It's a two horse race to the title

[aka Dus]

This is the moment we've waited for for years - us and our most hated opposition going head to head over 3 and odd months for the title.

 

If we lose, they equal our record. If we win, we'll knock their manager into retirement eating our dust. The shadow boxing is over, the distractions are moving into the sidelines, we can only rely on ourselves.

 

You can't help but feeling that how the fans react and support will be as important as it never was before. Whether or not our players relish it or bottle it, I would hate to reflect on a winning or losing season where we as fans couldn't or wouldn't get 100% behind the entire squad in their pushing to break our Premiership hoodoo. We can't change the squad now, we have what we have.

 

But no matter how useless we individually think some of our players might be, the team is in a great position to claim no. 19 and f*** you know who up. All these years we have been second hand Arsenal or Chelsea supporters between January and May, willing them to take them down. Now we have to do the job ourselves to save our own record and put us back on top for real.

 

Finally now, every game is the biggest game in 18 years. Could be that their fans aren't too keen to finally have to face up to us in the title run in for the first time. Either way, I hope and expect that we Liverpool fans will get 100% of their emotion and effort into supporting the players we have and suspend the pointlessness of why any particular player should be sent to the gulag or what the manager should do next in relation to his bosses. And that the manager and players will focus entirely on winning the it too.

 

Can you imagine how s*** it will feel if they beat us to make it 18 for them? It'll be like the 96 cup final times 10, Athens times 5, the 4-0 at OT times 20, the last minute of 89 times god knows how many.

 

It cannot happen! We need to do our bit, starting now - I believe how we relate to the team here, at the match, in the media, on the street, everywhere - it all matters. Our record is on the line and given the symbiosis between the team, the fans and the media these days, being 100% committed is not optional. I hate those pricks but I love our club more than ever and I intend focusing on that between now and May.

[lfc003]

Finally now, every game is the biggest game in 18 years.

 

[madaboutlfc]

what rubbish.. chelsea are 3 points behind us.. we have to play arsenal and mancs.. anything can happen.. to write chelsea off is premature at best..

[abc]

Hope we go neck and neck with them all the way, absolutely sick of having to root for Chelsea or Arsenal during the final games of the league. And then see them fail anyway...

 

*feels sick in the stomach remembering that feeling*

[meredithmathieson]

The only bit of that post that I disagree with is:

 

"Can you imagine how s*** it will feel if they beat us to make it 18 for them? It'll be like the 96 cup final times 10, Athens times 5, the 4-0 at OT times 20, the last minute of 89 times god knows how many."

 

If my reading of that is correct, I have to say that Arsenal 89 should be removed from the quotation.

[San Diego Red]

IT'S ON?

Edited February 2, 2009 by San Diego Red

[aka Dus]

what rubbish.. chelsea are 3 points behind us.. we have to play arsenal and mancs.. anything can happen.. to write chelsea off is premature at best..

 

That you would disagree with anything I say only underlines how correct I must be! A ringing endorsement if ever I heard one.

[aka Dus]

The only bit of that post that I disagree with is:

 

"Can you imagine how s*** it will feel if they beat us to make it 18 for them? It'll be like the 96 cup final times 10, Athens times 5, the 4-0 at OT times 20, the last minute of 89 times god knows how many."

 

If my reading of that is correct, I have to say that Arsenal 89 should be removed from the quotation.

 

I know what you mean. I didn't want to compare it overtly by giving it a number (not that the others are exactly scientifically equated) but they all are personally gutting in their own individual ways.

[sean]

We need a run. We're ok performance-wise against the better sides, but it's the supposed cannon fodder fixtures where I start to worry if we're going to get enough goals. Think we're just about hanging in, we need to close the gap quickly, or at least maintain it.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Torres finding his scoring boots is going to be huge for us

[Stevie H]

Torres finding his scoring boots is going to be huge for us

yep. we need a flat track bully up top.

[Cunny]

Our games in the run up to the Old Trafford game

 

Portsmouth away

Man City home

Middlesboro away

Sunderland home

 

I think we need to take 12 points from those games and hopefully that might put us within 3 points of them by the time we get to play them.

When do they play their game in hand?

[Bailo]

Torres finding his scoring boots is going to be huge for us

i thought he was going to need a complete gimme or a shank to fly in. Never did I think his first goal back would be THAT good.

[richwilks]

Our games in the run up to the Old Trafford game

 

Portsmouth away

Man City home

Middlesboro away

Sunderland home

 

I think we need to take 12 points from those games and hopefully that might put us within 3 points of them by the time we get to play them.

When do they play their game in hand?

 

Exactly the games we've been dropping points in unfortunately.

