Liverpool

peterstorey said:
From what I've seen it's Arsenal v City for the league, then a gap to Chelsea. Liverpool, Everton and Man Utd for 4th Place Trophy. Spurs v Newcastle for 7.
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Looking at Arsenal's fixtures from Feb-April I wouldn't be so confident if I were you.

edit:

In a potential 14 game run (depending on UCL and FA cup qualification) your fixtures include:
Liverpool A
United H
Bayern H
Bayern A
Spurs A
Chelsea A
City H
1/4 final of CL
Everton A

Those last 6 are 6 consecutive games as well. That is a tough 8 weeks of games there so close to the end of the season.
 
MrMarcello said:
Looking at the current forms and remaining fixtures this calendar year, I have the following as of 31 December:

City 41 points (W v Liverpool, W vs Palace)
Arsenal 40 points (D v Chelsea, W at West Ham, D @ Newcastle)
Everton 40 points (W @ Swansea, W v S'land, W v S'ton)
Chelsea 38 points (D @ Arsenal, W v Swansea, D v Liverpool)
Liverpool 37 points (L @ City, D @ Chelsea)
Man United 34 points (W @ Hull, W v Norwich)
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I would agree with this. To beat Tottenham and Cardiff has taken all the pressure off the next two. If we're 1 point off CL and 5 points off top with a couple of home games coming up then I'll snap your hand off.
 
Irwhine said:
The flat track bully label is used a lot by your mates too. B9 in the last few pages.
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I'm right in what I say though. I reckon there's a lot more question marks over your side than there is ours (based on current performances) Yet many United fans believe that a couple of negative results away to City & Chelsea in the next 2 games will signal an end to our top 4 aspirations - which was always our objective from the start - 36 points (minimum) is a dream first half of the season as far as as Liverpool are concerned. Considering, on paper, we have an easier 2nd half of the season, why do United fans suddenly feel we'll fall away, & their own side will come good. There's nothing in the recent performances of either side to suggest this will happen. Maybe you're all basing it on the Fergie years, & the Liverpool 'boom bust cycle' ? Maybe you haven't taken into account that Liverpool, under Rodgers, generally come good straight after a set-back (Hull City). I don't know, perhaps you can provide me with some answers as to why a manager (Rodgers) who has a better league record than fergie & Moyes in the past calendar year will suddenly fall from grace.
 
retardman5 said:
I'm right in what I say though. I reckon there's a lot more question marks over your side than there is ours (based on current performances) Yet many United fans believe that a couple of negative results away to City & Chelsea in the next 2 games will signal an end to our top 4 aspirations - which was always our objective from the start - 36 points (minimum) is a dream first half of the season as far as as Liverpool are concerned. Considering, on paper, we have an easier 2nd half of the season, why do United fans suddenly feel we'll fall away, & their own side will come good. There's nothing in the recent performances of either side to suggest this will happen. Maybe you're all basing it on the Fergie years, & the Liverpool 'boom bust cycle' ? Maybe you haven't taken into account that Liverpool, under Rodgers, generally come good straight after a set-back (Hull City). I don't know, perhaps you can provide me with some answers as to why a manager (Rodgers) who has a better league record than fergie & Moyes in the past calendar year will suddenly fall from grace.
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The one big factor I reckon will be pressure. And the manager and players' lack of experience in dealing with it effectively.

Pressure at the top destroys teams in the 2nd half. It's been Arsenal's graveyard for the best part of a decade.
 
Kraftwerker said:
The one big factor I reckon will be pressure. And the manager and players' lack of experience in dealing with it effectively.

Pressure at the top destroys teams in the 2nd half. It's been Arsenal's graveyard for the best part of a decade.
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I actually agree with this. :o

We'll have to see how David Brent and racist-arm-biter cope in the second half then. I guess the same applies to Moyes, etc.
 
retardman5 said:
Fergie's United side dealt with it OK back in 1993. 26 years and all that.
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I'm getting flashbacks to when you tried to compare the Liverpool of a few years ago to Fergie's early United.

It's your go to defence for any Liverpool team!

I'm not saying you'll crumple, I'm just saying that for every Fergie 92/93 side, there's dozens of sides and managers who've found that the pressure of the 2nd half of the season is too much to handle.
 
Kraftwerker said:
I'm getting flashbacks to when you tried to compare the Liverpool of a few years ago to Fergie's early United.

It's your go to defence for any Liverpool team!

