Topic: Chasing the Title

[deano2727]

All this talk about dropping points, If we are one Loss/Draw away from losing the PL initiative to City, then in the same tone I would say we are one Loss/Draw away in PL from gaining the CL initiative from all other teams.

Irrespective of how good we have been in the PL, we are tailor made for winning the CL this season. Extremely strong defense and an attack that's very potent against top teams. If we do end up falling short the next two weeks against City in the PL, I would put us up as the biggest favorites of winning the CL.

Cheer up! nobody knows what will happen at the end of season. But we are better off than anybody else in winning atleast one of the two titles if not both

Not sure the last part is true, but you're right - we at least have a decent to good chance of winning our two main targets from the start of the season. Massive ask to finish with either of them. Lets see.

I wasn't arsed with the CL earlier. So glad to have it now. Its something else to fight for in case we drop points in the next few games. Had we went out to Munich and dropped points in the next 2 or 3, it would have been season over.

[LiverLuke]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

[Motty]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Nope, I want the league above anything so would gamble for us piping them come the end of the season.

[fridge]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Oh! yes

[G Richards]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Nope! I want the double.
Failing that, the league over the CL for us (I suspect City will feel the opposite).

And then beyond all of that, I wouldn't want to miss the final seven games, so let's see them played and we will get what we get!

[Caligula?]

Funnily enough I've actually been thinking that we might pip City to the title because of their grueling schedule but lose to them in the CL final. If we get past Porto, I'm convinced we'll knock out Barcelona as well. Their style of play suits us to the hill. I think City will get to the final as well and we just have a shocking record in finals over the last 6+ years so I wouldn't fancy us. But to be honest it would be a minor inconvenience if we manage to win the league.

[AR48]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Either good. Need at least one though.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

One or the other would do, I'll take both

[WhereAngelsPlay]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Nope,would've at the start of the season though but not next season.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

A European Cup is always welcome regardless of what happens.

[Malaysian Kopite]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

Yep, I don't want to go another season without winning anything

[RedForeverTT]

It annoys me when pundits say League is the trophy we really wanted.

I don’t see how CL is less prestigious or that we somehow wanted it less

To me

CL = PL
FA Cup
Europa
League Cup

[Indomitable_Carp]

It annoys me when pundits say League is the trophy we really wanted.

I don’t see how CL is less prestigious or that we somehow wanted it less

I wouldn't say it's less prestigious. But clearly the League is the one people want most purely because of how long it's been since we last had one (many fans have been waiting their whole lives for it, while we were already lucky enough to witness the 2005 Champions League trophy). Pretty much all there is to it really.

I certainly won't be crying if we reach 6 European Cups, but if it was to come down to a choice I want the League. After we've won the League, then I want every other trophy going.

[Henry Kissinger]

Nope, I want the league above anything so would gamble for us piping them come the end of the season.

That sounds bloody disgusting. There may be children reading this you know ...

[red vinyl]

The league is the most important trophy to win every season bar none,it’s our benchmark,our standard we set as a club. Being the best team over 38 games now is incredibly difficult with the money in the PL,but for me it’s the best feeling as a supporter.

[Anthony]

if you were offered us winning the CL but losing the league to City right now would you take it?

It would be gutting to miss out on the League but I would be delighted with either one.

[DangerScouse]

The league is the most important trophy to win every season bar none,it’s our benchmark,our standard we set as a club. Being the best team over 38 games now is incredibly difficult with the money in the PL,but for me it’s the best feeling as a supporter.

Our European Cup triumphs aren't a bench mark and don't set standards for us as a club?

[red vinyl]

I’m torn on that to be honest,having watched all of our European Cup triumphs on tv and going to 2005 yes it’s the pinnacle of European football. The thing for me is only the champions of the country could enter it in the first place,giving teams who don’t deserve it,through investment even fraud can win that.

[red vinyl]

The European Cup has been devalued in my opinion,champions of your country hasn't.

[Perham]

The European Cup has been devalued in my opinion,champions of your country hasn't.

Why do you feel its been devalued?

