despite my crazy looking league table, there is a good chance you could be above us in 2 games times. its quite possible we'll only take a point from Arsenal and Chelsea away and we'd be doing well to take 4.
Top 4 race 2016/17
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despite my crazy looking league table, there is a good chance you could be above us in 2 games times. its quite possible we'll only take a point from Arsenal and Chelsea away and we'd be doing well to take 4.
A major plus for us is that there are still 5 games involving Utd, City, Spurs and Arsenal. That means between those four teams 15-20 points will be dropped in these games alone with each team standing to drop anywhere between 6 to 9 points.
It gives us a little wriggle room in terms of points required to make the top 4 - something we will need with our inconsistent form against the "lesser" teams.
It gives us a little wriggle room in terms of points required to make the top 4 - something we will need with our inconsistent form against the "lesser" teams.
Honestly, our form against the top 6 has bailed us out big time.
All those slip ups against the lesser teams we more than made up for by beating/not getting beat by those around us.
I can see United and Arsenal dropping quite a few points in those big games, in addition to this there are bound to be a few unexpected slip ups too. (and of course unexpected wins.)
IF. IF we start confidently beating the smaller teams again, like we did at the start of the season, its pretty much a certainty that we'll get top four. The thing is that's easier said than done.
We edged it past Burnley...
Stolen off Bluemoon. Looks like we're a bit screwed.
Top 4 is done, it'll be Chelsea, Spurs, City and Liverpool bar some implosion.
Honestly, our form against the top 6 has bailed us out big time.
All those slip ups against the lesser teams we more than made up for by beating/not getting beat by those around us.
I can see United and Arsenal dropping quite a few points in those big games, in addition to this there are bound to be a few unexpected slip ups too. (and of course unexpected wins.)
IF. IF we start confidently beating the smaller teams again, like we did at the start of the season, its pretty much a certainty that we'll get top four. The thing is that's easier said than done.
We edged it past Burnley...
Utd and Arsenal are both involved in 3 of those games - Spurs and City in 2 each. Most of those games come in the final weeks of the season. I hope we can win our games and not rely on others - would hate to be watching games involving other top teams hoping for a specific result. Although technically we're in that position already - as Utd have two games in hand.
Scary schedule. I am sure Jose will focus on winning the EL. We won't finish in top 5, but EL cup is very very doable.Stolen off Bluemoon. Looks like we're a bit screwed.
We wouldn't even have a bad schedule, but we are in a complete free fall atm.Stolen off Bluemoon. Looks like we're a bit screwed.
Bloody hell, someone's trying hard to convince themself.
Stolen off Bluemoon. Looks like we're a bit screwed.
Liverpools fixtures look the easiest on paper but then you consider this is the same side that lost away to Burnley, Bournemouth and Hull and suddenly no game for them look easy
Chelsea and Spurs (bar an implosion) are certs, City probably have enough but for the other 3 it's all to play for
Even being as optimistic as possible, I just don't think it's realistic. Even fully fit with no EL games, I think our run in is just too tricky for this current team to get the required results.
Truth be told, we should be comfortably top 4, but we've just not delivered.
Truth be told, we should be comfortably top 4, but we've just not delivered.
is treble winning still saying Chelsea will implode?
While this is true, they have won quite a few games very comfortably against teams of similar nature. They've defeated Leicester City 4-1 earlier this season, they defeated Palace 4-2, they beat stoke 4-1, they beat Watford 6-1...it will literally come down which Liverpool team turns up on the day. I'd say with only 1 game per week, I think they'll do alright especially if they can keep Mane, Coutinho and Firmino fit.
Klopp didnt have Suarez, thats a massive miss, or a Gerrard with a bit more to him. Klopp has built a good squad so far, and they will definitely be big challengers in next couple seasons. Absolutely, Theyre still 4 pts ahead in the table... not much, but i wouldnt be so convinced theyll finish below
Chelsea
Spurs
City
Liverpool
That's my prediction, with United coming in via Europa. Sorry Arsenal, your luck has run out.
