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

[lobsterboy]

They are all tough games now, especially if you are in the mix.
Its the business end of the season - no more easy games. No one can afford to drop points.
Squeaky bum time!

[helmboy_nige]

Our form since Hull away (14 games) is 2.29 PPG (over a season that would be 87 points). Our form since the halfway point (8 games) is 2.5 PPG (over a season that would 95 points).

Last season we struggled early on than then showed CL qualification form in the second half of the season.

This season we showed CL qualification form early on but have now upped our game to champions type form.

The linear progression is clear to see. It may still be too late to win the title this year, but if we can take this type of form into a new season then we are well and truly on our way!

[Grobbelrevell]

If we go to St Mary's and win, I'll believe the title is ours a distict possibility.

[woof]

Landing the title after finishing 7th last season is not impossible but improbable. For that to happen, we would need to win every game and hope the chasing pack fall in one or two games. Sounds like a tough ask and it is. Getting to CL next season is still the objective although this represents the best chance of winning the league without getting entangled with other 'distractions' like CL or FA Cup

[lobsterboy]

Its just great to be back challenging for something at last.
Especially after all the years of shite with the Tumours, Cockpurslow sacking Rafa and employing Hodgson, Suarez-gate and it's sequel, swapping the likes of Alonso, Mascherano and that Lady Boy for Konchesky, Cole, Paulsen, Carroll and Downing and not forgetting the all time low of sacking The King.
But we have a boss manager. We have the best strikers in the league.
Folk are now talking about us because of the great football once more. The mancs are scared. The bitters beaten and even more bitter.
We are on the rise again! Its unlikely we'll win it this year but no harm in going for it. Whatever the result we'll get closer than we have been for a good few years and send a few warning shots across the bows of the big boys.

[SwissV]

This for me.

[Grobbelrevell]

Landing the title after finishing 7th last season is not impossible but improbable.

I agree with that, but I don't believe we'd need to win every game to have a chance, given the respective fixtures for the other teams in contention.

9 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from here would see us finish on 84 points. That may or may not be enough, ultimately, but it won't be far away.

[GG8]

Looking at your next 5 games, im stunned how bad it looks. The schedule computer sure screwed you over there. 4 out of 5 are away games, and there all tough as anything. Then your one home game is against City. If i was an Arsenal fan, i'd get a headache just staring at that fixture run!

Indeed, and it is easy to see why people believe we will fall away over that period. In fairness to the computer we were due a home game against Swansea in the middle of it but that had to be rearranged. However, its daunting.

Your late winners in the last two league games has really kept the pressure on, you could be sitting 2 points ahead of Spurs and 8 off first but instead your are 6 clear of the chasing pack and only four off the front. Ourselves as well as Chelsea and City will all accpt your fully in the title race now.

The way I see it - Games between Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs will determine where the title goes. The remaining games will determine wether the chasiing pack can claw back the deficit to the top four and wether those in the top four drop out of the title race and get pulled into a battle for CL qualification. 

[I-was-watching-it-on-Sky]

Its just great to be back challenging for something at last...

For me...it's great to be taken seriously again.

For far too long 'pundits' have felt justified in dismissing us as serious contenders...the likes of Patrick Barkley et al passing comment each Sunday morning.

The fun side of it too...this is real fun...his beloved Scum-chester struggling without the Sith lord to lead them. 

Long way to go n all that stuff...but nobody is looking forward to playing us...n some of them will be equally as nervous cos we have the ability to ruin their title run-in.

[GG8]

I agree with that, but I don't believe we'd need to win every game to have a chance, given the respective fixtures for the other teams in contention.

9 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from here would see us finish on 84 points. That may or may not be enough, ultimately, but it won't be far away.

Huge ask that. Over the course of a season that form would be roughly 31 wins 3.5 draws and 3.5 defeats. No team is even close to those stats with 11 games remaining.

And your talking about going on 3/4/5 game winning streaks. Hardly any team is doing that at the minute, West Ham's tun of 4 wins and a draw is the envy of the league.

[Hollywood Balls]

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with being cautious talking about winning the title - I guess all of our beliefs are a mixture of hope and expectation.

Obviously we all hope we all hope we win but given that we are significantly ahead of the curve given our original target, let alone our expectations, I can't criticise those who are counselling everyone to keep cool heads.

Having said that, there is a growing belief that we are right in the mix for the top spot. We have major players ready to come back for us, no european distraction and momentum.

Perhaps the biggest advantage though is that we have Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

Frankly put, when you look back through the careers of players at that level they simply win things - Maradonna, Ibrahimovic, Aguero, Cantona are irrepressible. None of the other teams have individual players with significantly more claim to win this league than the likes of our top stars.

We deserve to be where we are, when it comes to lifting the trophy, why not us?*





*this is a rhetorical question you miserable *****s!

[harleydanger]

We're at a point now where we can look up, not down, the ladder. And that's a good a spot as can be at this point of the season.

[GregCharrua]

This next stretch of games tells us where how close the title will be.