 

Today we see the other end of the scale, last week the Benitez slating, we're out of the running, we'll be lucky to get CL qualification, we're so negative blah blah blah. This week and 3 points on, we're in a two horse race.

[aka Dus]

Our games in the run up to the Old Trafford game

 

Portsmouth away

Man City home

Middlesboro away

Sunderland home

 

I think we need to take 12 points from those games and hopefully that might put us within 3 points of them by the time we get to play them.

When do they play their game in hand?

 

I reckon we need 3 points every game until we are at least level with them again, get a real run going. We need to hunt them and see if they keep it together. They know we'll mill into them at OT.

[mrjunk]

i thought he was going to need a complete gimme or a shank to fly in. Never did I think his first goal back would be THAT good.

 

it was a tap in, he just scored them in the wrong order.

[aka Dus]

Exactly the games we've been dropping points in unfortunately.

 

Today we see the other end of the scale, last week the Benitez slating, we're out of the running, we'll be lucky to get CL qualification, we're so negative blah blah blah. This week and 3 points on, we're in a two horse race.

 

Which side are you on? Supporting the team or exercising your jerky knee?

 

Some of us haven't been 'slating' Benitez, Keane or anybody. We've just been waiting to see what happens and trying to support the team through to the business end of the season. Which has just started, since yesterday, by the way.

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

You can't help but feeling that how the fans react and support will be as important as it never was before (before 1992?). Whether or not our players relish it or bottle it, I would hate to reflect on a winning or losing season where we as fans couldn't or wouldn't get 100% behind the entire squad in their pushing to break our Premiership hoodoo (so we're responsible). We can't change the squad now (well we can until 5pm today), we have what we have.

[Alonso]

Given the form Utd are in and the fact they are usually so strong form this point onwards I think we're gonna have to win every game between now and the end of the season to stand a chance.

[aka Dus]

1992? Eh? 'Responsible'???

 

I realise that we CAN change players but I don't think we will and I don't think that even if we do it will have a significant impact on our chances. If Keane stays, Rafa will still most likely use him fitfully unless he gets a goal scoring goo on. If he goes and someone else comes in, he'd have to be an incredible signing to make a difference to a team already going for the title.

[Mr Makaveli]

Well in fairness to Aka Dus, beating chelsea was always going to bring a massive wave of optumism through the hearts of the fans. I enjoyed reading his little article as I agree. Well, not that it is a 2 horse race just yet but for me , Chelsea are possibly on their way down so it isnt just about the 3 point gap... however, nobody should look at the table and just see that we've now beaten Chelsea and think that it's all over as Villa are lurking rather queitly but within striking distance of mounting an actual title challenge themselves.

 

I will go on to mention though that this air of optumism will not only extend itself over the fans but it will put a much needed and renewed sense of belief in the players and also the manager. The reports of Parry being sacked and Rafa being offered the terms that he wants, if true will certainly let everyone know from here on in that Rafa is the Boss.

 

I myself cant decide what I want us to do against Everton though... Since I'd gladly piss away the next 5 years of FA cups to win the league... do we throw out a weakened side (give some youngsters a chance) and most importantly, keep our top players that bit fresher or do we put them to the sword and raise the mood of our fans and players even further with a win, at the expense of that little bit of fitness coming into our next premiership game?

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

1992? Eh? 'Responsible'???

 

You've clearly not been through this sort of thing before have you but many of us have and remember that before football began (year of our lord 1992), we would frequently be involved in the title run-in so to say that our support now will be as important as it "never" was before is clearly wrong. Then in your laudible call to arms, you put too much emphasis on our input as fans. If you remember, and I'm sure everybody does, the doom-sayers had their say last week and were much in evidence both inside and outside Anfield last night and yet the team produced a memorable performance where it mattered. I'd be pretty sure what's written on here or spoken about in pubs (or shouted at the telly) has as much impact as a flea's clitoris.

[£440,000]

If Keane does go to Spurs and we play them on the last day of the season needing a result for the title, I hope to f*** he's injured!

[Murphman]

If Keane does go to Spurs and we play them on the last day of the season needing a result for the title, I hope to f*** he's injured!

 

 

Where the f*ck have you been?

[Mr Makaveli]

Given the form Utd are in and the fact they are usually so strong form this point onwards I think we're gonna have to win every game between now and the end of the season to stand a chance.

 

Last season we had a better run in than utd, form wise. This time around we find ourselves within touching distance but also wit a harder run in. It's going to be tough as hell but it really is building into the stuff that dreams are made of. If Chelsea were to fall off a bit now and we were to surge forward with utd in the battle for the title that really does mean everything to both sets of fans. It'll be epic if we can do it. it would end all of this 'Rafa out' BS for one.