19 Dec 2017 09:06:05
I just realised the only team who has lost less games than us is Man City.

We can easily go on and finish second this season lads. Just got to be at the top of our game and not let it get to us that the title is already lost.

United are scraping through right now, and i watched them get passed off the pitch by West Brom on Sunday. De Gea is keeping them in the race single handedly right now.

Arsenal are just weak in every position except Kolasinac and Ozil.

Chelsea are weak in every position except Hazard, Kante, Azpilicueta and Courtois.

Spurs have capitulated and despite having a good team, their manager has lost the plot and started playing technically poor Sanchez, Wanyama, Sissoko, and Aurier.

2nd place is there for the taking.


1.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 09:37:05
I'd like to think so MK. Personally I'm hoping for a top 4 position, if we get above 4th we've made improvements and like you say, it certainly is possible. It'd be interesting to see Utd without De Gea, they wouldn't be anywhere close to where they are now without him and that's not me been bitter towards them, it's true. The lad is outstanding I hope he goes in the summer elsewhere, they will find it difficult replacing him.

I like to have the opinion of ' it's not over until it's over' Man City are indeed flying with the title right now, but we're not even half way through, anything could happen, I'm not saying we're going to go and win the league and I do believe City will do it but, should a few injuries happen and not go there way, it could disrupt them incredibly, this is football. What a league.


2.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 09:44:21
That could very well be the case. It is a case of consistency and staying fresh, alltho some of the draws need to become wins in order for that to happen. This is similar to some of the Rafa's seasons, difference now is that we have squad depth.
All in all were doing better and better and our form looks like we'll have a strong run in a cup competition, hopefully the CL.


3.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 10:58:19
A lot could depend on the CL. If we go far in it I think we'll struggle - too much of our squad will struggle with the extra games and pressure at the crunch time of the season. If we don't, and a few others like Chelsea do, I can see the 2nd-4th place competition still being up for grabs in the last few games of the season.


4.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 11:23:30
Spot on, MK and the other posters. Since Klopp's first full season last year, we have only lost EIGHT games under him. Can you imagine that? With the way people lose their minds after a draw, you would think it was double that amount. It is not only that we don't just lose as much. We have never lost back to back under Klopp in the PL since the start of last season. This shows the ability of Klopp and the boys to bounce back after every defeat which is remarkable. The issue here now is the draws. e have to turn those into wins, ASAP if we wanna finish 2nd.

In addition to your observation MK, I noticed how tired and leggy Arsenal, Utd and Chelsea were towards the last 2o mins of thier games this weekend. Spurs were virtually knackered with half an hour to go vs City. This is what Klopp is trying to avoid and it showed on Sun as we played at a MUCH higher tempo from start to finish vs B'mouth. These teams are literally on their knees physically as they can't finish games cos they don't rotate esp. Chelsea and Spurs and Arsenal so we are he fresher team now and we should make this advantage count starting with Arsenal.


5.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 11:25:53
I generally agree a lot with you mk, but don't underestimate chelsea and arsenal. chelsea isn't weak at all and arsenal isn't consistent but could be really good if their players tried, they were unlucky against manU for exemple. agree on utd and tottenham at the moment though.
btw really nice assessment on robertson.


6.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 11:43:18
I'd say De Gea is more than single-handedly keeping United in games right now.

It's more like double-handedly, often both legs, the greater percentage of the surface area of his body, and most likely his face at one point or another.

Truly a ridiculous keeper, and the bane of many a United fax machine.


7.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 12:40:57
If we cut out the draws, yes. The football clube can't always win by 4,5 goals. We won't always barnstorm teams. Souness is right that we have to find a way of turning those 0-0/ 1-1 games into 1-0/ 2-1 wins.

The draws are disastrous. Against 0-0 against ManU/ WBA becomes 1-0. 1-1 against CFC/ EFC becomes 2-1 etc. I get that we inevitably WILL draw some matches. But at this rate it's suicidal really. Ridiculous to think this team's lost only a game less than City yet we 18 points behind them.

Klopp and the players HAVE to muster a way to win those "high impact" and do so differetnly. By rights and merit, the team should of beaten WBA and EFC at home, which would of put us joint second right now.

Past coupla fixtures presented the team with an opportunity to wipe out the gap between us and 2nd place whils leaving Spurs and Arsenal further behind. That's what I mean by "high impact" matches cause of the effect they have. That opportunity was squandered.

That's why no matter the football clube brilliant front four and exhilarating performances, we'll ultimately either fall short or end making hard work of a walk in the park as happened last with top 4.

Upside of City's form is that there isn't really any standout from the rest of this bunch. 2nd and 3rd are there for the taking.
Bad news is that am not convinced of our ability to grip those position and run away with them.

There's no easy games in the league for sure, there are games which should be routine wins. You don't have to win them all, no. You just have to win enough of them, that's it.
Chelsea, City, Utd and Spurs win those.

This team will enthral and excite for sure. But ultimately his much harvest will it bring home? That's the most critical criteria. MK is posted the other day that anything above top 4 would be "overachieving".
I disagree. What Spurs been doing the last few years IS overachieving. LFC on the contrary have been underachieving to downright shambolic, given the vast monies spent since FSG arrival.


8.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 13:26:02
*edit: lost a game MORE than City.


9.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 13:30:19
the title looks gone but it is not over until the fat lady sings. I really fancy us to finish second. if we don't make top 4 then surely that is down to our defence. our attacking play is as good as anyone in the world and personally i'm not scared of anyone in the champions league. I think we have scored more European goals than anyone this year. Big games away at arsenal and utd, also Chelsea. I think those games will be the deciders as to who makes ucl. if we don't make it then the back three (cbs and gk) need dropping for good. Our team is so good and we are let down by stupid mistakes.

ox is coming good, I knew he would.
Robertson I really really like, a few weeks ago I claimed he is a one trick pony who can throw back post crosses in all day but his end product was so much more varied against bournmouth. More solid than Moreno (who I still like)
Klavan looks a different player from the poor cb of last year. he looks a really assured cb these days. I prefer him to matip all day. works harder and is more aware. I think confidence was a big factor for him last season.
Salah, what can I say? amazing player. him and couts are so deadly.

The player who I think needs to improve or sort his head out is mane. I love the guy, great player but I think he feels although he is in salah's shadow this season. last year mane was the man and now salah is. last year mane would have squared that ball against everton. either that or he would have buried it,

mane! we all know how good you are, you don't need to prove yourself to us, just play your game and forget about African rivalry.


10.) 21 Dec 2017
21 Dec 2017 16:25:14
So having a top GK can get you second with a poorer team, hmm.