Is Liverpool a Championship Team? What the Next 4 Games Will Say About The Reds

Liverpool fans may think of their team as little brother to the more well-financed clubs such as Manchester United or Chelsea, but ask any Reds fan about the upcoming English Premier League season and you’ll find out that expectations for Liverpool are high.

The team’s striker, Luis Suarez, has two goals in the first three matches, the Reds haven’t lost a game and there are rumors of high-profile, high-talent transfers coming into Liverpool from Uruguay and Denmark. Manchester United can be dethroned, and it can be Liverpool who gets the job done.

The next four matches will give us an incredibly clear picture as to who this Liverpool team is and whether or not they have the stones in their sling to take down Goliath.

September 10th -- Liverpool at Stoke City

Stoke City may have five points in three matches, but there’s no hiding that this team had to claw its way out of the relegation battle late last season. Stoke City has only scored two goals and the only thing this team has to hang its hat on is it defense and goalkeeping. That’s good news for Liverpool who has scored six goals so far.

Reds fans will get a good look at how strong the team’s attacking is, especially considering it’s an away match.

September 18th -- Liverpool at Tottenham

Back-to-back away matches are never favorable, but this will be an excellent chance for Liverpool fans to see how their team handles a seemingly weak Tottenham team.

Last season Tottenham was the talk of the EPL, finishing in fifth place and getting a chance to show their stuff in the Europa League. This season is a completely different story as Tottenham has been dreadful, losing 3-0 to Manchester United and then losing 5-1 later that week to Manchester City.

This match will show the Liverpool faithful if their team can avoid playing down to their competition and overcome an under performing club.

September 24th -- Liverpool vs Wolves

Wolves is one of those teams that has come out of the gate firing on all cylinders. They are currently tied with Liverpool with seven points through three matches, but the Wolves are a team that is over-achieving.

Except for their 2-0 victory over an exhausted Fulham team that is overbooked because of its participating in the Europa League, they have defeated Blackburn and drawn with Aston Villa. Liverpool will provide the first real test for a Wolves team that has only scored four goals. 

Liverpool will again have a chance to show how good of an attacking team they are against a Wolves club, led by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who has only conceded one goal this season.

October 1st -- Liverpool at Everton

The last of Liverpool’s next four matches is against an Everton team that is always strong as long as goalkeeper Tim Howard is in front of the net. Yes, it was Howard who let in the first ever goal for Queens Park Rangers in the EPL, but the man has been one of the best for the last few years. By this point, Suarez will most likely have another goal or two to his belt.

Liverpool will have a chance to show if their supporting cast members, notably midfielder Charlie Adam and forward Andrew Carroll, can step up to the challenge when Suarez is marked.

The next four matches really provide Liverpool the chance to show off how good they are offensively and defensively. Against the likes of Stoke City and Everton, their forwards will have to work hard to find the back of the net. Matches against Tottenham and Wolves could turn into a display of offensive fireworks if Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is not careful.

If Liverpool can escape their next four matches with no more than one loss, they will show themselves to be one of the great, balanced teams in the English Premier League.