06 Feb 2019 22:52:00
Just to put a bit of context to the doom n gloom merchants (specifically, FranklyMrShankly has been particularly depressed! ) .

After GW 14 (02 Dec 18):

Man City leading on 38pts and +37 GD
Us second on 36pts and +22 GD

City had a 2 point lead after 14 games.


Roll forward to GW 20 (31 Dec 18):

Us leading on 54pts and +40 GD
City second on 47pts and +38 GD

We had a 7 point lead after 20 games

Roll forward to GW 24 (31 Jan 19)

Us leading on 61pts and +41 GD
City second on 56pts and +44 GD

Us leading by 5 pointsafter we only drew against the team that City lost to. Of course it went down to 3 at the weekend after West Ham.

The table as it stands today is irrelevant - we've played one game less.

What is evident is that this title season has ebbed and flowed.

I'd still rather be in our shoes than City's!

Of course the players are a bit nervous - they know that, due to injuries, we're at least 2 first teamers down, and it could be up to 4 first teamers down due to 2 other first teamers having to play in their not-ideal positions (namely Milner and Fab in defence on occasion) .

But if we start getting the nerves too - especially those of us fortunate to be at the matches - its going to filter down to the players. We need to turn Anfield back into the intimidating fortress, and ensure our travelling support out sings the home crowd. Klopp always talked of the 12th man, we need to BE that 12th man now if we want to play a part in ending 29 ridiculous years!

After the last few seasons, and last year especially, I really didn't think we'd be flying high at this stage with City looking all conquering. I'm pretty sure their supporters weren't giving up the ghost when they were 7pts down, so why should we when we are (technically) 3 points ahead?

By the way, in case you were wondering, after GW25 last year:

City were top, 68 pts
United were second, 53 pts
We were third, 50 pts.

There's some reason to be cheerful, surely?!

1.) 06 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 23:12:52
Im with you Zu'l Zorander. Onwards and upwards with both fingers crossed behind me back.

2.) 06 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 23:14:31
I agree Zed. The pressure is on Man City not us. They were the prohibitive favorite to win the league again this year. I'm not concerned in the least.

3.) 06 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 23:28:17
While I appreciate your positive attitude Zed 5 games ago when we played City we could have moved 10 points clear, or atleast held our nerve and kept the gap at 7, instead most of the players bottled it.
Now after some very shaky performances we're level on points with momentum firmly with City.
While there's no shame finishing second to the most expensive squad ever assembled Peps ego will be intolerable.

4.) 07 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 23:42:20
They had a wobble, now we're having a wobble, always a red.

Their wobble is (currently) worse than ours as they were 2 points ahead at the start of December and we are 3 points ahead now (not level, as they have played one more game) .

We have made up 5 points on City over the last 2.5 months - not bad going I'd say.

Of course if we lose or draw with Bournemouth, then we'd only have made up 2-3 points. But I'm pretty darn confident that we will win, and well.

So we will be 3 points ahead, having made up 5 points on City.

When City draw with Chelsea on Sunday, we will still be 2 points ahead, and back up to 5 when we beat United on the 24th.

Simple, really!

5.) 07 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 23:47:33
Unfortunately we have got a few injuries 4 first teamers out and city have a bench second to none. That's where our problem is we haven't got players to come in and take charge of a game. The real difference is Gomez has gone for the rest of the season that where we are suffering at the moment. When city had ferndinho injured they lost 3 of the 4 they played. He is a vital player for them like Gomez is for us. But I would rather be in our position with a game in hand, onwards and upwards reds.

6.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 00:10:56
Id personally prefer to be in cities position with less injuries and good performances. They are post slump while we are very much in the slump. One loss and they are too after all.

7.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 00:26:08
It just goes to show that it’s very close and until all 38 games are played you just can’t call it.

Pep Guardiola agrees with me, it’ll go down to the wire.
As for the 12th man at Anfield, that hasn’t been the case in the league for many years. It is on European knockout nights but not often in the league.

Nerves are palpable every week, it’s usually like that, whether it’s nerves over playing Everton or ManU or nerves over finishing top 4.

You’re not going to roll back the clock to the days where the stadiums were full of relatively local, working class men screaming their heads off. The demographic has changed irrevocably.

8.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 01:37:02
Ron, totally agree that the demographic has changed, but the fact we can do it on European nights means it CAN still be done!

We (and I accept that a large number of posters don't attend games) can try to make that change, at least for the remaining 13 league games.

9.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 07:44:51
It’s really difficult to create the atmosphere at times. I sit 22 rows up behind the goal ( on the kop ) and for the so called big games, United, City etc, the stewards allow everyone to stand, against Bournemouth on Saturday, we will be told to sit down. The only part of the kop that continually stand are the top tiers and that’s where the songs start.

10.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 08:33:44
Drogie is 100% correct, it is very difficult to create an atmosphere, especially in a tight league game.

11.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 10:05:34
Ron, but we have to. We owe it to these boys and this team cos they cannot win this on their own.

12.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 10:47:20
Ok RW, you only have about another 25000 people to convince 👍.

13.) 07 Feb 2019
07 Feb 2019 11:13:44
City post slump? Maybe. But I’m pretty sure they just lost to Newcastle recently. Yes, they beat Everton and Arsenal but they weren’t commanding performances that the media had made it out to be. Both teams have defensive issues and self-destructed in a sense that allowed City to capitalise, while City still look vulnerable when being pressed and attacked. There’s still 1/3 of the season left so let’s enjoy the ride.