Alright fellas, 17 games to play. How do you think LFC will finish in the Premier League this season? I know it's a long shot, but I am still hopeful for a top 4 finish. That opinion alone will probably bring the haters down on me (especially coming from an American), but oh well.

Sounds like Torres' could be back sooner than the six weeks than we originally have been hearing. According to reports his surgery went very well. That being said the squad has a multitude of issues including its back 4 and their atrocious play of late as well as the disturbing trend of not being able to put the ball on net on a regular basis. Not to mention the last two outings have been extremely disappointing with that extra time FA Cup loss to Reading and then a heartbreaking tie via a 90 minute goal from Stoke City. However, Maxi looked good in his first stint in red so hopefully he will help to create some opportunities as the season moves on. And of course Rafa is still hanging on by a thread :D He could score some points with the supporters by getting rid of Degen...PLEASE!.

Good luck to all of you and your respective clubs in the final 17 games!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[URL="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=728392&sec=england&cc=5739"][SIZE=3][COLOR=white][B]Gillett backing for Benitez[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/URL]

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has backed Rafael Benitez, claiming he is one of the top five managers in the world and that this season's disappointing results are just a ''blip''

^^^^ that should tell you where liverpool is going to end up, lol, a clueless owner is "backing" his silly fat manager

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

How bout that 2 nil win yesterday over Tottenham? Great win without our big dogs out on the pitch :D

Not that this is all that new, but read this from Reuters on Man U this morning:

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/01/20/business/business-uk-soccer-manunited-accounts.html?_r=1[/url]

That's some serious flippin' debt :shock:

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Good win last night with a very understrength team ... we do, traditionally, have a stronger 2nd half of the season and need to focus on the premiership (which is easier being out of most cups).

We even can't compete financially with the lower table clubs so need to be canny until we see what the summer brings (probably more upheavel - as I can foresee Mascherano leaving for £30-35m ).

For now a further striker is a must, maybe Van Nistelrooy on a freebie, although there is still talk of Kenwyn Jones on loan - the £1.5m greek centre half (Kyrgiakos) actualy has had a good couple of games and is a threat at set pieces.

A bit more luck (i.e. should have had a clear last min penalty against Stoke + even the lost "beachball" point may prove essential) we could just creep in to 4th.

So, being 1 point behind Spurs having had had to sell players, when Redknapp has spent, spent, spent .. does this mean the press will now be trying to place Harry up for the sack ?

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=simonr;826962] We even can't compete financially with the lower table clubs so need to be canny until we see what the summer brings (probably more upheavel - as I can foresee Mascherano leaving for £30-35m ). [/QUOTE]

makes a change, the amount you lot spent in the noughties to not win the league :lol::lol:

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Gunners are deffo SHIT! lol, fixed

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Wenger's by far the best manager ... his downfall is that he doesn't know how to spend big to take his side to the next level.

Plus he always seems to buy the same type/size of player (tricky + small) .. Arshavin, Nasri, Eduardo, Rosicky etc.

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

agreed, he [B][U]should[/U][/B] have a couple of champions league trophies

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Odds on relegation from Ladbrokes...

Portsmouth [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%271%27,%20%275%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100463%27%29;"] 1/5 [/URL]

Burnley [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%274%27,%20%275%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100454%27%29;"] 4/5 [/URL]

Hull [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%274%27,%20%277%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100457%27%29;"] 4/7 [/URL]

Wolves [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2711%27,%20%2710%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100456%27%29;"] 11/10 [/URL]

Bolton [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2711%27,%20%274%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100460%27%29;"] 11/4 [/URL]

West Ham [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%279%27,%20%272%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100466%27%29;"] 9/2 [/URL]

Wigan [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%276%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100459%27%29;"] 6/1 [/URL]

Blackburn [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%278%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100461%27%29;"] 8/1 [/URL]

Stoke [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2714%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100458%27%29;"] 14/1 [/URL]

Sunderland [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2714%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100462%27%29;"] 14/1 [/URL]

Birmingham [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2733%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100455%27%29;"] 33/1 [/URL]

Fulham [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2733%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100465%27%29;"] 33/1 [/URL]

[B][U]Liverpool [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2733%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100478%27%29;"] 33/1 [/URL][/U][/B]

Everton [URL="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:addLeg%28%27--%27,%27L%27,%20%2780%27,%20%271%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27%27,%20%27253100469%27%29;"] 80/1[/URL]

HA HA HA

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

33/1? a bit high no? lol

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Typical Everton ... always below us no matter what the table !

