Title Race

[DannyMan2006]

Cold light of day, City need 4 points from 6. We are still top of the table. They have the tougher game on the last day. I don't think our result changes their mentality just yet. They'll still be out to win tomorrow. Difference is they won't gamble the game if it's level going into the last 5.

Villa have **** all to lose, they're safe. They can gamble for the win if they feel like it. You know that every Villa player will be up for it as it's these type of games they want to play in. They'll all want a Dwight Gayle moment.

[Montana]

Two City draws are improbable but not impossible.

[Boogs]

I have read a lot of posts on here saying people want us to win the league but I've been confronted with the polar opposite!?!?
The amount of people from other PL clubs that have said to me that they couldn't stand it if we won for all manor of different reasons.
I remember the same hate in the late 80's early 90's and I had totally forgotten what a privilege it is to be hated again

[john316]

It does seem to have switched as we got so close!

[john316]

Latest blog from Tony Barrett:

In his consultations with the Liverpool players last week, Dr Steve Peters told them that the emotions they were experiencing after the morale-sapping defeat by Chelsea were akin to grief. Desolation, despair and a profound feeling of powerlessness were, the renowned sports psychiatrist explained, symptoms of a sense of loss. How even the so-called mind mechanic will put their meltdown against Crystal Palace into context remains to be seen for this was sporting suffering at its most acute.

That it was self-inflicted will only serve to magnify Liverpool’s misery. Luis Suárez appeared to be smiling almost manically prior to Mark Clattenburg bringing one of the Premier League’s most dramatic games to a conclusion. No one knows what the forward’s thought processes were at that stage but, having seen his team race into a 3-0 lead and create numerous other chances to score before collapsing inexplicably, it is not hard to imagine that he was engulfed by a volatile mixture of bewilderment and disappointment. The tears he shed immediately after the whistle required no further explanation.

The Barclays Premier League title has not been lost by Liverpool yet but it feels like it has. For all the context that is provided by their remarkable journey from seventh place last season to league leaders on May 6, the sense of destiny that had helped power their challenge has now given way to profound fatalism. It is a tragedy (albeit only a sporting one) of almost Shakespearian proportions.

From their heroic captain slipping in a game that they did not need to win but could ill afford to lose to drawing a game that long since appeared to have been won, the chance to end an agonising 24-year wait has not been ruined by the brilliance of others, it has been undermined by a combination of their own misfortune and flaws.

The inquest into last night’s events is already underway. Why did Liverpool continue to attack after Palace made the score 3-1? Why didn’t Brendan Rodgers introduce Daniel Agger to add some much needed composure to a defence that wilted amid a ferocious late onslaught? Why did they, in the words of their manager, feel the need to play “Roy of the Rovers” football instead of playing percentages and holding on to the result?

In hindsight, all of these questions seem to have straightforward answers but, in the white heat of a remarkable game and with the title at stake, they tend not to come so easily. Liverpool simply allowed themselves to get caught up in the excitement and it cost them dear. They now face up to the kind of lessons that only present themselves when the world is turned upside down. Introspection will be difficult but it is also absolutely necessary. Only by recognising what went wrong can the faults that have appeared over the past fortnight begin to be put right.

But equally, this process – and it is one that will be necessary even in the unlikely event of Manchester City slipping up in their final two matches – should not lose sight of the fact that in less than two years Liverpool have become one of the finest attacking teams in European football.

The 99 goals they have scored this season is testament to that and also to the collective sense of adventure that Rodgers has instilled in his team. As they poured forward last night and Glen Johnson and Suárez celebrated their second and third goals by racing back to the centre circle with the ball in hand to re-start the game, there was an inescapable sense that something wondrous was happening. The intent in Liverpool’s surges was a joy to behold. It was all or nothing. This is football at its basest level; all that mattered was scoring as many goals as possible before time ran out.

It is this feverish desire to make a difference in the attacking third that Rodgers must continue to embrace. The temptation now will be to become more pragmatic and clearly there is a need to do that when a team has conceded two or more goals on 17 separate occasions during a single season. After being scathing of Jose Mourinho’s decision to park the bus at Anfield eight days earlier, the Liverpool supporters will now bemoan the absence of so much as a burned out car to act as a barrier when Palace’s onslaught began. Rarely, if ever, has a team harbouring genuine title ambitions in the final week of the season has its weaknesses so ruthlessly exposed.

