Topic: The PL run-in

[ljycb]

Did one of those result prediction things, and, being generous to our rivals, 5 wins and 2 draws from us squeaked us into fourth. Agree though that more points than that will be dropped by everyone. Ultimately comes down to us and whether we can maintain consistency for the last seven games. Which remains an open question.

Yep. We need to play a lot better than we did yesterday if we are to stand any chance.

[harleydanger]

West Ham's run in a by far the easiest.

[kj999]

Cause it's tomorrow

oh yeaaaaah :faceplam:

Anyway, West Ham did win so

[MonsLibpool]

Beating Leeds will be a giant step.

[MonsLibpool]

West Ham's run in a by far the easiest.

West Ham is West Ham.
Spurs are Spurs.
Everton is Everton.
Leicester is Leicester.

If we do our job, their results are irrelevant.

[kb2x]

If we win 5 of our last 7 I'd be confident we'll end in 4th.

Leicester have a horrid final 3 fixtures and will probably drop out.

[CraigDS]

If we win 5 of our last 7 I'd be confident we'll end in 4th.

I'm not sure we can afford to lose both the other two though.

5 wins, 1 draw and a loss and think we'd 100% make top 4.

[eeekaj]

I know it's not as easy as it says on paper but we really should win 5 of our last 7 (even with our injuries):

Leeds (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

[spider-neil]

3. Leicester - 56 (7 games remaining)
4. West Ham - 55 (7 games remaining)
5. Chelsea - 54 (7 games remaining)
6. Liverpool - 52 (7 games remaining)
7. Tottenham - 49 (7 games remaining)
8. Everton - 47 (9 games remaining)

Leicester to play: Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham (3 out of 7 remaining)

Chelsea to play: West Ham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester (4 out of 7 remaining)

Liverpool to play: Manchester United (1 out of 7 remaining)

West Ham to play: Chelsea, Everton (2 out of 7 remaining)

Tottenham to play: Everton, Leicester (2 out of 7 remaining)

Everton to play: Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester City (4 out of 9 remaining)

[thaddeus]

I know it's not as easy as it says on paper but we really should win 5 of our last 7 (even with our injuries):

Leeds (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

That was the run of opponents at the turn of the year that effectively ended our title challenge and started the terrible run that we've only just come out of.  We took two points from those four games!

The league table doesn't lie and they're all bottom half sides but also all capable of heading away 20 crosses, blocking 10 shots, scrambling away 50 clearances and then scoring from their only foray across the halfway line.

I'm clinging to the hope that having Jota back to help out Salah with the burden of goal-scoring will make enough of a difference.

[ljycb]

It does feel like there is a clear route towards top four now, so we’ve just got to hope that it can concentrate the minds (2016/17 style if you will).

[eeekaj]

That was the run of opponents at the turn of the year that effectively ended our title challenge and started the terrible run that we've only just come out of.  We took two points from those four games!

The league table doesn't lie and they're all bottom half sides but also all capable of heading away 20 crosses, blocking 10 shots, scrambling away 50 clearances and then scoring from their only foray across the halfway line.

I'm clinging to the hope that having Jota back to help out Salah with the burden of goal-scoring will make enough of a difference.

Yep, totally agree, but I'd rather face these sides than who Leicester/Chelsea have to face. Difference this time is that we have the likes of Jota/Fabinho back. I really think we will do it, and a week ago I thought we had no chance!

[Dull Tools]

I know it's not as easy as it says on paper but we really should win 5 of our last 7 (even with our injuries):

Leeds (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

I think we will need to win 6. Our goal difference isn't great compared to the others so we can't rely on ending up on level points.

[Crosby Nick]

I think we will need to win 6. Our goal difference isn't great compared to the others so we can't rely on ending up on level points.

If we win 5 and say only lose one you’d expect the GD to improve a fair bit and we’d be needing others to not win a few so you’d hope we’d end up with the edge.

[liverbloke]

this run-in will be quite exciting seeing as we won't be winning the prem again this year - it's like one of those world cup group of deaths

it's good that we can still show our passion for the club rather than a mid-table boring end to the season

[jlb]

Which of these fixtures (if any) will have fans in attendance?

[elsewhere]

I know it's not as easy as it says on paper but we really should win 5 of our last 7 (even with our injuries):

Leeds (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

If we win our next 3, I am fairly confident we will win our all 7 matches to wrap this up. (Or we guarantee Top 4 before last match and play a weak team against Palace in our last match.)

