How many

[JohnnyLambert]

Never Never Never discount them horrible cunts from the Tiltle Race!!

[Woobus]

Rafa must have been reading this thread

Rafa plays down gap 11/11/08

RAFAEL Benitez has warned Liverpool fans about gloating too soon over the Anfield side’s eight-point lead over champions Manchester United.

For many Anfield fans, such an advantage over their greatest rivals with the season almost a third over, is cause for celebration.

But boss Benitez said: “I don’t think I will be celebrating until the gap is 20 points.”

“We were aware before we played West Brom on Saturday that Manchester United had lost, but it was not something that we allowed to affect how we played.

“If you spend the whole time with a calculator considering what others are doing, it will drive you crazy.

“You must concentrate on what you are doing. United may be trailing us, but we are not looking at what they are doing, only ourselves.”

Benitez, who welcomed back striker Fernando Torres against the Baggies after a hamstring injury, continued: “Manchester United still have a game in hand and the ability to make up points in just two other games is not that difficult for them.

“We have confidence and are playing well, so we know we can be up there at the top. We know it is a long race and must keep going.”

[pondus]

Rafa must have been reading this thread

Rafa plays down gap 11/11/08

RAFAEL Benitez has warned Liverpool fans about gloating too soon over the Anfield side’s eight-point lead over champions Manchester United.

For many Anfield fans, such an advantage over their greatest rivals with the season almost a third over, is cause for celebration.

But boss Benitez said: “I don’t think I will be celebrating until the gap is 20 points.”

“We were aware before we played West Brom on Saturday that Manchester United had lost, but it was not something that we allowed to affect how we played.

“If you spend the whole time with a calculator considering what others are doing, it will drive you crazy.

“You must concentrate on what you are doing. United may be trailing us, but we are not looking at what they are doing, only ourselves.”

Benitez, who welcomed back striker Fernando Torres against the Baggies after a hamstring injury, continued: “Manchester United still have a game in hand and the ability to make up points in just two other games is not that difficult for them.

“We have confidence and are playing well, so we know we can be up there at the top. We know it is a long race and must keep going.”

Didn't you know, he is constantly on here checking to see how much he can rotate, thank God he takes the advice from some on here and learns from them.

[Marky]

Never Never Never discount them horrible cunts from the Tiltle Race!!

[Parm]

hmm, thing is, we have always made a strong run in the second half of the season, only to be undone by:

1. a **** first half of the season
2. Us choking it when we play Utd/Chavs etc in the second half of season
3. lack of belief/experience.

I dont think utd have had a **** first half but they have stumbled and we have by and large been quite consitent so far.
utd have choked it so far in the big games, lets hope they can do so again.
They have belief and experience.

So by my reckoning no one can rule them out as also rans. They have the ability and experience to put together a strong run and that will put pressure on us. I think the key element will be whether we can handle the pressure.

[slimbimjim]

Have ManUre had any disruptive injuries so far this season (not including Hargreaves)?

[Parm]

Have ManUre had any disruptive injuries so far this season (not including Hargreaves)?

Ronaldo was out for some time, Van der Saar has missed a few games and didnt Rooney have a knock earlier this season?

[slimbimjim]

Ronaldo was out for some time, Van der Saar has missed a few games and didnt Rooney have a knock earlier this season?

So really they have weathered a storm too then? That is why we can't discount them.

[Dessy]

Just for reference purposes, Man Utd's next 8 league games:

Stoke (h)
Villa (a)
City (a)
Sunderland (h)
Spurs (a)
Stoke (a)
Middlesbrough (h)
Chelsea (h)

That takes them upto mid January and there's a couple of potential banana skins in that lot. Villa, City and Spurs are 3 tricky away games.

You'd expect Man U to be taking near enough maximum points every time there up to the Chelsea game. However, this season it has to be said they don't look as invincible as they have in previous seasons. Even so I can't see them dropping too many more points against teams outside the top 4 which makes it imperative that we continue to focus on our own games and do likewise.

[Woobus]

You'd expect Man U to be taking near enough maximum points every time there up to the Chelsea game. However, this season it has to be said they don't look as invincible as they have in previous seasons. Even so I can't see them dropping too many more points against teams outside the top 4 which makes it imperative that we continue to focus on our own games and do likewise.

Villa, City and Spurs away will be tricky matches. If they come away with 9 points from those 3 games I would be surprised.

[cadmium]

We'll have a clearer idea of how the scum are set up to challenge for the title when they return from the world club championships, hopefully with several injuries

[Dessy]

Villa, City and Spurs away will be tricky matches. If they come away with 9 points from those 3 games I would be surprised.

Tricky by whose standards? Our own from past experience maybe. Utd don't usually struggle (City aside maybe it beina a Derby and all that) in these games.

Yes I know Spurs are rejuvenated under Harry....but, ready to maybe be brought back down to earth soon? And Villa? Honestly, improved yes but not all they're cracked up to be and not quite 4th place material just yet. City might prove tricky it being a Derby and all but you'd still have to fancy the Scum to come out on top?

I think the bottom line is that Utd are more than 'capable' of taking the points here and will be favourites to do so in each and every game.

[Woobus]

Tricky by whose standards? Our own from past experience maybe. Utd don't usually struggle (City aside maybe it beina a Derby and all that) in these games.

Tricky by most sides standards. Villa are a good side this year and will give United a very good game at home, Spurs are playing out of there skin will really depend on what side turns up on the day with the Derby you never know what is going to happen.
United dont look the same side as previous years, there away form has been terrible this season and dont seem to travel well this season.

[Neil Young]

Tricky by most sides standards. Villa are a good side this year and will give United a very good game at home, Spurs are playing out of there skin will really depend on what side turns up on the day with the Derby you never know what is going to happen.
United dont look the same side as previous years, there away form has been terrible this season and dont seem to travel well this season.

You could be right but it could equally be wishful thinking. If you exclude the three away games against us, Chelsea and Arsenal (as I think you have to for the purposes of this exercise), then Man United have got 7 points out of 9 in away matches in the League.

[slimbimjim]

I think the best way to find out is to wait until the end of the season. Although you might be right about some predictions, others are out of left field.