Spurs
City
Liverpool
That's my prediction, with United coming in via Europa. Sorry Arsenal, your luck has run out.
I am going with Chelsea 89 points, then Spurs 79 points, City 74 points and Utd 71 points
Liverpool to just miss out by a point or 2 and Arsenal another 2 or 3 futher back
Liverpool to just miss out by a point or 2 and Arsenal another 2 or 3 futher back
We'll see who's right in two months time. There's no need to act so ridiculous though.
I agree.
Who's acting ridiculous? I'm merely stating how optimistic you seem despite having an awful 2017 so far, including 2 loses & a draw in your last 6 games.
The fact that you are so worked up about that is the ridiculous part.
You'll need to improve massively upon anything you have shown since the New Year in order to achieve anything like the points total you both suggested, isn't that just the truth? Or is it ridiculous?
Alright mate, let's just leave it. You're clearly not worth the debate.
What debate? You keep getting upset rather than debating anything.
Do you not think it's optimistic considering your recent form? Do you not need a huge improvement to achieve that points total?
21 points out of 27 remember, and you're annoyed that I think it's very optimistic. Bizarre.
Alright then, one more time.
First of all, I just predicted something which could be right on the money or far from it, that's why it's called a prediction. Then you replied with a denigrating comment regarding the optimism of Liverpool fans, which is fine and something I can handle. But then, when I actually explained my reasons, you again reply with a denigrating, ridiculous comment with literally zero content or counter-arguments whatsoever. So you're clearly not interested in an actual debate. So no, this hasn't been a debate because I've been the only one explaining myself and bringing forth some arguments.
Second, what is 'recent form'? You use a timespan since the turn of the year, but I could just as well use the last five games (which I bet you haven't seen based on your comments) or a timespan since the beginning of the November, just to suit my arguments. Our so-called 'recent form', as I've already explained above, has been encouraging if anything. A loss away to a rejuvenated Leicester team and a draw away to City which could just as easily been a win, with convincing wins against Tottenham and Arsenal and another win against Burnely (ugly win, I'll admit) is not exactly something I'm discouraged by. So we don't need a huge improvement to achieve that points total, we'll just need to keep going like we have been all season - we've had good spells when we were top of the league, and bad spells when we didn't win anything for a period of time (without THREE of our best players which always seems to be forgotten) so don't use 'recent form' and act like we've fallen away like Arsenal recently.
It's optimistic, which I've already admitted, but also achievable if you look at our fixture list (and please don't start with the 'bad record against small teams' now
). On the other hand, you have all the other contenders who still have to play each other so there will be points dropped left, right and centre, which means we can afford a draw away to West Brom, Watford or the likes. Meanwhile, you also seem to be forgetting that United still has to play FOUR other top 6 teams. Let me remind you that you've won ONE game in six against those teams so far, a mighty 1-0 win at home against Tottenham. Looking at that and Arsenal's free fall down the table (talk about 'recent form' again, heh), we might not even need to get 21 points out of 27 to achieve top 4. Truth is, I don't know and you don't know, but at least I didn't come in here all cocky to reply to someone else's posts and actually brought some useful arguments to the table.We've had worse runs in the past and come out on top, I think we need to just get our tactics right and grind out some of those tough fixtures and we'll be fine.
I'd be a bit disappointed with 89 at this point to be honest. It would mean either 5 draws in the last 10 games or 2 losses and 2 draws. Given we've only drawn and lost 3 each in 28 games, that would be a bit of a letdown in just 10 games.
What a surprise you want to use the last 5 games @RobinLFC rather than the last 6 which include an extra loss against shit opposition.
Can see Chelsea getting the points early then using last few matches to experiment a bit with players and tactics
When I watch MOTD or Sky they report the last five games.
Yeah that's possible, and if it means extra time for the youngsters then I wouldn't mind it. I'm not sure Conte would do that in his first season though, its usually the time managers want to make the biggest statement possible. Unlikely as it is, Conte could still break the PL record for most points in a season if he keeps on how he has been.
You certain of that, because a quick google search for Premier League form table gives you a bunch of sites, all quoting the last 6 games.
