Title Race

[baitman]

I think that a little bit disingenuous to the rest of the team. We were still winning games without him. The same has been the case without the likes of Gerrard and Sturridge, both of whom have made excellent contributions in assists and goalscoring.

That said, Suarez is the best player in the league by a distance so of course he's gonna have that kind of impact. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. It's better to have him in your side than the opponents.

People used to call us a one man team with Torres, but I just don't buy that argument at all. We had Mascherano, Reina, Alonso, Caragher and Gerrard in their prime behind him. That's a lot of quality. The focal point is always the attacker though when they are banging in the goals, which, let's be honest, is in the job description.

not arguing
when torres was banging them in we had gerrard chipping in, but after that there wasnt much else. we did have a bit of a team behind them though.
for all our play, passing, etc, we are still too reliant of suarez for a goal to pull us out of the ****. sturridge has chipped in admirably and he would be a great main striker with a flourishing midfield around him.
the fact remains that our midfield do not contribute much in the way of goals scored which equated directly to points gained.

disingenuous is such a dirty word

[dom9]

not arguing
when torres was banging them in we had gerrard chipping in, but after that there wasnt much else. we did have a bit of a team behind them though.
for all our play, passing, etc, we are still too reliant of suarez for a goal to pull us out of the ****. sturridge has chipped in admirably and he would be a great main striker with a flourishing midfield around him.
the fact remains that our midfield do not contribute much in the way of goals scored which equated directly to points gained.

disingenuous is such a dirty word

You don't have to agree with me.

Considering how many games Suarez has played up front on his own, I reckon the rest of the team scoring 50 odd goals in 2013 isn't a bad return at all.

[baitman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_Liverpool_F.C._season#Goalscorers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/top-scorers

[Fredo]

Baitman's argument is obviously flawed. As if Suarez had made them goals by himself solely. Narrow thinking.

[dom9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2...on#Goalscorers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/...ol/top-scorers

OK, so Suarez has scored about 45%ish percent of our goals this season with ten players sharing the rest.

How does that compare with other teams?

[Rigadon]

Interesting stat... In 2013 we had the sixth best points total.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25573324

Had we beaten City and Chelsea, it would have been the second best total in the calendar year with one game fewer played than Aresnal and City. Fine margins.

In the same period, we were the highest scorers. I'm sure somebody said in a post match thread recently that we should be scoring more goals. A big ask.

And Suarez was the top scorer in 2013 with 29 goals despite the 10 game ban.

So yeah, we're improving all the time, but we're not quite good enough for the title on current evidence.

That might change. And it might not.

From the above article:

If you wanted to be entertained then Liverpool were the team to follow in 2013. They netted 84 goals in 37 games, two more than Manchester City. Manchester United, so often the league's best attackers, only managed 68 - the sixth best tally.

Liverpool could have been celebrating a century of goals had they not hit the woodwork 24 times, six more than the next highest, Manchester United.

With a bit of luck, and midfielders that could score , we'd be title contenders (also, our defensive record is pretty good - despite our concerns about our defenders ). Top marks to BR - working wonders with a young (sometimes threadbare) squad Just imagine what he could do with UTDs resources (or City's, Chelsea's or Spurs' squads).

[dom9]

From the above article:





With a bit of luck, and midfielders that could score , we'd be title contenders (also, our defensive record is pretty good - despite our concerns about our defenders ). Top marks to BR - working wonders with a young (sometimes threadbare) squad Just imagine what he could do with UTDs resources (or City's, Chelsea's or Spurs' squads).

Mad isn't it.

[dom9]

Baitman's argument is obviously flawed. As if Suarez had made them goals by himself solely. Narrow thinking.

The whole team is built around him. The whole set up involves getting the most out of Suarez. And why not. With his ability and injury record any team would do the same. That's not over reliance. It's maximising his contribution.

And when he's been out banned, we've proved we can win without him.

[Rigadon]

Mad isn't it.

Crazy

I'm so guilty for not giving our team/squad/manager enough credit. It's as if I don't want to believe what is actually happening. Truth is, we're pretty ****ing good

[Pablo]

Any chance of our rivals dropping points this weekend?

Hull v Chelsea
Everton v Norwich
Tottenham Vs Crystal Palace
Man Utd v Swansea
Newcastle Vs Man City
Aston Villa v Arsenal

[RichC]

Very unlikely looking at those fixtures. The only one you'd think might not be 3 points is the Mancs.

[Pablo]

Yeah I agree, although there's a few who could spring a surprise. Newcastle could nick a point, or am I dreaming? Arsenal with injuries could struggle away from home? Hull have a decent defensive record at home and Chelsea lack goals? Wheels are bound to fall off for Sherwood soon enough too?

I think there'll be at least one side in there who drops points. I'm really clutches at straws aren't I?

[BigChief]

Surely Newcastle will make it hard for City, no? I reckon that's got 2-2 written all over it if the Newcastle players treat it like another cup final / shop window to get a cushty contract at City.

[Kloppster]

Any chance of our rivals dropping points this weekend?

Hull v Chelsea
Everton v Norwich
Tottenham Vs Crystal Palace
Man Utd v Swansea
Newcastle Vs Man City
Aston Villa v Arsenal

Arsenal to draw

[Pablo]

I think Man United will win that one actually. I'm going to say Arsenal will lose and City will only get a draw.