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Second in the table with ten matches left is an exhilarating, terrifying place to be. After a visit to Southampton saw Liverpool beat the Saints 3-0, the Reds leapfrogged over Manchester City and Arsenal to find themselves in second place on goal difference. Liverpool haven't been this close to the top since falling out of first place on Boxing Day, and suddenly all those whispers about a title run are getting much, much louder.
"I'm not focusing on that, to be honest," Brendan Rodgers said post-match of the possibility of making a tilt for the title. "I'm focusing on winning the next game. I think we've had an outstanding performance today, a really significant performance against a very, very good side with an excellent manager.
"The players were tactically brilliant today and we scored three and maybe could have had another five or six goals. But we'll just stay calm. There are 10 games to go now, we're in a good position and we just want to continue working at the level we are at."
The win continues Liverpool's unbeaten streak in 2014 and puts them a mere four points behind table toppers Chelsea. It's not an insurmountable differential to overcome in ten matches given that Chelsea are still to visit Anfield in late April, but with Manchester City a mere two points back from Liverpool and with two games in hand, Liverpool's position in second place is a bit precarious at the moment.
Still, it's hard not to get excited about the possibilities still open to Liverpool at point in the campaign. After taking all available points from the first three matches of the season, including three from Manchester United, Lucas reminded everyone it was okay to get excited by the team's success. Six months later, Liverpool are still absolutely in the mix, and Brendan Rodgers' echoes his injured midfielder in saying that it's "great for the supporters to dream" of the title even if the team aren't getting carried away just yet.
"What is great for [the fans] is that they have seen the evolution of this team over the last 18 months," Rodgers continued, "and we've consistently being progressing and performing at a really good level."
Liverpool's last two wins have come not from the dominant, opponent-crushing victories that have characterized many matches this season, but from games where, like it or not, Liverpool have found a way to grind out a win in spite of a less-than-perfect ninety minutes. These are the wins that help add up to championships, and while that tenth and final remaining match of the season is still a long way down the road, maybe it's okay to get a little optimistic right now.
Have a glass of something strong in your hand while experiencing these feelings of optimism, though, just in case.
