Where will we finish this season?

[Red_Polo]

I think to get in the top 4 we are going to need to win 11 out of our remaining 13 games and draw the other two.

Tables at previous seasons at this stage...

(Teams finishing in top 4 in bold)

2013/14	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	CHE	25	27	56
2	ARS	25	22	55
3	MNC	25	41	54
4	LIV	25	33	50[/B]
5	TOT	25	0	47
6	EVE	25	11	45
7	MNU	25	10	41
				
2012/13	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNU	25	29	62
2	MNC	25	26	53
3	CHE	25	24	46[/B]
4	TOT	25	13	45
5	EVE	25	10	42
[B]6	ARS	25	20	41[/B]
7	LIV	25	12	36
				
				
2011/12	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNC	25	45	60
2	MNU	25	36	58
3	TOT	25	24	53
4	ARS	25	13	43[/B]
5	CHE	25	13	43
6	NEW	25	0	42
7	LIV	25	6	39
				
2010/11	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNU	25	31	54
2	ARS	25	27	50
3	MNC	26	20	49
4	CHE	25	24	44[/B]
5	TOT	25	8	44
6	LIV	26	3	38
7	SUN	26	1	37

So looking at that, there's only been one time a team outside the top four at this stage has broken into it.

If you look at the points though, it's more encouraging. We're on 42 points. The lowest points total to get 4th at this stage in the last 4 seasons have been 50, 41, 43 and 44. So one of them lower than what we're on and two within just the odd point or two.

We've got a decent shot. I think we probably need to hit 70-73 points looking at the tables above and the final standings in comparable years. That about 2 points per game should do it. Definitely achievable.

[brightred]

Southampton really is a huge match.

You kind of feel we are in control if we win it. Lose and it looks like a huge struggle.

Fingers crossed Danny stays fit.

[Trippendicular]

http://www.teamtalk.com/features/161...r-the-top-four

interesting article, going to be tough for us to get 4th.

The stats it uses are so obtuse as to be irrelevant to how it'll play out.

[Norbs]

http://www.teamtalk.com/features/161...r-the-top-four

interesting article, going to be tough for us to get 4th.

So that has

Arse 72
Spurs 71
Man U 70
Soton 67
Us 65

No chance we'll not finish further up than currently. Form guide says we have momentum and I trust that more than looking back at previous results which are muddied by our early poor form

[Norbs]

Tables at previous seasons at this stage...

(Teams finishing in top 4 in bold)

2013/14	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	CHE	25	27	56
2	ARS	25	22	55
3	MNC	25	41	54
4	LIV	25	33	50[/B]
5	TOT	25	0	47
6	EVE	25	11	45
7	MNU	25	10	41
				
2012/13	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNU	25	29	62
2	MNC	25	26	53
3	CHE	25	24	46[/B]
4	TOT	25	13	45
5	EVE	25	10	42
[B]6	ARS	25	20	41[/B]
7	LIV	25	12	36
				
				
2011/12	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNC	25	45	60
2	MNU	25	36	58
3	TOT	25	24	53
4	ARS	25	13	43[/B]
5	CHE	25	13	43
6	NEW	25	0	42
7	LIV	25	6	39
				
2010/11	.	Pld	GD	Pts
[B]1	MNU	25	31	54
2	ARS	25	27	50
3	MNC	26	20	49
4	CHE	25	24	44[/B]
5	TOT	25	8	44
6	LIV	26	3	38
7	SUN	26	1	37

So looking at that, there's only been one time a team outside the top four at this stage has broken into it.

If you look at the points though, it's more encouraging. We're on 42 points. The lowest points total to get 4th at this stage in the last 4 seasons have been 50, 41, 43 and 44. So one of them lower than what we're on and two within just the odd point or two.

We've got a decent shot. I think we probably need to hit 70-73 points looking at the tables above and the final standings in comparable years. That about 2 points per game should do it. Definitely achievable.

When you look at that, we've done bloody well this season considering we lost the league two best players with most combined assists and miles ahead in the scoring league. We're way ahead of the 2012/13 season and the two before that.

[Kenneth]

The prozac's working then Norbs.

[ChrisDR1968]

The obsession with finishing in the top 4 that most have on here is something I don't share tbh.

I'll take winning a trophy every time

I understand the financial rewards with finishing top 4 this season but Rodgers is building a pretty darn good team and if we don't finish top 4 it's not the end of the world.

