Can we finish above Liverpool in the league?

[Bill_Oddie]

It should be a fun ride finding out. I'm sure Man City will finish above them but suspect we'll just fall short.

I tipped Benitez to have been sacked/left over the course of this season and he's going the right way about it. If he doesn't have funds for major signings in January, I think they'll struggle to get into the top 4 spots. Arsenal will be fighting them hard and wouldn't it be wonderful if we could too?

 

[hybridsoldier]

Whilst Arsenal have spirit, i get the feeling letting 3 key players go could count against them come February, especially if they are still in the FA cup, Cl and competing for a Cl position. injuries will take their toll. Were they to strengthen in jan then it could be a different outcome. then again all 3 would have gone to ACN in jan/feb and would be missing. we will lose Bassong and BAE, just hope Bale is up to the task come Jan/Feb.

I definately see us buying a LB in Jan to cover BAE. We can only pray that Woody or King is playing by then too.

I think Chelsea will be hit hard by the African Cup of Nations moreso than anyone else.

Yeah injuries will deffo weaken Scum, especially if its van Persie or Fabregas. But as Mannone has shown the youngsters there have a good mentality too and can step in and do ok. I hate Arsnal and Wenger but I deeply respect the way Wenger is bringing Vela, Ramsey and Wilshire through. Class young players who are not being thrown in the deep-end and going through the system to make sure they can transition into first-team football ASAP. Wenger had to rush Walcott thanks to Sven picking him and the hysteria around him, and now look he's always bloody injured and his games are 50% decent and 50% bad, bar a game v Croatia he hasn't had the desired impact.

No-one I'd like to take it off more than the Woolwich Wanderers but I feel that Wengers got his best side for many many years. BTW you said three key players, who is the 3rd? I only count Adebayour and Toure

 

[tRiKS]

We can if they play a CM of Lucas and Aurellio but they won't. Over the course of 38 games in the league, the impact of Masherano, gerard and Torres will be enough to keep them above us.
We've accrued 15pts in 7 games and for 4 of those games we've been without 1 of our best 2 players. we've actually been without our best 2 players in 2.5 of those 7 games.

 

[tRiKS]

If Torres gets injured then it could happen. Alot rests on Aquilani's shoulders, unfair but Lucas just doesn't do anything there and Gerrard doesn't know whether to come or go at the moment.

Of the top 4 sides Liverpool are the only one in recent memory to drop out the top 4 when Everton ousted them.

Alot of people say Arsenal will drop out but they have an unbelievable squad spirit there and I think they will be fine and its more to do with their mentality than their actual squad which is no better than ours.

BTW also want to add that Benayoun is vastly vastly under-rated, he is as good as Modric in my opinion and its a travesty the way Liverpool have used him up to now

the goons will finish in the top 2 this season

Benayoun is under rated but he's not as good as Modric. Modric is much more accurate in what he does for longer and in more games. Yossi reaches great heights but he also plummets to depths Modric on his crutches can't.

 

[matp]

I don't see it as negativity, just reality. Liverpool have the experience and the mentality to finish in the top four. I think they've only failed once since the Prem began.

We are on the way up but we've already seen ourselves outclassed against Man Utd and Chelsea. If we consistently beat the teams outside the top 8 then its possible but as others have said very unlikely.

Its the difference between "can" and "will'. I don't think any of us seriously think we will - there is no way we can be odds on to finish above them. It is seriously negative to say that we can't - it is possible.

For example, if our key players stay injury free (and Modric comes back soon) and theirs don't I can see it.

 

[Legend10]

What should concern us is how many points we can put on the board and see where it leanes us.

If we can get 70 points we will have an outside chance of a top 4 finish, if we can get to 75 we will have a very good chance.

It's really all about ourselves and if we can get 70 plus points and it's not good enough then so be it.

 

[dontcallme]

Its the difference between "can" and "will'. I don't think any of us seriously think we will - there is no way we can be odds on to finish above them. It is seriously negative to say that we can't - it is possible.