Is this the most exciting season in a long time? Not just for Liverpool but the league? Talent and interest at the top, bottom and middle. Shockers every weekend. And David Moyes Is Still The Manager of Manchester United™ ... but that's for another thread. 

[red_til_i_die]

If we can match the other teams above us away from home and then pick up points against them at home then that's the chance but we won't do that without sorting out our defence and the amount of errors were making.

4th is target this season (unless it looks like one of the English teams is going to win the CL and then it has to be 3rd) and anything better than that is a bonus

[Macedonian Red Reborn]

I agree with that, but I don't believe we'd need to win every game to have a chance, given the respective fixtures for the other teams in contention.

9 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from here would see us finish on 84 points. That may or may not be enough, ultimately, but it won't be far away.

We won't need to win every game, but we would definitely need to win our home games against Man City and Chelsea. As for the other top 7 clubs, there will be some points dropped in their direct fixtures:

08.03. Chelsea v Tottenham
16.03. Man Utd v Liverpool
16.03. Tottenham v Arsenal
22.03. Chelsea v Arsenal
25.03. Man Utd v Man City
29.03. Arsenal v Man City
30.03. Liverpool v Tottenham
05.04. Everton v Arsenal
12.04. Liverpool v Man City
19.04. Everton v Man Utd
26.04. Liverpool v Chelsea
03.05. Everton v Man City

[Macedonian Red Reborn]

Huge ask that. Over the course of a season that form would be roughly 31 wins 3.5 draws and 3.5 defeats. No team is even close to those stats with 11 games remaining.

And your talking about going on 3/4/5 game winning streaks. Hardly any team is doing that at the minute, West Ham's tun of 4 wins and a draw is the envy of the league.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html

[Grobbelrevell]

Huge ask that. Over the course of a season that form would be roughly 31 wins 3.5 draws and 3.5 defeats. No team is even close to those stats with 11 games remaining.

It is a huge ask, I know. As others have said, it's far more possible than probable, that's for sure. But it is possible.

As someone else pointed out earlier in the thread, over the last 14 games (since the defeat away at Hull) we've been running at 2.29PPG.

If we continue at that level we'd finish on 81/82 points. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we could add a point or two to that total. Alas, the opposite is also true, of course.

It's brilliant to just be able to discuss such things with a straight face again though, to be honest. At that very simple level i'm loving every second of it.

[Jake]

You lot are making me think we miiiight be able to do it.

[Grobbelrevell]

You lot are making me think we miiiight be able to do it.

Get on board with the dream, mate. 

If you can't dream, then what's the point in football?

[GG8]

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html

Fair enough, Liverpool and also Chelsea have similar record's over the last 5 games but still, its not a regular occurance in the league, look at what it has done for you and West Ham.

One has taken a team from fighting relegation to the top half of the table and the other has taken a team fighting for fourth spot to opening a gap on the teams behind them and clsoing the gap on the league leaders.

If you keep that up, its the form of Champions. Big ask.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Get on board with the dream, mate. 

If you can't dream, then what's the point in football?

I'm all aboard the dream train.

Imagine how good it would be. Imagine the celebrations. Imagine the kip of the Blue Kippers.

Steven Gerrard is too good to retire without lifting that trophy. He deserves it more than anyone.

[Hayer]

You lot are making me think we miiiight be able to do it.

Don't get too ahead of yourself, it's very unlikely. A challenge to the last month will be great and is what we should be hoping for. It's another thing actually winning the thing though.

We should be happy to be in the conversation, considering where we've been the last few seasons. Let's just enjoy it and see where this goes. No pressure.

[Chris Vincent]

Being 4 points Off the Top, Liverpool definitely have an outside chance to win the Premiership. Moreover, we have the 2nd best Goal Difference in the Top 4. This could be a deciding factor after 38 matches to decide the winner - as it is highly possible that 2 or more teams could finish with the same amount of points at the end of the season..

There is currently a difference of 10 & 15 Points between the league leaders, and Tottenham (5th) & Man Utd (6th) respectively. So they seem to be out of the running.

Chelsea & Man City both have yet to visit Anfield (where Liverpool are much stronger). So this could be a good opportunity to gain ground on them. However those matches do come with a potential downside - should those 2 teams win at Anfield, Tottenham could yet make a comeback for 4th place (despite being currently 6 points behind).

[GG8]

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html

Also, your away form is Joint fifth in the league, whcich isnt as promising heading into 3 away games in a row.

[I-was-watching-it-on-Sky]

Fair enough, Liverpool and also Chelsea have similar record's over the last 5 games but still, its not a regular occurance in the league, look at what it has done for you and West Ham.

One has taken a team from fighting relegation to the top half of the table and the other has taken a team fighting for fourth spot to opening a gap on the teams behind them and clsoing the gap on the league leaders.

If you keep that up, its the form of Champions. Big ask.

The fact that you're in here...trying to dampen down our spirit...gainsaying any posit of our possibilities which is putto you just shows us that you take us more seriously than you let on.

We may have a dream...we may be wishing...but it is born of more than lights and dust...and whatever happens...it won't happen without us directly influencing it.