This is it.
I said back in December that my biggest concern is from mid March onwards our fixtures look easy. Being Liverpool though this concerned me and after our results since December it looks as though I was right. I think our points total against the top six is only one point better than the bottom six.
That is crackers !
You've got the best fixture list on paper and have to be slight favorites if you can move up the form table.
Not sure why some other LFC fans on here had such an issue with that, it'll take a huge improvement in your form/consistency to nail a top 4 finish and as you say, your form against the poorer sides in the division must improve dramatically!
Liverpool are firmly at the bottom of that mini league table. Conversely, Utd are firmly at the bottom of the top 8 league table.
Both clubs have to massively jump in form as both teams will now face their own personal pain tests. Both teams fighting for that one coveted place.
I'm not so sorry about Arsenal they have had a long time being successful now they have to make difficult decision like Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool have done in recent times.
I agree with your selection though am less sure about 4th with a nagging feeling against the odds Utd might just do it.
All the away matches look problematic because of the challenge to avoid the drop and although Leicester will probably be safe I they decide to go for it you might struggle there too.
I agree with your selection though am less sure about 4th with a nagging feeling against the odds Utd might just do it.
All the away matches look problematic because of the challenge to avoid the drop and although Leicester will probably be safe I they decide to go for it you might struggle there too.
1st and 2nd are done. 3rd most likely City and I have to admit i agree with the others and see Liverpool taking 4th.
Mourinho will spend his way to the top 4 for next year, Wenger will spend heavy but will it be the right players? Conte will make his team even more solid, and Spurs and Liverpool will be there abouts again
Mourinho will spend his way to the top 4 for next year, Wenger will spend heavy but will it be the right players? Conte will make his team even more solid, and Spurs and Liverpool will be there abouts again
I dont think a great deal of youngsters will be used next year either for you. Conte is going to build a solid side... and i dont think Chalobah, RLC and/or Ake will come into it. Keep them as squad players, but they wont be in the first team much tbh. I dont even think Christensen will go back, he should though, guy is talented.
IMO they will play this one like a final like Westham did against us.
At this point it's within our hands we need to fight for it, if we win our next three games which we have to do and can do then we mean business.
I know what you mean, but because the new stadium is just going to swallow the physical ground occupied by old one and will still be located on White Hart Lane, I somehow don't so much see it as the end of WHL, but rather as a kind of evolutionary growth of it.
I wish we had these problems.
Many are suggesting that we sort of give up in the league and concentrate only in EL. Even though it looks difficult that we will make top-4 in the league, I think it is a risky strategy to concentrate only on the EL. Yes on paper it looks like we need only 3 good results out of 5 but it is unlikely it will work out like that. The margin for error is low and there will be at least 3 games (two second legs and the final) where a single bad performance can end our campaign.
The league on the other hand is more forgiving of one or two bad performances as long as we make up for it by notching it up in some other games. The way I see it is that we have to be winning the 7 league games (where we don't play Chelsea, City, Arsenal or Spurs) where the most tricky ones are Burnley and Southampton away. But this is entirely do-able. Then in the remaining 4 games (Chelsea, City, Arsenal or Spurs) we need to get around 3 to 4 points.
If we want to give up on the league, we should first go all out in the next 3 league games and only do it at the end of those 3 games where we can evaluate how well we have done vs our competitors. If we don't get 9 points, and our competitors have also not dropped any silly points, then we can start to prioritize EL more and more.
The league on the other hand is more forgiving of one or two bad performances as long as we make up for it by notching it up in some other games. The way I see it is that we have to be winning the 7 league games (where we don't play Chelsea, City, Arsenal or Spurs) where the most tricky ones are Burnley and Southampton away. But this is entirely do-able. Then in the remaining 4 games (Chelsea, City, Arsenal or Spurs) we need to get around 3 to 4 points.
If we want to give up on the league, we should first go all out in the next 3 league games and only do it at the end of those 3 games where we can evaluate how well we have done vs our competitors. If we don't get 9 points, and our competitors have also not dropped any silly points, then we can start to prioritize EL more and more.