Expectations (hopes) with 1/3 of the season gone...

[BigChief]

With all the tough away games out of the way and Klopp getting his philosophy through to the players. And all other "top 4" clubs stinking the league out. And if Coutinho, Benteke, Henderson and Sturridge can stay fit all season. I'm thinking we're on for the league title.

To do that we'll need a long run of wins, say 11 or 12 games. Or two shorter stints of wins, say 5/6 each. The first scenario though not impossible may be unlikely with all our cup involvements. However, no reason the second scenario can't be achieved starting with the win against Swansea.

The points total for winning the league may be a record low for the PL unless some team finds their bollocks and runs away with it. Can't see that happening right now.

[Fosterbloke]

Title challenge, League Cup, Europa Quarter Finals.

[Liverpel]

Such is his reverence for the methods of Jurgen Klopp, Eamon Dunphy has gone out on limb and predicted that Liverpool will finish this season as Premier League champions.

Since Klopp took over from Brendan Rogers last month following the drawn Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Liverpool have lost just once in 10 games. They have also recorded impressive wins over champions Chelsea and league leaders Manchester City.

Following the weekend’s 1-0 win over Swansea, Liverpool are in sixth spot, just six points off City and Leicester, with their next league tie against a hapless Newcastle side at Anfield next Sunday.

Dunphy, seemingly unmoved by any other outfit in the top half of the table, believes the resurgent Reds are more than just dark horses in the title race and, providing they do some good business in the January, are better equipped for the second half of the campaign than their nearest rivals.

“I think Liverpool have a great chance," he told Damian O’Meara on 2fm’s Game On. “If they get two players in the transfer window, if he (Klopp) gets a couple of the lads who are injured back into the side and Sturridge gets fit.

“Liverpool are six points behind and if I look at the five teams ahead of them. Leicester; no chance, Arsenal; zero chance, Tottenham; no chance - that leaves the two Manchester clubs

“City were lucky in a way to beat Southampton. Southampton played really well and they had chance to equalise, and in the end City won 3-1. United may well win the league but it would be the death of football,” he said.

He went on to laud the impact the charismatic German coach has had during his brief spell at Anfield, while pointing out that Liverpool’s favourable fixture list in the new year as another boon.

“Someone will go on a run, and I think Liverpool have every chance. They need to support him (Klopp) and he started off with all the odds against him. They’ve had all the big teams away from home; they have them all to come to Anfield.

“Coutinho didn’t play yesterday, they can get Sturridge and Benteke firing, and they have Jordan Henderson coming back, although if that’s a good thing I’m not sure. This guy has got something going. Six points is nothing. They’re certainties for the Champions League spot and I think they might win the league.”

Not for the first time the pundit found himself at odds with the opines of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who said his side were the best they’ve been all season in the aftermath of their stalemate with Spurs on Sunday.

When asked if the result would prove a catalyst for better things at Stamford Bridge, Dunphy gave a characteristically curt response, and was far from complimentary of the struggling Cesc Fabregas.

“No. Tottenham are pretty ordinary anyway, and people have been hyping them up. Chelsea were ordinary and it was a poor match. I would say Fabregas’ performances for a long time now- for most of this year in fact- have been poor. It looks like he’s been burnt out; he has nothing to offer.

“There’s no way Chelsea are going anywhere and there’s no way Tottenham are going anywhere either, he said.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/eamon-dunphy-backs-liverpool-to-win-the-title-34246930.html

[redmike65]

Well that's a lay then.

[BobTheCharmer]

To be honest the premier league is rubbish right now. Having played all the tough away games, I think a tilt at the top spot should be our aim. 4th wouldn't do much for me.

[TheElephantMan]

Top four is within our reach, I think we'll make progress for the rest of the season so why not? I don't expect anything really this season, if we manage to achieve top four or a trophy then it'll be a huge bonus for me. We're in the rebuilding process again, but I'm feeling much more positive about things football-wise than I have for a long while.

[Red_Polo]

A cup and top 4 has to be the goal. I'd be chuffed if we bagged either of those tbh.

[ChesterDave]

Tough away games out the way. Improving. Injured players returning. 6 points from the top. We should be aiming to win it. 6 winnable games. Come New Year we could be top/a couple of points off.

[Fosterbloke]

If we can get some fullback cover and perhaps a better keeper, no reason we can't reach for the title. I don't see any other team being that much stronger than us.

City - Good midfield, dodgy defence, attack susceptible to injury
Man Utd - Boring as crap, an injury to Smalling would kill them
Arsenal - Loads of injuries, laboured
Spurs - Reliance on Kane, very good defence though
Chelsea - not enough points, broken club

[Hemingway]

Count me in with the Top Four and a Cup Run people.

We could challenge for the title. Just look at the fixture list. Can't rule it out. But ultimately that requires both a) City not sorting themselves out, and b) us avoiding Palace-like results as we develop. I could maybe see one of those happening, but both seems unlikely. Especially the latter. I fully expect a few more hiccups over the next couple months as we build up to what Klopp wants. It's a weird league where if you can challenge for fourth you can challenge for the title, at least right now, but I don't expect it to stay that way all season. Fourth is what we really have to worry about at this point. If we end up being capable of more, then great.

[Fosterbloke]

Count me in with the Top Four and a Cup Run people.

We could challenge for the title. Just look at the fixture list. Can't rule it out. But ultimately that requires both a) City not sorting themselves out, and b) us avoiding Palace-like results as we develop. I could maybe see one of those happening, but both seems unlikely. Especially the latter. I fully expect a few more hiccups over the next couple months as we build up to what Klopp wants. It's a weird league where if you can challenge for fourth you can challenge for the title, at least right now, but I don't expect it to stay that way all season. Fourth is what we really have to worry about at this point. If we end up being capable of more, then great.

I don't think we can expect total domination over lower teams in the league any more. It's a melting pot of potential match winners looking to make their name in the PL so many of the title challengers will slip up.

I guess it's a case of not slipping up as much as our rivals!

[Fernandinho]

I can see us going on a great run of games taking us a few points from 1st and then ending up in 4th. Could see us doing well in all 3 cups, and if we get a decent draw and avoid injuries we have the squad to have a good go at Europa league.

[Fredo]

If Sturridge, Coutinho and Henderson can stay fit for most of the season then we have a chance. But top 4 should be the target then see where we get to.

[EwarWoo]

Unfortunately I had a cheeky little bet on us winning the title at 61-1 the day Klopp joined so we don't have a chance.

Top 4 would be fantastic though.

[BobTheCharmer]

Unfortunately I had a cheeky little bet on us winning the title at 61-1 the day Klopp joined so we don't have a chance.

Top 4 would be fantastic though.

That was a good bet but I too have this habit of jinxing us if I bet on us.

First day of December and we are 5 points off Utd. I don't see how the holy grail of 4th place in this ****ty league would be deemed fantastic. Good, pleased, realistic maybe better words to describe it. Fantastic would be winning the league.