Topic: Chasing the Title

[the_red_pill]

So you had a career at Everton yeah?

Turned the sad sacks of shite down.

[Dan6times]

"Enjoy the ride"

I'll enjoy it a lot more when we stop dropping points reds, I'll enjoy it even more when our corners clear the first man (cant believe we've the most goals from corners this season!)

No seriously though I was more disappointed after Leicester as that really felt like a missed opportunity we played okish in poorish conditions and it was a mistake from Robertson giving away the ball and then giving a free away to make up for it, one mistake, it feels shit but we'll be fine i said.... or so I thought

Last night was to some degree similar with Bobby giving the ball away which leads to another needless free which is essentially the crucial moment in loosing the two points however there was something more about last night. Without going into too much detail we looked out of ideas especially our front 3, the midfield is getting torn to bits since August if we're all honest about it, no matter who plays there we all seem to have a problem with someone and in my opinion we're probably right, its a good midfield it certainly isn't a great one however our front 3 help us get away with it. From the midfield 3 that started there last night they have one goal between them all season. Add that to the 3 boys being off form and things get tricky

Anyway onto the positive stuff, 3 points clear with 13 to go, we are still in a really good position to win it best position since we last won it, they will drop more points but we just have to capitalize the next time they do. We need to win 11 and draw 2 to win it. Its in our own hands enjoy the ride reds

[the_red_pill]

My feeling is this will drop off for a while before coming back again in April if we’re still in a title race at that point.

For me I reached a crescendo last Wednesday prior to the Leicester game and am beginning to chill out a bit now, I’d imagine the same will come from the crowd.

Me too.
We will start to reap the benefits of this camp shortly. We've had a mental(prolly the most important thing this season) and physical rest after we've started to wind down sharply. Like with all breaks- including Summer breaks- when you get back to the league, you start slow and the rhythm is a bit "off" while focus isn't as sharp yet(as was evident these past 2 games); and since we've not had that much of a break and only had 2 weeks "rest", we'll get into it quite quickly.

We're still ahead and even if we go level - dropping another 2/3 points- we're still in this. The end of the season is still a long way off- especially for us and City and our players. Klopp's been here before- against the same opponent - he's had 3 seasons already to analyse the flow of the season. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. It's Roberto Duran against Mohammed Ali and Duran is trying to win on points! It's a massive ask and we're doing well sofar..

[Caligula?]

We need to go on a run. Win 5-6 games in a row and see where we're at. If we're still above City then great. If we're chasing, they'll have that feeling of not being able to shake us off much in the same way we haven't been able to the last few weeks. Runs like that also add a little aura of invincibility as well, where some sides just feel beaten before a ball is kicked and City might lose heart in us being so relentless. Easier said than done of course, but I genuinely think our excellent form in chasing them come November/December caused them to buckle and drop points in December.

[killer-heels]

We need to go on a run. Win 5-6 games in a row and see where we're at. If we're still above City then great. If we're chasing, they'll have that feeling of not being able to shake us off much in the same way we haven't been able to the last few weeks. Runs like that also add a little aura of invincibility as well, where some sides just feel beaten before a ball is kicked and City might lose heart in us being so relentless. Easier said than done of course, but I genuinely think our excellent form in chasing them come November/December caused them to buckle and drop points in December.

If we win the next 5, we will obviously be top.

[Jookie]

I would imagine it’s because every time we do so we seem to be shite upon our return. This particular trip seems to have culminated in illness and injury as well.

Feels like people are correlating 2 things that are almost certainly not connected. Plus any conditioning work we've done is likely to see benefits later in the season, not necessarily soon as we got back.

I'm amazed that people think the injuries and illness could be related to warm weather training. If there was that risk of illness then literally no sports team would take their players away on warm weather training ever. The vast and expensively assembled sports science departments would warn against it.

[Jm55]

Feels like people are correlating 2 things that are almost certainly not connected. Plus any conditioning work we've done is likely to see benefits later in the season, not necessarily soon as we got back.

