Topic: Chasing the Title

[Redwhiteandnotblue]

For me, what I would like to see from the next two City games, regardless of whether they win draw or lose (though we'd all clearly prefer the latter two), is a shedload of niggle, poorly clamped down on early doors by the ref, leading to aggro and multiple sendings off on the pitch, Pep sent to the stands and a few retrospective 3 or 4 game bans for violent conduct. Anything that disrupts or upsets City and City's rhythm is good news in my book.

[harleydanger]

After listening to Poch talking about the match I’m convinced he’s going to do what I thought he wouldn’t do. That is basically wave the white flag.

I now expect City to walk all over them and win 3-0. Incredibly annoying and I hope they fuck up their chances of top 4 in the process. All down to the United game now.

"if you want to be a big club, you have to think like a big club"

[duvva 💅]

Tottenham's record at the Etihad isn't completely hopeless, they have taken points in 2 of their last 3 fixtures at the ground, however were thumped 4-1 last year.

We'd all love a draw from Tottenham, unfortunately they are the antithesis of 'draw specialists' having drawn only 1 game all season, going the first 28 games without one.  Tells you a lot about how Poch sets his teams up.

I'll go for a 2-2 draw, more out of hope than anything.

Sure I read somewhere that there hasn’t been a single drawn match in the Premier League since Newcastle drew with Bournemouth over a month ago, so we are due one, hopefully starting with the early kick off tomorrow.

[Johns_Barn]

Think if Spurs get to about 30 mins in whilst being level then the game could get real tasty tomorrow. Interesting that it’s an early kick off too - expecting a post CL hangover from both sides but especially from City following that last minute devastation - which could yield a less than stellar performance from them.

This. I honestly think if they can be kept out for 30 mins the natives start getting wrestless and twitchy. Pep transmits his inner woes.

[deano2727]

Massive game this today. Come on Spurs! Reckon City win though in saying that.

Its down to United for me.

[latortuga]

Sure I read somewhere that there hasn’t been a single drawn match in the Premier League since Newcastle drew with Bournemouth over a month ago, so we are due one, hopefully starting with the early kick off tomorrow.

That's right, Bournemouth v Newcastle 2-2.  But as I also alluded to, it is in line with how this season has gone, with so few games ending in draws. 

[jepovic]

Maybe a thought influenced by being a Liverpool fan, but I think these early Saturday games have a higher chance of unexpected results.

[M(oaning) B(ecomes) E(mbarrassing)]

I writ it before and I'll writ it again, we (Liverpool FC) would have been better off if that late Manchester City goal had stood.  Look at Spurs now putting all their eggs in the one basket and talking about playing their youth players!  Let's remember City won that game on Wednesday and although we all had a Schadenfreude moment, there would have been an incentive on Spurs' part to get something out of their game today to improve their chances of getting in the top four.  Now they're in a position I don't think they've ever been in before (open to correction on that one), the domestic league will take a back seat.  It looks like we'll be putting all our hopes on Ole Sunny Gobshite and his team of wastrels to do us a favour now.  Manchester City will be geared up to eradicating Wednesday's embarrassment today and I'm pretty certain they will go some way to doing just that. 

[Nick110581]

I writ it before and I'll writ it again, we (Liverpool FC) would have been better off if that late Manchester City goal had stood.  Look at Spurs now putting all their eggs in the one basket and talking about playing their youth players!  Let's remember City won that game on Wednesday and although we all had a Schadenfreude moment, there would have been an incentive on Spurs' part to get something out of their game today to improve their chances of getting in the top four.  Now they're in a position I don't think they've ever been in before (open to correction on that one), the domestic league will take a back seat.  It looks like we'll be putting all our hopes on Ole Sunny Gobshite and his team of wastrels to do us a favour now.  Manchester City will be geared up to eradicating Wednesday's embarrassment today and I'm pretty certain they will go some way to doing just that. 

Sours can’t put their eggs in the CL basket.

[AmanShah21]

I think both teams will be a bit leggy. City has enough depth to play with more intensity and then use their subs to keep the heat and that's where Spurs will have issues. If I were Poch, I'd want to turn this into a scrap, slow down everything, waste time and frustrate them early on to get under their skin. That'll give them the best chance and Poch is more than capable of doing that. In all honesty though, I think City will probably come away with the 3 points.

