So the Title
- Thread starter 6TimesaRed
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
Chelsea could potentially drop points in 8 games.
Liverpool and Arsenal could potentially drop points in 9 games.
Manchester City could potentially drop points in 11 games.
At this point that's all there is to it, every game will be intense, that's why I think we need to stop thinking about those around us and just beat what we've got. If we carry on our form of the last ten games (8W 2D) into the next ten games, we'll win the league, that's all we should focus on.
Yeah, I agree with that. But looking at the fixture list you can at least see where they "might" drop some points.
We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep on winning. But looking at how the form table is you expect City and Chelsea to win most of their games, so we need about 8 wins imho.
Still, forget that. The focus is Cardiff and 3 points.
We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep on winning. But looking at how the form table is you expect City and Chelsea to win most of their games, so we need about 8 wins imho.
Still, forget that. The focus is Cardiff and 3 points.
Yup to the above.
If we lose to Man City &/or Chelsea and the title slips, so be it.
No shame in losing to a team with billions behind them and a fantasy team of attackers on the bench.
If we lose to any other team for lack of effort / concentration and these 2 motherfuckers slip away, that's when I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what if.
If we lose to Man City &/or Chelsea and the title slips, so be it.
No shame in losing to a team with billions behind them and a fantasy team of attackers on the bench.
If we lose to any other team for lack of effort / concentration and these 2 motherfuckers slip away, that's when I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what if.
You realise you will prob have to pay about £500+ for a ticket if we have a chance of winning the thing
Correspondent column: Brendan Rodgers has extracted the maximum from his squad and they are well-placed for a first title in 24 years after another highly impressive display
Manchester United were so bad on Sunday it was inevitable that the story would be about them first and Liverpool second. Whether the deficiencies are with the manager David Moyes or in the minds of the players no longer matters. There is only one way this appointment is going to turn out.
Moyes has had fair backing from the Stretford End faithful who defiantly belted out "20 times Man United" long after the final whistle and even on the trams back into town from Exchange Quay. The patience now, however, is about to be severely tested. Had United turned Liverpool over and gone on to beat Olympiakos and Manchester City then the season, and by extension Moyes' stewardship, would have looked all the rosier.
After this dispiriting home defeat, the games against Olympiakos and City are being approached with United fans watching from between their fingers. The Liverpool match might not have been the final nail in the Moyes coffin but it felt like the first. Being at Old Trafford these days is an unpredictable business. 18 points have been snaffled by visiting teams this season. Last season that total stood at nine. There is chaos; a sense of unravelling there and winning away to United seems no longer a landmark event.
This then, for Liverpool, was a relatively straightforward away win although there is an historical context which makes it all the sweeter for Reds fans. Three away matches in a row have been won by Brendan Rodgers' side and, after Chelsea's defeat at Aston Villa, the victory at United puts them within the title race whether Rodgers would like to admit it or not. "I don't lose sleep over it," he said to the press on Sunday regarding the prospect of a first league win in 24 years.
A Premier League title win would be fitting reward for Rodgers, who endured an indifferent start to his Liverpool days but has converted an admittedly limited squad into the finest football team in all of Britain.
"The quality of our training, the intensity of our training... there won't be many teams worker harder than us on a day-to-day basis on the training field to improve players and develop players," said Rodgers. There can be no denying that the Irishman's methods are working.
He has coaxed the best football out of Luis Suarez in the entirety of the Uruguayan's career. Laughable as it was only a few months ago, Suarez's professional ambitions are probably now best served at Anfield. That said, his improvement under Rodgers this season - and his all-round rehabilitation - has probably added £15 million to his transfer value should Liverpool be pressed into cashing in.
There have of course been a few 'work in progress' results this season. All in all they have failed to win about a third of their games. The Christmas period losses against Manchester City and Chelsea rankled because those are the type of matches that the big teams win. Worse so that they took the lead in each. To have positioned his side back into the title race even after those two defeats to direct rivals speaks volumes about Rodgers and his squad's redoubtableness. "We played a number of systems this year but our style remains the same," he said.
