Rafael Benitez today promised that his Liverpool side would finish in the top four.
That is despite his side currently languishing in seventh position, level on points with newly promoted Birmingham City and five points behind the precious fourth position.
It also comes on the back of a 2-1 home defeat against Arsenal in which Liverpool lacked the grit and determination which has typically personified their side in recent seasons.
As an interested observer in this season’s race for the top four positions, I have been waiting for Liverpool's form to turn on its head and them to begin their ascent to the league positions they are accustomed to.
Recent games have appeared to be ideal opportunities for that to happen, but despite Rafa's confidence recent performances have gotten worse rather than better.
Blackburn away a few weeks ago was a fixture in which I expected that form to start. No disrespect to Blackburn, who are proving tough opposition on their home patch this season, but a team who started the season with title aspirations such as Liverpool would expect to come away with better then a 0-0 draw.
Then the opportunity to right the wrongs of their result in Florence earlier this year, which contributed towards their early exit from this seasons Champions League, came and went. Liverpool contrived to lose 2-1 at home to a Fiorentina side that are languishing down in ninth in their own domestic league.
Most recently, on the back of that shock home defeat, Arsenal arrived at Anfield for a game which typically brings out the best in Rafa Benitez' men and did so earlier this season in the home game against Manchester United.
But yet again, despite Rafa finally getting his wish of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both back starting the game, Liverpool again let a lead slip at home and lost 2-1 to fellow Champions League rivals Arsenal.
There were no excuses on Sunday. Bar the potential inclusion of £20 million pound summer signing Alberto Aquilani, Liverpool had there strongest possible side out, and still produced a lacklustre performance.
But despite all this evidence to the contrary, Rafa still promises to finish in the top four.
Clearly he is a clever man, but making such bold assertions with no foundation is surely setting him up for a massive fall from grace.
This season has been like no other. No game can be taken for granted, and with at least three clubs ready to pounce, the Liverpool Manager must be secretly worried about the prospect of not making next seasons Champions League.
The game against Wigan tomorrow appears to be an ideal fixture for a club who need a result. Wigan’s inconsistency is clear, following up a devastating 9-1 loss to Tottenham with a solid 1-0 home victory against Sunderland; however they have still contrived to beat league leaders Chelsea and score a victory away at fourth placed Aston Villa.
This highlights the danger in Benitez making such bold assertions about his sides finishing position this season. Every team in the Premiership has the potential to win a game and given recent form it is highly unlikely Liverpool will not slip up against a few improbable opponents between now and May.
Defeat tomorrow would strike a catastrophic blow into the Spaniard's confidence and surely leave the clubs loyal supporters wondering whether their clubs form will pick up at all this season.
A win however, would set them up nicely for a trip to bottom placed Portsmouth on Saturday and a home tie against struggling Wolves. Rafa will be desperate that when his side go to Villa Park on the 29th of December, it is on the back of three straight wins.
Continued outward defiance and insistence that his clubs "clever fans" will continue to back him will only get them so far. Rafa needs a result against Wigan tomorrow night, and that is a fact.
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