... won't be the opponent's tactics of closing us down and keeping it tight as they fully expect our storming out of the gates in sizzling style, as on our day we can embarrass anyone, including Chelsea with their double decked defence. Our greatest challenge will be ourselves not feeling the verve on a grey glazed day at an away game with 25,000 in the stands and a lumpy pitch. Sometimes you just can't climb out to the field ripping and roaring from the start, as the inspiration, the energy, the attention could all be a little off the maximal levels that our game requires. The pass will be a bit off, Gerrard will stay further back, Coutinho won't fly into the tackle, Henderson will have less purpose, the forwards will get isolated, we will be stretched, the defence will wobble. Rodgers will try to inspire at half time, but the heads won't be too eager, focused or self-confident. As ever I think the solution this scenario could be found in our attack. If the spark can't kindle a whole log, start with a twig. Meaning: have the forwards track all the way back, keep it tight, keep it small and springy, instead of stretching out and letting opposing players break our links. This doesn't necessarily require subs or a plan B. Just patience, compactness and belief. Remember, we have games away at Fulham, So'ton, West Ham, Norwich, Cardiff and Palace. It's about these games that I am talking. We need to win at least 3 of these 6 and draw one. Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle at home - win 2 of these 3 and draw the other. And then we can battle it out with the big boys not fearing for the end result as long as we give them a real battle: Chelsea, Spurs, United, City. Win only 2 of these 4. This gets us to 73 points which has historically assured 4th place finish.
Definitely... can't afford more than 1/2 more disappointing results, and the game against Spurs is crucial.
Each and every game left is THE greatest challenge until the game is over and then we move on to the next. Each game has to be approached that way irrespective of the opponent, home or away or the state of their pitch.
Too densely packed with challenge I'm afraid, one has to break it down in actual ones specific to our weaknesses. At Stoke and v Villa, we were shot of focus and discipline, which we gained at WBA at the cost of our attacking spark. How do we show up to Fulham? It's all good saying let's thrash them like Everton and Arsenal, but you know we've flagged on the road with an away record on par with Villa and 2 points better than Sunderland's and West Ham's? How do we rectify that, given that we have 6 away games at mid/lower table teams to go? I'd address that specific challenge before gobbling up the whole 'one game at a time' boilerplate.
Or to think of it another way, If Liverpool were to maintain current home and away form: Home 34pts from 13 games = 2.615/game x 6 remaining = 15.70 Away 16pts from 12 games = 1.25/game x 7 remaining = 8.75 ----- Total 24.45 So call it 24/25 added to the current 50, gives 74/75 at the end of the season and hopefully Top4. In truth the home pts/game may be hard to maintain at its current level but there is plenty of scope to improve the away pts/game.
With Chelsea, Spurs, City being half of our visitors, we shouldn't realistically aim to hold the current 2.615 per game. Therefore, we need to address our away/lowly opp lull issue. Note: it's not an away issue, as much as it is a lull (lack of inspiration) issue.
Title ambitions too, as tentative as they are, depend on our ability to get more out of the type of games we've faltered in so far. If we somehow click and solve that conundrum, we could very well be within a big game of the title. I fully believe that. City's bench is not as deep as you think esp with CL, and Mourinho too might have to rely on Lampard, Salah and Shrurrle in order to rest Ramires, Willian and Hazard.
I agree that we cannot afford many if anymore slip ups against teams like Fulham but I also think that the Chav and City will also drop points in the remaining games therefore I think it will come down to us actually beating both of them if we are to get top spot.
Not sure if I'd call them slip-ups, if we haven't figured out that type of fixture all year, i.e. playing away against a small fiesty outfit. Stoke was a wild ride where we were lucky, while Sunderland was at their lowest ebb and shot of confidence.
Maybe in the next couple of games it's concentration but if won, and with each one won, especially if we beat City and Chelsea; we stay in the shout for the title (I say in the shout) this will increasingly make each game a cup final. Then our greatest challenge is holding our nerve. So for different reasons now to later I'll hold with Daves the greatest challenge being "one game at a time" it may be a cliche but we all know the detail behind the saying. If the players and coaches can't prepare and focus for that next game be that from arrogant complacency or nerves getting the better of a young and relatively inexperienced side then it's risking a slip up. The fact that it's the business end with games running out you would like to think that complacency is consigned to the seasons.bin.
I agree with the one game theory and yes lets see where it takes us as who knows what will happen to the teams above and below. We are in a good position going out there without fear will serve us well the Arsenal game was great but also consider what that has done to the teams that have to face us, that seed of doubt has been firmly planted.
I don't believe that we won't approach any of these games with our best level of concentration and energy available on THAT given day. It still might not be enough though to spark a single goal in the first 60 or keep a clean sheet for the first 10. We just have to accept that fact and prepare for the days where despite our best efforts we won't come out the gates steamrolling the opponent. How do we react in those days? We've lost structure by the end in these type of games, rushing forward too directly time and time again full of erratic passes. I think we should hold compact, forwards sprung back to cover and close the gaps, not stretch out like at WBA and Stoke, not waste energy, and be ready for the spring forward, ready for the pounce, believe that our moment of inspiration will come even if it is the 87th minute.
I know where you're coming from Livtor it seems thst it's smash teams or nothing with us at times but we are where we are and will need things to go our way if we are to win this a huge amount of luck is required along with great attacking footy. Controlling a tight game and taking a chance when it comes has not been our way this season but we have also managed to grab a point away in games we should have won but also consider that in seasons gone by we'd have lost.
I refuse to consider that . Spoiled by what I've seen us do I guess. But you're right - we have not tamed the dragon or learned the Ferrari yet if you will. We're taking it to awesome heights but also smashing it up a mule's a*se a few times as well. More control needed.
We have see sawed, but I'm hoping with each game that balance is coming. Arsenal were ripe for that aggressive approach. Let's see if all this analysis malarkey works. We've the experience of playing each team once, we should have a hours of play tape showing what they can all bring and while we aren't the only ones that can develop over a season I'd like to think the lower a team is in the league the more limited that development. We should at least see where we failed the last time.... It will be very interesting to see how the bottom teams approach the remaining fixtures with it so close a route to the bottom three. Will we see a lot of teams going for draws and hoping, that's guaranteed to keep it very close right to the end but of course being adventurous could be suicidal. Is it in our favour that we are away to all these team left?
I don't follow your logic here. I never mentioned "thrashing" anybody. If you take a one game at a time strategy then you ensure that you concentrate the whole preparation effort in readying the team and tactics that you believe best fits your opponents. Only after that do you consider the next opponent BUT you also have the experience to help with future preparation. Now in our situation I'd far rather go game by game than try and set some theoretical target. That's just silly
