Topic: Chasing the Title

[btandt]

They spent 200M last year and ended up 2 points worse off.

They spent £61 million on Mahrez. Is all.

[CraigDS]

They spent £61 million on Mahrez. Is all.

You mean we, right? As you’re quite clearly a City fan.

[Romford_Red]

Well done to the boys. We were very unfortunate.

We go 7 points clear then at the turn of the year we play City straight away. I believe if that game was say in March we would of gone on to win the title.

Also we had to play two of a main rivals in UTD and Everton back to back. It did seem City were unchallenged after their defeat to Newcastle but credit to them.

For us to achieve 97 points is amazing. All the other teams in the league should be embarrassed to see two teams with 98 & 97 points.

Proud. I believe

I don't agree with that. That game could have gone either way. Literally millimeters in it for all 3 goals. If I had to pick out a moment that could have gone better (and with 97 points, it is ludicrous to do so seriously), it was the timing of our defensive injury crisis in Jan/Feb. Milner is fantastic, but those games showed how much we suffered if we didn't have a flying threat at fullback on BOTH sides. One less injury, or have that crisis a week earlier (and so don't let Clyne go) and I think one of those draws becomes a win.

That's football though.

You know, I've a mate who is a Chelsea fan who just spammed LFC 2nd place memes the minute the final whistle went on Sunday. I just messaged them to say that while we might not have the title, this team just proved that they are better than EVERY other teams BEST EVER teams (bar City).

Better than the Invincibles.
Better than Mourinho's Chelsea.
Better than the fables Man Utd Treble team.

I'm alright with that.

[BurnCK]

They spent 200M last year and ended up 2 points worse off.

No we didn't. We spent £60mil on Mahrez

[BurnCK]

Nothing left now in this race except for the media to pretend they won it fair and square.

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

[Peabee]

Imagine being that much of a silly c*nt you come on your supposed teams forum to point out you got it right 14 or 15 games ago on the day your supposed team lost the league whilst a lot of fans are deflated, emotions are running high etc About a team that's pulling off miracles. A team you supposedly fucking support

But cos your upset you were called a fucking bed wetter due to the fact everything you post is negative and miserable, and you indeed are a fucking bed wetter and ,not a self titled realist like you seem to think you are you deluded bellends you need to get in there with that chip on ye shoulder to point out

"TOLD YE"


Fuck off ye silly twats I'm fucking sick of reading ye shite


Any ways..... UP THE FUCKING REDS AND JIB THESE FUCKING MISERY ARSES OFF

 

[Peabee]

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

Jesus mate, go celebrate the title instead of arguing in here. 

Whether it was hacked or not doesn’t change the story.

However, I also don’t see anything illegal in the information anyway. It’s not within the spirit of the game, but it’s not illegal. It’s accounting tricks and loopholes. The only thing I think your club could be pulled up on by uefa is the fair market value issue.

The issue I have is the source of the sheikhs money. Taken from his country’s reserves and put into a football club.

[harleydanger]

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

Because whistle blowers, especially ones in the cyber sphere, are always dealt with justly. Just ask Chelsea Manning.

[Sharado]

Playing Arsenal away on the opening day was nice for them too. By the time we played them they had their act together. United Away came at a better time for them than us too.

I’m sure we had some go our way they we forget about but the Arsenal game in particular stands out.

Ah well, 100 points next season it is.

Yeah that arsenal game definitely stands out. Again, it's fine margins, but with our arsenal fixtures if we swapped the home and away [so at home first] I think we still beat them at home but end up beating them away too, they started to fall apart in the winter. Their Chelsea home fixture also came just as Chelsea were having their worst run too.

One of them, innit?

[Fordy]

I don't agree with that. That game could have gone either way. Literally millimeters in it for all 3 goals. If I had to pick out a moment that could have gone better (and with 97 points, it is ludicrous to do so seriously), it was the timing of our defensive injury crisis in Jan/Feb. Milner is fantastic, but those games showed how much we suffered if we didn't have a flying threat at fullback on BOTH sides. One less injury, or have that crisis a week earlier (and so don't let Clyne go) and I think one of those draws becomes a win.

That's football though.

You know, I've a mate who is a Chelsea fan who just spammed LFC 2nd place memes the minute the final whistle went on Sunday. I just messaged them to say that while we might not have the title, this team just proved that they are better than EVERY other teams BEST EVER teams (bar City).

