Title Race

[DannyMan2006]

This was a great chance to win the league. 11 wins from 11 was great. But 1 point from the last 6 in the final furlong is a disaster any way you look at it. I'm afraid that is bottling it. We lost our heads in the second half v Chelsea, trying to hard to force the match. Against Palace we fell apart, no other way to describe blowing a three goal lead to an average side whose best attribute was their defensive qualities, not their attacking play. They didn't even have their two best strikers on the pitch when they came back. Whilst the Chelsea side was a patch up side. Yes they cost a load of cash, but that back 5 had never played together as a unit.

We ****ed it up, pure & simple. And yes, needing 7 points from 9 probably is one of the best chances we'll get to win the league.

That's the negative. It's what the press will say, as will rival fans. And it's true.

However, what is not true is that we will not be back next year. No guarantees either way. But if we do get our signings right, we will be every bit as competitive next season. Other teams may improve, but i honestly think we have a higher ceiling for improving than any other side.

[DannyMan2006]

All that said, we may yet limp over the line. City are not 100% certain to beat Villa & the Hammers, far from it. Favourites, but the bookies make money because the favourites very often **** up. We were favourites not so long back.

[Pablo]

Once I've got the shock out of my system - like many it still feels surreal to me, I am genuinely shell-shocked - I will be as proud and as optimistic I have been in all of my adult life as Liverpool supporter. That says it all for me.

Especially when you consider how our city neighbours have just behaved. I think we can afford to be immensely proud and take the moral high ground after their shameful behaviour.

It's onwards and upwards for us! Bring on the Champions League again!

[Sarb]

Can we all move to the transfer speculation now. You cant beat s bit of transfer ranting in the summer

[Shaggy]

You can **** something up without "bottling it". That wasn't about a lack of bottle - if anything our balls were too big, the opposite of "bottling it". We ****ing went for it. 3-0 up away at a tough place to go and they're fetching the ball out of the back of the net, aborting celebrations to crack on and pour forward. With the luxury of hindsight you can call it naive, but "bottling it" it ain't. We had one chance, one chance only to take matters into our own hands and score 5 or 6. And we ****ing went for it. That to my mind is to be admired. No backward steps. This team, this manager have gigantic bollocks.

[Muddled]

You can **** something up without "bottling it". That wasn't about a lack of bottle - if anything our balls were too big, the opposite of "bottling it". We ****ing went for it. 3-0 up away at a tough place to go and they're fetching the ball out of the back of the net, aborting celebrations to crack on and pour forward. With the luxury of hindsight you can call it naive, but "bottling it" it ain't. We had one chance, one chance only to take matters into our own hands and score 5 or 6. And we ****ing went for it. That to my mind is to be admired. No backward steps. This team, this manager have gigantic bollocks.

[PTP]

i'm ****ing devastated - distraught - can't believe it - we felt so close, we looked so good, i was virtually convinced we'd do it and i can't believe what happened last night. complete ****ing disaster and it's so hard to stomach.

but when that passes the positives are far much greater.

1 - we have a young talented squad with some stars in there - sterling, coutinho, sturridge, henderson

2 - we have a very good young manager who is only going to get better

3 - we've played some of the best football i've seen us play.

4 - start of the season our target was top 4 - most people, me included thought this would be difficult as on paper at the start of the season all of Arsenal/Chelsea/City/Utd/Spurs looked to be in stronger position than us to achieve top four - not only did we not achieve top 4 - we pissed it, we went better and guaranteed 3rd, probably 2nd and by some miracle could even win it.

5 - we have good owners who really seem to understand the club.