I'm not saying you'll crumple, I'm just saying that for every Fergie 92/93 side, there's dozens of sides and managers who've found that the pressure of the 2nd half of the season is too much to handle.
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So considering Fergie is no longer around, how do you think Moyes will fare then ? Bearing in mind he has no experience of being in charge of such a big club. Will he cope OK with the pressure ? Far greater than anything Rodgers will be exposed too I imagine.
 
Moriarty said:
Yes, but we'd experienced a late season collapse at the end of the 1991-1992 season. You of all people ought to remember that. Plus we brought in Cantona.
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Suarez > Cantona
The Liverpool fans will say...
 
Moriarty said:
Probably not, but the point I was making was that United had the recent experience of folding at the last hurdle and that stood them in good stead in 93.
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So it had nothing to do with the fact that your nearest challengers that season (Villa) accumulated a meagre points total of 67 points based on a 38 game season, compared to United's 76 points. Yeah that's right, it was all down to united's mental strength & nothing to do with the total lack of competition.

Let's see how United's mental strength gets you through this season eh ?
 
They are doing very well and the rewards of sticking by a manager is paying off but I still don't see how they could win anything.
 
Saoirse. said:
This year or ever?
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the reality these days is...Money. I think even us with SAF as manager occasionally lost out to City and Chelsea. That is the reason Arsenal could not compete for so long. Liverpool look good as do Arsenal. But City have money to throw and bring in even more players...as do Chelsea. If your new owners are willing to do the same I can see Liverpool win the title. We are in the same situation.
 
retardman5 said:
So it had nothing to do with the fact that your nearest challengers that season (Villa) accumulated a meagre points total of 67 points based on a 38 game season, compared to United's 76 points. Yeah that's right, it was all down to united's mental strength & nothing to do with the total lack of competition.

Let's see how United's mental strength gets you through this season eh ?
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feck me Red, stop digging. The hole's deep enough already. Of course mental strength had a lot to do with it. Any championship winning side needs it and the fact that we won 76 points is testament to that and the Sheffield Wednesday game illustrates this point beautifully. When Liverpool were winning title after title, was that down to the lack of competition? Was it a one-team league? And as for this season, there's a long way to go yet and we'll see what happens when the pressure is really on.
 
Before the season I never had Liverpool for the top 4.They have exceded everyones expectations.Suarez was surely on his way out but look at him now!! I think they can make the top 4 if we don't properly get our act together.There is a long way to go yet but they are marvellous to watch.I just don't know if they can sustain this form but time will tell, and if they make the top four, real investment will be made.The premiership is as competetive now as it has ever been.
 
We won't win the league but it's ruddy great seeing us up there especially when some said we would have faded away by now. Our home for has given us a good platform to build on and away teams don't come to Anfield with the same confidence that they may have the past few seasons.
I think the January window will play a big part in where teams finish, a few clubs are eyeing top 4 and a couple of good signings could make a big difference.
Our league position and current form may make us a more attractive club for a better quality player, exciting times.

At the start of the season I didn't think we would make top 4, now it's a realistic target.
 
johnny boy said:
We won't win the league but it's ruddy great seeing us up there especially when some said we would have faded away by now. Our home for has given us a good platform to build on and away teams don't come to Anfield with the same confidence that they may have the past few seasons.
I think the January window will play a big part in where teams finish, a few clubs are eyeing top 4 and a couple of good signings could make a big difference.
Our league position and current form may make us a more attractive club for a better quality player, exciting times.

At the start of the season I didn't think we would make top 4, now it's a realistic target.
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I may be wrong but wasn't there a similar fear factor when Gerrard and torres and Alonso were at their peaks for Liverpool?
 
Probably but that's a few seasons back now. I just sense that clubs feel at the moment there is a real opportunity this season that hasn't been around for a long time.

Last season teams in the bottom half would have come to Anfield thinking they could win, now they are sitting deeper and hoping to nick a point. More importantly Liverpool are now playing with so much patience and confidence they are able to break defences down whereas last couple of seasons we would have struggled to.

