The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread - #DankeJürgen

[Gazzler]

Top of the table with 6 games to play! Anything other than the title would have to be disappointing for Liverpool fans. This is a serious chance and a chance and a chance that might not come again for a while.

Source?

[Hound]

I think it could be regarded as a "flash in the pan".

We could have a decent season next season and still find ourselves behind City, Chelsea, Arsenal and United. Depending on how their new buys settle in. But I think the worst we could do next year is just miss out on champions league - unlike recent years when we weren't at the races at all.

Hasn't harmed us one bit in the end that we had relatively quiet summer and january transfer windows. The regulars now know each other's game inside out, so we're very cohesive. Nobody in the current starting XI who wasn't with the club 12 months ago (although personally I'd have Sakho in ahead of Agger).

Andy Carroll to look forward to next week. There's a man with something to prove to Rodgers! (Not to mention Downing and Cole)

[Dinny Breen]

At least 12 months anyway.

Now now I think you know his point, I agree with him.

I know his point, but I don't know if I agree with him. To say they'll never have a better chance assumes that they won't continue to progress, either in terms of players they can buy when they are in the CL, or in terms of the players at the club flourishing even more under a regime and a game plan that suits them. Certainly I would hope they can improve defensively next season. Obviously the CL will be a strain on the squad, but you'd hope and expect that the squad would be supplemented before next season.

Look, it's certainly a good chance for Liverpool this season, but it's ahead of schedule and I don't think it marks the last serious challenge they can make.

The biggest factor in Liverpool's success has been lack of European Football, not having those games and travel is a massive advantage in terms of recovery and freshness in my opinion. They have a very settled team and require only tweaking from match day to match day. Next season that will all change as will expectation. This is will be their best chance for the next few years until structures and squad are in place to really cope with UCL and EPL demands simultaneously.

[AZOffaly]

OK, I might buy that. But I see no reason why they won't continue to develop. Obviously the other teams, and Man United, will also continue to develop and invest. I just think it's too easy to say 'If they don't win it this year they never will'. There were many (including myself) who said they had no chance of winning it THIS year. Now suddenly it's their best and only chance. Hard to be that definitive I think.

Also, just on the champions league thing, it obviously helps this year that the team is rested and relatively setted (very settled in this run). However with the larger squad that this success will allow them, and critically with higher quality signings, then they will be better positioned to deal with that load. It won't be *this* squad that's having to deal with the European Games. Having said that, you may be right, and it may take a step back before any new signings will be as comfortable as the squad is now.

[Walter Cronc]

Really hope Liverpool go on and win it.

Have so much respect for Gerrard and Rodgers.

Not a fan of that Henderson lad though. Anyone else notice the mouthing he does at other players??

[AZOffaly]

I think he's generally a quiet lad. Are you talking about the mouthing he was doing to Danny Rose yesterday? I thought that was more of a slagging than a mouthing. He would have played a lot at underage with Rose I'm sure.

If there's one player that epitomises the work Rodgers is doing at Anfield it's Henderson. Unrecognisable from the player he was two seasons ago.

[Walter Cronc]

I think he's generally a quiet lad. Are you talking about the mouthing he was doing to Danny Rose yesterday? I thought that was more of a slagging than a mouthing. He would have played a lot at underage with Rose I'm sure.

If there's one player that epitomises the work Rodgers is doing at Anfield it's Henderson. Unrecognisable from the player he was two seasons ago.

Theres no denying his work rate and improvement it just always seems that he gets involved in the slagging too much. I'm sure it goes on all over the field, I just tend to notice him on camera.

[Gazzler]

So the same fellas who wrote off Liverpool all season are already writing them off for next season 
This Liverpool team is here to stay. They will only get better and that's a scary thought.
United will spend gazillions but Moyes will still have them playing like turnips. Arsenal will buy 1 player and go great for 3/4 of the season then blow up and settle for 4th.
City and Chelsea will strengthen alright but if Rodgers buys wisely and keeps the core of that team together they will be challenging again next season.
I can see Liverpool conquering Europe in a few seasons.
Rodgers is becoming one of the best young managers in the game.

[Dinny Breen]

OK, I might buy that. But I see no reason why they won't continue to develop. Obviously the other teams, and Man United, will also continue to develop and invest. I just think it's too easy to say 'If they don't win it this year they never will'. There were many (including myself) who said they had no chance of winning it THIS year. Now suddenly it's their best and only chance. Hard to be that definitive I think.

Also, just on the champions league thing, it obviously helps this year that the team is rested and relatively setted (very settled in this run). However with the larger squad that this success will allow them, and critically with higher quality signings, then they will be better positioned to deal with that load. It won't be *this* squad that's having to deal with the European Games. Having said that, you may be right, and it may take a step back before any new signings will be as comfortable as the squad is now.

No one is say is it's their only chance, just potentially their best chance because with the stupid money City and Chelsea allied to Man United's resources they will have to work very hard in the next few years to match that and if they build/increase/move stadium that will also affect on-field performance.

Carpe Deim as they say.

[Two Hands FFS]

At least 12 months anyway.

Now now I think you know his point, I agree with him.

I know his point, but I don't know if I agree with him. To say they'll never have a better chance assumes that they won't continue to progress, either in terms of players they can buy when they are in the CL, or in terms of the players at the club flourishing even more under a regime and a game plan that suits them. Certainly I would hope they can improve defensively next season. Obviously the CL will be a strain on the squad, but you'd hope and expect that the squad would be supplemented before next season.