Better than the Invincibles.
Better than Mourinho's Chelsea.
Better than the fables Man Utd Treble team.

I'm alright with that.

Our achievement was amazing and so was City's.

Yes, the match at the start of the year could of gone either way but the time of that game suited City. It's not often 1 & 2 play each other nearly at the turn of the year.

We'd to play UTD and Everton away. I don't think City and to play Us and UTD away.

Look, I am not picking holes but what I am saying is the figures ran nicely for City but that's not taking anything away from them.

[markedasred]

I've decided I am going to be the one who writes "we might still get handed the title" if the investigations come to fruition.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Better than the Invincibles.
Better than Mourinho's Chelsea.
Better than the fables Man Utd Treble team.

I'm alright with that.

Spot on.

I was nervous at 1-0 yesterday. Not because I still thought we could win the league. That ship sailed with Kompany's strike on Monday night as far as I was concerned. But because I desperately wanted us to get to 97 points. Admittedly partly because I had a compensation bet a while ago that City would get 98 and we'd get 97, but also so that in years to come we can almost indisputably say that - as things stand - this Liverpool team is the second best team of the modern era. Unfortunately we happen to be playing at the same time as the best one.

That's how life - and sport - goes sometimes. Sometimes you can be dead good at something but not get the end result to reflect that. 97 points without a league title is the perfect example of that.

Away from football I'm a huge tennis fan. Andy Murray's talent and mentality deserved considerably more than three Grand Slams on his resumé in my view. But he just happened to be playing at the same time as probably the three greatest players in the history of the sport.

You know what though, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic drove Murray on to become a better player. Had he played in Tim Henman's era, he'd almost certainly have won considerably more titles and Grand Slams, despite probably not being the awesome player he became in his mid-twenties after fine-tuning his body and game. And eventually he got the rewards, even if it wasn't quite as many as he'd have envisaged as that young 17-year-old whippersnapper who went two sets up at Wimbledon against a recent finalist in David Nalbandian.

Our players could do worse than look at Murray for inspiration. Use this near-miss as motivation in Madrid and beyond. Don't let it count for nothing. I have every faith they will do so. How could you not after last Tuesday night?

[Sat1]

They've won it fair and square. They put 11 out, and so did we. Why are people being so bitter.

[CraigDS]

They've won it fair and square. They put 11 out, and so did we. Why are people being so bitter.

Well as fair and square as being financially doped by an oil state is.

[M7 Heckler]

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

A hacking charge is an admission of guilt. If hes being done for hacking then hes obviously hacked the info, innit.

[Red-Soldier]

https://lfcglobe.co.uk/former-referee-highlights-turning-point-in-liverpools-failed-premier-league-title-bid/?utm_source=notif

Former referee highlights “turning point” in Liverpool’s failed Premier League title bid

Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane scored either side of Roberto Firmino’s equaliser to win the game 2-1 for Pep Guardiola’s side. However, there was a controversial moment before Aguero’s opener as Kompany brought down Mohamed Salah, who looked to have taken the ball past the Belgian.

Referee Anthony Taylor handed him a yellow card, however, Klopp was adamant it should have been red instead, saying at the time: “I really like Vincent Kompany. I really like him but how on Earth is that not a red card?”

Former referee Hackett believes this moment was crucial in the title race, saying: “The turning point in the Premier League title was decided in the Man City v Liverpool game.

“31st minute when Kompany went in from distance with two feet off the ground on Mo Salah.

“Anthony Taylor failed to red card the offence! City won 2-1.”

It is perhaps rash to describe any moment in this title race as a “turning point”, with both sides receiving both good and bad fortune in equal measure.

[kaesarsosei]

Regarding the negativity, I'll admit to feeling very negative after the Leicester draw. But the only reason I thought that at the time is because I didn't think we would get 97 points, and that I thought we would have worse results after it. The fact that we didn't is amazing, and to me means you can't pick holes in anything we did. The fact we got within a point is incredible. If Guardiola gets manager of the year, it will be a joke.

I'll be honest, I'm not as optimistic for next season. City could look upon this as a warning shot and I've already heard rumblings on twitter they are planning a "big" summer. What the fuck that means to a club that averages £100m+ net spend per transfer window is anyone's guess.