[davidlpool1982]

Whatever happens, happens. Nothing we can do about it now and nothing we can control about it. Just gotta sit back and enjoy the ride so to speak. We can't influence Spurs and to be fair if the situation was reversed we'd probably prioritise Ol' Big Ears too. Same with United, Burnley, Leicester or Brighton. As hard as it is to go with the flow our job as fans is to influence what we can help and that's our boys in all six (hopefully 7!) games we have left.
 
One thing I'm not having is people calling us bottlers or anything like that. We've only dropped points in 8 games all season and even then only lost 1. Even that 1 we lost we were 11mm away from getting a point and a ref scared too give a red card to the City captain at the Ethiad in the top of the table clash away from in all probability winning it. There's some games we've drawn were we haven't have our shooting boots on, but that happens. Sometimes it's pure luck like a inept ref not seeing Keita's foot being stood on when trying to shoot against Leicester or another inept ref not sending off Maguire in that same game before he scored.

I'm so fucking proud of this team. They have fought, scratched and clawed when they needed too. They have played some beautiful football and swarmed teams when they could. For all the talk of City and their total football (I find it a bit sterile, Barca had Messi to provide magic when playing like this), we have played just as much lovely stuff this season. Our defence has been awesome, especially when you consider Gomez and Virgil is our first choice before that shithouse Burnley tackle on Joe, but Matip has stepped up to the plate. Our defence has let in more goals in the second half of the season but we're playing our 4th choice centre half which I doubt many teams could keep up the defensive record we were heading towards in that situation.

Basically we're boss. Up the fucking Reds.

[Mighty_Red]

I writ it before and I'll writ it again, we (Liverpool FC) would have been better off if that late Manchester City goal had stood.

So you think that Spurs losing would've instantly cured their injuries and tiredness? That's currently their biggest issue. Mental fatigue will affect both teams again regardless of Wednesday's result. It will be a tough ask of Spurs to be switched on but it would've been that little bit tougher had they lost.

I would much rather see how City respond to such a crushing defeat and whether that affects the rest of their season (not just for this game) than simply increase their confidence to such a level that they actually go and win the lot.

[UntouchableLuis]

Hope the refs don't give City a dodgy penalty today or something  - no doubt the officials will crumble under the pressure from the plastic flags.

I don't hold out much hope for Spurs unfortunately - with a fully fit squad I think they could nick a point but City will bring in a fresh Sane and Fernandinho and I think it will just be a City onslaught from minute one until Lloris throws the ball into his net.

[moondog]

Sending Spurs some Good Vibrations this morning, if we can all channel a strong positivity towards them then I can see foresee a marginal win for them under even more strange circumstances than mid week.
It's ON.

[PaulF]

My opinion is that in a one off game Spurs are the most likely to take points off them (from remaining fixtures). The other games between them though add up to a fair chance.  I have a horrible recollection we were hoping on Spurs to do us a favour not so long ago and they badly let us down.

Have we dropped points since the city game? If we max points from here, then labelling us bottlers is ridiculous (although an easy way to wind us up). You might as well label anyone that dropped points to City as bottlers. We'll just have lost out to an incredibly strong squad, backed by very dubious means.

Anyway, I've bet on City to win today, so we're pretty much guaranteed that they don't .

[hansenite]

I dont know if anyone has watched the pre match conference from pep for the spurs match (link below) but I found it astounding. what a morose reponse, and then compare that to klopps Cardiff pre presser.   firstly in the context of this thread, it would appear that it is not all happy camping at the etihad and that there may be a negative knockon, secondly and more profoundly how can  a man be sulking in his position. . spoilt. a sulking and equally under preasure man given his body Language incapable of hiding his emotions in public instead of channeling them into being a better leader, motivate a team to go on to counter their loss. it then made me think of the sort of people who sign for man city. is it the money and the esy ticket to success, or is it that emotion is more importnt in the Latin quarter. either way I wouldnt want to play for him id want to play for our grown up leader

https://youtu.be/uyjDt8ULJ3E

[leo100]

 As long as our line up isn’t too weak I’m starting to think we might do you a favour today. I know I’m still buzzing from Wednesday, imagine the players walking back into that away dressing room just over 48 hours after one of their greatest nights. I think the Spurs feeling will be one of carefree enjoyment with the shackles off that could make us very dangerous. Players will still be floating on air a bit while city will feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. I think if moura and Son start something might happen.