What Rodgers has in abundance that Moyes currently does not is a group of players across the ability and experience spectrum who have all collectively yielded to what their manager has asked. No Robin van Persie-like sulking from his equivalent in the Liverpool squad, Suarez. No moaning from Steven Gerrard about a new position and a new role. "We've got hungry players at the club who want to improve, who want to develop, who want to learn," said Rodgers. "We just get on with coaching the players to be better."
Two bogeymen in the shape of Manchester City and Chelsea loom on the horizon of the run in. But unlike at Christmas these Liverpool players will go into those matches believing they can win the title, despite the manager's assertions to the contrary.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have dismantled Everton in the derby, destroyed Arsenal and taken United apart at Old Trafford. Those are significant results, even in isolation, but strung together they form the pattern of Rodgers' Liverpool blueprint.
They are not spoiling their way towards a title, a la Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, nor are they reliant on the individual contributions of a world class player like City can be.
They are the only team in the title race with an attractive, collective purpose that flows from the manager through to the players. Liverpool are what happens when the right manager fits the right club and is given the space he needs to work.
Wouldn't it be good if that sort of thinking was rewarded with a trophy?
Manchester United were so bad on Sunday it was inevitable that the story would be about them first and Liverpool second. Whether the deficiencies are with the manager David Moyes or in the minds of the players no longer matters. There is only one way this appointment is going to turn out.
Moyes has had fair backing from the Stretford End faithful who defiantly belted out "20 times Man United" long after the final whistle and even on the trams back into town from Exchange Quay. The patience now, however, is about to be severely tested. Had United turned Liverpool over and gone on to beat Olympiakos and Manchester City then the season, and by extension Moyes' stewardship, would have looked all the rosier.
After this dispiriting home defeat, the games against Olympiakos and City are being approached with United fans watching from between their fingers. The Liverpool match might not have been the final nail in the Moyes coffin but it felt like the first. Being at Old Trafford these days is an unpredictable business. 18 points have been snaffled by visiting teams this season. Last season that total stood at nine. There is chaos; a sense of unravelling there and winning away to United seems no longer a landmark event.
This then, for Liverpool, was a relatively straightforward away win although there is an historical context which makes it all the sweeter for Reds fans. Three away matches in a row have been won by Brendan Rodgers' side and, after Chelsea's defeat at Aston Villa, the victory at United puts them within the title race whether Rodgers would like to admit it or not. "I don't lose sleep over it," he said to the press on Sunday regarding the prospect of a first league win in 24 years.
A Premier League title win would be fitting reward for Rodgers, who endured an indifferent start to his Liverpool days but has converted an admittedly limited squad into the finest football team in all of Britain.
"The quality of our training, the intensity of our training... there won't be many teams worker harder than us on a day-to-day basis on the training field to improve players and develop players," said Rodgers. There can be no denying that the Irishman's methods are working.
He has coaxed the best football out of Luis Suarez in the entirety of the Uruguayan's career. Laughable as it was only a few months ago, Suarez's professional ambitions are probably now best served at Anfield. That said, his improvement under Rodgers this season - and his all-round rehabilitation - has probably added £15 million to his transfer value should Liverpool be pressed into cashing in.
There have of course been a few 'work in progress' results this season. All in all they have failed to win about a third of their games. The Christmas period losses against Manchester City and Chelsea rankled because those are the type of matches that the big teams win. Worse so that they took the lead in each. To have positioned his side back into the title race even after those two defeats to direct rivals speaks volumes about Rodgers and his squad's redoubtableness. "We played a number of systems this year but our style remains the same," he said.
What Rodgers has in abundance that Moyes currently does not is a group of players across the ability and experience spectrum who have all collectively yielded to what their manager has asked. No Robin van Persie-like sulking from his equivalent in the Liverpool squad, Suarez. No moaning from Steven Gerrard about a new position and a new role. "We've got hungry players at the club who want to improve, who want to develop, who want to learn," said Rodgers. "We just get on with coaching the players to be better."