Leeds away won't be as scary as people think, we play better against teams who actually try to play football and have a weak defense.
United match will be the tough test for us.

[Sharado]

If we win our next 3, I am fairly confident we will win our all 7 matches to wrap this up. (Or we guarantee Top 4 before last match and play a weak team against Palace in our last match.)

Leeds away won't be as scary as people think, we play better against teams who actually try to play football and have a weak defense.
United match will be the tough test for us.

United are such a strange team. It'll depend on how he plays it, but for what it's worth given how strange the season has been I actually fancy our first win at old trafford in a fucking age to happen this time out. Not really based on much other than that seems to have been the case for a lot of results this year.

[Wabaloolah]

Which of these fixtures (if any) will have fans in attendance?

The last one, presuming the next phase of the roadmap happens on 17th May.  The PL were talking about moving the penultimate fixture to after 17th May (midweek) so each club has fans in for at least one game

[Wabaloolah]

I think 69 points will be enough, Leicester's last three games look horrendous, think they may miss out, West Ham have a fairly easy run in, apart from Chelsea, Chelsea have three tough games and they also have the FA Cup and Champions League too (which we may not have after Wednesday - although hoping we do turn it round)  The Bitters are still in the mix too and Spurs.  It's going to be a fun ride.

Win all out games and we'll be there, but with this season who know what happens!

Give me a piss the League season over scrapping it out for top four any day of the week!

[MD1990]

Newcastle away isnt an easy game for West Ham.
I can see them losing that with the players Newcastle have back.

[Sharado]

I think 69 points will be enough, Leicester's last three games look horrendous, think they may miss out, West Ham have a fairly easy run in, apart from Chelsea, Chelsea have three tough games and they also have the FA Cup and Champions League too (which we may not have after Wednesday - although hoping we do turn it round)  The Bitters are still in the mix too and Spurs.  It's going to be a fun ride.

Win all out games and we'll be there, but with this season who know what happens!

Give me a piss the League season over scrapping it out for top four any day of the week!

I do think the game against Madrid could end up being significant. If we turn that around then in all likelihood we'd face a 2 legged semi v chelsea, which IMO would affect both our form and theirs in the league. A nice problem to have of course, maybe.

[Wabaloolah]

I do think the game against Madrid could end up being significant. If we turn that around then in all likelihood we'd face a 2 legged semi v chelsea, which IMO would affect both our form and theirs in the league. A nice problem to have of course, maybe.

true, if we only have the league to concentrate on we can at least throw all our eggs into that basket without distraction. Although I would still prefer to be in a CL semi-final of course

[jlb]

The last one, presuming the next phase of the roadmap happens on 17th May.  The PL were talking about moving the penultimate fixture to after 17th May (midweek) so each club has fans in for at least one game

Thanks, at least we're home if fans are only allowed for the last game.

[PaulF]

West Ham's run in a by far the easiest.

But they are managed by Davey Moyes and have Lingaard as their best player at the moment.
I fancy our chances against them.

[lobsterboy]

United are such a strange team. It'll depend on how he plays it, but for what it's worth given how strange the season has been I actually fancy our first win at old trafford in a fucking age to happen this time out. Not really based on much other than that seems to have been the case for a lot of results this year.

No chance we are winning there, not with the Premier Game Manchester Officials Limited in charge.

[Fromola]

I do think the game against Madrid could end up being significant. If we turn that around then in all likelihood we'd face a 2 legged semi v chelsea, which IMO would affect both our form and theirs in the league. A nice problem to have of course, maybe.

If we go out on Wednesday but bounce back against Leeds I think we'd get top 4 from there. Pretty much one game a week, hopefully Henderson back.

If we go through on Wednesday it'd probably hurt our top 4 chances, but we'd have a great chance of winning the CL.

[smutchin]

It does feel like there is a clear route towards top four now, so we’ve just got to hope that it can concentrate the minds (2016/17 style if you will).

Yeah, this is what it comes down to.

Even a few weeks ago, I was clinging to the hope that top four was still possible... but now I actually believe it!

Too many possible permutations to be sure of how the final table will look, but I reckon City and United are certs for top 2 places, then it will be a matter of just a couple of points separating us, Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea. I can see Spurs and Everton falling off the pace though.

As others have said, 68 points (W5,D1,L1) will likely be enough to get a top four place, 70 points (W6,L1) will pretty much guarantee it. What's clear is that we absolutely must win at least five of our last seven games, and that's going to be tough. But like Parappa the Rapper, you gotta believe!