[Sharado]

COYS!

[Sharado]

As long as our line up isn’t too weak I’m starting to think we might do you a favour today. I know I’m still buzzing from Wednesday, imagine the players walking back into that away dressing room just over 48 hours after one of their greatest nights. I think the Spurs feeling will be one of carefree enjoyment with the shackles off that could make us very dangerous. Players will still be floating on air a bit while city will feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. I think if moura and Son start something might happen.

I think the kick off time suits you a lot more than them, and was always going to suit the winner more. If you can ride out the first 20 or so which is likely to be an onslaught I think you'll be fine and could even nick it.

[T.Mills]

Spurs eint doing shit!  Dont get your hopes up lads it’ll be a 4-0 thrashing.

Its the United, Leicester and Burnley games im looking at.

[DHKopper]

Whatever happens, happens. Nothing we can do about it now and nothing we can control about it. Just gotta sit back and enjoy the ride so to speak. We can't influence Spurs and to be fair if the situation was reversed we'd probably prioritise Ol' Big Ears too. Same with United, Burnley, Leicester or Brighton. As hard as it is to go with the flow our job as fans is to influence what we can help and that's our boys in all six (hopefully 7!) games we have left.
 
One thing I'm not having is people calling us bottlers or anything like that. We've only dropped points in 8 games all season and even then only lost 1. Even that 1 we lost we were 11mm away from getting a point and a ref scared too give a red card to the City captain at the Ethiad in the top of the table clash away from in all probability winning it. There's some games we've drawn were we haven't have our shooting boots on, but that happens. Sometimes it's pure luck like a inept ref not seeing Keita's foot being stood on when trying to shoot against Leicester or another inept ref not sending off Maguire in that same game before he scored.

I'm so fucking proud of this team. They have fought, scratched and clawed when they needed too. They have played some beautiful football and swarmed teams when they could. For all the talk of City and their total football (I find it a bit sterile, Barca had Messi to provide magic when playing like this), we have played just as much lovely stuff this season. Our defence has been awesome, especially when you consider Gomez and Virgil is our first choice before that shithouse Burnley tackle on Joe, but Matip has stepped up to the plate. Our defence has let in more goals in the second half of the season but we're playing our 4th choice centre half which I doubt many teams could keep up the defensive record we were heading towards in that situation.

Basically we're boss. Up the fucking Reds.

Ex'fucking'actly.

[vicar]

I think the kick off time suits you a lot more than them, and was always going to suit the winner more. If you can ride out the first 20 or so which is likely to be an onslaught I think you'll be fine and could even nick it.

Kick off time does even it out a little, but then when you take into account that City have a whole reserve team of premier league players they can bring in and Pochettino has intimated that he will have to play youth, I can't see anything but a comfortable City win. Its a shame this and the Utd fixtures where not reversed I think City would have probably crumbled then.

Expecting the worse, hoping for the best.

[PaulF]

Kick off time does even it out a little, but then when you take into account that City have a whole reserve team of premier league players they can bring in and Pochettino has intimated that he will have to play youth, I can't see anything but a comfortable City win. Its a shame this and the Utd fixtures where not reversed I think City would have probably crumbled then.

Expecting the worse, hoping for the best.

So a draw 😀

[aggerdid]

I must have woke up about 4 times thinking about this. It’s truly desperation time now for me. They drop points today or Wednesday or we’re staring down the barrel. COYS. In the past guardiolas bad results at city have come in clusters fingers crossed it continues

[Dave D]

A team resting a few player doesn't necessarily mean they're not going to try. We all remember chelsea at home in 2014. Their game was either before or during a CL game wasn't it? I'm not going back to look.
If Mourinho was the manager of Spurs or the mancs I'd bet the house on him getting at least a draw against man city and then spending 30 minutes after the game applauding himself in front of the cameras.
If a manager is up for it, his player will be up for it. If a manager want's to throw the game, his players won't be arsed, as can be seen by the majority of man city's opponents in the second half of the season.

[El Lobo]

Us not winning the title won't be down to any game City play in the coming weeks, it would have been down to us not doing our job. Which sounds harsh seeing how well we have done but that's the reality of this challenge.

