22 Jan 2019 00:56:43
So pretty much everyone knows I think city has the title wrapped up.
Obviously desperately hope not.
So looking at the fixtures of both teams I see it being lost for us with non other than a draw at spurs and a loss to utd and with a horrid twist of fate a shock loss to Everton.
I only see city dropping 2 points to none other than Arsenal. Yes I know Arsenal won't finish 2nd as I predicted.
Anyone care to counter argue and give me hope I am wrong.

1.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 02:09:30
we play at home against spurs.

2.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 02:27:21
All waffle no counter argument needed, nobody has the title wrapped up and anyone following your predictions this year know not to worry, we're in for one hell of a ride whatever happens.

3.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 02:29:21
And we don't go to spurs, we already won there.

4.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 02:51:04
Its impossible to call mate, 4 points ahead at this point in the season is a great start though. Gives us a little wiggle room. I still feel like we're mostly playing in second gear, which actually fills me with confidence going into the second half of the season. City might have more depth but they also have more games to play, they've already dropped points this season to opposition outside the top 6 and I can see them doing it again.

The sooner Gomez and Trent are back the better. If we do win the league I feel like its going to be our defence that makes the difference.

{Ed0333's Note - maybe we’re not gonna get out of 2nd gear maybe this is as good as it gets? I’ve reconciled myself to the notion we’re not gonna play heavy metal football again and if that’s the case so be it. We’re four points clear of the most expensive football team ever assembled in the premiership playing pragmatic and measured football and that’s ok with me because we’re top of the pile. As long as the positive results keep coming that’s all that matters. I concur with you’re shout about Trent and Gomez coming back swiftly and although I’m not TAA’s biggest fan what he does do is offer us balance and Gomez is just an absolute machine.

5.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 04:49:08
City play Chelsea and arsenal back to back, if we win our games against Leicester and Hammers and city drop some points against both we might be away with league in February bro. It is going to be that kind of ride. every game matters, everyone knows. Whoever breaks down looses.

6.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 04:53:38
It could come down to fine margins: a long term injury to Salah or Fernandinho could be devastating to either teams’ title chances. My guess is that neither side will remain unbeaten for the rest of the season so it could come down to which of us lose and which of us draw.

7.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 04:55:23
City dropping points to Arsenal eh? Did you foresee they would lose at home to Palace? Or draw at Wolves? You don't even have any valid points or arguments there and yet asking for counters?

8.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 05:39:57
The dynamic changes over this next month, as City play their games before us.
They will probably close the gap to 1 point, then it’s down to us on the following day.
We need to get through this period first.

9.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 06:55:13
There is a chance that City will have to put games back due to League Cup and FA Cup matches. It is up to Liverpool to get maximum points while City hopefully concentrate on other things.

10.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 07:13:11
We're going to do it comfortably, no fear here!

11.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 08:19:13
Hopefully we will still be able to turn it on if needs must!

12.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 08:36:57
Seeing you've been wrong so far, I hope you are still wrong. Let's just enjoy the ride.

13.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 09:39:16
Well done Walter for opening up a debat.
Usual responses about second gear even though we are well into the second half of the season.
Then the rest of "we will win easily and at home nonaense. "

Those games against Everton and Man Utd will be tricky as they are grudge matches and they are the last 2 teams that would like us to win anything. They will try extra hard to beat us especially with our title being at stake.
So those 2 games will also be tricky along with the Chelsea game which I think we have left.

I don't think City having many games to play will be a disadvantage, I think it may just help keep them in their flow.

It is tight when consiser just 2 more draws and then goal difference.

But I am hoping we do win all our games and gow on to be champions.
On paper all our fixtures can be won but in reality that can be tricky.

14.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 09:53:32
Focus on the next game. Our next game is against Leicester. let's not look past that game or worry about other teams. We can only worry about the opponent we face next. There is a hell of a lot of football yet to be played. We saw City drop points in December, we will also drop points before the end. Just we have to try win our next game and get another 3 points. let's all just enjoy the ride.

YNWA.

15.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 10:35:58
It's funny you say "desperately hope not" walter as much of your commentary would have us believe you'd be glad we lost just so you could say "told you so". Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, sorry.
I don't see us losing to Everton but can see us getting a point at Utd. OGS will want to show his team can play against us, rather than Mou's negative tactics. That will see them open up more than they have and we can punish them.
Spurs will depend on who's fit I think. Their first 11 is very strong, but they really struggle after that.

16.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 11:00:05
It’s still very much a 2 horse race for me. Either team can win. I can see city dropping more than 2 points in the remainder of the season though, if that’s all they drop they will probably be champions though.

17.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 11:14:20
Everybody, now come on. The oracle has spoken.

“I foresee that we will lose to our 2 biggest rivals and draw against the team in third place. ”

If you had predicted defeats against Cardiff, Southampton and West Ham, I’d be more inclined to think you weren’t on a wind up. So how about this.