[AmanShah21]

We've had an excellent season. *knock on wood* but we are pretty much assured of getting our highest ever premier league points tally (we are only 10 points short of 2008-09 with 7 games to play). The fact that we've pushed City this far to put them in a situation where they have to potentially play 2 cup finals a week for 6 consecutive weeks is not a bad place to be in. If they win all of theirs then congratulations to them, but I'd still think this is the best season we've played in the League in terms of consistency and maturity. In any other season either one of us/City would have pretty much wrapped up the league by now and focused on the remaining comps. The fact that everything still hangs in the balance is testament to the strongest 1-2 this league has ever seen. I dont think City will win all 8 remaining games. The question is will we manage to win all of ours. I hope we do, I really hope we do.

[red vinyl]

As you probably know football was invented in 1992,the same year the the Champions league was invented. The thing I’m trying to say is that it’s better to be champions of your own country regularly,than a lottery of filthy rich wannabes. We have won it the old format and the new.

[Perham]

As you probably know football was invented in 1992,the same year the the Champions league was invented. The thing I’m trying to say is that it’s better to be champions of your own country regularly,than a lottery of filthy rich wannabes. We have won it the old format and the new.

I don't see why that doesn't apply for domestic leagues though. In fact, I'd say it applies even more in the league than in the champions league. History in the competition seems to count for a lot more as we saw by last year and 2005. The likes of man city and PSG have pumped billions in to trying to be European champions but have been unsuccessful. It was the same with Chelsea under Mourinho, I know they eventually won it in 2012 but the point is their lack of European pedigree was a stumbling block when they first started playing in the champions league regularly. Overall, it's clear that it's easier to buy a league title than a European cup.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

As you probably know football was invented in 1992,the same year the the Champions league was invented. The thing I’m trying to say is that it’s better to be champions of your own country regularly,than a lottery of filthy rich wannabes. We have won it the old format and the new.

So because we won it before we should stop winning it again?

We weren't in the CL for ages and now all of a sudden it's devalued?

Yea whatever. You can say the league is more important, but CL is  anything but devalued. And no you can't buy a European Cup, many teams have tried and many have failed.

[AmanShah21]

I think the PL is worth a lot more to us because of just how long its eluded us. Whereas in Europe we have that Aura about us where we always feel like we'll have a right chance. If it doesn't happen this season in the UCL, we can go again next season with no added burden whereas I am not sure if the same could be said for the League.

[I've been a good boy]

Why do you feel its been devalued?

A mate of mine feels the same way, says it's because 3rd and 4th place teams are allowed when it should be only winners and runners-ups. For me, that just takes out the excitement. It's good to have a bit of variety and smaller teams from Norway, Russia, Switzerland etc get the chance to show their skill.

[red vinyl]

I’d rather be champions of our league end of mate,the European Cup is what it is. So 4 of the last 8 this year are English teams? That’s devalued in itself.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I think the PL is worth a lot more to us because of just how long its eluded us. Whereas in Europe we have that Aura about us where we always feel like we'll have a right chance. If it doesn't happen this season in the UCL, we can go again next season with no added burden whereas I am not sure if the same could be said for the League.

You can't take anything for granted. There are no guarantees in football.

The league is more important to us because we haven't won it in 30 years, however this club didn't get as big as it did with just league titles alone, and that's a fact.

If we cant win the league, I'd give my let bollock for #6 and separate ourselves from Bayern and Barca.

[red vinyl]

You can't take anything for granted. There are no guarantees in football.

The league is more important to us because we haven't won it in 30 years, however this club didn't get as big as it did with just league titles alone, and that's a fact.

If we cant win the league, I'd give my let bollock for #6 and separate ourselves from Bayern and Barca.

Bread and butter mate,the title always was that first and foremost. The CL is a massive thing to win and we have pedigree but the original thing I’ve been chatting about,is what’s more important.

[kesey]

A European Cup is always welcome regardless of what happens.

Which tells you how far we've moved on under Klopp.

Let's debate all day and night .

So we as Liverpool fans are now asking ourselves which of two we'd rather win ? It's fucking late March we are top of the league and in the QF's of zee European Cup.

Pinch ourselves. It's real .

[red vinyl]

So out of the two,go ed?

[kesey]

So out of the two,go ed?

Me ?

[Perham]

A mate of mine feels the same way, says it's because 3rd and 4th place teams are allowed when it should be only winners and runners-ups. For me, that just takes out the excitement. It's good to have a bit of variety and smaller teams from Norway, Russia, Switzerland etc get the chance to show their skill.

