Title Race 18/19

[dom9]

I think it's fair to say that Spurs are currently in the title race (just) but they won't be in a couple of months.

[The_weatherman]

Hate to say this but read an interesting article this morning on how Spurs have pushed their fitness levels higher. Not sure if this is just common place but they will play past the point where most managers would rest them for another game or so before being rested. The result is raised fitness levels beyond their previous ceiling. Not sure how provable this is but apparently Poch has an excellent eye for it

Interesting, but wouldn't we some injuries at some point for them? Like over the Xmas season? I reckon Arsenal might struggle over the last two or three games with Emery being new in the league, similar to Klopp, seems Sarri is hitting a wall now.

[Assassin]

I think it's fair to say that Spurs are currently in the title race (just) but they won't be in a couple of months.

Fully agree that they are in still in the race and I see this as being positive. With regard to dropping away, time will tell, they are still in all 4 competitions, so fatigue is very possible Their first 11 is very strong and if they stay fit, they could be there right up to the end.

[Norbs]

Interesting, but wouldn't we some injuries at some point for them? Like over the Xmas season? I reckon Arsenal might struggle over the last two or three games with Emery being new in the league, similar to Klopp, seems Sarri is hitting a wall now.

We've been prone to injuries in Klopp's era but these are becoming less prevalent it seems

Chelsea have had no injuries but Sarri seems to have a set 11 that he sticks to. They're suffering now

[dom9]

Fully agree that they are in still in the race and I see this as being positive. With regard to dropping away, time will tell, they are still in all 4 competitions, so fatigue is very possible Their first 11 is very strong and if they stay fit, they could be there right up to the end.

I'd say that if we and City were 6 points ahead of the them then it would be over for them already. That they're just 2 behind City means they're clinging on.

[The_weatherman]

I'd say that if we and City were 6 points ahead of the them then it would be over for them already. That they're just 2 behind City means they're clinging on.

City winning us would change the title race, that's such a big fixture. Not sure I can handle it.

[Norbs]

We've lapped Fulham 3 times already

[Norbs]

City winning us would change the title race, that's such a big fixture. Not sure I can handle it.

You'll have to have a long sit down

[Phoenix07]

I love this man. Cuts through the anxiety, superstition, and giddiness at other results.

Jurgen Klopp dismisses “bulls*** stories” of Liverpool’s Christmas past

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions Liverpool’s previous efforts after being top of the table at Christmas mean anything for his current squad.

The Reds sit in pole position after 18 games played, four points clear of second-placed Man City after seven consecutive wins in the Premier League.

But Liverpool are the only club in the last decade to have been top of the table at Christmas and not win the league, doing so in 2013/14.

Indeed, only three times in the last 20 years has the team top at Christmas not won the league, twice being Liverpool.

But speaking ahead of the clash with Newcastle United on Boxing Day, Klopp described these as “bull**** stories.”

“I heard all of these things: however many times in the last 10 years when you were first at Christmas you won the title, only Liverpool didn’t.

“Wow. You are afraid to say it because you think then I know it.

“That’s all bull**** stories. What is it? What does it mean? It’s a different team, a different time; everything was different.

“It’s not interesting. Did I think if Liverpool had been champion as well twice [after being top at Christmas], ‘oh, halfway through, job done’? No.”

Indeed, from that squad that finished second in 2013/14, only Jordan Henderson, Simon Mignolet and Daniel Sturridge remain among the playing squad, while only John Achterburg remains of the coaching staff.

Similarly, Klopp dismissed any suggestions of getting excited when rivals drop points, as Man City did against Crystal Palace last time out.

“In the moment when people are not involved in that, but emotionally involved—like friends and stuff like that—and they see City lose 3-2, you get all these messages ‘wow, unbelievable!’, and I don’t even feel it,” he explained.

“Because if you are in the job you know we still have 20-something games to play.

“I’ve been a sportsman since I’m five years old, running races, athletic stuff like that. If you think at 300m, ‘I have him’, you are silly and you can never win.

“So why should you even think about it, before you win something that you maybe win something? We are not children anymore.

When you saw Tottenham [beat Everton 6-2], with all the things said about us and Man City, how can anybody forget Tottenham?

“That was impressive. They said it themselves after the game, ‘everybody’s talking about the other two’, and that’s a nice situation [for them].

“For us, we don’t do favours for anybody. [The media] sometimes do favours because you only speak about us and them and you give Tottenham the chance to come from behind and overtake.

“All these things are not important. Obviously we play a very good season so far and it gives us a much better for the second half of the season than we did last year. That’s all, nothing else.

“There’s no celebration, no more happiness than before, only because now we’re a few points ahead of Man City with 20 games still to play.

“That’s really, really a lot, and a lot of things can happen.

“We have to fight, we all have to fight. Wednesday is a very important game: everybody is in a Christmas mood apart from us.

“Everybody wants Boxing Day games, good, then don’t be in a Christmas mood on the 26th, come in for one-and-a-half hours and give all that you have.

“Because we need, again, an exceptional atmosphere to be beat a very-difficult-to-beat team.

“Take nothing for granted, don’t think because we have that amount of points and they have that amount of points [it will be easy].

“If you think that, that’s the moment when things go wrong.

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/1...hristmas-past/

[frank the tank]

The whole "enjoy the ride" is just the right message he needs to send to the players too.

We have been flying this year. The team has improved no end and we look like we can win games a number of different ways now. The fact that people have accepted that we have not been at our best but we are still top and still undefeated says it all. We have not been at our attacking best but defensively we have been brilliant.

This team can possibly be tripped up by major injuries - alisson, Virgil or one of our front 3 for a long period will possibly kill a title challenge. The other thing is experience. How will we respond to a defeat?? That will show us what we are really made of.

[The_weatherman]

You'll have to have a long sit down

I think I need just need a hug from Klopp, he always says the right things It's right what he says about enjoying the ride, I loved our run to the final in May even though that went a bit sour.

[The_weatherman]

If Torreira gets a yellow today he'll be suspended for our game, which would be nice, very nice.

[BigChief]

If Torreira gets a yellow today he'll be suspended for our game, which would be nice, very nice.

Definitely. Hopefully arsenal aren't resting anyone for us as they need the easier league points.

[Fosterbloke]

I think I need just need a hug from Klopp, he always says the right things It's right what he says about enjoying the ride, I loved our run to the final in May even though that went a bit sour.

That would be very handy!

Do we have anyone in a similar situation (with an eye on Arsenal and City)?

[The_weatherman]

That would be very handy!

Do we have anyone in a similar situation (with an eye on Arsenal and City)?

Don't we all need hugs from Klopp from time to time? Or did you mean to quote the other post? If so, I don't think so