Two bogeymen in the shape of Manchester City and Chelsea loom on the horizon of the run in. But unlike at Christmas these Liverpool players will go into those matches believing they can win the title, despite the manager's assertions to the contrary.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have dismantled Everton in the derby, destroyed Arsenal and taken United apart at Old Trafford. Those are significant results, even in isolation, but strung together they form the pattern of Rodgers' Liverpool blueprint.
They are not spoiling their way towards a title, a la Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, nor are they reliant on the individual contributions of a world class player like City can be.
They are the only team in the title race with an attractive, collective purpose that flows from the manager through to the players. Liverpool are what happens when the right manager fits the right club and is given the space he needs to work.
Wouldn't it be good if that sort of thinking was rewarded with a trophy?
[article=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2582550/Going-wire-In-closest-title-race-years-Sportsmails-experts-predict-four-look-May.html#ixzz2wEGKqIQH ]This is a final table predicted by Bloomberg Sport. The analytics company have used seasons' worth of data and complex algorithms to predict the final standings of the new season.
They have factored in the importance of new players and, look at defensive and attacking stats such as tackles, interceptions, pass completion and shooting accuracy.
The final standings are all based on the most likely outcomes.[/article]
They have factored in the importance of new players and, look at defensive and attacking stats such as tackles, interceptions, pass completion and shooting accuracy.
The final standings are all based on the most likely outcomes.[/article]
Man City and Arse have a right nasty run in, in the next few weeks. Still Chelsea's to lose.
Don't be so pessimistic.
Going to the wire: In the closest title race for years Sportsmail's experts predict how the top four will look in May
PUBLISHED: 11:34 GMT, 17 March 2014 | UPDATED: 17:47 GMT, 17 March 2014
The title race is reaching a thrilling climax with Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all still in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League crown.
City and Chelsea will be using recent experience to help them get over the line, while Arsenal and Liverpool have to go back a bit further to remember what winning the league feels like.
Our experts give their views on how the top four teams will be placed after the final matches on May 11.
NEIL ASHTON
1 Chelsea 2 Liverpool 3 Manchester City 4 Arsenal
As impressive as Liverpool's win at United was, they haven't got the experience of the home straight in a title race. It would be magnificent for the game if Liverpool could pull it off and Steven Gerrard will be straining every sinew to make it happen, it will be just too much.
Chelsea have the manager and experience to cope with the intensity of the run-in.
MATT LAWTON
1 Chelsea 2 Manchester City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
It really is impossible to call right now. The best title race in years. Liverpool are the form team but Jose Mourinho is a serial league winner and something just tells me he's going to bag another one.
MATT BARLOW
1 Manchester City 2 Chelsea 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal.
I'm backing City's squad power to see them through. It is their only remaining competition and weary limbs can be refreshed to overcome a daunting set of away fixtures. Also expect Mourinho's know-how to keep Chelsea close, although the mindless red card for Ramires won't help.
LEE CLAYTON
1 Chelsea 2 Man City 3 Arsenal 4 Liverpool.
Jose has been there, won it, seen it and sulked it. He might be morphing back into Lord Voldermort, but can Brendan Rodgers really deliver a Harry Potter-like magical ending? I wish he could. But I'm afraid it's Chelsea for me, especially as they're done with teams in claret and blue now.
COLIN YOUNG
1 Chelsea 2 Manchester City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
The difference between the top four is Jose Mourinho. Been here, seen it, done it, the Chelsea manager has the expertise to guide his team over the line, to go to Anfield and win, or certainly not lose, and apply the pressure on Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers when they are least expecting. If Sergio Aguero was fully fit, the title would be returning to the Etihad. Liverpool still look vulnerable at the back, for all their electrifying brilliance going forward which will keep them in the hunt.
SAMI MOKBEL
1 Chelsea 2 Man City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
Momentum will be key going into the final few games of the season. At the moment Liverpool have that, but I think the Jose Mourinho factor will see Chelsea win the race. Just.