[decky]

Huge ask that. Over the course of a season that form would be roughly 31 wins 3.5 draws and 3.5 defeats. No team is even close to those stats with 11 games remaining.

And your talking about going on 3/4/5 game winning streaks. Hardly any team is doing that at the minute, West Ham's tun of 4 wins and a draw is the envy of the league.

We are, we've just won 3 in a row and have won 6 and drawn 2 of our last 8 league games.

[GG8]

The fact that you're in here...trying to dampen down our spirit...gainsaying any posit of our possibilities which is putto you just shows us that you take us more seriously than you let on.

We may have a dream...we may be wishing...but it is born of more than lights and dust...and whatever happens...it won't happen without us directly influencing it.

Whatever.

I said weeks ago Liverpool would play a major role in deciding where the league ended up, even if it wasnt Anfield, and have recently stated you are one of my favourites for the league given your lack of committments and run-in.

Just trying to have a bir of reasoned debate about the remaining games of the top four teams - the whole point of the thread.

[Nessy76]

Also, your away form is Joint fifth in the league, whcich isnt as promising heading into 3 away games in a row.

I think you need to bear in mind the relative strength of the away games we've played so far. We've been away to all the sides above us and only a few of the bottom teams.

[Grobbelrevell]

I think you need to bear in mind the relative strength of the away games we've played so far. We've been away to all the sides above us and only a few of the bottom teams.

Exactly. Our remaining away fixtures are:

Southampton
Manchester United
Cardiff
West Ham
Norwich
Palace

The next two are tricky, but overall that's not a set of fixtures that we should be fearing.

[l12ngo]

I think at this time of the season you're looking for some sort of new impetus just to push that bit further. Sakho coming back and Suarez hitting goal scoring form again (which I believe will happen once he just gets one) could be it for us.

Regardless, nice to see us top of the form table and goal scoring charts as well as building a little gap between 4th & 5th after this weekend's matches.

[GG8]

We are, we've just won 3 in a row and have won 6 and drawn 2 of our last 8 league games.

No your not. As over the course of the season you have already lost or drawn 10 games, and no team has lost or drawn less than 8 (City).

So everyone has been playing worse than the form required to finish a season 9 wins 1 draw and 1 loss. Thats the point I was trying to make.

Anyway, as MacRed says, you wouldnt even need to do that. There are enough games between the top 6/7 remaining for everyone to lose points, the key is hopefully winning or at least not losing against the teams in and around you.

[west_london_red]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

[Grobbelrevell]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

Yes.

[johnny74]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

Definitely.

[tommy LFC]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

If you offered me that you would have no hand left good sir.

[helmboy_nige]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

Am wondering if we win a few more if this will change to "Would anyone take 2nd if it was offered to us now?"

 

[lobsterboy]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

Deffo. I'd bite your arm off.
Would be a massive leap forwards for us.
Would also eliminate the unlikely but still possible chance of Gollums lot winning the CL and removing the 4th place spot.

[PhaseOfPlay]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

I wouldn't. Teams with the wind in their sails coming into a run-in can do wonderful things. When I think back to teams I've coached who have hit a bit of form and done something positive, if at the 2/3's point of the season someone said something like "Would you take 5th if offered/would you take 3rd if offered", and I said "Yes", then we would have achieved LESS than what we eventually did achieve.

When it's mathematically impossible to win the league, THEN we can start snatching hands off to finish in the 4th/3rd/2nd spots.

[john_mac]

Would anyone take 3rd if it was offered to us now? I'm probably in a minority based on this last page but I certainly would.

I'd take where we are with 11 games to go and the opportunity to finish higher than this. Think we have every chance of doing so, few nervous moments yesterday, but hardly on our own, Chelsea looked poor and City not much better. Its the way of the world, every run comes with nerves, if you take the points, well its all that matters for me.

With Suarez we'll always pick up points, and I fancy more than Arsenal, at least.

[johnny74]

Given all the talk of Arsenal's crazy period of games on the horizon, I didnt realise that Liverpool actually have a very tough run of games around the corner.

Southampton (A)
United (A)
Cardiff (A)
Tottenham (H)
West Ham (A)
City (H)
Norwich (A)
Chelsea (H)

That is a tough run of games, 4 of the top 6 (albiet 3 at home), 2 visits to relegation scrapping teams and 2 visits to Southampton who we all know can turn it on when needed and West Ham who have seemingly turned a corner.

I agree. I don't buy this nonsense about our run in being easy.

Southampton away is as tough for us as any of those are. West Ham also the way they play. We'd expect 16pts from 24 (2ppg) the way things are going but that might be a little optimistic as we've run out of easy home games and our away form is treading water. Can we get a point at St Mary's? The great escape against Fulham suggested we might have a bit extra but we just cannot defend!

Southampton (A) (L)
United (A) (D)
Cardiff (A) (W)
Tottenham (H) (D)
West Ham (A) (D)
City (H) (D)
Norwich (A) (W)
Chelsea (H) (D)

^^11pts is probably somewhere between current form and worst case scenario (6pts).