well.... yeah we do. lets say spurs win all thier games... spurs are 7th were there is no europe... thay've six to play = 18 points. 56+18 = 74. they have a negative 54 goals to us so they would need to win every game oh say 4-0 and we've have to lose all games by oh 4-0 too for them to get close. 8x6 = 48... still not enough.. get me? So all in all the worst we can do now is 6th.. thats if the world fell in.... in reality we've all but assured CL. If we assume now everton win all their games then arsenal will be 5th.. ergo with 5 games to go arsenal have 15 points to play for and a 10 point deficit, ergo we need 6 more points to take 4th... for sure. then apply the same to third... everton for 4th. 68+18 = 81. to get 82 LFC need 8 points. Third = group phase qualification. I think we can safely assume we play for the title here. if we get any result v city its a big deal. we will be top as they go into their busy end of season fixture list. Win and we turn to the norwich game needing a win. draw and we are top looking for them to drop points. there are as many permuations as you like... but i nthe end city is next and thats all that matters... its a huge tie... and the team who wants it more and plays better will win it. LFC need to take control in midfield, fernandinho and yaya are formidable opponents. mush better than west ham (duh) so if we play like we did today we'll get a chasing.... anfield factor is simply huge for us.
The bookies stopped offering odds for Liverpool to finish outside the top 4 weeks ago. #followthemoney
Good win, close shave, depended on 2 pens, nervy game. Tough, workmanlike, predictable opponent. The commitment from our players and their hustle was superb. I think we didn't approach the game tactically right, esp in the first half. Bar Sakho, same personnel as v Spurs, but not a 433 anymore, rather a diamond formation this time, with Sterling in and Allen out. As Sterling worked the flank in the first half, he was farther from both Gerrard and Coutinho than Allen/Lucas would have been. Hendo on the other flank was pushed more towards the vacant centre behind Coutinho, but didn't do much with it. We were quite individualistic with ball, the combos were rushed as if we were on a 433 countering a high line. Clarity suffered at the expense of speed. Rodgers corrected the balance somewhat in the second half, but imo the diamond is best played with Couts at the top of Allen and Hendo. Sterling, as fantastic as he is, should be brought to replace an off-colour Couts or Studge, or if the opposition's high defence line allows for a 433.
My ratings:- Ming: 8 Stood up to everything and was unlucky to drop the ball when he got slapped in the face. Johnson: 6 Razzed by Downing in the first half. Better in the second. Flanagan: 7 Likewise better in the second half than first. Made the second pen (although it was iffy) by committed running. Sakho: 7 Solid and did his job. Skrtel: 8 Stood up to everything. Gerrard: 9 Is getting better in the finishing straight. Henderson:7 Anonymous in first half. manned-up in the second. Coutinho: 5 Just not his day. Sterling: 7 Adequate in first half, dynamic in the second. Suarez: 7 Always a threat, often ran into cul-de-sacs. Sturridge: 6 The few times he was given the ball he just wellied it as hard as he could. Subs: Lucas: 8 Wow! I expected him to drop back and allow Gerrard forward - not a bit. Pass for second pen was Coutinho-like. Toure: 7 Ten minutes, won three big headers and two more interceptions. We'll pretend the ball headed back that almost lobbed Ming was a pass back.....
Sterling was far superior to Coutinho today, even when he moved inside. There were about 3 or 4 times when he picked the ball up in the centre circle with 2 players either side of him and he turned and used his pace to get away from them. I love Coutinho don't get me wrong but thought he was very poor today. I aid during the game, I'm surprised Rodgers started both of them as it means he had no attacking player to come off the bench if things weren't going to plan which was the case.
Graham Poll telling it like it is. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...imon-Mignolet-ride-did-penalties-spot-on.html Not that this will satisfy the haters though.
I don't think Couts was as poor as he's been made here. He (and Hendo) suffered the unbalanced system they were playing in. Nevertheless, sacrificing him and moving Sterling there, was justifiable.
Another 2 penalties, FFS is that 18 this season? Not seen the game so can't comment on their validity or whether you deserved the win or not, but the penalty stat is becoming worrying
If outfield players are going to grab the ball and goalkeepers are going to grab players then they get what they deserve
Amusing thing is the number of stonewall penalties we've not been given too! Having Suarez up top being a tricky bastard in and around the box will always create penalty situations be it through being pulled back desperately, hacked down because they can't stop him any other way, tackled late because he's already gone, or handballed as he flicks it beyond them...whatever. Not sure why a penalty stat should be worrying when 95% of them have been clear cut and many other clear cut ones not given. It's the second part of that statement which is worrying.
I think when you're on top rival fans will always look for a stick to beat you with, right now it's the penalties, last week it was the week between games. It was and always will be this way, for any club.
I think anyone not thinking what the f was the west ham defender thinking on pen 1 is a moron. suarez trickery and dazzling flick to get it by him is one thing to ignore to to ignore the stupidity of sticking out a hand to stop the ball is another. As for The keeper clearly got it... all the keeper did was palm the ball so it bounced nicely to be hit home. he pulled down the player who could smash it in. its a pen all day every day... and ESPECIALLY if it were for any of their teams. Jamie redknapp's real loyalties shone through with his comments after the game IMO.
Can't say I'm worrying too much about the number of penalties we've been getting, tbh. Surprised a little, but I'll leave the worrying to our rivals.
why tobes... its lots of different refs... and go look... don't be thinking anything unitl you see the silly handball and the keepers hand raking down the player touch on the ball or no. he didn't get possession nor clear it ergo pen... simple.
