LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Coming off an international week and
visiting a Sunderland side still abuzz from their Old Trafford
efforts, Liverpool's title hopes could sustain a hole below the
waterline even earlier than usual on Saturday.
Their 2-0 loss to Chelsea last time out was their third defeat
in eight league matches and has left them six points behind the
table-topping Londoners.
Another loss at the Stadium of Light, combined with wins for
Chelsea at Aston Villa and Manchester United at home to Bolton
Wanderers would leave Rafa Benitez's side with a mountain to
climb.
Liverpool fans who celebrated their then-record 18th
championship title and 10th in 15 years in 1990 would have taken
some convincing that 20 years on they would still be searching for
their 19th but that is already starting to look a strong
possibility even before the end of October.
In recent seasons Benitez has made little attempt to disguise
his feelings that the Premier League was strictly a second priority
after the Champions League.
While they were winning and reaching the final of Europe's elite
competition the fans could just about swallow it but when
Manchester United equalled their record of 18 titles last season
enough was enough.
Benitez certainly seemed to have more of a focus on domestic
duties in the first two months of the season, with less rotation in
the league, but his team have still been inconsistent.
They preceded the Chelsea defeat with a loss, and a poor
performance, to Fiorentina in the Champions League. They follow the
Sunderland game with a Champions League match against Lyon and a
Premier League clash with United.
Assistant manager Sammy Lee, a key midfielder in the 1980s when
Anfield league titles came along like London busess, told the
club's website (www.liverpool.tv) that high-pressure games were the
norm.
"At this football club, every week is massive," he said.
"It's been a mixed start to the season - there have been some
good points and some bad. But it's still only October and we're
going to be working very hard to ensure we're there or thereabouts
come the end of the season in all competitions."
GROIN STRAIN
Steven Gerrard missed England's World Cup qualifier against
Belarus on Wednesday with a groin strain but could feature on
Saturday, while Fernando Torres was excused boots from Spain's game
against Bosnia having played 55 minutes against Armenia on
Saturday.
"There is no window for us to have any kind of international
hangover - we don't have that luxury," Lee said.
Sunderland were heading for a famous victory at Old Trafford on
Oct. 3. before a last-minute own goal scraped Manchester United a
2-2 draw and, having beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-2 the week
before, confidence is high.
United have also been misfiring at times this season, though
they have still won six and drawn one of their eight games, but
will expect to claim another win at home to Bolton.
Chelsea's win over Liverpool was the perfect riposte after their
perfect start to the season had been ended by Wigan Athletic and
they face another stiff test at Villa.
Arsenal, who have already scored 24 goals in their seven games,
are at home to Birmingham City, Tottenham Hotspur visit manager
Harry Redknapp's former club Portsmouth while Manchester City visit
Wigan on Sunday.