Topic: Pre-Match: Liverpool v Middlesbrough | Sunday 21st May, 2017 | KO 15:00 (BST)

[newterp]

Until yesterday I had a bit of hope of 3rd, but I think that's pretty much done and dusted as a hopeless Watford with no manager are not taking any points off City.

I'd take a 1-0 win now as goal difference means nothing anymore. What that means in terms of a CL play-off and if we're seeded or unseeded or whomever we may draw is a problem for another day. Just win, don't care how.

Mazzari is managing the last game.

[SinceSixtyFive]

I underestimated us vs. West Ham by predicting 0-3 rather than the actual result.

With that in mind, I'm going for 11-0 this time out 'cos I think it'll be 12.

[swoopy]

Is it Sunday yet ?

[Parchpea]

Dynamics of the game bring a different challenge where an opponent is playing at the exact same time with an immediate impact on your fixture, very different from a one off final or a regular league match situation.

Handling this can be difficult, and this is why the last day is so exciting and regrettably for us less predictable.

Middlesbrough will build a wall, Everton will try and win at Arsenal, more space for the Gunners but more threat on their goal.

It will come down to bottle and we simply must get over the line, another failure at the last fence would negatively reshape our relationship with Klopp and FSG, one that we want to grow and move forward with into a brighter future.

[DangerScouse]

Took Arsenal over an hour to score against Sunderland, who are defensively not as strong as Middlesbrough.

I think it's more important we don't concede early on, and if we don't score straight away we need to be patient.

Pickford was fucking immense. 6 or 7 nil wouldn't have flattered Arsenal.

Early goal please reds. Don't want the moaning c*nts amongst our support getting on the players backs so let's silence the pricks early.

[skidz73]

Exactly the kind of game we should win with ease. Yup, heard it all before...

[Samie]

it's Boro , they're shite and they're relegated. If we can't beat this lot at home then we don't deserve Champions League.

I mean they've basically taken it up the arse against everyone else hence the piss poor total they've achieved.

[jammy dodger]

We will smash this lot 5-0 and swan into the Champions League* with ease. Have faith. Last week should have showed you how serious our team is and how little good all your hand-wringing achieves.

[SinceSixtyFive]

Exactly the kind of game we should win with ease. Yup, heard it all before...

And hopefully you'll hear a lot more of it in the not too distant future.

[redalways]

Is this game on the TV ?

[gray19lfc]

Is this game on the TV ?

Yes, Sky Sports

[redalways]

Yes, Sky Sports

Thanks mate.

[UntouchableLuis]

Can anyone confirm that if we don't beat this lot we don't deserve Champions League?

[SerbianScouser]

Thing is we won't be competing against Boro as much as against ourselves. Can we hold our nerve? Can we play good football under the pressure of must win game? Can we not panic if we don't score first half an hour? We answered these questions emphatically against W.Ham , hopefully we'll do the same on Sunday.

[Midekima]

Let's not underestimate them.

W5
D13
L19

They may be second bottom but they have had a 'result' in just under 50% of their games. We need to start like the second half of the West Ham game.

[Samie]

Lets' not overestimate these shit bags for fuck sakes. We beat this lot 3-0 at their place and they lost to Sunderland for fuck sakes a couple of weeks back.  There's a reason why they're being relegated ,they're not good...at all.

Thing is we won't be competing against Boro as much as against ourselves. Can we hold our nerve? Can we play good football under the pressure of must win game? Can we not panic if we don't score first half an hour? We answered these questions emphatically against W.Ham , hopefully we'll do the same on Sunday.

Now this makes more sense than worrying about a piss poor boro team.

[Pistolero]

I'd take a 1-0 win now

of course, although if its 1-0 in stoppage time and they get a corner..I think my ringpiece might spontaneously combust 

[YerBaldyHead]

One goal and they cave in, simple as. Boro fans were shouting at the referee last week to send Guzan off, so that tells you how good he is. Just hoping Arsenal don't score first because the crowd will get nervous.

[Crosby Nick]

Let's not overtime it. Attacking line up, go at them early and don't let them settle into a deep defensive setup. And when we score,  keep going and don't sit back.

And relax.

[telekon]

Are we allowed to finally call this a must-win?

I am pretty confident about this  . An unchanged side please as well...Unless Firmino is fit.

Haha no, since we can lose and still get 4th. 

Technically it's not a must win at all.

Having said that I can see a pretty comfortable win here. 3-0. Matip to finally score.

[Caston]

Let's not underestimate them.

W5
D13
L19

They may be second bottom but they have had a 'result' in just under 50% of their games. We need to start like the second half of the West Ham game.

  orrrrr let's take it how it is. They're shite, relegated and we're winning comfortably

[Mr_Shane]

Let's not underestimate them.

W5
D13
L19

They may be second bottom but they have had a 'result' in just under 50% of their games. We need to start like the second half of the West Ham game.

Obsess about this too much and you will wet your bed. Relax and let Klopp and the boys do their job

[SinceSixtyFive]

29th live game on TV in the PL this season - a record for one club in a single season.