If Liverpool don’t win the title it’ll have been down to City winning an inordinate amount of games to do so. If they end up winning 18 of their last 19 games, that’s got fuck all to do with anyone else ‘not doing their jobs’ and everything to do with a record setting team improving their squad and being run right to the wire against the backdrop of them quite blatantly cheating and not being punished for it.

But you knew that already mate, we’ve been here before and it’s why you get antsy when people label you a Spurs fam despite you only poking your head out when they’ve just won and quite often it’s to put down Liverpool or tell us how WE haven’t done our job or won’t do this or won’t do that. You seem to thrive on it.

[JC the Messiah]

As long as our line up isn’t too weak I’m starting to think we might do you a favour today. I know I’m still buzzing from Wednesday, imagine the players walking back into that away dressing room just over 48 hours after one of their greatest nights. I think the Spurs feeling will be one of carefree enjoyment with the shackles off that could make us very dangerous. Players will still be floating on air a bit while city will feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. I think if moura and Son start something might happen.

This is what I've been saying and hoping for. After Wednesday imagine the next training session at both clubs. Both will be physically fatigued, but one camp will be buzzing and training will be a joy. At the other camp, there'll be misery, constant reminders about getting knocked out of the CL, etc.

Even the tactical meetings will be reminders of Wednesday.

We know City have the bigger, and better squad. But the city players have been leggy at times recently, Pep hasn't rotated or managed this side of things as well as he could (remember the second leg against Burton when they were 9-0 up but still he played most of his first choice XI on a frozen pitch in a dead rubber?).

I'm sure Sane starts today, and that's a concern. They always seem to be a more dangerous and effective side when he's in.

City are favourites, so we should expect them to win, but it's certainly not a foregone conclusion. Unless Spurs revert to type and go into freefall.

[meady1981]

Something will happen today

[Rush 82]

Poch would love to put another one over Pep - I have no doubt about that.

[jepovic]

Kick off time does even it out a little, but then when you take into account that City have a whole reserve team of premier league players they can bring in and Pochettino has intimated that he will have to play youth, I can't see anything but a comfortable City win. Its a shame this and the Utd fixtures where not reversed I think City would have probably crumbled then.

Expecting the worse, hoping for the best.

Not having that. They have good bench players in theory, but if they haven't played enough games they won't be nearly as good as the starters. I think City will play mostly the same 11, they did win after all, while spurs could rest a couple.

Spurs is probably the most inconsistent of the top teams, so this could go anywhere IMO.

[mikeb58]

Today is a test of City's character, and we don't say that too often. Fuck me if that happened to us on Weds, facing Spurs again at home 3 days later with their fans taking the piss would be a nightmare.

On paper, City would beat these without too much problem, especially a weakened Spurs team, but its impossible to say at this stage if Pep and City are mentally up for this.

All that pre match bullshit from Pep, stating the PL was his preference was utter bollocks. He craved that CL win this season, and their owners got him on the understanding he would do so.

My real hope though is that they drop points in the Manc derby, I actually think Man Utd fans would love to see City's season collapse in front of their eyes. Burnley and Leicester I also think could take points off City.

Do our bit, and as I've thought all along we will win the League Title this season!

[Big Red Richie]

The optimist in me says Spurs will get something, from a mentally fatigued City team.

The realist in me says city will stroll it, after a spirited Spurs opening first half hour.


Either way. It's out of our hands at this point.

[Byrnee]

I honestly can’t get my head around Liverpool fans wanting that last minute winner to have stood. That would have been Giggs 99 all over again. They’d just have so much belief and adrenaline from that I could see them winning the quadruple whereas now they know they’ve failed at what they’ve been talking about for months. Spurs deserved it over the two legs particularly considering the injuries and squad depth. And why would anyone want to face City in the final, should we get there? I can take losing to Spurs, they’re a good club, good fans and they haven’t cheated to get where they are. If they win it fair fucks to them, good manager, players and club. Fuck City. Fuck Corrupt Money and financial doping.

And furthermore Spurs will be desperate to win or take a point today as they need it for Top 4 but lets not be throwing around ridiculous assertions that if they rest some players it would be a disgrace, because only a hypocrite would say that. We did it in 2005, we did it last year FFS. They are three games away from winning the biggest cup in European competition, with a number of winnable games left to secure top 4, and a squad decimated with injuries, and what, you want them to rush people back from injuries? All put their bodies on the line for a game that they’re already up against it in?

