
"But the players worked hard and they'll benefit from the effort they put in. It won't do us any harm for the season ahead, but we've got to get ourselves a bit sharper, a bit more clued up and lively when we're not in possession of the ball."
He added: "I think the benefit is it's another game. They looked a bit sharper than us and are maybe a wee bit ahead of us. Their season was due to start but I think it's been put back for a number of days."
"We've just got to get ourselves streetwise on the pitch and get up to speed with our thoughts when we're not in possession of the ball. August 13 is a big day for us when the season starts, and we'd like to think this will stand us in good stead getting towards that date."
Dalglish clearly spoke hard-nosed and logical sense after the match. He just has to hope that Liverpool's fans are listening.
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