I'm amazed that people think the injuries and illness could be related to warm weather training. If there was that risk of illness then literally no sports team would take their players away on warm weather training ever. The vast and expensively assembled sports science departments would warn against it.

I’m not saying the two things are related I’m saying that’s why people have an issue with it. I personally don’t have an issue with it.

Having said that, I believe Klopp did mention that the reason for the illness was the change in weather? Or did I imagine that? I think he said it in the Leicester press conference.

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

"Enjoy the ride"

I'll enjoy it a lot more when we stop dropping points reds, I'll enjoy it even more when our corners clear the first man (cant believe we've the most goals from corners this season!)

No seriously though I was more disappointed after Leicester as that really felt like a missed opportunity we played okish in poorish conditions and it was a mistake from Robertson giving away the ball and then giving a free away to make up for it, one mistake, it feels shit but we'll be fine i said.... or so I thought

Last night was to some degree similar with Bobby giving the ball away which leads to another needless free which is essentially the crucial moment in loosing the two points however there was something more about last night. Without going into too much detail we looked out of ideas especially our front 3, the midfield is getting torn to bits since August if we're all honest about it, no matter who plays there we all seem to have a problem with someone and in my opinion we're probably right, its a good midfield it certainly isn't a great one however our front 3 help us get away with it. From the midfield 3 that started there last night they have one goal between them all season. Add that to the 3 boys being off form and things get tricky

Anyway onto the positive stuff, 3 points clear with 13 to go, we are still in a really good position to win it best position since we last won it, they will drop more points but we just have to capitalize the next time they do. We need to win 11 and draw 2 to win it. Its in our own hands enjoy the ride reds

Top of the league team, best defence - surely our midfield hasn't been torn to bits all season?  I would agree that it's the area of the team where we are still not as dominant as we would like in each and every game, but it's a midfield that even City hardly tore to bits. Fab's emergence as a starter, Keita's eventual settling, and (hopefully) Ox's return could all transform that midfield into something great though.

We need another forward, no question. Mane-Bobby-Salah play too many games, and the replacements aren't good enough. No wonder they aren't always sparkling and full of ideas - it's a grind for those guys at present. If Shaq can shoulder some of the creative/goal scoring duties more reliably, it will help a lot in our run-in.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Feels like people are correlating 2 things that are almost certainly not connected. Plus any conditioning work we've done is likely to see benefits later in the season, not necessarily soon as we got back.

I'm amazed that people think the injuries and illness could be related to warm weather training. If there was that risk of illness then literally no sports team would take their players away on warm weather training ever. The vast and expensively assembled sports science departments would warn against it.

Didn't Klopp mention that some players got sick because of the change of weather after the Leicester game?

[Jookie]

I’m not saying the two things are related I’m saying that’s why people have an issue with it. I personally don’t have an issue with it.

Having said that, I believe Klopp did mention that the reason for the illness was the change in weather? Or did I imagine that? I think he said it in the Leicester press conference.

I'm pretty sure there's little evidence that changing the external temperature can make you ill, in the sense that going from a cold environment to a warmer environment and back to a colder environment is detrimental to a professional athlete's health.

I might be wrong but that doesn't sound that plausible to me.

[Jm55]

I'm pretty sure there's little evidence that changing the external temperature can make you ill, in the sense that going from a cold environment to a warmer environment and back to a colder environment is detrimental to a professional athlete's health.

I might be wrong but that doesn't sound that plausible to me.

I’m sure he said it though, I think someone above has mentioned it as well.

[AmanShah21]

I decided not to visit right after the game. The performance was poor and probably deserved the result. Bobby's worst game in a red shirt, and him being so poor at interlinking play is a very rare thing to happen twice in a season. Thought Naby was much much better, he's slowly getting to where we need him to be. We are still 3 clear and in the driving seat. Onwards to Bournemouth and getting back a few of the injured players. Up the Reds~

[Mutton Geoff]

Still in the driving seat might be a few twists and turns but even if City beat Everton we have a game in hand on them, we simply need to win a few on the trot. Winning will restore all the confidence on and off the field and shut the media up.