Look, it's certainly a good chance for Liverpool this season, but it's ahead of schedule and I don't think it marks the last serious challenge they can make.

The biggest factor in Liverpool's success has been lack of European Football, not having those games and travel is a massive advantage in terms of recovery and freshness in my opinion. They have a very settled team and require only tweaking from match day to match day. Next season that will all change as will expectation. This is will be their best chance for the next few years until structures and squad are in place to really cope with UCL and EPL demands simultaneously.

The biggest factor in Liverpools success this season is having some very good footballers. Mourinho complained about Liverpool having a week off to rest.
Liverpool played 3 matches in 8 days - 3 wins
Chelsea 2 matches in 7 days - 1 win

Good man Jose

[Bingo]

Id much prefer to see this season out, which will have many twists and turns before it draws to a close, than to debate whats going to happen next season.

Mystic mEC is never far wrong though 

[GalwayBayBoy]

To be honest I didn't think Gerrard would be able to play that defensive midfield position but he's been superb in recent weeks. Saw MOTD2 last night and they made an interesting observation (for once) that because Gerrard's legs are going and he can't make those lung bursting runs forward anymore, he has no choice but to hang back a little. When he was younger he always wanted to get up ahead of the ball and never had the discipline to hold his position. And of course when given time and space he can still pass the ball really well out towards either wing.

[Muck Savage]

OK, I might buy that. But I see no reason why they won't continue to develop. Obviously the other teams, and Man United, will also continue to develop and invest. I just think it's too easy to say 'If they don't win it this year they never will'. There were many (including myself) who said they had no chance of winning it THIS year. Now suddenly it's their best and only chance. Hard to be that definitive I think.

Also, just on the champions league thing, it obviously helps this year that the team is rested and relatively setted (very settled in this run). However with the larger squad that this success will allow them, and critically with higher quality signings, then they will be better positioned to deal with that load. It won't be *this* squad that's having to deal with the European Games. Having said that, you may be right, and it may take a step back before any new signings will be as comfortable as the squad is now.

How many players do you think Liverpool will pick up in the Summer? 2-4? Will that be enough to manage the extra EC games? Liverpool have been very lucky this year that they haven't had any major injuries with a number of players out at the same time, they haven't gone through any spells where they dropped many points in say 3-4 games in a row something others have done. In fairness to them they have been very consistent all season and the lack of EU games will have helped. City looked tired at the weekend. While I think they have been the most consistent team this year I think they have had the rub of the green also and I think you'd agree with that.
Any young team coming up that is top of the table with 6 games left and your 2 main competitors coming to your house needs to be winning this. Next year is going to be a whole lot harder to get back to a similar position and losing this now could knock a team back a few years. Winning now could push them on a long way (a la Clare in '95 when we let them win one and then couldn't get rid of them until we beat them out the gate in '98 after 3 battles). Next year will be a whole lot harder either way to get back to this position.

[Mikhailov]

OK, I might buy that. But I see no reason why they won't continue to develop. Obviously the other teams, and Man United, will also continue to develop and invest. I just think it's too easy to say 'If they don't win it this year they never will'. There were many (including myself) who said they had no chance of winning it THIS year. Now suddenly it's their best and only chance. Hard to be that definitive I think.

Also, just on the champions league thing, it obviously helps this year that the team is rested and relatively setted (very settled in this run). However with the larger squad that this success will allow them, and critically with higher quality signings, then they will be better positioned to deal with that load. It won't be *this* squad that's having to deal with the European Games. Having said that, you may be right, and it may take a step back before any new signings will be as comfortable as the squad is now.

How many players do you think Liverpool will pick up in the Summer? 2-4? Will that be enough to manage the extra EC games? Liverpool have been very lucky this year that they haven't had any major injuries with a number of players out at the same time, they haven't gone through any spells where they dropped many points in say 3-4 games in a row something others have done. In fairness to them they have been very consistent all season and the lack of EU games will have helped. City looked tired at the weekend. While I think they have been the most consistent team this year I think they have had the rub of the green also and I think you'd agree with that.
Any young team coming up that is top of the table with 6 games left and your 2 main competitors coming to your house needs to be winning this. Next year is going to be a whole lot harder to get back to a similar position and losing this now could knock a team back a few years. Winning now could push them on a long way (a la Clare in '95 when we let them win one and then couldn't get rid of them until we beat them out the gate in '98 after 3 battles). Next year will be a whole lot harder either way to get back to this position.

Are you sure Muck Savage - no injuries to key players......didn't drop points 3-4 games in a row - surely that is feck all to do with luck....

On the lucky injury list that you seem to imagine - how does this sound

Suarez - missed first 6 games
Gerrard and Sturridge missed 6 & 9 games respectively around the Xmas period, missing the games v Chelsea and City (great luck that is)
Agger - missed more than 1/2 the season
Enrique - missed 3/4 of the season
Sakho - has only played 11 games out of 32 due to injury

In addition to this we have arguably the smallest squad in the PL among the top 8 therefore the players have to play continually and cant be rested. Mourinho claims it is an advantage however it is not, he has 2 squads and very rarely does any Chelsea player play 3 games in a row - they all play 2 and then rest. Never have they played Sat in PL, midweek in CL and sat in PL due to the vast size of their squad.

In answer to your question about additions to the squad, I think we will see 5+ additions of varied quality and possibly 3+ going out to free the wages etc....

[deiseach]

It has been wonderful watching all the Man Utd fans and their proxies trying to redefine what a satisfactory season is to Liverpool supporters. At this rate it won't be long before they'll be saying that not winning the Champions League this year amounts to failure.