Topic: Chasing the Title

[RedForeverTT]

Pep looked stressed and raffled in the BT interview. Really as Jermain said it, they cracked.

[TomDcs]

Just feels like it’s coming along doesn’t it...

It does, but this is the first season in forever that I’ve actually taken heed and focused on a game at a time. I know it’s down to the players to stay calm, but I can’t help but think we need to play it cool too!

[So… Howard Philips]

Always said Newcastle would proved to be the title decider, not some unheard of team like Everton.

Rafa setting the team up like a European competition and schooled Pep. No different to how he set us up against Ronaldinho's Barca in the Champions League.

We must bear in mind we play at St James's Park the next to last game so we'll need to be on the ball there.

[ByrdmanLFC]

I am seriously considering putting a lot of money on City  to win the league, just to have something if we somehow lose it... if someone had asked me before the season liverpool will win the league if you pay 5k, i wouldve done it...

[peachybum]

Pep said before that game that every game was a cup final and they couldn't afford to lose one. That results got to hurt their dressing room. Need to put the boot in tomorrow with a win.

[slaphead]

And both Arsenal and Chelsea will be desperate to prove their relevance by beating City, too. Guardiola's been impeccable in those top six games, mind, but if we can make it a gap of 7 then it's tough to go into games like that knowing that you'll probably need maximum points just to stay in touch.

Quite right, throw in that Chelsea play City in the league cup final not long after their league game and both teams will want to put a marker down, and that game becomes as hard a home game as you could have

[JC the Messiah]

Still surprised at Pep's continuing insistence on playing his main players in the game against Burton and again in the FA Cup.

Don't blame them for wanting to try and win every competition they're in, but surely he could have rested more than he did, and it jeopardises their challenge for the league and CL most probably. I don't think any picked up immediate injuries, but there's the cumulative effect from playing games. With the squad depth they have I just find it surprising, and hope it comes back to bite them.

Quoting myself - but I really think Pep has managed his squad badly.  Needs some pragmatism in there, his team have shown again that they're not invincible if they're not at the top of their game.

[RedForeverTT]

We must bear in mind we play at St James's Park the next to last game so we'll need to be on the ball there.

Hope Newcastle would be safe by then and Rafa gives a run out to their reserve team. The same he did at West Ham or Stoke that got Colin Wanker so riled.

[farawayred]

Went the offy for a bottle of Newky Brown there. It tastes fucking good.

 Rafa - ta la.

Was planning to do the same tonight after work on this side of the pond.

[Crosby Nick]

Think I’m right in saying we can afford to drop 6 points from here and win it. Two defeats and win the rest, or 3 draws and win the rest. Almost certainly won’t win every last game so every extra bit of breathing space is great.

[wige]

And both Arsenal and Chelsea will be desperate to prove their relevance by beating City, too. Guardiola's been impeccable in those top six games, mind, but if we can make it a gap of 7 then it's tough to go into games like that knowing that you'll probably need maximum points just to stay in touch.

We've got to beat Leicester first, but, allowing myself to get carried away, if we do and both of us win next game, then we also get to go 10 clear when we play first.

Great opportunity.

Still, for the players - forget it. Focus on performance, focus on giving everything, focus on Leicester only. For the fans in the ground - stay calm, stay angry, be loud, roar these lads on.

[SteveLFC]

Tomorrow will be a really tough game, Leicester haven't been great but they've got players who can cause us problems especially with Virgil out. We will have total confidence however, what an opportunity. Huge night ahead.

Errr.. Its not certain that hes out. He trained today. 
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/335777-liverpool-v-leicester-city-team-news

[SinceSixtyFive]

Errr.. Its not certain that hes out. He trained today. 
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/335777-liverpool-v-leicester-city-team-news

Virgil will play.


Nailed on. Don't quote me on it like 

[-Willo-]

We need to try and pull ahead so their focus shifts on the champions league.

Once they're past Schalke, if we are 7+ ahead they will begin to rest players in the league.

Fernandinho away to Burnley if they were 7+ behind? Absolutely no chance, cotton wool til the quarter finals.

[Passmaster Molby]

Think I’m right in saying we can afford to drop 6 points from here and win it. Two defeats and win the rest, or 3 draws and win the rest. Almost certainly won’t win every last game so every extra bit of breathing space is great.

This City side won't win every game, they looked tired at times tonight and this fixture pile up will take its toll. If we can hammer home 3 points tomorrow night it may force Pep to start prioritising the CL when it comes around again.

[toe punt]

Our max total is 105, City's is now 98. A couple of draws for them and it means we'll have 10 points leeway to play with. Not a bad state of affairs.

[Crosby Nick]

This City side won't win every game, they looked tired at times tonight and this fixture pile up will take its toll. If we can hammer home 3 points tomorrow night it may force Pep to start prioritising the CL when it comes around again.

Absolutely. Just working out the minimum number of points we can drop.