Rodgers knew that which was why his post-match musings centred on “game management”, a term that is more readily associated with arch-pragmatists like Mourinho and Rafael Benitez. His “Roy Of The Rovers” assertion was apt but it was also another step into unchartered territory for the Liverpool manager.

In the cold light of day he may come to reflect that it is exactly those Roy of the Rovers tendencies, that all-consuming desire to do almost unimaginable things on the football pitch, that took Liverpool to the brink of the title in the first place. When you score an average of almost three goals per game, you have surely earned the right to believe that attack is the best form of defence and adventure is not only preferable to conservatism, it represents your best chance of being successful.

Had Rodgers had a better squad at his disposal, that success might have been easier to achieve this season than has turned out to be the case. As much as Liverpool have conspired to squander their advantage over City at the top of the table, they have also been undermined by a lack of strength in depth.

Having built their title challenge around a core of 14 players, Rodgers found himself having to rely upon understudies that he knew he could not rely on at the least opportune moment. Victor Moses and Iago Aspas, who had been overlooked throughout the campaign, all of a sudden had a part to play and neither were up to it. Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho were pressed into action though clearly unfit and Lucas, a defensive midfield player to the core of his being, was asked to play wide right in an attacking line up because of Jordan Henderson’s unavailability through suspension.

It is this weakness rather than a failure of strategy that has most cost Liverpool. The three goals that Palace scored came after Coutinho had entered the fray and during a period of the game when the rigours of a physically and emotionally wearing season began to take their toll. Had Rodgers had genuine options to turn to on the bench they may have been able to see out the storm; as it was they were engulfed by it. Aside from Agger, who was set to come on after Palace made it 3-2, the Liverpool manager had no one who could help with that all-important game management.

As he always does, Rodgers will now utilise the expertise of Dr Peters for his own benefit but there are some things that are beyond even an internationally renowned psychiatrist. He can do nothing about Manchester City’s assault on the title and nor can he address the shortcomings in Liverpool’s squad. The period of grief now looks set to give way to mourning.

Rodgers, though, should be proud of the remarkable life his team has lived this season. In its exhilaration, style and ambition it has been a thing of wonder. Ultimately it may well fall short but only of a target that no one had set for it. Rodgers has made Liverpool competitive again and he has also made them a team that neutrals love to watch and amid the sense of loss those developments alone should give him cause for celebration.

[The_weatherman]

Had Rodgers had a better squad at his disposal, that success might have been easier to achieve this season than has turned out to be the case. As much as Liverpool have conspired to squander their advantage over City at the top of the table, they have also been undermined by a lack of strength in depth.

Having built their title challenge around a core of 14 players, Rodgers found himself having to rely upon understudies that he knew he could not rely on at the least opportune moment. Victor Moses and Iago Aspas, who had been overlooked throughout the campaign, all of a sudden had a part to play and neither were up to it. Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho were pressed into action though clearly unfit and Lucas, a defensive midfield player to the core of his being, was asked to play wide right in an attacking line up because of Jordan Henderson’s unavailability through suspension.

It is this weakness rather than a failure of strategy that has most cost Liverpool. The three goals that Palace scored came after Coutinho had entered the fray and during a period of the game when the rigours of a physically and emotionally wearing season began to take their toll. Had Rodgers had genuine options to turn to on the bench they may have been able to see out the storm; as it was they were engulfed by it. Aside from Agger, who was set to come on after Palace made it 3-2, the Liverpool manager had no one who could help with that all-important game management.

This is it for me, we have nothing on the bench to turn a game, a half fit Coutinho and Moses, while City and Chelsea have benches who cost more than our entire team.

[PTP]

I have read a lot of posts on here saying people want us to win the league but I've been confronted with the polar opposite!?!?
The amount of people from other PL clubs that have said to me that they couldn't stand it if we won for all manor of different reasons.
I remember the same hate in the late 80's early 90's and I had totally forgotten what a privilege it is to be hated again

It's been the one thing i've not liked about this season.

i've been involved in loads of a 'banter', piss take, even full blown arguments over the years with rival fans of all clubs.

i've never experienced anything like i have these past few weeks - pure sickening hatred. Maybe it's hurt a bit more because i'm hurting that we have likely lost the league after being so close - but it's been sickening.


