Liverpool: 5 Reasons Reds Can Still Win The Premier League

2. No European Distractions

The UEFA Champions League is the height of European football; for the fans of the 32 teams who make the group stages and beyond it is a major bragging right. Liverpool haven't appeared in the tournament since their elimination from the group stages in December 2009, though since then they have made three appearances in the UEFA Europa League reaching the Semi Final in the same season they crashed out of the Champions League. Finishing seventh in the Premier League last season and failing to pick up any domestic silverware meant that Brendan Rodgers' men would have no European football in the 2013/14 season. As a result, Kopites have suffered a lot of jokes at the hands of Arsenal, Chelsea, United and City fans since their disappearance from Europe's elite competition, but perhaps this year it is working in their favour. No doubt Manchester City have one eye on February and a round of 16 clash against Spanish giants Barcelona, while Chelsea were drawn against Galatasaray and Arsenal will be facing the current European champions Bayern Munchen. All those ties will give a fairly large distraction to the three teams above Liverpool, which may just give the Reds the opening they need to close the six point gap to the top. The lack of fixtures has also meant that key players like Steven Gerrard, who wouldn't benefit from such congestion, are able to train for the week and concentrate on each Premier League game at the weekend, which has been a key point in Liverpool's strong form this season. As beneficial as the Champions League may prove to the Merseyside club this year, should they gain entry into next season's tournament it has to be said that they will need to do a lot of business in the summer in order to juggle the additional matches next season.