[jepovic]

Our form has clearly dropped, but from a very high level. Our amazing form in the first half of the season seemed a bit less impressive since ManC were almost as good. Now we're playing significantly worse, but ManC's form has also dropped so it doesn't seem that bad. Spurs are suddenly back in the race.

[Tiz Lad]

Still in the driving seat might be a few twists and turns but even if City beat Everton we have a game in hand on them, we simply need to win a few on the trot. Winning will restore all the confidence on and off the field and shut the media up.

The game in hand is away to a resurgent United

[BobPaisley3]

The game in hand is away to a resurgent United

The other games in the next five really leave little margin for error. Within those we have Bournemouth, Watford and Burnley all at home. We don’t want to theoretically leave ourselves a must win against Yernited where as if we win the other four, we should be top still after that run of games regardless of what happens at the theatre. Never want to look too far ahead but we really need to win those three home games.

[Tiz Lad]

The other games in the next five really leave little margin for error. Within those we have Bournemouth, Watford and Burnley all at home. We don’t want to theoretically leave ourselves a must win against Yernited where as if we win the other four, we should be top still after that run of games regardless of what happens at the theatre. Never want to look too far ahead but we really need to win those three home games.

Lose against United and likely to be second on goal difference

[El Denzel Pepito]

Was a miserable bastard yesterday, and still am, but I'm starting to get my perspective back a bit now.

A few weeks ago I was thinking, "this title challenge doesn't feel like Liverpool". By that, I mean it felt a bit too comfortable. We had a chance to go 10 points up at one stage. That's something we've not been accustomed to, at least in my life time.

We do things the hard way. That's just what we do. I'd do anything to win the title, but you know what's better than winning the title with ease? Winning it the Liverpool way... almost fucking it up, causing hundreds of near heart-attacks, moments of frustration, anger, despair. All to finally culminate in a huge moment where we defy all the odds and answer our critics for the last 29 years.

I'd love an easy title win, ala City last year. But really, there's no fun in that. Bring on all the highs and lows that the rest of the campaign might bring. We might bottle it at the end, but at least enjoy our ride till the end. It's what supporting football's all about. If we bring home the title at the end of the season, beating a monstrous City side against all odds, it'll feel all that much better.

[Sharado]

Lose against United and likely to be second on goal difference

Lose against Bournemouth and it's the same thing. Win twice and we'll be top by 3, maybe even more. One game at a time, like.

[lionel_messias]

Was a miserable bastard yesterday, and still am, but I'm starting to get my perspective back a bit now.

A few weeks ago I was thinking, "this title challenge doesn't feel like Liverpool". By that, I mean it felt a bit too comfortable. We had a chance to go 10 points up at one stage. That's something we've not been accustomed to, at least in my life time.

We do things the hard way. That's just what we do. I'd do anything to win the title, but you know what's better than winning the title with ease? Winning it the Liverpool way... almost fucking it up, causing hundreds of near heart-attacks, moments of frustration, anger, despair. All to finally culminate in a huge moment where we defy all the odds and answer our critics for the last 29 years.

I'd love an easy title win, ala City last year. But really, there's no fun in that. Bring on all the highs and lows that the rest of the campaign might bring. We might bottle it at the end, but at least enjoy our ride till the end. It's what supporting football's all about. If we bring home the title at the end of the season, beating a monstrous City side against all odds, it'll feel all that much better.

Yeah, this is it. It can't be easy with us. We have never had it that way and seems we never will. And if we're being honest, no one could say we were miles better than City, who have a monstrous and monstrously expensive squad of players. I mean they have Mahrez knocking about spare FFS - and we had to field Adam Lallana (ffs).

What we have to do is get our form back and go Full Tilt Klopp for the remaining games. We have to blitz everyone at Anfield and throw everything at this. There will be twists and turns to come, for now just make sure we are very in touch with City, ideally just ahead or level at worst.

The Champions League campaign will play a massive role in this season's domestic title I have felt for a long time..