If we can't catch them, the best thing for the long term of both the league and our club is for City to win another domestic treble and hit 100 points again. The only way to hurt the Premier League is when people stop watching on Sky/BT and the TV deal takes a dive. Then and only then might we see action.

On a more positive note, I can't see any world where we finish less than 2nd next season. United are a shambles, Arsenal need at least 3 first team defenders, Chelsea have a transfer ban and are losing their best player, and Spurs have 3 windows of transfers to catch up on - which will hurt them immensely next season IMO.

[sms1986]

They've won it fair and square. They put 11 out, and so did we. Why are people being so bitter.

You'll catch some with that!

Seriously, the players did put in a ton of effort and deserved to be winners as much as ours did, that doesn't mean the club is worthy of being champions.

[Chakan]

They've won it fair and square. They put 11 out, and so did we. Why are people being so bitter.

Honestly can't think of any reason...

[Sharado]

Regarding the negativity, I'll admit to feeling very negative after the Leicester draw. But the only reason I thought that at the time is because I didn't think we would get 97 points...

I think this is what it all boils down to really...right up to city beating burnley I didn't regret any result, I was sure they'd drop points. I'd always thought 95 would be enough until probably early april. They were relentless, i'll give them that.

[red_bird]

for me the Kompany non-red carded definitely is the key moment. Any other games that we "could've" won probably even themselves out with the games we "could've" draw or lost also.
it's an amazing journey with effort and achievement by the whole team and Klopp. Let's win the last game and finish the season on a high!

[Cu Chulainn]

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

Why would you be in here arguing with Liverpool fans when you've just won the title? For God's sake, man.

[Mackeroo]

On the 4th January I printed off all of our remaining fixtures and put results against them. I had us finishing with 96 points. So to better that and still not win the title is extremely bittersweet. I know we can point to various moments throughout the season that didn't go our way, but it really would be nit-picking. We gave it absolutely everything and just came up short. I'm thrilled we have a super team to be proud of, and a manager who understands what being Liverpool manager is all about, and that we're challenging for titles again.

[I've been a good boy]

Still yet to be proven. Everyone one here is just hoping that 'Der Spiegel' articles are 100% true whilst ignoring the fact that the person who 'leaked' said information is currently being extradited for extortion and hacking.

Do piss off. Your club is plastic, your owners are murderous tyrants and your fans, including you, are gobshites. Speaks volumes that you come onto a Liverpool forum spouting shite no less than 24 hours after your team's won a Premier League. Would love to see you talking that same bollocks on June 1st when we lift a trophy for the 6th time that you haven't even reached the final for even with your best squad ever.

[beardsley4ever]

Anyone who says they wouldn't take 97 points again next season is kidding themselves.  Let's do it again, and see what trophies come from that.  We need to add some depth up front, probably another central midfielder, and some defensive cover, but we are a fukin boss side with a lot players entering their primes.  Bring on next league season!

[red_bird]

i just don't see this Man City team could maintain what they've achieved for the past 2 years. i think them missing out on this season's CL while having the squad at it's peak could be the closest they could get in the competition in years to come.
the invaluable experience getting from the title run-in by our still young squad would be ready for the challenge in the coming seasons. 

[Crosby Nick]

I think this is what it all boils down to really...right up to city beating burnley I didn't regret any result, I was sure they'd drop points. I'd always thought 95 would be enough until probably early april. They were relentless, i'll give them that.

Back in the early days of this thread I was very confident we’d win. I think i said that avoiding defeat to City would be important (captain obvious) but either way I thought 95 points would certainly win it.

We reached that, and then some. Don’t think anyone could have predicted the second half of the season they’d have.

[Medellin]

Back in the early days of this thread I was very confident we’d win. I think i said that avoiding defeat to City would be important (captain obvious) but either way I thought 95 points would certainly win it.

We reached that, and then some. Don’t think anyone could have predicted the second half of the season they’d have.

Same here..95pts i thought would have been enough too.