[PTP]

You can **** something up without "bottling it". That wasn't about a lack of bottle - if anything our balls were too big, the opposite of "bottling it". We ****ing went for it. 3-0 up away at a tough place to go and they're fetching the ball out of the back of the net, aborting celebrations to crack on and pour forward. With the luxury of hindsight you can call it naive, but "bottling it" it ain't. We had one chance, one chance only to take matters into our own hands and score 5 or 6. And we ****ing went for it. That to my mind is to be admired. No backward steps. This team, this manager have gigantic bollocks.

to me it was a collapse - a brain fart of a collapse where our brains (players/manager) have just frozen under pressure. Not been able to react, calm ourselves, and the only option was to do what came natural - in our case attack

[DannyMan2006]

You can **** something up without "bottling it". That wasn't about a lack of bottle - if anything our balls were too big, the opposite of "bottling it". We ****ing went for it. 3-0 up away at a tough place to go and they're fetching the ball out of the back of the net, aborting celebrations to crack on and pour forward. With the luxury of hindsight you can call it naive, but "bottling it" it ain't. We had one chance, one chance only to take matters into our own hands and score 5 or 6. And we ****ing went for it. That to my mind is to be admired. No backward steps. This team, this manager have gigantic bollocks.

My definition of "bottling it" is losing your heads when the pressure is on. A team or individual will look calm & composed in normal circumstances & will get the job done, or be unlucky to not do so.

The mistake by Gerrard against Chelsea was just that, a mistake. Not what I would call bottling it. Lacking composure in the final third when we normally have spades of it - that is bottling it. Throwing away a three goal lead with ten to go - that is. Suarez blazing over after Sturridge had hit the post - that is. Moses missing an empty goal with an air strike - that is.

In a training game we'd break down the Chav backline. I'm sure Moses would finish an open goal with real aplomb down at Melwood. But crack up the pressure and players rush things, thrash at chances, panic when attackers run at them.

I'm proud of the players. And maybe my sniping has a lot to do with a serious lack of sleep due to tossing and turning. I'll support them ever more and we still have one to play, and we are still top. We took it to the wire when we had no right too. It's been a long season & I feel the buzzing feeling our players had that kept them going these past games has just sapped out of them because they now lack belief. I understand it all.

But when we needed composure against Chelsea, we didn't show it. Instead we had Gerrard charging around like he was 21 again trying to force a goal when we had bags of time left. When we needed composure v Palace at 3-1, no one on the pitch bothered to say our goal chasing dream was over and it was time to settle and take what we had. We have experienced players who played like a bunch of ****ing kids. And that hurts.

I loved Gerrard's passionate war cry after City. But we needed him and others to shout some sense into young players against Chelsea & Palace. Instead he and others just stood in shock with stupid ****ing wistful looking grins on their faces. I'm being beyond harsh now, I know. The players gave their all, it's not their fault if they just aren't quite good enough as a group.

[DannyMan2006]

i'm ****ing devastated - distraught - can't believe it - we felt so close, we looked so good, i was virtually convinced we'd do it and i can't believe what happened last night. complete ****ing disaster and it's so hard to stomach.

but when that passes the positives are far much greater.

1 - we have a young talented squad with some stars in there - sterling, coutinho, sturridge, henderson

2 - we have a very good young manager who is only going to get better

3 - we've played some of the best football i've seen us play.

4 - start of the season our target was top 4 - most people, me included thought this would be difficult as on paper at the start of the season all of Arsenal/Chelsea/City/Utd/Spurs looked to be in stronger position than us to achieve top four - not only did we not achieve top 4 - we pissed it, we went better and guaranteed 3rd, probably 2nd and by some miracle could even win it.

5 - we have good owners who really seem to understand the club.

I agree on all of this. Gutting to come so close and fail, but this really has been a positive season.

[danperkins]

I don't think we are bottlers, we've brought the title race to the last game of the season. But the last 20 mins was a complete and utter capitulation alright, so focused on that goal difference that we forgot the defend. To be fair though.. we really should have been 6 or 7 up by the time they scored their first....so annoying!!!

I think the players & Rodgers sensed that we could really claw back the goal difference, only for we had so many unfit,ill & injured attacking players.. we probably would have destroyed them. But we got over excited & gun ho... everyone charging up the pitch trying to score & we got done on the break. Pulis has been doing this all season long.. defending deep and using Bolaise & Puncheon on the counter. I was worried about Bolaise vs Johnson before the game. Him and Puncheon caused havoc in the wide areas for our full backs.