[nayia2002]

It's gone fucking down hill since "throwing away" the fa cup wolves game 

The momentum and cohesion hasn't been the same since 

[FlashGordon]

It's gone fucking down hill since "throwing away" the fa cup wolves game 

The momentum and cohesion hasn't been the same since 

Or you know sometimes, even the best teams like the champions, have a little dip in form and their results take a knock. Has any team ever won every game that season?

[arbiarbi]

Game against United will be the key ! If we win that game I am completely sure we will win the title....
I am sure we can win that game...

We have to believe in our players, they led us to this situation to be the first after 25 rounds with 62 points, we have to believe that they can start winning again and  win that title! We have everything in our hands, if we  will be good as we can we will be champions ! City can win all games till the end and finish second .

[wah00ey]

Game against United will be the key ! If we win that game I am completely sure we will win the title....
I am sure we can win that game...

We have to believe in our players, they led us to this situation to be the first after 25 rounds with 62 points, we have to believe that they can start winning again and  win that title! We have everything in our hands, if we  will be good as we can we will be champions ! City can win all games till the end and finish second .

Well, they certainly won't sit back and park the proverbial under Solskjaer so it should be an interesting game.

[arbiarbi]

Last time we won there 5 years ago... It's time to do it again !

[4pool]

In our last 10 matches we've dropped 7 points, City have dropped 12, yet the league is over because we only lead City by 3.

Believers instead of doubters.

[killer-heels]

Was a miserable bastard yesterday, and still am, but I'm starting to get my perspective back a bit now.

A few weeks ago I was thinking, "this title challenge doesn't feel like Liverpool". By that, I mean it felt a bit too comfortable. We had a chance to go 10 points up at one stage. That's something we've not been accustomed to, at least in my life time.

We do things the hard way. That's just what we do. I'd do anything to win the title, but you know what's better than winning the title with ease? Winning it the Liverpool way... almost fucking it up, causing hundreds of near heart-attacks, moments of frustration, anger, despair. All to finally culminate in a huge moment where we defy all the odds and answer our critics for the last 29 years.

I'd love an easy title win, ala City last year. But really, there's no fun in that. Bring on all the highs and lows that the rest of the campaign might bring. We might bottle it at the end, but at least enjoy our ride till the end. It's what supporting football's all about. If we bring home the title at the end of the season, beating a monstrous City side against all odds, it'll feel all that much better.

Why does losing a title to cheating bunch of pricks like them actually a thing? We could lose and in fact there is a good chance we dont win it. But why do you call it bottling it?

[Uncle Ronnie]

It's gone fucking down hill since "throwing away" the fa cup wolves game 

The momentum and cohesion hasn't been the same since 

We won our 2 games directly after the Wolves match.

[El Denzel Pepito]

Yeah, this is it. It can't be easy with us. We have never had it that way and seems we never will. And if we're being honest, no one could say we were miles better than City, who have a monstrous and monstrously expensive squad of players. I mean they have Mahrez knocking about spare FFS - and we had to field Adam Lallana (ffs).

What we have to do is get our form back and go Full Tilt Klopp for the remaining games. We have to blitz everyone at Anfield and throw everything at this. There will be twists and turns to come, for now just make sure we are very in touch with City, ideally just ahead or level at worst.

The Champions League campaign will play a massive role in this season's domestic title I have felt for a long time..

Exactly. We have no right to be storming this league, not with that City squad amongst the race. They have been classed as the best ever Premier League squad to be ever assembled, yet we're all losing our heads a bit because we've had a couple of set-backs. It's all part of the process. You can tell we haven't been in the hunt for so long, because none of our fans know what the fuck to do when there's something that goes against it.

Suddenly it's all doom and gloom: "we're serial bottlers", "we're cursed", "same old same old". It's almost like we didn't win eight (nine) in a row less than a couple of months ago.

