Fourth place

[dom9]

Saturday, 12 February 2011
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Wigan, 15:00

Sunday, 27 February 2011
Barclays Premier League
West Ham v Liverpool, 13:30

Sunday, 6 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Man Utd, 13:30

Sunday, 20 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v Liverpool, 13:30

Saturday, 2 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
West Brom v Liverpool, 15:00

I'm really looking forward to watching those.

I still think that 4th is a step too far this season.

[PTP]

i can't see us getting 4th but we have to aim for it, we have to push ourselves all the way - i think we will now comfortably finish 6th which is a remarkable turnaround, we may even nick 5th place but for 4th we need two teams to really **** up

[dww]

It would be utterly remarkable if we did make 4th after the season we've had. Really would be some achievement. Honestly, I think its a huge ask and may turn out just to be a touch too far... but whether we make it or not its just so bloody good to be looking up the league with optimism and a little bit of excitement. Pride and faith restored, thank you Kenny and FU Hicks, Gilette and Hodgson.

Finishing above Chelsea however would just be utterly epic, beyond epic even for its fingers up to Torres potential. Chelsea finishing outside the top 4, which is a real possibility even if its not us who top them, would still make me laugh an awful lot.

That would be fabulous.

I think if Kenny can find a way to make a solid back four (rather than resorting to defensive formations with 3 CBs) then we have a chance. Otherwise I think we will struggle to win enough of the big games (yes I know it worked against Chelsea but there is always an element of luck to winning with so few chances created).

[the rev leeroy brown]

I'm really looking forward to watching those.

I still think that 4th is a step too far this season.

i dont want to get my hopes up of getting 4th this year. BUT, with a run of games that in our current form / state of mind etc..... are all definately games we should be picking up 3 points from (a task i actually for the 1st time this season beleive is possible) we could be dam close by the end of the season.

chelski got some problems to sort out and still have a double header against manure. spurs will hopefully get side tracked by the champs league (fingers crossed). i think its safe to assume manure and the arse will take 2 places and i cant see citeh messing up this year so a 3 way battle for 4th is a possibility.

i will be happy enough just to salvage this season with a good run in the europa and a top 6 finish though - build for next year.

[dww]

i can't see us getting 4th but we have to aim for it, we have to push ourselves all the way - i think we will now comfortably finish 6th which is a remarkable turnaround, we may even nick 5th place but for 4th we need two teams to really **** up

That's probably fair. Although the fact we are this close is a sign of how poor a lot of the teams are at the top of the league compared to a few years ago. For all the hope and optimism now I can't help feeling somewhat frustrated by the fact that well back a decent manager could have really had us challenging in the last few years.

On the plus side, I think that the talk of us never getting close to competing again unless we spend trillions looks less and less accurate as time goes on.

[kris90210]

Cheers for the info on the champions league spots, boys

[Lecter]

Wigan game is of course important. Against relegation fodder at Anfield I don't think we should be playing three center backs.

Suarez and Kuyt up front, I think we could batter them....

Think people are getting to0 het up over the 3 at the back

That is a system that has suited us in the last two games

Firstly because of Stokes aerial threat and secondly because of Chelsea 3 pronged attack

Dont think we will play that system all the time think we will play a back four more often than this

Just picking up on the Stoke game, that defensive system was extremely strange and incredibly fluid and very very sophisticated

At times it was a 3 at the back with two wingbacks but also at times we reverted to a flat back four. Skrtel would drop to rightback and the whole back four would shift over with Johnson slotting in at leftback

Similarly going the other way at times Kelly would drop in to rightback with Agger moving over to leftback

Its probably the most fluid defensive system I've seen in an awful long time

It was interesting to hear Tony Barrett saying the other day that a lot of journos were discussing at half time V Stoke as to exactly what system we were playing because they couldnt figure it out because of the amount of movement of players

[Lecter]

I've settled on 6th and in light of what's gone on this season I'd be satisfied with 6th.

But I honestly think next year's title race is gonna be wide open, and we'll have every chance.

I have a sneaking feeling we will edge out Spurs for 5th but 6th wouldnt be a bad position all things considered

[Shaggy]

It was interesting to hear Tony Barrett saying the other day that a lot of journos were discussing at half time V Stoke as to exactly what system we were playing because they couldnt figure it out because of the amount of movement of players

Haha yeah I saw that, and I was glad he said that, cos I could barely figure it out either.

[James P]

This is like a pantomime.

'It's on'

'No, it's not'

'Yes it is'

'No it's not'

'He's behind you'*

FWIW, I think we've left it too late, as both Chelsea and Spurs would need to implode to let us into 4th.

*Okay, so no-one actually posted that.

[Neil Young]

This is like a pantomime.

'It's on'

'No, it's not'

'Yes it is'

'No it's not'

'He's behind you'

That's how most threads go.

[James P]

That's how most threads go.

No, it's not.

[Exiled_red]

I've just had a horrible thought, what if we somehow get 4th above Chelsea only for them to win the Champions League and steal our spot. How gutting would that be

[Chris]

I've just had a horrible thought, what if we somehow get 4th above Chelsea only for them to win the Champions League and steal our spot. How gutting would that be

They're shocking, they wont win it. Though they do have a bye to the Quarters.

[James P]

I can put your mind at rest because neither this

if we somehow get 4th

nor this

Chelsea win the Champions League

is going to happen.