Topic: It's just a battle for the order of the first 4 spots now between 5 teams...

[Black Bull Nova]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

I take it your in the pessimist category given scanning down the goals for is so inspiring

[Bergersrightwingviews]

Defending is over rated, attack is where it's at.

Kevin? 

[Samie]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

 

haha  fuck me the pessimism in you mate.  look at the points.

[Redman0151]

Very, very tough finish to the season to us but it's in our hands and that's all we can ask for.

Need to play better than we have in the last 2 games or we'll drop some points in the next few games

[JustDan]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

Really? Look at the goals for ffs, or even the goal difference. We're ahead of Chelsea in goal difference, which really says a lot considering how much we've been shipping

[Noelle]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

Our defence is problematic (and can we please get Sakho back already so we can stop playing Skrtel) but thus far we've generally shown a propensity for just outscoring opponents to compensate. Even if that means things like 5-3 and 4-3.

[Crosby Nick]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

Scored almost twice as many as everyone else though, that's pretty amazing. You're probably right though, I suspect the key stat in there is Chelsea's goals against column.

[SerbianScouser]

With our GD that`s practically 7 pts advantage. That means 26 out of remaining 33. Even if we need to win 24 and I`m sure we won`t and Spurs will drop decent amount of points 24 is 2.00 ppg which is ratio we have throughout entire season.

We just gotta keep on playing the way we did the whole season. A really really massive chance for CL next season. It`s now or never.

[Wingman]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

I'm scanning down the points column ... the only one that really counts

[Greyfox]

Good day for the pessimists, no change for the optimists

What about the optometrists....?

Can't see any mention of them

[Xanderzone]

6 or 7 wins will get us 4th.

I'd be amazed if that Spurs side I saw today win 9 or 10 of the last 11 that they will need to finish above that.

[Pistolero]

Can't see any mention of them

You need to go and see an Optimist..

[PhaseOfPlay]

It is inconceivable that so many people in here consider a 6 (or essentially 7) point advantage a guarantee for 4th with so many tough games to go and given the fluctuations in our performance and limited player experience under pressure..

Two bad results in a row and things can turn 180 degrees just like that..

Pardon?

Skrtel, Agger, Henderson all have cup medals

Gerrard and Sturridge have Champions league medals

Suarez, Sturridge, Skrtel, Johnson and Toure have League winner's medals

We're not short of experience under pressure

[WheelerLFC]

Sort out the silly conceded goals and we should be fine. The team have shown alot of determination to stay in the race at the top stoke away, fulham away and todays result show the lads are going to give it there all to the end of the season. If we are in the race still come the games against chelsea and city both will be worried to come to anfield.

[farawayred]

That was a mixed weekend for us. Had Chelsea drawn, it would have been good, but now the point distribution is the same and we have one less game to gain on that gang. And we had to fight hard for that result in a game that seemed easy the way it started.

One thing went for us - the Spurs result. The pressure for fourth is off our backs now, and that may enable us to play our hearts out for the rest of the season.

[Kennys from heaven]

Good on yer Norwich.

Always liked Hughton

[turkish kopite]

If we get 4 pts from Chelsea and city games we'll win the title

[Bruce88]

Great results for us today, did some great business for that 4th spot! Three away games up next, the realistic guy in me tells me that we'll lose touch with the top 3. But dear Liverpool, feel free to surprise me. For the first time this season I say that the top 4 is secured, no way that Spurs, United or Everton can catch us. Simply because the gap keeps getting bigger and those teams don't get better. Champions League at Anfield next season boys and girls.

[Brentieke]

That was a mixed weekend for us. Had Chelsea drawn, it would have been good, but now the point distribution is the same and we have one less game to gain on that gang. And we had to fight hard for that result in a game that seemed easy the way it started.

One thing went for us - the Spurs result. The pressure for fourth is off our backs now, and that may enable us to play our hearts out for the rest of the season.

At times today it looked possible that we'd be tied with Spurs in 4th place, 7 points off top. Turned out to be a fantastic day for us.

But yeah, could really have done with a draw yesterday. Fucking Tim Howard.

[WheelerLFC]

I wont say 4th is secure till we play spurs at anfield 6 points from the mancs and spurs and we can say 4th is ours i think if we take 3 from either the city or chelsea game and we can win the title.

[Brentieke]

We're 5.5 to miss out on the Champions League in some places. Thinking of sticking 100 quid on it. Would use the winnings to treat myself to a holiday to get over the misery if it happens!

[stockdam]

We have some tough and crucial games ahead and we could end up needing the 6 point cushion. I see us ending third or higher.

