The Race for the Title, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or even 6th Thread.

[Nayim60yards]

We’re certainly still right in this. Four points off top spot with the best GD.
And despite not playing effervescent football every game, we’re consistently creating good chances.
And we’ve dropped some points with some real bad luck.
We’re solid and a team that no one wants to play against.

Agreed, we are hard to beat all right, just four defeats in all competitions in mid-January is exceptional. Just need to convert those damned draws into wins!

 

[Mate]

So many teams are bemoaning dropped points, Liverpool alone have drawn with WBA, Brighton and Newcastle and got beat at Southampton and destroyed by Villa. They are all teams they would ordinarily beat easily. The reality is it's history now. We just need to convert our draws to wins from now on and give ourselves the best possible chance of capitalising on other's slip ups; today was a good start with a formation that seemed to get the best out of everybody.

Understand what you're saying, but for us it feels like most of our thrown away leads have been orchestrated by ourselves (i.e. settling for a 1-0) rather than the other team outplaying us. Palace and Wolves are the two clearest examples of this

 

[bubble07]

We're 3rd behind Brighton and Sheffield for most points dropped from winning positions.

We are probably first then in taking leads

 

[Saoirse]

If the second half of the season continues as the first, you're looking at around 80 points to win the league - very, very low in the modern era. Perhaps someone - most likely City - will keep a good run going and win it fairly comfortably. But just as likely fatigue sets in as the consequences of a packed season, no proper pre-season conditioning and European football set in, and the big sides keep on dropping points. This could be one hell of a ride.

 

[easley91]

Aside from West Ham how many sides have scored 3 or more against us? Likewise 2? I can think of Leicester, Liverpool, Southampton in the league. I know there was a team in Europa (the 7-2).

Teams might get one, but it's difficult to get 2 or more against us. Those dropped points from leads, majority have been 1-0 at the time and so like today if we can get a second or third we're difficult to peg back.

I still see good things in what José is doing especially defensively. There have been vast improvements for sure.

 

[Johnspur]

Aside from West Ham how many sides have scored 3 or more against us? Likewise 2? I can think of Leicester, Liverpool, Southampton in the league. I know there was a team in Europa (the 7-2).

Teams might get one, but it's difficult to get 2 or more against us. Those dropped points from leads, majority have been 1-0 at the time and so like today if we can get a second or third we're difficult to peg back.

I still see good things in what José is doing especially defensively. There have been vast improvements for sure.

Agreed. I've been saying for a while that our defence is actually pretty decent. We let in 1 goal today, as we did against Fulham, Wolves etc. Difference today is that we looked like we went out there with the intent to score 2 or 3.

I'm not too concerned by the way we defend, I'd just like to see us take the game to the opposition a bit more.

 

[bubble07]

If we beat Liverpool we would all have to agree its been a very solid first half to the season and we would have played the champions twice

 

[bloodzeed]

Any chances of Liverpool out the top4 or is that wishful thinking

 

[Montalbano]

Any chances of Liverpool out the top4 or is that wishful thinking

For sure, they look flat as hell. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop points against Burnley, us and West Ham in the next 2 weeks.

 

[dudu]

Agreed. I've been saying for a while that our defence is actually pretty decent. We let in 1 goal today, as we did against Fulham, Wolves etc. Difference today is that we looked like we went out there with the intent to score 2 or 3.

I'm not too concerned by the way we defend, I'd just like to see us take the game to the opposition a bit more.

Mate, come on. we went out to score loads against Fulham. We just didn't convert a lot of very, very good chances.

 

[dudu]

Any chances of Liverpool out the top4 or is that wishful thinking

The last few games people have been saying "they are there for the beating" which they are.

TAA and AR aren't producing anywhere near what they did last season and their whole front line is suffering. They look tired and out of ideas for periods of every game of their I've watched bar ours TBH.

Out of top 4 might be wishful thinking but Klopps regime and lack of investment in his squad the last couple of years may very well be coming back to bite him in the bum.