For example, if our key players stay injury free (and Modric comes back soon) and theirs don't I can see it.

I've never said we can't, I've said we are very unlikely to.

 

[AW?]

No. Don't be silly.

 

[rsmith]

Remember we're where we are, level on points and only losing to the arguably top two teams in the country ... and all that with a 3rd or even 4th string defence. Once we get a settled Ledders/Woodie partnership back, with Daws and Seb as backup and Gomes back in goal, we're gonna be tough to score against.

 

[The Apprentice]

Yes, there is a possibility but not a probability.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I think Liverpool are the weakest of the top four and, as has already been mentioned, will finish behind City.

I also think there is a possibility we can finish ahead of them. They have lost to any team that is genuinely any good whilst we have only lost to the very best.

OK, they have the advantage of experience but they lost out in the summer in equal measure to where we gained and I don't think there is much between us now.
But the reality, in my view, is that we will be fighting over 5th and 6th place so except for a few quid in prize money both will get Europa cup so it will be pretty irrelevant.

 

[ethanedwards]

Remember we're where we are, level on points and only losing to the arguably top two teams in the country ... and all that with a 3rd or even 4th string defence. Once we get a settled Ledders/Woodie partnership back, with Daws and Seb as backup and Gomes back in goal, we're gonna be tough to score against.

It's great watching our scoring sprees, but you are spot on, defence is key to a top four finish. A few scrappy 1-0's away from home will toughen us up.

 

[Caco]

I reckon its a case of more hope than belief. I would love to see either Liverpool or Arsenal finish outside the top 4 though, as I reckon that it would cripple them financially. Nearly all my mates support pool and they are all living with the fairies when it comes to football reality. They all believed they were buying Villa and Silva during the summer, money didn't seem to be an object.

 

[Green Valley]

The have 4 players who would get into our team - Johnson, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres and the latter two are two of the worlds best.

They also have a better manager and a winning mentality. We could finish ahead of them but I doubt it.

 

[leffe186]

The have 4 players who would get into our team - Johnson, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres and the latter two are two of the worlds best.

They also have a better manager and a winning mentality. We could finish ahead of them but I doubt it.

Right now I'd love Carragher alongside Bassong, or Benayoun instead of Kranjcar.

 

[theaman]

The have 4 players who would get into our team - Johnson, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres and the latter two are two of the worlds best.

They also have a better manager and a winning mentality. We could finish ahead of them but I doubt it.

Don't think they have a better manager as such - he just has more of a prowess in terms of managing successful European teams.

Certainly though they have that winning mentality, which we are now learning to acquire, but takes some time. The form - and fitness - of Gerrard and Torres is important and curcial to Liverpool's whole season.

As they found against us, if they are snuffed out, they will struggle....

 

[Green Valley]

Right now I'd love Carragher alongside Bassong, or Benayoun instead of Kranjcar.

I rate Carragher but he has been pretty poor thus far this season - especially in the games I've watched him in. King and Woodgate are both better and I would obv choose them ahead of him.

He is still better than Dawson though...

 

[tony_parkes]

So, are people starting to believe this is slightly more possible now after our win today and Liverpool's loss?

They have got United next too.

I still think that if I had to bet my house on this I'd still fancy Liverpool to finish above us but I really think that it's going to be close, there is a chance. Let's hope we take it.

It's going to be an interesting season, the usual top 4 don't look anywhere near as dominant at the moment. Villa, City, Sunderland and ourselves can take great confidence from our good starts.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

There is a group of 8 teams at the moment.

The SKY4, and then Spurs, Villa, City and Sunderland. I expect Everton to join this group and then possibly Stoke to finish the top half of the league.

My point is, there are so many teams now, and good teams, trying to knock down SKY4.

It's gonna be interesting though.

 

[Son_Of]

even if we do finish above liverpool, citeh might keep us out of CL