They’re a professional team and will do their best, we’ll all be supporting them today but lets not start criticising them for something’s we would do and have done.

But Spurs will go into this game full of confidence and on a high. City, meanwhile know they have to win and are facing the team who just crushed all their hopes despite being down to bare bones.

We should all be grateful to Spurs for showing other teams the way - get at City and you have a chance, turn up defeated and you’re fucked.

And people saying City won the game are talking out of their arse. They knew they had to win by 2. Spurs knew they could lose by 1. That’s not City winning the game.  That’s them failing at their objective and Spurs succeeding.

[Anthony]

If Spurs manage to get a result today it puts more pressure on United to do likewise - especially as Arsenal and Chelsea have quite winnable games on paper. If City falter in both games then the heads could definitely go and Burnley and Leicester could fancy their chances that bit more.

Of course, the opposite also applies - if Spurs lose there's less pressure on United midweek...

[Gray Hamster]

I honestly can’t get my head around Liverpool fans wanting that last minute winner to have stood. That would have been Giggs 99 all over again. They’d just have so much belief and adrenaline from that I could see them winning the quadruple whereas now they know they’ve failed at what they’ve been talking about for months. Spurs deserved it over the two legs particularly considering the injuries and squad depth. And why would anyone want to face City in the final, should we get there? I can take losing to Spurs, they’re a good club, good fans and they haven’t cheated to get where they are. If they win it fair fucks to them, good manager, players and club. Fuck City. Fuck Corrupt Money and financial doping.

And furthermore Spurs will be desperate to win or take a point today as they need it for Top 4 but lets not be throwing around ridiculous assertions that if they rest some players it would be a disgrace, because only a hypocrite would say that. We did it in 2005, we did it last year FFS. They are three games away from winning the biggest cup in European competition, with a number of winnable games left to secure top 4, and a squad decimated with injuries, and what, you want them to rush people back from injuries? All put their bodies on the line for a game that they’re already up against it in?

They’re a professional team and will do their best, we’ll all be supporting them today but lets not start criticising them for something’s we would do and have done.

But Spurs will go into this game full of confidence and on a high. City, meanwhile know they have to win and are facing the team who just crushed all their hopes despite being down to bare bones.

We should all be grateful to Spurs for showing other teams the way - get at City and you have a chance, turn up defeated and you’re fucked.

And people saying City won the game are talking out of their arse. They knew they had to win by 2. Spurs knew they could lose by 1. That’s not City winning the game.  That’s them failing at their objective and Spurs succeeding.

you put that so well mate, great post

[gregorio]

Spurs must be smarting after that narrow defeat on Wednesday night, will be hard for Pochettino to pick them up but I reckon they’ll scrape a draw

[Red_Irishman]

Only an hour left until the mass fume descends on this thread over Pochettino's team selection. Just remember, they have more games after this one. If they win this, which they will IMO, it isn't over.

[disgraced cake]

Spurs will tire earlier I think. Can see it being like how City blew Chelsea away in the first half or tight until the last half an hour. 4-1 City, sadly, but I still think they have a chance of dropping points at United.

[Zoomers]

A draw is all we need. Then United can come in and turn their match into a dog fight and make them lose.

[mikeb58]

Yeah, things have got very weird in the last few years regarding rivals, a lot of the laughing at them losing has been replaced by weirdo's wishing them through in every competition so they "get tired". We had people happy they came back v Swansea and all that's led to is basically a bye to an FA Cup trophy for them. Ridiculous.

To be fair, lots of us wanted City to go far in the domestic cups cos in the big scheme of things they mean fuck all, and hopefully they might have picked up an injury or two along the way.

The CL was different, in my opinion they had gone var enough, I celebrated like crazy when that goal was chalked off. Plus it was a competition we are still in, so another good reason to see them knocked out.

I reckon that Spurs defeat will in their heads today, domestically those City players have already won the lot, the CL was the dream this season and over 2 legs they fucked it up.

In other words City hardly ever get to face a 'real' challenge , yet the biggest challenge of all this season and they blew it....bottling fuckin cheats!