 

[nicdic]

The knock on effect of having van Dijk, Gomez and Matip out is beginning to show now. Henderson and Fabinho in particular have filled in well at centre back, but because they have no trustworthy centre backs beyond the three already mentioned, they have also significantly weakened their midfield by moving those two back. One of Liverpool’s biggest strengths was the way they were able to keep teams penned in and just create wave after wave of attack. So much of that comes from Henderson’s intensity in the middle of the park. If you drop him and Fabinho back, you’re compensating in the middle, at the back, the full backs have to defend more, they get turned around a lot more and create many less chances.

 

[carpediem991]

The knock on effect of having van Dijk, Gomez and Matip out is beginning to show now. Henderson and Fabinho in particular have filled in well at centre back, but because they have no trustworthy centre backs beyond the three already mentioned, they have also significantly weakened their midfield by moving those two back. One of Liverpool’s biggest strengths was the way they were able to keep teams penned in and just create wave after wave of attack. So much of that comes from Henderson’s intensity in the middle of the park. If you drop him and Fabinho back, you’re compensating in the middle, at the back, the full backs have to defend more, they get turned around a lot more and create many less chances.

I dont get why Klopp is not trusting one of the yougner ones for the CB position. If they play to their strengths in midfield they are always capable to outscore the opponent or keep them away from their box.

Nice to see a dip of form though. Really hope we can get something out of the game against them.

 

[Goobers]

I am one that thought we played very well in the away game before Christmas and in my opinion unlucky not to leave Anfield with nothing. I think we can get something from this game. The interesting thing from my point of view is that I think they have defended well a a unit but seem to be somewhat blunt in attack. I would say I would feel a little more nervous if Jota was playing although I'm not sure on the timeline of his recovery.

 

[bloodzeed]

Jota won't be back in time according to reports

 

[ExpatFan]

Those 10 points we've dropped from winning positions are really hurting us. Could be miles clear

Agreed. All teams drop points but it's the 6 dropped at home against Newcastle, Fulham and fucking West Ham from 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go that really hurt.

 

[easley91]

Liverpool's away form for a title winning side is actually really poor. Add on to that they have scored once in four games now in the league (none in three). I am actually confident we can beat them next week. The front three have been so off it. Their defence of course is susceptible (having midfielders as CBs was always going to cause issues eventually). Jota being injured stopped their flow moreso than Van Dijk. Which is surprising considering how good Salah and Mane can be. But if they're off it like us with Kane and Son, it makes for a difficult day for them.


We were unlucky to lose at Anfield. Set up in a similar way and we can beat them.

 

[Serpico]

The way the season has gone so far...Its not about us - it will come down to other teams beating each other. Im numb that we are 4 points off top on reflection. Arsenal improving alittle will help our journey- they will take points off teams above us. At the business end of the season when we play teams as Fulham- we will pick up 3 points Im sure. That goes for teams that we have struggled against 2020. Europe will play a big part and domestic cups which I hope will galvanise us.

 

[cliff jones]

We should have beaten Newcastle and Wham, but did not do enough to beat Fulham, Palace or Wolves. Nor did we do enough to avoid any of our defeats. Jose claiming we deserved anything at Anfield was from the Trump school of alternative facts. That shit handball and Lanzini fluke however cost us the four points United have on us.

much better balance yesterday gives me hope of Top 4- Kane, Son, Stevie and Tanguy on the pitch and in their correct positions

 

[Serpico]

We should have beaten Newcastle and Wham, but did not do enough to beat Fulham, Palace or Wolves. Nor did we do enough to avoid any of our defeats. Jose claiming we deserved anything at Anfield was from the Trump school of alternative facts. That shit handball and Lanzini fluke however cost us the four points United have on us.

much better balance yesterday gives me hope of Top 4- Kane, Son, Stevie and Tanguy on the pitch and in their correct positions

It all balances up with the win at OT when utd were poor and beating Southamton and a point againt Chelsea, other teams will lose at these grounds. The fact that we are 4 off top is bonkers. If we don't allow games to slip away which I feel we will stop, top 4 for sure. A very good run, top the PL thats how bonkers i feel it is.