Both Merseyside clubs are looking good and there is a swagger and confidence that has missing for a while.
2 very good young managers with teams playing attractive football.
The battle between the two could prove a factor in driving both on to better things.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
I may be wrong but wasn't there a similar fear factor when Gerrard and torres and Alonso were at their peaks for Liverpool?
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Liverpool realistically had one of the best midfields in World football then

A midfield 3 of Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard behind Torres takes some beating

A shame for them that Benitez couldn't sign a decent winger to save his life and wanted to replace Alonso with Barry

City will win the league this year but I think Liverpool have the staying power to stay close to them

I'd feel more confident of having to finish ahead of Chelsea who have trouble scoring at times or Arsenal who are showing signs of fading away
 
johnny boy said:
We won't win the league but it's ruddy great seeing us up there especially when some said we would have faded away by now. Our home for has given us a good platform to build on and away teams don't come to Anfield with the same confidence that they may have the past few seasons.
I think the January window will play a big part in where teams finish, a few clubs are eyeing top 4 and a couple of good signings could make a big difference.
Our league position and current form may make us a more attractive club for a better quality player, exciting times.

At the start of the season I didn't think we would make top 4, now it's a realistic target.
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It's gutting that we will have to change the boom bust cycle graph.
 
retardman5 said:
So considering Fergie is no longer around, how do you think Moyes will fare then ? Bearing in mind he has no experience of being in charge of such a big club. Will he cope OK with the pressure ? Far greater than anything Rodgers will be exposed too I imagine.
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We will see won't we.

The players I have absolutely no doubt in. Pretty much every one of them is accustomed to pressure at the top.

That makes it easier.
 
buckooo1978 said:
Liverpool realistically had one of the best midfields in World football then

A midfield 3 of Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard behind Torres takes some beating

A shame for them that Benitez couldn't sign a decent winger to save his life and wanted to replace Alonso with Barry

City will win the league this year but I think Liverpool have the staying power to stay close to them

I'd feel more confident of having to finish ahead of Chelsea who have trouble scoring at times or Arsenal who are showing signs of fading away
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I think Liverpool are playing very well right now but won't have enough quality to go all the way and will eventually fall away as the season goes on. The quality in the end simply isn't that great despite a lot of players playing the football of their lives. City and arsenal will definitely finish ahead of them IMO. The question is whether we can.
 
johnny boy said:
Probably but that's a few seasons back now. I just sense that clubs feel at the moment there is a real opportunity this season that hasn't been around for a long time.

Last season teams in the bottom half would have come to Anfield thinking they could win, now they are sitting deeper and hoping to nick a point. More importantly Liverpool are now playing with so much patience and confidence they are able to break defences down whereas last couple of seasons we would have struggled to.

Both Merseyside clubs are looking good and there is a swagger and confidence that has missing for a while.
2 very good young managers with teams playing attractive football.
The battle between the two could prove a factor in driving both on to better things.
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I think this sense of "opportunity" is there amongst a lot of clubs right now due to sir Alex's departure. However, when the dust settles I think city will take control with arsenal being the other side in the mix.

As for the two merseyside teams, they're both doing well right now but I'd wait for awhile to see how much improvement they can actually make in terms of their positions among the top teams. Swagger is nice but it can often be short term too.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
I think this sense of "opportunity" is there amongst a lot of clubs right now due to sir Alex's departure. However, when the dust settles I think city will take control with arsenal being the other side in the mix.

As for the two merseyside teams, they're both doing well right now but I'd wait for awhile to see how much improvement they can actually make in terms of their positions among the top teams. Swagger is nice but it can often be short term too.
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I think City will win it too - where we will finish I don't know, but if we can bring in a quality player or two in January it will be a big plus for us, especially if we can stay around the top of the league till then.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
I think this sense of "opportunity" is there amongst a lot of clubs right now due to sir Alex's departure. However, when the dust settles I think city will take control with arsenal being the other side in the mix.

As for the two merseyside teams, they're both doing well right now but I'd wait for awhile to see how much improvement they can actually make in terms of their positions among the top teams. Swagger is nice but it can often be short term too.
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I think we've had that little bit of swagger ever since Rodgers signed Coutinho & Sturridge nearly 12 months ago. Add to that the fact that players like Henderson & Sterling are starting to come good. I think it's mainly endemic of the way we play under our new manager as opposed to something temporary.
 
retardman5 said:
I think we've had that little bit of swagger ever since Rodgers signed Coutinho & Sturridge nearly 12 months ago. Add to that the fact that players like Henderson & Sterling are starting to come good. I think it's mainly endemic of the way we play under our new manager as opposed to something temporary.
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The style will sustain of course. Whether it comes off the way it has and hence carries a swagger long term remains to be seen. Simply playing a bit more of a technical style doesn't bring in swagger. It's that plus a lot of players really shining big time AND getting the results that gives the team belief and confidence to be that way.
 
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