ive maintained my diginity - i've not risen to any of it.....but if by some miracle we win it from here my ****ing god i'm going to go ape **** on so many ****ing people that by time i finish, i reckon i'd have lost a fair amount of 'friends'

[The_weatherman]

It's been the one thing i've not liked about this season.

i've been involved in loads of a 'banter', piss take, even full blown arguments over the years with rival fans of all clubs.

i've never experienced anything like i have these past few weeks - pure sickening hatred. Maybe it's hurt a bit more because i'm hurting that we have likely lost the league after being so close - but it's been sickening.


ive maintained my diginity - i've not risen to any of it.....but if by some miracle we win it from here my ****ing god i'm going to go ape **** on so many ****ing people that by time i finish, i reckon i'd have lost a fair amount of 'friends'

TBH I find it odd that supporters of teams finishing in 5-7th place have the gall to take the piss out of Liverpool really. Nobody gave us a chance before the season but now the team is under scrutiny for not winning the bloody title and a laughing stock at that in some quarters, bull**** if ask me.

[PTP]

it's bizarre. What's made it worse was the majority of these cunts have gone from kissing my arse (well liverpool, but you know what i mean) -

- i hate to say it but you're the best team, play the best football
- you got the best player in the league
- rodgers has been brilliant
- steven gerrard deserves it
- fitting to win it in the 25th anniversary year

etc etc

i sat there listening to this and not once did i agree, or get excited, i found it strange to get so many compliments from these 'rivals' - i played my cards close to my chest and said things like long way to go still etc....i made sure i never once gloated (ok i did a little towards a couple of bluenoses after the 4-0 derby )

And then the second we lost to chelsea and we went from being favourites/likely winners to now needing a minor miracle

all these cunts have completleiy changed their tune....


hahaha **** you - you're ****, rodgers is ****, gerrard's a bottler, suarez is only player of the year cause aguero was injured, and this is just the stuff that's repeatable.

[PTP]

the everton fan's i've spoken to who have called us bottlers, when i said well if we bottled the league, you've bottled 4th place don't seem to see it.

i even seen a few tranmere fans celebrating last night when palace got the 3rd....yes tranmere fans, yes thats relegated tranmere who's manager was taking bungs .

[ronanm]

It's been the one thing i've not liked about this season.

i've been involved in loads of a 'banter', piss take, even full blown arguments over the years with rival fans of all clubs.

i've never experienced anything like i have these past few weeks - pure sickening hatred. Maybe it's hurt a bit more because i'm hurting that we have likely lost the league after being so close - but it's been sickening.

ive maintained my diginity - i've not risen to any of it.....but if by some miracle we win it from here my ****ing god i'm going to go ape **** on so many ****ing people that by time i finish, i reckon i'd have lost a fair amount of 'friends'

Absolutely The hatred is truly shocking. Has put me off football to be honest. If Liverpool win the PL this season, I was actually thinking of retiring

[john316]

Tranmere fans?!?

[PTP]

Absolutely The hatred is truly shocking. Has put me off football to be honest. If Liverpool win the PL this season, I was actually thinking of retiring

it's been sickening - i almost felt that i wanted it even more just to go back at them. the main culprits have been the mancs and blue ****e - but that's because i'm closer to a lot of them - but i've seen, read, heard of and recieved some **** from virtually fans of every club in the league.....i think it must have been a reaction to the media love in we had a while back where everyone all of a sudden went pro -liverpool for a couple of weeks

Tranmere fans?!?

yup - unbelievable, a few tranmere fans i know where celebrating when palace scored and laughing at liverpool.

[BrooklynRed]

The idea that other, non-Everton and non-ManU, supporters would be pulling for City and Chelsea over us is deeply troubling. People just love money, eh? Liverpool have done it the "right" way and we're hated. Don't get it at all...

[BigChief]

TBH I find it odd that supporters of teams finishing in 5-7th place have the gall to take the piss out of Liverpool really. Nobody gave us a chance before the season but now the team is under scrutiny for not winning the bloody title and a laughing stock at that in some quarters, bull**** if ask me.

Chronologically, we were laughed at for a top 4 finish in the summer. Laughed at for dropping to 4th after New Year. And now being laughed at for possibly only finishing second on the last day of the season.

Further still, our chances for next season are being laughed at because we won't strengthen as much as others around us. Even though our scope for improvement is exponentially higher.

Its been such a great season we have totally baffled opposing Sky age fans.