EPL: Why Liverpool Shouldn't Be Counted Out in 2012

Among the shocks and upsets this past English Premier League weekend, Liverpool's 3-0 loss to West Brom was simultaneously the most shocking and the most expected. 

Hear me out. 

Liverpool had a disastrous campaign last term, finishing eighth behind Everton and miles off the pace for the title. Despite winning their first trophy in six years with the Carling Cup, Liverpool management promptly sacked Kenny Dalglish and brought in one of the managerial stars of the future in Brendan Rodgers. 

BR brought youth, vigor and an emphasis on youth development and ball possession to an organization that looked old and tired. 

After a decent preseason and encouraging victories in the Europa League, the start of the Barclays Premier League looked really bright for Rodgers' new-look Liverpool, as they faced a West Brom side that should easily be beaten.

Queue Saturday evening. Liverpool are 3-0 losers to an upstart West Brom, with Daniel Agger sitting out the Man City clash after a dubious red card. 

The season could not have started worse for Rodgers and his new side.

Many people were indeed shocked by the result, but these reactions of disbelief were followed quickly by, "Well, they're right back where they left off. No surprise."

Despite the hope-crushing defeat on Saturday, it would still be unwise to count Liverpool out this season. 

A lot of regular EPL viewers claim that Liverpool are a bad side, especially last season. Liverpool are not a bad side. Liverpool are an underachieving side. 

A team with the quality of players such as Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger, Pepe Reina and Lucas should not perform as poorly as Saturday's loss. 

Suarez tried to do it all himself; a positional change in which Suarez operated on a wing with Fabio Borini moving to the central striker role will get the most out of both players.

When the central partnership of Agger and Martin Skrtel hits the rhythm they had last season, they again will be one of the most feared center-back pairings in the Premier League.

Gerrard just looked disinterested the entire match. He needs to impose himself in Rodgers' new system as the guy who sits behind Suarez/Borini/Carroll and dictate the match. Once Gerrard, Lucas and new boy Joe Allen get ticking, Liverpool will have one of the most fluid midfields in the league.

To be fair to Lucas, he performed admirably having recently come off knee surgery. 

Liverpool have a good team. We haven't even seen unknown signing Oussama Assaidi, but from the YouTube videos floating around, the young Moroccan has blistering pace and a great skill set that will fit well with Rodgers' style of play. 

Rodgers isn't finished in the transfer window, either. Liverpool are still looking to bring in a couple more players, including maligned Fulham star Clint Dempsey (per ESPNSTAR.com) and forgotten Man City winger Adam Johnson (per The Independent).

If Brendan Rodgers can sign one or both of these players, then the attacking woes of Liverpool could very well be fixed. 

Don't view Liverpool's opening loss as a sign of things to come. Look at it as a learning experience. Many of these players are learning a new system on the fly. When all the gears fall in place, it would be extremely unwise to take Liverpool for granted.