Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

[Saoirse]

Yup if Liverpool go to semi final I think we will definitely finish above them. They will have Chelsea game straight after semi final 2nd leg. Which could still be a crunch game. The ironic thing is a run to the final could actually see them end up 5th . Only need to drop 4 pts for Chelsea to be back in it. If Liverpool lose Merseyside Derby chelsea will be right on their tails if they win game in hand. And hopefully city be on their knees from exhaustion and partying by time get to Wembley. Also if city win title and go out CL they can mentally switch off as they are basically done for the season.

If Chelsea finish 4th but miss out on the CL because of teams below them winning European trophies I don't think I'll stop laughing all summer!

 

[whitesocks]

Yup if Liverpool go to semi final I think we will definitely finish above them. They will have Chelsea game straight after semi final 2nd leg. Which could still be a crunch game. The ironic thing is a run to the final could actually see them end up 5th . Only need to drop 4 pts for Chelsea to be back in it. If Liverpool lose Merseyside Derby chelsea will be right on their tails if they win game in hand. And hopefully city be on their knees from exhaustion and partying by time get to Wembley. Also if city win title and go out CL they can mentally switch off as they are basically done for the season.

Agree - Liverpool haven't got the squad to go that much further in the CL without risking their place in the top 4. Instead of a 78 pt finish say, maybe they'll end up on 73 points- a win and 4 draws - which is borderline.

Chelsea are 10 points behind, but also have a game in hand - if Conte hadn't already thrown in the towel, I think they'd have a fighting chance of steeling 4th with 6 straight wins and 74 pts.
They still have Liverpool to play at home too.

London rivalry aside, I'd rather Liverpool lost out on the CL, as they'd sell their better players again and it would genuinely hurt their ambitions. Chelsea are funded differently...

 

[tommo84]

This is almost right but it depends a bit on who wins the other leagues, as Pot 1 is reserved for winners of the top 7 leagues and the Champions League holders (top 8 leagues if the Champs League winner also wins their domestic league). So the question becomes are there 8 teams above us in the Uefa coefficients who are set to qualify for next season, but not as domestic champions. Currently there are (I think) 7:

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, one of Porto and Benfica, Man Utd, Napoli and Basel.

Zenit could creep in to the qualification spots for Russia and Arsenal could win the Europa League. The other two teams above us who look unlikely to qualify for the comp next season are Chelsea and Sevilla. Also, Ukraine is the 8th Top League, so if the Champs League is won by a team who don't win their domestic title (i.e.Real Madrid) then Shaktar would drop into Pot 2 (but Madrid would be promoted to Pot 1 so it would even out).

So yeah it looks like we could be the last team in Pot 2 but a few variables to be ironed out still.

Obviously I'm hoping it doesn't happen but if Liverpool win the UCL that would pretty much condemn us to Pot 3 again as they would go into Pot 1 (currently they're below us in the club coefficient), and Shaktar would drop to Pot 2.

 

[worcestersauce]

Liverpool only need eleven points out of eighteen even if Chelsea achieved a miracle and won every game which they won't, it's over, top four will be as is, just jockeying for positions now. Odds on Liverpool ending up fourth with us and United battling it out for second.

 

[coys200]

Yeah you can state records etc. But even the great great teams have all switched off when title was won. The invincibles Just hobbled over the line unbeaten and that was a much more tangible record than most points goals etc. Even fergies teams completely dropped off. Plus a lot of their players focus will then go on World Cup and not getting injured.

 

[coys200]

Liverpool only need eleven points out of eighteen even if Chelsea achieved a miracle and won every game which they won't, it's over, top four will be as is, just jockeying for positions now. Odds on Liverpool ending up fourth with us and United battling it out for second.

Not sure how you can say that. Liverpool losing to Everton considering the situation(or losing 1 other game)chelsea beating pool at bridge and winning game in hand are all quite plausible. Which would leave gap at 1 pt. Yes it’s unlikely but don’t think Liverpool are a 1.03 shot like betfair says more 1.25 imo .

 

[spursfan77]

If Chelsea finish 4th but miss out on the CL because of teams below them winning European trophies I don't think I'll stop laughing all summer!

That would be amazing. Although I suspect UEFA would change the rules for them. Gazprom are a sponsor of the competition don't forget.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I’d rather see Chelsea get fourth than Liverpool. Chelsea will sign the same calibration of players with or without Champions League, Liverpool like us can’t without top four.