I'm guilty of falling in to that trap too, but fucking hell. We need to get a grip. Should City win tomorrow, we can go above again with a win over Bournemouth, which I'm confident we'll do. I know we've had years of trust issues with this club, but the more supporters think "it's all over, it's all heading in one way", the more the players and the coaching staff will feel it too. No wonder every time we've come close in recent history, we've gone on to pile all 29 years of pressure on the team and gone on to fuck it up royally.

As Virg says enjoy the fucking ride and hope we get a trophy at the end. We could be fighting for fourth as we have done for so much of the last decade and more. I'm not a 'top Red', but I've seen too many people get carried away at a couple of draws.

[El Denzel Pepito]

Why does losing a title to cheating bunch of pricks like them actually a thing? We could lose and in fact there is a good chance we dont win it. But why do you call it bottling it?

I'm not sure what you mean here?

[nayia2002]

Or you know sometimes, even the best teams like the champions, have a little dip in form and their results take a knock. Has any team ever won every game that season?

But it's not looking like a 1-2 game blip/dip in form at the moment!

[FlashGordon]

But it's not looking like a 1-2 game blip/dip in form at the moment!

We dropped points in 2 games. If that's not a 1-2 game dip in form I don't know what is.

[killer-heels]

I'm not sure what you mean here?

You said we may bottle it in the end. Why did you say that?

[Sharado]

But it's not looking like a 1-2 game blip/dip in form at the moment!

We've literally dropped points in 2 games. No one has any idea how the next game, or games might map out.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Why are people thinking about United now? That game is three weeks away.

Focus on Bournemouth then Bayern and we will discuss United when we get to them, there are a lot of variables that can change within that period.

[El Denzel Pepito]

You said we may bottle it in the end. Why did you say that?

It's more down to language, rather than anything deeper. But it's probably also due to the narrative around modern football - and us in recent years.

Really, I should've said we might 'lose it' to City. Which in itself wouldn't be seen as the end of the world, losing to a fantastic City side, but the dominant narrative would be that we've bottled it. Which I also see some merit in. We have been sitting at the top of the table for weeks (months?) now, from a position of almost being 10 points ahead - all whilst not being utterly fantastic. So if we go on to concede that huge advantage, I can see why people would think of it as bottling the title.

At the same time, should injuries continue the way they have done, it wouldn't be us bottling it. It would be a huge fucking shame, but it would just mean City have a far superior squad to deal with the title race than we do.

[killer-heels]

It's more down to language, rather than anything deeper. But it's probably also due to the narrative around modern football - and us in recent years.

Really, I should've said we might 'lose it' to City. Which in itself wouldn't be seen as the end of the world, losing to a fantastic City side, but the dominant narrative would be that we've bottled it. Which I also see some merit in. We have been sitting at the top of the table for weeks (months?) now, from a position of almost being 10 points ahead - all whilst not being utterly fantastic. So if we go on to concede that huge advantage, I can see why people would think of it as bottling the title.

At the same time, should injuries continue the way they have done, it wouldn't be us bottling it. It would be a huge fucking shame, but it would just mean City have a far superior squad to deal with the title race than we do.

We were never 10 ahead. Why is that a thing?

Bottling it is you and everyone else being influenced and dictated to by the media, so like sheep, well done with following your shepherds.

Maybe we are just not built for a title challenge as fans? Looks like this isnt for us.

[Billy The Kid]

Anyone questioning our "bottle", or insinuating that we're "bottlers", or suggesting that we may have "bottled" this title challenge, or using any other term that derives from the word bottle, deserve to be pelted savagely and relentlessly with hardened balls of their own shite.

That is all.

[El Denzel Pepito]

We were never 10 ahead. Why is that a thing?

We could have gone 10 points ahead with a win over someone not long ago, I'm sure? Or was it 7? Correct me with the right number, if I'm mistaken.

[El Denzel Pepito]

Anyone questioning our "bottle", or insinuating that we're "bottlers", or suggesting that we may have "bottled" this title challenge, or using any other term that derives from the word bottle, deserve to be pelted savagely and relentlessly with hardened balls of their own shite.

That is all.

Just to clarify, I'm not questioning our bottle!