[spider-neil]

No chance we are winning there, not with the Premier Game Manchester Officials Limited in charge.

I seen us play well at OT and lost. We have a mental block with that place. Providing we win the rest that game can be our margin of error.

[spider-neil]

Yeah, this is what it comes down to.

Even a few weeks ago, I was clinging to the hope that top four was still possible... but now I actually believe it!

Too many possible permutations to be sure of how the final table will look, but I reckon City and United are certs for top 2 places, then it will be a matter of just a couple of points separating us, Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea. I can see Spurs and Everton falling off the pace though.

As others have said, 68 points (W5,D1,L1) will likely be enough to get a top four place, 70 points (W6,L1) will pretty much guarantee it. What's clear is that we absolutely must win at least five of our last seven games, and that's going to be tough. But like Parappa the Rapper, you gotta believe!

Kick, punch, it's all in the mind!

[Dave McCoy]

Injuries are piling up for Leicester and West Ham as well.  This season has been ridiculously grueling for all teams.  Who knows how much they have left in the tank?  If Lingard wasn't having the purplist of purple patches I think West Ham would already be out of it.  We'll see.

[farawayred]

Kick, punch, it's all in the mind!

We never do it the easy way

[Rush 82]

Can't figure out if WBA were good today or Saints just terrible - they keep playing like they played today and they might even stay up

[dutchkop]

one game at a time.. first Madrid - tough ask without the crowd, but score 1/2 in first half and then anyone's game.

same for Prem league table.. one game at a time.approach - just win the games

[PeterTheRed ...]

After tonight's games ...

Leicester (56)

WBA (h)
Crystal Palace (h)
Southampton (a)
Newcastle (h)
Man Utd (a)
Chelsea (a)
Tottenham (h)

West Ham (55)

Newcastle (a)
Chelsea (h)
Burnley (a)
Everton (h)
Brighton (a)
WBA (a)
Southampton (h)

Chelsea (54)

Brighton (h)
West Ham (a)
Fulham (h)
Man City (a)
Arsenal (h)
Leicester (h)
Aston Villa (a)

LFC (52)

Leeds (a)
Newcastle (h)
Man Utd (a)
Southampton (h)
WBA (a)
Burnley (a)
Crystal Palace (h)

Tottenham (49)

Everton (a)
Southampton (h)
Sheffield Utd (h)
Leeds (a)
Wolves (h)
Aston Villa (h)
Leicester (a)

Everton (48)

Tottenham (h)
Arsenal (a)
Aston Villa (h)
West Ham (a)
Sheffield Utd (h)
Wolves (h)
Man City (a)
Aston Villa (a) postponed fixture

[exiledintheUSA]

Win our next 2 and if Chelsea V West Ham is a draw and it'll look fantastic for us.

[Anfield Kopite]

One by one other teams fall away. Over the last couple of weeks Arsenal, Villa, Spurs, Everton surely blown top 4. 4 teams (Leicester, Chelsea, West Ham and Us) fighting for 2 spots.

[jackh]

Been a good weekend for us - did our bit, Spurs have lost, and Leicester's defeat keeps 3rd & 4th open and tightens things up.  Big game for Everton tomorrow - they're still a definite factor with two games in hand that could take them to 53 points.

Spoiler

3rd	Leicester	31	+18	56
4th	West Ham	31	+12	55
5th	Chelsea	31	+19	54
6th	Liverpool	31	+16	52
7th	Spurs	31	+17	49
8th	Everton	29	+3	47

Tomorrow:
Brighton vs Everton

Next matches:
Everton vs Spurs
Newcastle vs West Ham
Leeds vs Liverpool
Chelsea vs Brighton

[close]

Updated:

3rd	Leicester	31	+18	56
4th	West Ham	31	+12	55
5th	Chelsea	31	+19	54
6th	Liverpool	31	+16	52
7th	Spurs	31	+17	49
8th	Everton	30	+3	48

Next matches:
Everton vs Spurs
Newcastle vs West Ham
Leeds vs Liverpool
Chelsea vs Brighton

Everton's game in hand is against Villa, which is by no means a guaranteed 3 points.  A draw between Everton & Spurs on Friday night would be good for everyone above.

[Wabaloolah]

I think Everton are done, they have Spurs, Arsenal and Villa up next and their form has gone to pot

Everton's record at Arsenal is worse than their record at Anfield.  Two wins in 33 years and nothing since 1996.

Their recent record against Spurs ain't great either

[TepidT2O]

Every team is going to lose 2 or 3.

We need to not lose our heads when it happens to us....