Was a genuine travesty to watch from 3 nil up... disgusted doesn't even cut it. Understandably we were all fuming on here last night. As regards this year being our best bet... i kind of agree. City & Chelsea will spend ludicrous money as per usual.. i see City linked with Messi offer of £164 million!! I mean FFS, not that's it's in any way true but it wouldn't surprise me with their resources.

I do feel Arsenal & United will spend big too. Arsenal got key injuries this year to Walcott & Ramsey. I have no doubts they'll spend in the midfield,defence & 100% upfront. As for United well... they stink of desperation a will throw what they can to get the players they want. No way will they be as poor next season. Being out of the champs league for one is acceptable, a second year the rot will set in & they will spend to avoid that.

It was a huge chance for us this season but what a go we gave it! Put it this way, when we bring on Victor Moses & Aspas.. City bring on David Silva,Negredo or Jovetic. For me, that says it all & still we pushed them to the limit.

We need to clear out some dead weight & purchase some genuine world class players for the starting 11 & to be fair we are now back in a situation that we can attract that top tier again. We don't have the money that City & Chelsea do & the stupid money United will throw around but i'd imagine with players sales & our kitty, we will have a modest sum. Suarez staying is imperative, surely he will now.

Devastating end to an miraculous campaign, that absolutely nobody could have expected in their wildest dreams. A learning curve for players & manager which will be a great asset in the future. I think we have got the absolute max from a very thin squad...well done

P.S. Credit to the Palace fans, unbelievable atmosphere & to Pulis who is up there for the manager of the season.

[Dantheman]

I've complained too, it's still there though.

I've complained about it to the Huffington post with email below to [email protected]


Hi,

I would like to formally complain about an article posted on your website.

The article can be found here on your website here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/02/everton-manchester-city_n_5254124.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-football&just_reloaded=1#

I believe the article borders upon libel with the statement:

"A sick minority of Liverpool supporters have occasionally celebrated the 1985 disaster "

I believe this inaccurate and malicious. I have never read, heard or seen any person celebrate the 1985 disaster. I found it sickening that a 'journalist' would state these claims in any sort of newspaper (online or otherwise) without evidence to back up that statement. I am inclined to believe that the 'journalist' has bought his petty footballing rivalries into his journalism.

I believe your editor has failed in his or her duty to take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information as per the editors code outlined by the press complaints commission.

I await your investigation and response into this matter.

Kind Regards

<my real name>

Got a reply to my complaint this morning saying they'd removed the paragraph from the article and discussed the appropriateness of such comments with the sports desk. I'll take any small victories today!

[Shaggy]

Haha great work. That cunt Luckhurst will be FUUUUUUUUUUUUUMING

[destinydude]

Nice

[Shaggy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10810087/Liverpool-have-defensive-deficiencies-but-remember-where-they-were-before-this-season-of-intoxicating-attacking-play.html

Liverpool have defensive deficiencies but remember where they were before this season of intoxicating attacking play

After the collapse against Crystal Palace the criticism Liverpool are receiving shows that too many have forgotten how dreadful they have been for so long

By Chris Bascombe10:53AM BST 06 May 2014

It’s been tough to work out who is in most distress following Liverpool’s capitulation to Crystal Palace.

The players? Luis Suarez’s tears offered another image for the montage creators when they piece together an overview of the season. We’ll know if that £70 million bid from Spain ever materialises if he was crying on behalf of his club or himself.

The supporters? The sight of grown men sobbing is never a good look, although Sky TV must have a designated producer on Kleenex watch at this stage of the season.

Or is it those incredulous that the storyline of the season – written and packed off to the publishers after Manchester City were beaten at Anfield a month ago – have had their ending utterly wrecked by the combined force of a Steven Gerrard slip and the most shambolic Liverpool defence performance since, well, they played Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final in 1990.

The story moves on so fast these days – the heroic figures of one week the villains of the piece the next - as if the Premier League has been scripted by the makers of ‘24’.

Read the rest of the article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...king-play.html.