The crucial aspect of any title challenge is we need to remember that we weren't expected to do well at all. Our ambition was to break into the top four. Therefore, the further we move away from 5th, we can play our games without pressure, we aren't supposed to be challenging, go out and try to win, with just 11 games of our season left. Chelsea have the 'Special One' back, he's under pressure to win it, Arsenal bought Ozil and need to break this 8/9 year drought, Man City are the money men. While as fans we will be wishing and hoping, ultimately, if our team doesn't quite make it, there won't be quite the same post mortem as there might be elsewhere.
No-one in their right mind should be annoyed at the players if we don't make it, disappointed that we didn't capitalise on an opportunity perhaps, but c'est la vie.
Yes, the fixture list is kinder to Chelsea of the top three, but they will be in Europe still you would imagine after this round of games. Man City will have FA Cup, and re-arranged games to play together due to postponements, we can actually go above them if we beat Southampton as they don't play this weekend with the Carling Cup final, Arsenal have a difficult run of games and an FA Cup run to continue - morale, tiredness, pressure can all build in the coming weeks.
The joy of football besides the actual winning, is surely being in this position with 11 games to go. Having your football team catapult you into a dream of winning the one thing you want your team to win so much. From Hicks and Gillett, mutiny on the Kop against Havant and Waterlooville, Purslow, nearing administration, court cases, a finish of 8th in the league, a feeling that we might never get back anywhere near this sort of position. Perhaps we lose to Southampton like people have suggested, it might happen, but it won't mean that we haven't made the progress. Barring complete collapse we should get fourth. Therefore we are in a position now, where with every win, why not, allow yourself to dream of higher up the table like we have done in the past? Liverpool are back. We're marching up that hill, but some of us don't seem ready yet to sing the song, to march into battle behind the red men!
I mean perhaps we don't win the league, no worries. Maybe we can get direct qualification for the Champions League in a position of 2nd or 3rd - and really cement a brilliant season and start preparing for the new season with Champions League confirmed!
Ultimately the real excitement for me, comes from Liverpool being back. As Phase of Play says, it means so much to me, just to think of the Southampton game and get butterflies- knowing that while watching it, it will matter so much to me- and that's because of our direct improvement. It's not a game where if we win we can cut the gap to fourth to 6 points, it's a game where we can keep 4 points from the summit, or even closer to 1st, or 2nd if Chelsea or Arsenal drop.
Gerrard's goal was massively important, but if I remember correctly, Benayoun's winner against Fulham away came after the league leaders had dropped points. Imagine if Chelsea somehow manage a draw against Fulham away and we grab another last minute winner against Southampton later in the day? I think I would get kicked out of any pub I was in