[davidlpool1982]

There's a couple I look at. Bear in mind this doesn't mean I think we "threw it away" or any such shite and that I'm also including some City games in this list:

Us Vs Arsenal at their place in November. We had a perfectly good goal ruled off because the ref/linesman didn't know the offside rule.

the City game at their place with the non red card for Kompany, Sadio hitting the post then hitting Stones who just got it off the line before they got the first goal. We looked the better team that day and the fact we lost 2-1 with all of that was galling. Didn't think it would be so significant at the time.

The Leicester game where we both battled through the horrible weather and Maguire not getting a red. Add the fact he then scored a goal after a rash and avoidable foul by Robbo which we didn't defend properly and then we didn't get a absolute stonewaller pen of our own towards the end when Keita had his foot stood on so he couldn't shoot.

Us Vs United (more that the derby). We just couldn't get going in a game that was full of injury disruptions and stoppages that meant we couldn't get any rhythm started. Lots of the ball but just couldn't break them down. Got to give grudging respect to the noise their fans made and the defiance they showed in defence as this was as good as it got for the fuckers before the collapse of snake mountain.

City Vs Spurs just after the champions League games. Spurs were goosed, no energy left at all but still could have scored a hatful if Son had his shooting boots on. He missed about 3 one on ones that I remember, think Moura had one too. City spent the last 10 minutes booting the ball to row Z to get the pressure off.

City Vs Leicester. Vincent Kompany wouldn't do again that in a year of Sundays, let alone a fucking month. City were desperate and Leicester had them bang to rights with their defensive work. City couldn't create any real chances. The less said about Ihenacho at the end the better.

[Romford_Red]

i just don't see this Man City team could maintain what they've achieved for the past 2 years.

The problem is that I can. As long as Pep is there, I can.

People love to look at Guardiola's record and criticise him for only doing it with the biggest clubs, the best players and lots of money. It's a stupid criticism. Most jobs in life have different levels to them and these jobs are usually suited to different people. The CEO of a major bank is unlikely to know how to get the best out of a single branch and vice-versa, the successful branch/are manager is unlikely to do as good a job right at the top. It's about skill sets and finding the one for the right situation.

City have been spending for years, but how much have they ever looked like a club that could sustain success - let alone one that could sustain success to record breaking levels? Getting the very, very best out of the top tier of players is a skill many have proved not to have. Good old Hodgson certainly didn't have it and to some extent, neither did Brendan. Managers like Pulis, Alardyce and Hodgson are not bad managers (broadly speaking), they are simply good at a certain level. Some managers are escapologists. Some are great and motivating up and comers (which normally then falls away after a year or two) and some are equipped to manage at the top. VERY few are equipped to manage at the VERY top. Guardiola is.

He has a very specific and very successful way of playing. Yes he needs extremely talented players to execute it, but he does it better than most managers out there at doing that. That's why it's worrying. If he had less money and had to survive on maybe half a squad he didn't 100% like, or if City had the same group of players and some other coach? I'd not be concerned. I'd not believe they could repeat this. Unfortunately I think with Pep, they can.

I'm not saying we can't match them or even beat them (this is a post about them and not us), I think we can because we also have the right man for the situation.

[The North Bank]

I remember when the fixture lists were being talked about for the run in, both teams had about 12 games left and the general feeling was "plenty of twists and turns to come" "both teams will drop points" "who makes less mistakes".
Not one mistake by either team, no twists and turns, no dropped points, both teams won every single game, I've never seen a title race like it, normally one team falls away. What both teams have done is incredible,  Liverpool more so considering you didn't spend 2 billion to get here. 
Should be another close one next season.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I remember when the fixture lists were being talked about for the run in, both teams had about 12 games left and the general feeling was "plenty of twists and turns to come" "both teams will drop points" "who makes less mistakes".
Not one mistake by either team, no twists and turns, no dropped points, both teams won every single game, I've never seen a title race like it, normally one team falls away. What both teams have done is incredible,  Liverpool more so considering you didn't spend 2 billion to get here. 
Should be another close one next season.

We hope so mate, for the first time in a long time, I'm confident in our team being able to sustain another challenge and not falter away.

[Mr_Shane]

The problem is that I can. As long as Pep is there, I can.

People love to look at Guardiola's record and criticise him for only doing it with the biggest clubs, the best players and lots of money. It's a stupid criticism. Most jobs in life have different levels to them and these jobs are usually suited to different people. The CEO of a major bank is unlikely to know how to get the best out of a single branch and vice-versa, the successful branch/are manager is unlikely to do as good a job right at the top. It's about skill sets and finding the one for the right situation.

