Is Liverpool Bubbling Under or Bumbling Under the Top Five?

As with most contenders, this appeared to be the season the red part of Merseyside had been waiting for.

Could be they're right.

Then again, could be that wait's gonna be longer.

It's the latter if their match with Newcastle is any indication.

The sleeping giants of the north -- big club, swimming in dosh, poor decisions, poor results -- wandered down for a visit to history rich Liverpool on a wonderful Sunday evening and held a club with superior talent to a 1-1 draw.

This was a match where the underachiever was wearing red. The Magpies had half the possession of their hosts and yet outshot them, 5-2.

Philippe Coutinho might be urgently sitting tight, waiting for winter transfer window to open, but for the time being, dude's doing everything he can for the Reds:

 

That spot on the field with his right foot is turning into his specialty. A 29th-minute wafer from the little Brazilian.

Then, as if on cue, the 'Pool's defense disintegrated not long after, as Newcastle's Joselu had fortune smile upon him:

Right now, that's Liverpool for you.

So's this:

So near, and yet, so far.