SIMON CASS
1 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 Man City 4Arsenal
It's simply a case of the momentum being with Liverpool and I fancy them to beat both Chelsea and City at Anfield.
MARK ALFORD
1 Arsenal 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Liverpool
I’ve been writing them off all season and they’ve defied my ‘expertise’ at every turn, so I’m going for Arsenal. A big result at Chelsea on Saturday will kick them on. I’ve been surprised by their resilience in the absence of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the new Gazza – with oodles more pace. If Arsene Wenger plays him centrally, Arsenal will scare defences and win games. My heart says Liverpool – what a story that would be. My head says City – they still have the best squad but Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero are out at a vital time. But my hunch is Arsenal. There, I’ve said it. Cue humble pie.
JACK GAUGHAN
1 Manchester City 2 Chelsea 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
There may well be serious questions surrounding Manchester City in a wider sense but, simply put, Manuel Pellegrini has the best squad in the Premier League. The best squad invariably wins the league. They have always been electric going forward but there is a steel to this side too. Even Martin Demichelis looked a competent centre half on Saturday. Come away with something from Arsenal and Liverpool and the title is theirs.
MIKE ANSTEAD
1 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 Man City 4 Arsenal
When Liverpool hammered Arsenal 5-1 on February 8, you sensed a change in their confidence. They have a devastating combination of form, finishing and flair. Those games with Chelsea and City at a noisy Anfield are crucial. Oh, and Kolo Toure has been wisely ditched.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2582550/Going-wire-In-closest-title-race-years-Sportsmails-experts-predict-four-look-May.html#ixzz2wFLJTENm
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
PUBLISHED: 11:34 GMT, 17 March 2014 | UPDATED: 17:47 GMT, 17 March 2014
The title race is reaching a thrilling climax with Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all still in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League crown.
City and Chelsea will be using recent experience to help them get over the line, while Arsenal and Liverpool have to go back a bit further to remember what winning the league feels like.
Our experts give their views on how the top four teams will be placed after the final matches on May 11.
NEIL ASHTON
1 Chelsea 2 Liverpool 3 Manchester City 4 Arsenal
As impressive as Liverpool's win at United was, they haven't got the experience of the home straight in a title race. It would be magnificent for the game if Liverpool could pull it off and Steven Gerrard will be straining every sinew to make it happen, it will be just too much.
Chelsea have the manager and experience to cope with the intensity of the run-in.
MATT LAWTON
1 Chelsea 2 Manchester City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
It really is impossible to call right now. The best title race in years. Liverpool are the form team but Jose Mourinho is a serial league winner and something just tells me he's going to bag another one.
MATT BARLOW
1 Manchester City 2 Chelsea 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal.
I'm backing City's squad power to see them through. It is their only remaining competition and weary limbs can be refreshed to overcome a daunting set of away fixtures. Also expect Mourinho's know-how to keep Chelsea close, although the mindless red card for Ramires won't help.
LEE CLAYTON
1 Chelsea 2 Man City 3 Arsenal 4 Liverpool.
Jose has been there, won it, seen it and sulked it. He might be morphing back into Lord Voldermort, but can Brendan Rodgers really deliver a Harry Potter-like magical ending? I wish he could. But I'm afraid it's Chelsea for me, especially as they're done with teams in claret and blue now.
COLIN YOUNG
1 Chelsea 2 Manchester City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
The difference between the top four is Jose Mourinho. Been here, seen it, done it, the Chelsea manager has the expertise to guide his team over the line, to go to Anfield and win, or certainly not lose, and apply the pressure on Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers when they are least expecting. If Sergio Aguero was fully fit, the title would be returning to the Etihad. Liverpool still look vulnerable at the back, for all their electrifying brilliance going forward which will keep them in the hunt.
SAMI MOKBEL
1 Chelsea 2 Man City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
Momentum will be key going into the final few games of the season. At the moment Liverpool have that, but I think the Jose Mourinho factor will see Chelsea win the race. Just.
