Three reasons to support Liverpool FC

1. History

Liverpool F.C. was founded in 1892 following a land dispute between the Everton executive committee and the club president/owner of Anfield, John Houlding. Everton relocated to Goodison Park, and Houlding created Liverpool F.C. to occupy the grounds. Liverpool is one of the most successful clubs in England and has won more European trophies than any other English team:

• 5 European Cups
• 3 UEFA Cups
• 3 UEFA Super Cups
• 18 League titles
• 7 FA Cups
• 8 League Cups

They dominated Europe so much in the 1980's that all English clubs were banned from European competitions for five years.

Liverpool have not won a Premier League title since the league’s founding in 1992. Because of this lack of recent success, they've often been called the “Dallas Cowboys of the Premier League.” But when was the last time the Cowboys finished second in the NFL? I do like this comparison on one level: I think that in the same way that the Cowboys are America’s Team in American football, Liverpool can be America’s Team in association football. More on that later.

2. Redemption, or the post-Suarez era

Last season was a whirlwind. After finishing seventh in the previous season, Liverpool finished second in the premiership in the 2013-2014 season thanks to the heroic partnership of Suarez and Sturridge who scored goals at a shocking pace. Due to this extraordinary turnaround, Liverpool qualified for the Champions League for first time since the 2009-2010 season but fell several results short from winning the League title for the first time in 25 years.

Things have certainly changed in the three months since the end of the season. Suarez bit an Italian defender (the third biting incident of his career) during a World Cup match and promptly received a four month ban from all footballing activities. Despite his cannibalistic tendencies, Suarez has quickly become one of the most interesting characters in modern football. While I am sad to see him take his talents to Barcelona, I was glad that he remained at Liverpool this past season.

Since shedding the existential weight that is Luis Suarez, I believe Liverpool has a shot at redemption this season. With the young talent and pace of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, I feel the Reds have a legitimate shot at a title this year, not to mention the talent of returning veterans.

Liverpool believes in playing beautiful football. Liverpool doesn't believe that overpaying Brazilians will result in beautiful football. Liverpool currently is 5th in terms of its players salaries in the Premier league, behind two Manchester clubs and two London clubs. The Reds, on average, spend £100 million less than the club with the highest wage bill (cough Man City cough). Let other clubs spend their money on foreign talent, we’ll keep our 101 league goals scored last season, the most by any runner-up in league history.

3. Supporting Freedom and the hopes of England

Other clubs in the Premier League are owned by oil billionaires and Russian oligarchs. Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, has close ties to the Russian mafia, and he admitted to paying billions in bribes to government officials to solidify his control over key assets in Russia oil production during perestroika and loans for shares schemes rampant in Russia in the 90's. He also obtained protection from the Russia mafia to guard these investments. He has close ties to the Kremlin and is referred to as “Mr. A” by Russian officials. Abramovich was the first person to recommend Vladimir Putin to be successor to Boris Yeltsin as president of Russia.

On the other hand, Liverpool is owned by Americans. Freedom-loving, democracy-obsessed Americans. Americans who own other American sporting institutions like the Boston Red Sox and a NASCAR team. Liverpool’s ownership loves capitalism almost as much as it loves freedom and sport. America’s Team…

… and England’s Team. Johnson, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge, Gerrard, Lallana, and Lambert. These seven Liverpool players represented England in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, more than any other English club. The hopes and dreams of England in upcoming international competitions rests on the shoulders of these Liverpool players.