I'm expecting a challenge for the league next season as long as we add a few good pieces in the summer (and no they don't have to be top dollar players either. Imo we shouldn't be getting into bidding wars with the 6 clubs that have far deeper pockets than we ever will. I'm with FSG and their transfer strategy on this one).

Top 4 is an ambition but it's a submerged ambition. Liverpool is all about winning trophies for me

[magicalbarnes]

The obsession with finishing in the top 4 that most have on here is something I don't share tbh.

I'll take winning a trophy every time

I understand the financial rewards with finishing top 4 this season but Rodgers is building a pretty darn good team and if we don't finish top 4 it's not the end of the world.

I'm expecting a challenge for the league next season as long as we add a few good pieces in the summer (and no they don't have to be top dollar players either. Imo we shouldn't be getting into bidding wars with the 6 clubs that have far deeper pockets than we ever will. I'm with FSG and their transfer strategy on this one).

Top 4 is an ambition but it's a submerged ambition. Liverpool is all about winning trophies for me

They're not mutually exclusive.

[EwarWoo]

Top 4 is an ambition but it's a submerged ambition. Liverpool is all about winning trophies for me

Top 4 gets CL. CL interests players. Players win trophies.

Top 4 isn't the aim, it's the follow on effects.

We show it wasn't a fluke we'll have a good summer window. Otherwise it's pig in a poke again.

[DannyMan2006]

Top 4 is essential.

Most players contracts are wrapped around bonuses for finishing in the top 4 and qualifying for the CL. If we can regularly finish in the top 4 then our best players earn more money. Any contract renewals and player signings will be much easier to get over the line if an agent thought his client was going to get the CL qualification bonus every year.

We need to show agents that we are a club that is going to be in Europe's top competition on a regular basis. If we can do that then, along with the new TV money for the Prem & CL, we will be able to rival most clubs in Europe for the best players. And signing and, just as important, keeping your best players give you that competitive edge that's required to compete for the biggest prizes. Not the second rate competitions these days that the Europa, League Cup and FA Cup are.

[EwarWoo]

To be totally honest, after last season I think I've realised I don't really care that much about any trophies.

I just want us to play nice football and be competitive. And we do need good players for that. I enjoyed last season more than any other without us winning a thing.

Winning is just a cherry on top.

[DannyMan2006]

To be totally honest, after last season I think I've realised I don't really care that much about any trophies.

I just want us to play nice football and be competitive. And we do need good players for that. I enjoyed last season more than any other without us winning a thing.

Winning is just a cherry on top.

Honestly, that's one of the main reasons I vindicated keeping Rodgers even when he had a real tough spell. He showed last year he could bring entertaining football to the table and that's what it's all about when watching football, entertainment. I'm willing to compensate on flair if we are winning, but in reality we haven't competed at the top for a while and so by this stage I just want to enjoy seeing us play like yourself, and if that brings us a pot or two then great.

Given the choice I'd rather win ugly, but I'd much rather we build a side from the bottom and strive for the top with an entertaining brand of football than have to suffer in the gutter in the hope that a culmination of a five year plan actually works for once. I say **** the boring football, we can stoop to those levels in the near future when we are having to grind out wins to ensue success, not in the hope of success.

[BobTheCharmer]

To be totally honest, after last season I think I've realised I don't really care that much about any trophies.

I just want us to play nice football and be competitive. And we do need good players for that. I enjoyed last season more than any other without us winning a thing.

Winning is just a cherry on top.

EwarWoo meet Arsenal Fans > Arsenal Fans meet EwarWoo = a marriage made in heaven.

[Norbs]

The prozac's working then Norbs.

I've only ever been realistic, never pessimistic

I'm not saying we're going to finish 2nd, just that we're doing better than I expected. Still think that we'll end up finishing 5th but, taking in to account the loss of Suarez which was my reason for predicting that, I think we're doing better than expected. Also bearing in mind I hadn't predicted we'd lose Sturridge as well.

If we finish 4th it means we'll have finished above one of the huge spenders which will be a massive achievement.

[magicalbarnes]

EwarWoo meet Arsenal Fans > Arsenal Fans meet EwarWoo = a marriage made in heaven.

You cant compare the two.

Arsenal have qualified for the CL for the past 16+ years. We have only qualified once in the last 5 years. Cant blame our fans for us wanting to cement our CL status and re-bulid our status and 'pull' for the top players.