After a shambolic transfer deadline day for Liverpool and then a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal over the weekend, many people are predicting it will be a tough season for the Reds. But are the naysayers right to be so pessimistic? And what can we now really expect from them under new boss Brendan Rodgers this season?

If the doom-mongers and significant critics are to be believed – not very much is the simple answer. However, scratch below the surface and things are not as bad at Anfield as some would have you believe (Liverpool 10/3 – Top 4 Finish).

First of all, the season is only three games old and pundits and fans alike would do well to remember that 12 months ago Arsenal had just suffered a thoroughly embarrassing and humiliating 8-2 defeat at Manchester United and were in the bottom three with just a solitary point to their name.

Strangely, Liverpool went to the Emirates and won 2-0 at the end of last August during that period as well so, bearing in mind how the respective clubs’ seasons’ eventually turned out, it is worth informing those tipping Liverpool to finish in the bottom half and the Gunners to go on a title charge, that nothing is ever won or sorted out in September (Liverpool EVS – Top 6 Finish).

There is, to quote an oft-used phrase, a long, long way to go yet.

Not that Rodgers’ Reds aren’t deserving of some criticism for their performances so far. The way they folded so badly against West Brom on the opening day was pitiful (especially as they had been the better side for 55 minutes) while basic, costly, individual errors from the normally-reliable Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina have been rightly slammed too.

Also, the club’s failure, for whatever reason, to sign a replacement for Andy Carroll last week was bad business in anyone’s books. Rodgers now has very few attacking options and will need to keep his fingers crossed on a large block of wood that no more key men follow midfielder Lucas into the treatment room over the next few months.

But, despite all this, there are positives. It was always going to take the Northern Irishman plenty of time to get his methods to work at Anfield and to judge him and his new-look side so early on in the season is ridiculous.

They were well beaten in the end by the Baggies and the Gunners but that is not taking into account the first hour or so of both games when Liverpool could argue, without too much complaint, that they had been the better side and had definitely created the better chances without converting them. Of course that, in itself, is becoming a major problem and needs addressing if things are to improve.

Then there was the 2-2 draw against champions Man City that Liverpool largely dominated but again failed to get a reward from. A win looked a certainty until Skrtel’s inexplicable back-pass presented Carlos Tevez with a gift of a goal in front of The Kop. So, the Reds have just a point so far and face difficult games next at Sunderland away and then there’s a home clash with arch-rivals Manchester United to follow.

Hardly the sort of games any side wants as they aim to kick-start their season. However, if they cut out the errors, take the chances they are creating and get key men like Reina, Gerrard and Skrtel back performing to their best, don’t bet against Rodgers’ side having seven points in the bag come September 23. The critics might not be so vocal then.

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