City have been spending for years, but how much have they ever looked like a club that could sustain success - let alone one that could sustain success to record breaking levels? Getting the very, very best out of the top tier of players is a skill many have proved not to have. Good old Hodgson certainly didn't have it and to some extent, neither did Brendan. Managers like Pulis, Alardyce and Hodgson are not bad managers (broadly speaking), they are simply good at a certain level. Some managers are escapologists. Some are great and motivating up and comers (which normally then falls away after a year or two) and some are equipped to manage at the top. VERY few are equipped to manage at the VERY top. Guardiola is.

He has a very specific and very successful way of playing. Yes he needs extremely talented players to execute it, but he does it better than most managers out there at doing that. That's why it's worrying. If he had less money and had to survive on maybe half a squad he didn't 100% like, or if City had the same group of players and some other coach? I'd not be concerned. I'd not believe they could repeat this. Unfortunately I think with Pep, they can.

I'm not saying we can't match them or even beat them (this is a post about them and not us), I think we can because we also have the right man for the situation.

Then get ready for another title race just like this season. 

[Romford_Red]

Then get ready for another title race just like this season. 

Bring it.

Loved (almost) every minute of this one. This is what I watch sport for. Trophies are icing. The gut-wrenching week to week, minute to minute is what I'm here for!

[The North Bank]

We hope so mate, for the first time in a long time, I'm confident in our team being able to sustain another challenge and not falter away.

Ive never ever predicted Liverpool to win the league before, unfortunately for you I was ultimately right every time.

As things stand, I make you favourites for next season, I see Citys main players hitting 30s, and the younger ones are not the reliable winners that have carried them through this era, I don't see a repeat season from Aguero/Kompany etc.  I think if you get a gap on them next season, they wont come back. It depends on who they bring in this summer, and who you bring in,but if the season was to start now I expect you to win it, I think you are more balanced and have a far better defence.

[Sharado]

Barring Watford beating the odds in the cup final, we renew hostilities with Man City in the community shield on 4th August don't we?

[Romford_Red]

Barring Watford beating the odds in the cup final, we renew hostilities with Man City in the community shield on 4th August don't we?

Fuck them. They should have to play themselves. It's not like they don't have enough players.

[Sharado]

Ive never ever predicted Liverpool to win the league before, unfortunately for you I was ultimately right every time.

As things stand, I make you favourites for next season, I see Citys main players hitting 30s, and the younger ones are not the reliable winners that have carried them through this era, I don't see a repeat season from Aguero/Kompany etc.  I think if you get a gap on them next season, they wont come back. It depends on who they bring in this summer, and who you bring in,but if the season was to start now I expect you to win it, I think you are more balanced and have a far better defence.

I think if the season was 4 or 5 games longer then we win it. But then, I thought we had plenty enough left to overtake them again when we last dropped off the top. Freak of a side really.

[Romford_Red]

I remember when the fixture lists were being talked about for the run in, both teams had about 12 games left and the general feeling was "plenty of twists and turns to come" "both teams will drop points" "who makes less mistakes".
Not one mistake by either team, no twists and turns, no dropped points, both teams won every single game, I've never seen a title race like it, normally one team falls away. What both teams have done is incredible,  Liverpool more so considering you didn't spend 2 billion to get here. 
Should be another close one next season.

Sky have been annoying as ever trying to extract every 'best ever' thing from this season. Their 'most times the top team has changed' stat is laughable. 20-30 years ago when most everyone played at the same time, that might have been an amazing thing. Not in this day of rarely playing at the same time as your rival.

Jokes.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Ive never ever predicted Liverpool to win the league before, unfortunately for you I was ultimately right every time.

As things stand, I make you favourites for next season, I see Citys main players hitting 30s, and the younger ones are not the reliable winners that have carried them through this era, I don't see a repeat season from Aguero/Kompany etc.  I think if you get a gap on them next season, they wont come back. It depends on who they bring in this summer, and who you bring in,but if the season was to start now I expect you to win it, I think you are more balanced and have a far better defence.

Think we need to bolster our attacking options, and have some luck with injuries since our front three will be away this summer yet again after a grueling season as it is.