I’ll see your United, Everton and Spurs and raise you City losing to United, Everton and drawing against Spurs. Wow, it’s easy actually.

Bam! City loss to Leicester, Pow! City loss to Watford.

There we go, title wrapped up by 10 points. Easy.

18.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 11:42:28
Some great replys let's hope we smash every team.

19.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 16:50:23
So we are 4 points ahead and you think “city have the title pretty much wrapped up”.

How does that work? You can’t be behind and have the title “pretty much wrapped up”.

This is your best work yet neggie 🤝.

20.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 14:03:32
@Ed333 on your comment re heavy metal football, I wouldn’t be too down on not seeing it again. It was interesting to see Klopp deploy it momentarily on the weekend in order to get those two goals against Palace, especially with Salah dropping deeper at times. I presume once they had their blitz, they'd sit back like they did with City last season, but the chaps had seemingly forgotten how to switch from pressing to defending (since the press hasn’t been utilised that often this season) which resulted in unnecessarily conceding a goal or two.

I think it's more about using it sparingly which Im sure has been mentioned on here a number of times (or by the man himself) . Can anyone really expect a midfield trio of Hendo/ Gini/ Milner (now with Fab) to press when two have been suffering injury, and one being inconsistent? I just don’t think he has the personnel to deliver that tactic effectively enough without leaving huge spaces for other teams to exploit or at risk of causing an injury crisis. With Fab starting to click, that solves part of the equation, but the other two main drivers of the team, Keita and Ox, aren’t there at the moment. I don’t want to add too much credence to the theory, as I am simply a mortal amongst the Eds and my knowledge of football is limited, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Klopp had to seriously rethink this seasons strategy based on Ox’s injury alone. He was seemingly one of the few guys in midfield who would be able to win the ball back and drive hard and fast at the opposition, causing everyone to drop off and allowing the front three to crisscross the defending into a tailspin and then scoring at will.

Haters are going to say Klopp is boring, but realists will say Klopp is being pragmatic. I’m sure once the double bank of 3 in Salah/ Firmino/ Mane + Ox/ Keita/ Fab are all playing together, the press will be back. The element on Darwinism that people forget is not necessarily about survival of the fittest, but that it’s the ability to adapt in a changing environment. There are a lot more positives to take away from this season, particularly from Klopp himself and his tactics, over and above the obvious 4 point lead that we should all enjoy.

Just my 2p.

{Ed0333's Note - thanks for an interesting read mate. Wouldn’t It be a delicious irony if we won the Premiership because we had to change our system due to lack of personell? I think maybe the answer lies somewhere between the two. After the Champions League final the stats showed that the team was gassed so that’s where the more pragmatic approach of this season gave birth. Had the Ox been available this season and Keita kicked on I’m sure we would have seen the geggenpress used more readily rather than sparingly. It’s all academic though we’re 4 clear at the top and gonna win the league. Enjoy the rest of the ride fella.

21.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 20:06:06
You tell me Ron cos like you, I have no idea how that works. So let me get this straight. City who are 4 points back have the PL wrapped up YET LFC who are 4 points ahead don't? Yeah OP, I'll have what you're having. No scratch that. No thanks.

Seriously tho, one game at a time, people. If City do drop points vs Arsenal and/ or Chelsea, it ain't going to matter if we don't do our job and take care of our own business first. Handle your business first and if we get help, it should be a bonus and nothing more.

22.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 21:35:25
For what it’s worth I said in mid December that if we can get to 26 games and have only lost 1 or 2 then I fancy us to do it, slightly tempered by our defensive injuries and Gini being out, how we missed him v Palace.
Anyway City have some tough fixtures as well in Feb so for me the thing will probably be very clear by March 1st. We should factor in our inexperience in getting over the line, but this group looks resilient and determined to do it. City could pull off something amazing as clearly they have that in their locker. With Man U on the up and up they will have a massive say in things in playing both the top two contenders, Spurs are suffering greatly with a thin squad and Chelsea are in topsy turvy mode so, for me if we get 4 pats from Everton and United away then we should be in business. We just must not draw games, 3 pts now matter how we play, City will win the majority of theirs and maybe lose 1 and draw 1, tense times ahead 🤞🏻.

23.) 22 Jan 2019
22 Jan 2019 20:34:22
so when ox is back, are we going to start playing heavy metal 4-3-3 with salah on the wing again and firmino up top? IMO salah is better when he gets the ball on the wing. firmino has good hold up play as striker and ox is able to drive the midfeild. Its our best team and i hope we use it for the knockout stages instead of the limp performances against psg and man city.

24.) 23 Jan 2019
23 Jan 2019 13:06:10
I’m slightly at a loss why Keita hasn’t been deployed in that offensive forward position that Ox sometimes had in a 3, with Salah out wide and Firmino up top?
Surely that’s Keita’s best position too?
We paid over €60 million for Keita and have shoe-horned him out left and right, odd?