[gary75]

Arsenal have tougher (on paper) fixtures coming up in March, maybe it should be them looking over their shoulder?
Yeah, I have concerns about our defending, but as long as we are outscoring the opposition like we are, we should do alright.

[Skrtelonparole]

Got to love the way we are winning... "So you come here and think you can score three? We'll here's four fucking goals and you can shove them right up yer arse"... It's a massive fuck off to anyone coming here thinking they can take OUR points away... I just love it!

[youll never walk alone it]

yep you can lay us on betfair to get 4th, 95 quid profit after commision  will cost you 20 quid if we do it though! 

[babraham]

If anyone's curious this is what the league form's been like since the new year:



So, yeah. Pretty confident right now no one below us poses a serious threat as long as don't revert to our old, early last season selves.

West Ham is going to be tougher than I'd thought.

[El Ninos Black Eye]

Need to beat Southampton, as Spurs are playing Cardiff and I think they will beat them at home. The week we dont't play but Spurs play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Can't see them getting anything other than a beating there. So that should keep the gap to 6 points with a game in hand   

[Alan_X]

We're coming lads

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/LRTq9-rvHik" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/LRTq9-rvHik</a>

Let's get there first.

[helmboy_nige]

Scan down that goals against column, it doesn't make pretty reading, it really does need sorting.

Or scan down the Goals For column (almost double any other team), or better still the Goal Difference column (best in the league), or even better still the points column (join best).

[wz4jc3]

Or scan down the Goals For column (almost double any other team), or better still the Goal Difference column (best in the league), or even better still the points column (join best).

Exactly! :-)

[S]

Not taking anything for granted. The six point cushion feels great but there will be a few twists and turns in the final months.

It'll go down to the wire and any one of us, Spurs, United and Everton can still get that fourth spot.

[Samie]

Not taking anything for granted. The six point cushion feels great but there will be a few twists and turns in the final months.

It'll go down to the wire and any one of us, Spurs, United and Everton can still get that fourth spot.

[AA1122]

It is inconceivable that so many people in here consider a 6 (or essentially 7) point advantage a guarantee for 4th with so many tough games to go and given the fluctuations in our performance and limited player experience under pressure..

Two bad results in a row and things can turn 180 degrees just like that..

Thinking exactly this. I feel really good about this season and will not be too disappointed if we do slip up to be honest. All of the top 7 teams have big games that can alter things a lot. It only takes two bad results, especially in a 'six-pointer' and things will look a lot different.

We are six ahead of Tottenham now and with our GD that gives us almost another point. I think we will have more nail-biting games to come. Let's just enjoy it. Realistically, I still think all of the top 7 are still in with a shout. We have the opportunity to press ahead and hopefully we will, but don't be too disheartened or shocked if there are some shifts in the next few weeks.

[S]

I'll never rule out United, nobody should. It's been fantastic laughing at them and their manager since August, but this season isn't over. I'll celebrate for real when they're mathematically out of the race for fourth as well as out of the Champions League.

[jamieredders]

4th?

We're going for the title!

 

[PhaseOfPlay]

I'll never rule out United, nobody should. It's been fantastic laughing at them and their manager since August, but this season isn't over. I'll celebrate for real when they're mathematically out of the race for fourth as well as out of the Champions League.

Really?

Why wouldn't you rule them out? They've had 27 games to show that Moyes knew what he was doing. They haven't show top four form for the majority of those 27 games. Are they suddenly going to go on league winning form for the last 11?

[Juan Loco]

I'll never rule out United, nobody should. It's been fantastic laughing at them and their manager since August, but this season isn't over. I'll celebrate for real when they're mathematically out of the race for fourth as well as out of the Champions League.

You're scared of the name and nothing more.

[ChaChaMooMoo]

Why wouldn't you rule them out? They've had 27 games to show that Moyes knew what he was doing. They haven't show top four form for the majority of those 27 games. Are they suddenly going to go on league winning form for the last 11?

No disrespect PoP. You dont get 4th until you get 4th. 5 points from 5th and 9 points from 6th means fuckall if we draw/lose a weekend and they win theirs.

[keano7]

Usually after a win this thread installs optimism into the majority but it seems that a lot of us (me included) are taking a more measured approach of not taking anything for granted. With the Norwich result tonight we've been gifted a 'free' reprieve just in case of a slip up. I think Arsenal could potentially drop pts at Stoke next weekend so a win against Southampton would be absolutely huge.

[PhaseOfPlay]

No disrespect PoP. You dont get 4th until you get 4th. 5 points from 5th and 9 points from 6th means fuckall if we draw/lose a weekend and they win theirs.

They are 11 points behind us. They need to win 4 games (probably in a row) that that we lose to get ahead of us.

Is that likely to happen?