I agree that 3rd and 4th shouldn't be allowed and I do feel that it should be reserved for the best in their countries. That being said, I can't agree that it's been devalued because it's still competing to be the best team in Europe, which obviously makes it the main trophy that all teams want to win. It's still really special and last season's run to the final proved it with the buzz it gave the whole club.

I’d rather be champions of our league end of mate,the European Cup is what it is. So 4 of the last 8 this year are English teams? That’s devalued in itself.

Yes, I'd rather win the league and I'd say most liverpool fans probably would as well but that's not because of the European cup being devalued. It's still the biggest and most prestigious competition but our situation is pretty unique in that we haven't won the league in almost 30 years and we've won the champions league in that time so the desperation for the title is obviously huge. If we win the league this season, champions league becomes the biggest achievement. Winning over a 38 game season is definitely a huge achievement even without the long wait but Europe's still bigger in my mind and definitely hasn't been devalued as you suggested.

[red vinyl]

Me ?

Yeah it’s late March and a bit of prestige is possible,so yeah.

[Son of Spion]

The European Cup has been devalued in my opinion,champions of your country hasn't.

It's amazing to think we are talking about which trophy we would rather have out of these two. We've certainly come a long way in such a few years. 

For me, the European Cup has always been the No1, but then again, I've seen us pick up leagues year after year, whereas many of our current fanbase haven't. I've always wanted us to get our hands on Big Ears more than any other trophy. Mind you, I do feel the competition was devalued when they basically made it a European Mini League rather than only open to the Champions of each country. I also absolutely loathe playing domestic sides in it. I find that really dull. Who the hell wants to play a Chelsea, United, City, Spurs or Arsenal when you could be playing Ajax, Benfica, Barcelona, AC Milan etc?

It always feels a bit presumptuous talking about which trophy I'd rather us win when we could easily end up with nothing but some good memories, but a bit of dreaming and speculating does no harm I suppose. If I were pushed for a choice then I think I'd go with the league, despite my attachment to old Big Ears. Probably because we need to start winning this thing again, and we need the monkey off our back. Also, if we do it, it will be monumental for so many reasons. Not least because we are the only club in the league showing the bottle (yes, I used the word) and the guts to take on and compete with the biggest bullying cheat the English game has ever seen. To win it with what will probably be our biggest ever points haul, and against that shower, would be simply stunning.

[Redcap]

I think winning the CL would be the best thing for setting ourselves up reputationally, and therefore for attracting new recruits/holding onto stars, in the near future. Doing so (along with maintaining strong league form, playing attractive football and offering top wages) would just about establish us as roughly an equivalently attractive club as Barca, Real and Bayern to play for. I honestly think that can make the difference between whether a Suarez goes or stays.

Winning the league is very likely more satisfying, because it's been so long since we've won it, but I think from the perspective of recruitment, fewer stars care about domestic titles as the prospect of winning the biggest prize in club football.

Mind you, it's close, and you'd have to be fairly ecstatic about winning either.

But we're playing well enough that you also wouldn't rule us out of winning both.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Bread and butter mate,the title always was that first and foremost. The CL is a massive thing to win and we have pedigree but the original thing I’ve been chatting about,is what’s more important.

Didnt say the league wasn't the bread and butter nor that it was 2nd, but to me the CL isn't devalued. We won it 15 years ago, and whle that's more recent than the league it's still a long time, so another CL triumph would propel this club even more. The pinnacle of winning for footballers on the club level is to win the CL. So it cant be devalued.

[latortuga]

Agree about the importance of sequencing and psychology in this. We need to make sure that they are the next team to drop points and not us. 3 wins from our next 3 would put massive pressure on them. Kettling Pep's head is key to this.

In amongst all this talk of City tiring from the schedule etc, we can't ignore the possibility that it's the other competitions they fuck up and not the league. It could be the semi with Brighton or the CL games with Spurs where they lose focus and fuck up. Fucking hope and pray it's the league where they crack.

Like Spurs beating them in the UCL and then bending over in the league fixture.  Yes, that also concerns me.  City have looked far more vulnerable in the UCL so it would not surprise me at all if this were to happen.  Can't believe how ridiculously low the odds on them winning the Quadruple are, something like 7/2. 

[harleydanger]

There’s no other team with more than 3 stars above their European crest that haven’t won a league for so long, that’s why the league is so important.

[ScouserAtHeart]

I'd "settle" for the European Cup