Thats 'cos we play the most entertaining football in the league and, to be fair, a lot of other club's fans are quite fond of our boss.

I'd go so far as to say we are the "second club" for most fans of other teams in the Prem.

Especially the mancs and the blueshite.

Yes.

Definitely.

[Crosby Nick]

29th live game on TV in the PL this season - a record for one club in a single season.

That's got me wondering what the 9 not televised games were?

Burnley away
Hull home
Southampton away
Boro away
Hull away

Struggling to think of all the shit teams in the League at this moment!

[Youb]

Big game,  love it,  2am kick off for me. 

[rocco]

That's got me wondering what the 9 not televised games were?

Burnley away
Hull home
Southampton away
Boro away
Hull away

Struggling to think of all the shit teams in the League at this moment!

?

 Hull (h), Sunderland (h), Sunderland (a) Boro (a) and Bournemouth (h)

And

Burnley(a), Southampton (a), hull (a) and Stoke (a) were all 3pm on Skysports 5 ROI

[ABJ]

That's got me wondering what the 9 not televised games were?

Burnley away
Hull home
Southampton away
Boro away
Hull away

Struggling to think of all the shit teams in the League at this moment!

Sunderland home
Sunderland away
Bournemouth away
Stoke away

[killer-heels]

Sunderland home
Sunderland away
Bournemouth away
Stoke away

Bournemouth away was on Sky but the home game wasnt televised.

[joekim87]

Classic 'If we score early, we'll put 4 or 5 past em' kinda game. Should be entertaining none the less. We score early and watch our team tear them a new one, or wait till the 95th minute to score and win 1-0 and sink Arsenal into the depths of Europa hell.

[Oberyn_Martell]

Same as last week, if we're struggling later we can bring Firmino on, but I doubt we'll need him. We just need to attack like we did last week, we are at our best when we play a mobile team/mf and really go for it.

[WhingingMoaningUpstart]

Same as last week, if we're struggling later we can bring Firmino on, but I doubt we'll need him. We just need to attack like we did last week, we are at our best when we play a mobile team/mf and really go for it.

Bobby missed training again yesterday, according to the Echo. Still 3.5 days to go, but there is a chance he might not even be on the bench.

[WhingingMoaningUpstart]

Thats 'cos we play the most entertaining football in the league and, to be fair, a lot of other club's fans are quite fond of our boss.

I'd go so far as to say we are the "second club" for most fans of other teams in the Prem.

Especially the mancs and the blueshite.

Yes.

Definitely.

You're probably right. There was a survey done during Rafa's time (I think it was around 2008) which showed that Liverpool has the largest fan base in the country.

[Lolo]

Big game,  love it,  2am kick off for me.

10pm kick-off for me, watching in the bar with my Spurs mate next to me + the inevitable locals (China) with their ManU & Chelsea misspelt copy shirts on (non of them having the faintest clue where Manchester or Chelsea even are).

Let's have a party! 3:0 Matip, Winni and (sub) Lucas.....guaranteed smiles all round (especially if City draw 1:1)

[TepidT2O]

Sunderland home
Sunderland away
Bournemouth away
Stoke away

Not surprising really, I read that (for the last three years anyway) more people watch us on TV than any other team...

[KopThat]

We should probably try and win this one

[Red78]

I can see a party in the Kop on Sunday around 5pm.

[phil236849]

Bobby missed training again yesterday, according to the Echo. Still 3.5 days to go, but there is a chance he might not even be on the bench.

Sounds like same starting line up anyway

[Qston]

I can see a party in the Kop on Sunday around 5pm.

Not sure about that fella. Yes, there will be relief and some joy at qualifying for the elite tournament but perhaps I am from a generation that partied when we won things. Those times are slowly on their way back and then there will be a proper party. Just want the game out of the way, qualify for the european cup and then look forward with renewed hope to next season.

[CallumLFC]

Not sure about that fella. Yes, there will be relief and some joy at qualifying for the elite tournament but perhaps I am from a generation that partied when we won things. Those times are slowly on their way back and then there will be a proper party. Just want the game out of the way, qualify for the european cup and then look forward with renewed hope to next season.

Very right. Some would think we're Hull or something, and celebrating reaching the CL for the first time.

I know it's been only once in 7 years that we've been there but let's tone down the celebrations.

[SinceSixtyFive]

Not sure about that fella. Yes, there will be relief and some joy at qualifying for the elite tournament but perhaps I am from a generation that partied when we won things. Those times are slowly on their way back and then there will be a proper party. Just want the game out of the way, qualify for the european cup and then look forward with renewed hope to next season.

Kinda agree with the underlying sentiment as I'm from the same generation but nah, let the kids who aren't like us party if they want to. Its not like they're gonna wreck the living room or anything  How long has it been since we could celebrate anything? Five years is it?

What are we worried about? How it'll look? To other fans? To the media? Who gives a shit about them - I don't. I'm more concerned with how It'll look to Jürgen and the boys. Are we seriously suggesting we meet the bus etc etc and then when we win try to keep a lid on things?

Tell you what - lets take our lead from Jürgen. If he celebrates treat it as permission to go mental.