City can go on a winning run but if they’d like to drop points in any of their next couple that would be lovely.

[Clayton Bigsby]

Is there a thread for people that think the fat lady has sung. I don't want to mess the tone of this thread up

[Red Beret]

City didnt look up for the battle. Win tomorrow and i think they will psychologically be beaten. Tomorrow is massive now. Need to win.

Exactly. I'm not counting my chickens but if we get the right result tomorrow I think City might honestly jack the league in this year.

[-Willo-]

Exactly. I'm not counting my chickens but if we get the right result tomorrow I think City might honestly jack the league in this year.

They won't. They only have Schalke next round, it depends on the points gap in the middle of Feb for me once they tonk them 7-2 on aggregate.

[tornado]

Hope Newcastle would be safe by then and Rafa gives a run out to their reserve team. The same he did at West Ham or Stoke that got Colin Wanker so riled.

Or we could have finished the business by them and can play our reserve team and keep the first team fresh for CL

[simesy]

We must bear in mind we play at St James's Park the next to last game so we'll need to be on the ball there.

They'll be giving us a league winners guard of honour 😉

[tornado]

So, are Spurs technically back in the title race again

[TomDcs]

Anyone got our home league form close to hand?

[swoopy]

Just win tomorrow first otherwise it counts for nothing. Such a massive result for Rafa in the overall scheme of things though

[Chrismonster]

Win tomorrow, and I'm as sure as you can be in football that the league will be ours!

Long may Rafa stay in the Premier League 

[Bergersrightwingviews]

We need to try and pull ahead so their focus shifts on the champions league.

Once they're past Schalke, if we are 7+ ahead they will begin to rest players in the league.

Fernandinho away to Burnley if they were 7+ behind? Absolutely no chance, cotton wool til the quarter finals.

Yep. This please with us then knocking them out in the semis.

[Roady]

Our max total is 105, City's is now 98. A couple of draws for them and it means we'll have 10 points leeway to play with. Not a bad state of affairs.

On the assumption we win our game in hand and win when they draw then yes

[SteveLFC]

Great bonus for us tonight.. Thanks Rafa you legend. However, some here are getting carried away. Nearly half a season to go yet, a hell of a lot of ups and downs to get through. Having said that, I got a good feeling. 

[Crosby Nick]

Anyone got our home league form close to hand?

This season?

P11, W10, D1, L0, F31, A6

[Felch Aid]

Still think 3 games will define our season but never underestimate anyone now.

Spurs home.
Chelsea home.
Utd away.

And city have the same plus Arsenal.

Win tomorrow please.

[Crosby Nick]

Still think 3 games will define our season but never underestimate anyone now.

Spurs home.
Chelsea home.
Utd away.

And city have the same plus Arsenal.

Win tomorrow please.

Draw them all and keep betting everyone else and we’ll still be ok.

[kesey]

Still think 3 games will define our season but never underestimate anyone now.

Spurs home.
Chelsea home.
Utd away.

And city have the same plus Arsenal.

Win tomorrow please.

Football is never like this though.

Every game is tricky from now on.

[kesey]

On the assumption we win our game in hand and win when they draw then yes

Exactly.

Tomorrow is a cup final. Every game is.

[DangerScouse]

Anyone got our home league form close to hand?

Won 23, drawn 9 of our last 32. Longest unbeaten run in Europe's so called top 5 leagues.

[tornado]

I think the big takeaway from today is not just the fact that we have the chance to pull 7 points away. Its the fact, that for most of us when we think about getting past the line, it is this inherent fear that City will win all their remaining game. Today helps us go past this hypothesis a little bit, so we actually have more than a 2 loss cushion at the moment.

[Mr_Shane]

I think the big takeaway from today is not just the fact that we have the chance to pull 7 points away. Its the fact, that for most of us when we think about getting past the line, it is this inherent fear that City will win all their remaining game. Today helps us go past this hypothesis a little bit, so we actually have more than a 2 loss cushion at the moment.

Not many teams can pull off winning 14 games in a row. I cannot even remember any team in any of the stronger European leagues who have done it. Juventus? Bayern? Barcelona or Real? PSG possibly. But in our league its tough to pull it off

[Angelius]

I feel sick but in the best sort of way.

[artanis]

I think the big takeaway from today is not just the fact that we have the chance to pull 7 points away. Its the fact, that for most of us when we think about getting past the line, it is this inherent fear that City will win all their remaining game. Today helps us go past this hypothesis a little bit, so we actually have more than a 2 loss cushion at the moment.

Last season City got 55 points from first 19 games. Once tiredness kicked in they got 45 points from the remaining 19.
No reason to think this season they get more than 45 from the second 19 games. They will drop 9 more in the next 14 games.

[Barneylfc∗]

Think I’m right in saying we can afford to drop 6 points from here and win it. Two defeats and win the rest, or 3 draws and win the rest. Almost certainly won’t win every last game so every extra bit of breathing space is great.

Take that negativity elsewhere