Rochdale full-back Joe Rafferty believes his side are the ‘Liverpool of League Two’ this season as they, like the red-hot Premier League outfit, challenge for the title.
Dale are top of League Two as they prepare to face Fleetwood Town on Saturday and like Liverpool, who have smashed in 84 goals in 31 matches, are also top scorers in their division with 64 goals from 39 fixtures.
Rafferty, a lifelong Liverpool fan and product of the Anfield club’s youth academy believes Dale’s attacking, passing, style of football is similar to the approach of Brendan Rodgers’ side.
When asked by MM if he thought Dale were the ‘Liverpool of League Two’, Rafferty replied: “Yeah, I’d like to think so, I just hope they can both finish first in the league.
“That would be great for me obviously being a Liverpool supporter, if we both can finish as high up as we can then it’s a bonus.
“We’ll try and make Ian Henderson do the Daniel Sturridge dance next time he scores!”
Keith Hill’s free-flowing side have had 14 different goalscorers so far this season, with six players on five goals or more.
One of those players is 19-goal top scorer Scott Hogan, who has missed the last five games through injury.
But in the forward’s absence Dale have netted 11 times and this is testament to the squad’s strength in depth according to Rafferty.
“We’re not just relying on Scott Hogan,” he said. “Obviously Scott is a great player we’ve all seen it this season, he’s scored a lot of goals, but it shows that we can score goals from everywhere on the pitch.
“Even I’ve scored myself! So that shows everyone in the team can score.”
Despite Saturday’s opponents Fleetwood being renowned for their financial muscle at League Two level, Dale start the game nine points clear of the fourth-placed Cod Army.
Rafferty dismissed the importance of Fleetwood’s spending stating that unless players are dedicated, money is an irrelevance.
“It doesn’t really matter how much you spend,” he said. “It matters more what you do and how hard you work.
“You can spend as much as you want but you’ve still got to work hard and try your best in every game.”
Dale are looking to make it five consecutive victories and avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered at Spotland in December when a controversial penalty decision helped Fleetwood to victory.
Main image courtesy of Official Rochdale AFC via YouTube, with thanks.