SIMON CASS
1 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 Man City 4Arsenal
It's simply a case of the momentum being with Liverpool and I fancy them to beat both Chelsea and City at Anfield.
MARK ALFORD
1 Arsenal 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Liverpool
I’ve been writing them off all season and they’ve defied my ‘expertise’ at every turn, so I’m going for Arsenal. A big result at Chelsea on Saturday will kick them on. I’ve been surprised by their resilience in the absence of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the new Gazza – with oodles more pace. If Arsene Wenger plays him centrally, Arsenal will scare defences and win games. My heart says Liverpool – what a story that would be. My head says City – they still have the best squad but Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero are out at a vital time. But my hunch is Arsenal. There, I’ve said it. Cue humble pie.
JACK GAUGHAN
1 Manchester City 2 Chelsea 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
There may well be serious questions surrounding Manchester City in a wider sense but, simply put, Manuel Pellegrini has the best squad in the Premier League. The best squad invariably wins the league. They have always been electric going forward but there is a steel to this side too. Even Martin Demichelis looked a competent centre half on Saturday. Come away with something from Arsenal and Liverpool and the title is theirs.
MIKE ANSTEAD
1 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 Man City 4 Arsenal
When Liverpool hammered Arsenal 5-1 on February 8, you sensed a change in their confidence. They have a devastating combination of form, finishing and flair. Those games with Chelsea and City at a noisy Anfield are crucial. Oh, and Kolo Toure has been wisely ditched.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2582550/Going-wire-In-closest-title-race-years-Sportsmails-experts-predict-four-look-May.html#ixzz2wFLJTENm
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Whether we finish above Chelsea and Arsenal, is now solely in our hands. Match their results, and in Chelsea's case - win our game in hand and beat them at Anfield as well - and we'll end up on top of them.
Finishing above City isn't entirely within our control yet, but like many others, I feel it's conceivable that they drop a couple of points at some stage. Again, beat them at Anfield and match their other results, and we'll end up on top.
We need to be able to control our own destiny if we don't want the anxiety of having to count on others' results going our way. We're very, very close to that now.
Finishing above City isn't entirely within our control yet, but like many others, I feel it's conceivable that they drop a couple of points at some stage. Again, beat them at Anfield and match their other results, and we'll end up on top.
We need to be able to control our own destiny if we don't want the anxiety of having to count on others' results going our way. We're very, very close to that now.
Spot on that. Once it's in our own hands the pressure on ourselves increases, but it does even more so on all the other sides too.
Regards the possibility of winning it on goal difference, I suspect Rodgers has been aware that points wise we could need gd to finish above another side, hence why he rarely rests Suarez with ten minutes to go & prefers to go for another goal.
Regards the possibility of winning it on goal difference, I suspect Rodgers has been aware that points wise we could need gd to finish above another side, hence why he rarely rests Suarez with ten minutes to go & prefers to go for another goal.
I love you
We'll sort that when we best them 6-0
Keeping more clean sheets or limiting opponents to fewer goals is what we really need to work on to improve our goal difference. Our scorers are already doing an amazing job over-matching them. We've already scored 3 goals or more in 15 of our 19 victories - I think it's going to be hard and perhaps even unfair to demand even more from them.
Top scorers for City and Liverpool:
Agüero 15 Suárez 25
Touré 13
---
Negredo 9 Sturridge 18
Dzeko 8
---
Silva 5 Gerrard 10
Navas 4
And then there's:
Sterling 6
Skrtel 4
Henderson 3
Our defenders have let us down this season. Time for them to step up and earn their medal.
Top scorers for City and Liverpool:
Agüero 15 Suárez 25
Touré 13
---
Negredo 9 Sturridge 18
Dzeko 8
---
Silva 5 Gerrard 10
Navas 4
And then there's:
Sterling 6
Skrtel 4
Henderson 3
Our defenders have let us down this season. Time for them to step up and earn their medal.
We might never have a better opportunity.
Any signs of complacancy will be utterly unforgivable.