 

[worcestersauce]

I’d rather see Chelsea get fourth than Liverpool. Chelsea will sign the same calibration of players with or without Champions League, Liverpool like us can’t without top four.

Players of the calibre of Drinkwater and Giroud sounds fine to me

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Players of the calibre of Drinkwater and Giroud sounds fine to me

Agreed on Drinkwater but Giroud? I reckon if he’s first choice for any side in this league he gets minimum 15 goals depending on how good the service is.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I think I'd rather Chelsea miss out.

All depends on how much extra Roman wants to put in to the club, which has been operating within its means in recent seasons. In this case I actually think Chelsea missing out is better. Miss out and Hazard is very likely to leave, Courtois too, which would be a big blow for them. I'd imagine there'd be suitors for Kante, Alonso and Willian too but would expect them to be kept unless any had a storming WC. Without CL they will struggle to get any real elite players they would have significant competition for; Isco, Bale, Griezmann, etc... This applies even if Roman puts his hand in his pocket this summer.

They bought better last time they had no CL than when they had CL this summer. It has little effect on them re incomings. I actually think it's for the best they miss out. Liverpool on the other hand already have their marquee signing in Naby Keita wrapped up regardless of where they finish.

Could work out nicely for England national side in future if they gave some game time to their youth players in the Europa too rather than loaning to Holland. Mason Mount and Hudson-Odoi being obvious ones.

 

[yido_number1]

Absolutely hands down hope Chavski finish firth or 6th. If Liverpool finished 4th and didnt make the group stages that would be even better. Either way Arse are heading for a second consecutive year out of the top 4 and that is going to hurt them bad financially. (As long as they dont win the bloody Ropey League. )

 

[Shadydan]

Absolutely hands down hope Chavski finish firth or 6th. If Liverpool finished 4th and didnt make the group stages that would be even better. Either way Arse are heading for a second consecutive year out of the top 4 and that is going to hurt them bad financially. (As long as they dont win the bloody Ropey League. )

Think I read that 4th goes straight into the group stages next season.

 

[Zippy1980]

If Chelsea finish 4th but miss out on the CL because of teams below them winning European trophies I don't think I'll stop laughing all summer!

I would never want this to happen as I never want le Arse to win a game let alone a trophy.

 

[TottenhamLegend]

I don't want to get carried away but...... i am told (not implying an inside source, just a fellow Yid who looked it up on the internet) that we would be in Pot 2 seeds next year. There are 8 in each pot and we are currently ranked 19th but three of the teams above us look unlikely to qualify. Of course Arsenal being one of them, may spoil that by winning the EL. Another reason to support Athletico Madrid, if one were needed.

You need to also remember that the CL winners and the champions of Spain, Germany, Italy, England, France, Russia, Portugal and Ukraine all go into Pot 1 automatically, so it's not simply a case of being in the top 16 seeds. All of the current top 3 in Russia are below us so it looks like at least one team will leapfrog us.

Also god forbid if Liverpool win this year's CL they would also leapfrog us into Pot 1.

We're far from guaranteed pot 2 at this stage, although it's closer than it's been in any of our previous CL appearances.

(Let's actually qualify for sure first though yeah? )

 

[archiewasking]

I'd like Manure to implode personally. Chelsea and Pool can join us in the top 4. Would love to see Maureen pipped to the CL places on the last day by his old club. Now that would be a meltdown worth watching. And we'd probably get second as well.

 

[worcestersauce]

Really don't want to be in pot three next year, we could get drawn against the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, wouldn't fancy our chances in a group like that.
For the record I predict:-
2nd - Spurs
3rd - Man Utd
4th - Liverpool
5th - Chelsea
6th - Arsenal (though I'd so love Burnley)

Premier league winners - Man City (obviously)
FA Cup winners - Tottenham Hotspur
CL winners - not Liverpool
Europa winners - not Arsenal

Not sure what odds I'd get on that but worth a punt I reckon.

 

[danielneeds]

I'd like Manure to implode personally. Chelsea and Pool can join us in the top 4. Would love to see Maureen pipped to the CL places on the last day by his old club. Now that would be a meltdown worth watching. And we'd probably get second as well.

Nope, that would be terrible - United would come hard for Poch, make no mistake. He’s already being talked about by their board, and he would definitely consider it.

 

[worcestersauce]

Nope, that would be terrible - United would come hard for Poch, make no mistake. He’s already being talked about by their board, and he would definitely consider it.

No he wouldn't! Don't say that, how dare you? Stop it right now!

 

[Shadydan]

Ugh Poch to whoever talk should be banned, it's so boring.