Liverpool FC Forum

[redshade]

Next few fixtures

X2 cup games

Liverpool

Everton A -12/02

Wolves H -16/02
City A -23/02
Newcastle H -26/02

Arsenal

Leicester A - 15/02
Westham H - 22/02
Forrest A - 26/02


To make it comfortable we just keep winning, maintain that gap.

[damjan193]

I’m more worried about Everton than I was Bournemouth. Everton will play deep block and just try to stifle us, it will be the only trophy they could win so they will be at 200% intensity, we will have to match them.

A draw wouldn’t be a disaster at Woodison. They will be out to ruin our title run. But a win would probably put us out of reach of arsenal.

I just hope we come out of that game without any serious injuries. That lot will be after our players too I feel.

Anyway, how many more wins do we need for the title do you guys recon? I'd say about 12 wins and a draw with Arsenal should do it. That's 37 more points. Might do it with less tbh but I think this will be enough to be safe.

[Reg]

Apparently we need 36 points basis Arsenal winning all their games so as they drop points our requirement also reduces.

Everton: Gollum will believe he's on a mission from god to beat us for the first time ever.  I feel sorry for him. 

[redshade]

Apparently we need 36 points basis Arsenal winning all their games so as they drop points our requirement also reduces.

Everton: Gollum will believe he's on a mission from god to beat us for the first time ever.  I feel sorry for him. 

That will be their UCL final no doubt, atmosphere will be electric.

[redshade]

If we lost one player to a major injury, which one do you guys feel would be detrimental to our chances of glory?

Salah would be difficult to replace, Diaz and Gakpo do chip in sometimes but replacing a game changer like Salah would be tough. Chiesa still trying to get his feet on the ground and Jota in/out treatment room.

However, I think VVD would be a bigger loss, it would leave a massive hole at the back, loss of leadership and stability. Konate nailed but Who would partner him Quansah? Gomez, whoes also in/out treatment room.

Even getting a CB on loan for half a season would've helped us somewhat because you never know.

[Reg]

If we lose 3 of our remaining games, Arsenal have to win every game to finish on equal points.

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

Re number of wins we need to get over the line - very difficult to say mate, a lot depends on Arsenal's and to a lesser extent Forest's form. This is the third season in a row Arsenal have been involved in a title race so they are pretty battle hardened, your prediction of 12 wins from 15 is probably not far off what we'll need.

[7_Kewell]

If we lost one player to a major injury, which one do you guys feel would be detrimental to our chances of glory?

Salah would be difficult to replace, Diaz and Gakpo do chip in sometimes but replacing a game changer like Salah would be tough. Chiesa still trying to get his feet on the ground and Jota in/out treatment room.

However, I think VVD would be a bigger loss, it would leave a massive hole at the back, loss of leadership and stability. Konate nailed but Who would partner him Quansah? Gomez, whoes also in/out treatment room.

Even getting a CB on loan for half a season would've helped us somewhat because you never know.

VVD is the glue that holds our defence together - he's the best centre back I've seen in a red shirt since Hansen and will be painfully difficult to replace if he gets injured.

I also think Gravenberch would be a disaster injury - he's grown into the number 6 role and we don't have anyone good enough to replace him.

[redshade]

Our nearest rivals are getting hit with injuries, Havertz now out for rest of season. Saka not back until April, Martinelli out for month. Also Jesus out I think for rest of season. They literally will have Trossard and sterling up front for next few games.

This title is there for the taking.

[redshade]

Bit off topic, anyone fully recall Newcastle 95/96 season title challenge vs Mannure. I recall bits and bobs but looking at the results Newcastle really feked that up big time. Blowing away 12 points lead and in space of 8 games from Mid Feb till beg April losing 5 games. Mannure went on a solid run from Jan 15 games W 13 D 1 L 1.

Even towards last couple games Newcastle had a game in hand to level points but still couldn't win, only a draw vs Forrest.

[7_Kewell]

Bit off topic, anyone fully recall Newcastle 95/96 season title challenge vs Mannure. I recall bits and bobs but looking at the results Newcastle really feked that up big time. Blowing away 12 points lead and in space of 8 games from Mid Feb till beg April losing 5 games. Mannure went on a solid run from Jan 15 games W 13 D 1 L 1.

Even towards last couple games Newcastle had a game in hand to level points but still couldn't win, only a draw vs Forrest.

I remember it well. But Newcastle were a shambles on and off the field.

Keegan's teams didn't defend very well and the arrival of Asprilla disrupted the squad harmony. He basically spent his spare time going out on the town and getting smashed every weekend (along with half the first 11).

I also think they were a very poorly run club. They didn't have a training ground, instead they used the facilities of a local university (Durham, I think).

This means their players were eating at the student canteen (usually a full English for breakfast). Ginola said a few years later how shocked he was by the unprofessionalism of the club compared to PSG (where he played previously)

[redshade]

Everyone/media keep banging next few games are tough, Villa, City, Newcastle. Tbh I think every game until end of season will be tough regardless of opponents. Even the lower end sides are giving us a torrid time.

[redshade]

IF we lose against City and IF Arsenal beat Westham and Forrest, things will gradually look pretty feked. I still think that both us and Arsenal will drop points.

[damjan193]

I am still livid after that draw, even more so than the Everton one for some reason, probably because I was fine with drawing one of the two but not both. We've given Arsenal a huge boost, and if we lose against City we might let them close the gap to only 5 points with them having a game in hand. Our big lead will be gone.

So in my anger I decided to create a realistic best case scenario for Arsenal and a realistic, not worst case but pretty bad scenario for us.

Here they are:

Liverpool:

Man City (A) - D
Newcastle (H) - D
Southampton (H) - W
Everton (H) - W
Fulham (A) - D
West Ham (H) - W
Leicester City (A) - W
Tottenham (H) - W
Chelsea (A) - D
Arsenal (H) - D
Brighton (A) - D
Crystal Palace (H) - W

Final points - 85

Arsenal:

West Ham (H) - W
Forest (A) - D
Man United (A) - W
Chelsea (H) - W
Fulham (H) - W
Everton (A) - W
Brenford (H) - W
Ipswich (A) - W
Crystal Palace (H) - W
Bournemouth (H) - W
Liverpool (A) - D
Newcastle (H) - W
Southampton (A) - W

Final points - 88

So as you can see, although not impossible, Arsenal will still need a herculean effort to get past us. That's 11 wins out of 13 remaining games for them. I even have them going on an 8 game winning run, against some pretty tough teams. And even if all this happens, they'll still need to come at Anfield, where we'll be deciding our own fate at least.

With our current form and looking at our upcoming fixtures, Arsenal have enough reson to be hopeful again, but I'd say we're still in a decent position. If we can't win some games we must try to at least draw, I know draws feel like loses nowadays but this isn't that kind of a season, some draws might turn out to actually be valuable come May.

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

Good post dj