These players, this 19 or 20 man squad have to know that if they win 10 games they will win the league.
Theyve had nothing else to play for all season. They are the most rested squad of all the competitors.
I cannot begin to think they'll have one in these remaining games. Maximum concentration, maximum effort for 900 minutes of football and they can be legends.
Not just league winners, but absolutely odds defying utterly unexpected and surprising winners.
No team ever does what this team could be about to do. To win the league this year with this squad where it was just 2 years ago, would be one of ANY sports teams greatest ever achievements. It would be talked about forever. Not just in Liverpool but all over the world.
Teams like this, DONT beat teams like Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea with their billions to spend.
It would be like Real Sociadad winning the Spanish League this year.
I cant believe they have got us this close. This 24 years has been long. I just pray it means as much to all of them as it does to all of us. If it does, no way do they let this opportunity slip away.
10 games.
legends for all time.
Any signs of complacancy will be utterly unforgivable.
These players, this 19 or 20 man squad have to know that if they win 10 games they will win the league.
Theyve had nothing else to play for all season. They are the most rested squad of all the competitors.
I cannot begin to think they'll have one in these remaining games. Maximum concentration, maximum effort for 900 minutes of football and they can be legends.
Not just league winners, but absolutely odds defying utterly unexpected and surprising winners.
No team ever does what this team could be about to do. To win the league this year with this squad where it was just 2 years ago, would be one of ANY sports teams greatest ever achievements. It would be talked about forever. Not just in Liverpool but all over the world.
Teams like this, DONT beat teams like Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea with their billions to spend.
It would be like Real Sociadad winning the Spanish League this year.
I cant believe they have got us this close. This 24 years has been long. I just pray it means as much to all of them as it does to all of us. If it does, no way do they let this opportunity slip away.
10 games.
legends for all time.
9 games!
Agree with that Oncey.
On the one hand it's amazing to get close but given that this is a bit of a freak season it's got to be our best opportunity to win one. Hopefully, as you say, they all recognize this.
I went to the parade after the CL win. I can't imagine how mental the city will be if we were to win the the league. They'd know then what they've achieved.
On the one hand it's amazing to get close but given that this is a bit of a freak season it's got to be our best opportunity to win one. Hopefully, as you say, they all recognize this.
I went to the parade after the CL win. I can't imagine how mental the city will be if we were to win the the league. They'd know then what they've achieved.
Off track here, but it would be fantastic if we won the title, and across the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay, Atletico Madrid also upstaged Barca and Real Madrid and captured the La Liga title after a long 18-year wait. They've gone through some pretty meh times like us in this period, and were even relegated just 4 years after winning their last title.
Two fairy tale endings in a single season. It's happening.
Two fairy tale endings in a single season. It's happening.
There is a difference on complacency and buckering under pressure. So far we have been trailing and the pressure have been on securing top four. We managed to build up that momentum which took us as leaders into xmas, and we performed well in that tough period even if a couple of losses took us fifth. But that was with no sign of the title. It was just good achievement.
Now the newspapers and rest of media will start to talk us up for real. They will build up a huge pressure on young shoulders. This is the time we need real leaders, and this is the time I am really glad we have Gerrard, Suarez, Agger, Skrtel and Johnson in there. They are the ones to take the pressure of the young guys. Because the mediafocus will take a lot of energy away from the daily work for youngsters like Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Flanno, Sturridge etc.... It is natural that we buckle under pressure and underperform. But it is also a strength to have experienced players that can take that pressure away.
Now the newspapers and rest of media will start to talk us up for real. They will build up a huge pressure on young shoulders. This is the time we need real leaders, and this is the time I am really glad we have Gerrard, Suarez, Agger, Skrtel and Johnson in there. They are the ones to take the pressure of the young guys. Because the mediafocus will take a lot of energy away from the daily work for youngsters like Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Flanno, Sturridge etc.... It is natural that we buckle under pressure and underperform. But it is also a strength to have experienced players that can take that pressure away.
- Status