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=simonr;827582]Typical Everton ... always below us no matter what the table ![/QUOTE]

Cheeky twat!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

A flipping tie with WOLVES! WTF?!?

Watched this last night on Setanta and LFC looked FLAT even with #8 back on the pitch. The 2nd half was almost all Wolves. I can't believe they didn't manage to pin a loss on Liverpool. Very disappointing. We better find a way to get 3 points on Saturday against Bolton.

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Toothless and isipid ... think Rafa got his tactics wrong - I'd have played the same team that fought against Spurs and brought Gerrard/Maxi/Babel on later on.

With 2 deep midfielders we didn't move the ball enough + Kuyt kept leaving his position rather than holding a line.

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

well, hopefully Gerrard knows they've got fuck all to play for and will be smart and save himself for the world cup :)

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

^^ Injuries aside, I think he's been in poor form because the world cuo is on his mind.

Personally I can't see past Spain for the win.

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

if we stay healthy and with the confidence we've got now after qualification, this is probably the best chance we'll see in our lifetime to raise the cup.. spain doesn't scare me at all tbh

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

^^ iffy at the back .... but Torres, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Fabregas, Alonso, Meta ?

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=simonr;828901]^^ iffy at the back .... but Torres, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Fabregas, Alonso, Meta ?[/QUOTE]

[SIZE=7][COLOR=Red][B]ROONEY[/B][/COLOR] :D

[/SIZE]still, not scared.. just need one top performance to get past them

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

watch the EPL free streaming [url]http://epl-a.blogspot.com/[/url]

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=Steve Graham;829732]watch the EPL free streaming [url]http://epl-a.blogspot.com/[/url][/QUOTE]

thanks for that Steve!

Great match for LFC today, albeit against Bolton but these days i'll take 3 points any day :D

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

you're welcome

Arsenal v Man Utd tomorrow!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=Steve Graham;829774]

Arsenal v Man Utd tomorrow![/QUOTE]

That match is gonna be huge. Even I will be taking 90 minutes out of my day to enjoy it. Damn United! :what

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

easy there son ;)

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Up the Arse

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

nal

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Well that Arsenal-Man U match was certainly a good watch. God damn Man U has such a solid squad going for it right now. Didn't look like Arsenal had much of a chance from the very start.

Luckily we'll get to see LFC take on both Man U and Arsenal in the next month or two. Should be very interesting to see if Rafa can get his team to play up to the level of those clubs. I'm optimistic that they'll be able to play with the likes of Man U, Arsenal and Man City, but I am fearful of where they will find the goal scoring needed to get 3 points against top competition. If only LFC could stop drawing with bunk ass teams they would already be in the top 4 in EPL.

Oh and one more note...how nice is it to watch EPL matches in full high-definition on ESPN?? Personally I watch most matches on FoxSoccer of Setanta and I gotta say that watching footy in standard def blows to the presentation that ESPN provides in HD. This Saturday morning at 6:45am Eastern Time I am blessed with LFC vs. Everton? Thank god FoxSoccer is going HD on March 1st!

13 matches left!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

you just witnessed a football club hitting on all cylinders.. nice to beat the gooners at the Emirates! even nani looked like a real footballer :) That with Chelsea drawing Hull today, great results all around

LFC have 2 massive fixtures back to back now. Getting any points at all from both is going to be difficult

14 matches ;)

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

LFC remaining fixtures in EPL...

2/06 vs. Everton 2/10 @ Arsenal 2/21 @ Man City 2/28 vs. Blackburn 3/08 @ Wigan 3/15 vs. Portsmouth 3/21 @ Man U 3/28 vs. Sunderland 4/03 @ Birmingham 4/11 vs. Fulham 4/17 vs. West Ham 4/24 @ Burnley 5/01 vs. Chelsea 5/09 @ Hull City

That is going to be a tough stretch for the Reds to close out the season, but I'll be supporting hard until the very end!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

may i ask why you support liverpool? its an honest question, and i appreciate you wanting to discuss!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

That's a great question, Steve. Honestly I have been waiting for someone to call me out as far as being a Yank and talking EPL on [ms]. I am surprised no one has flamed the crap out of me for it :D

About 5 years ago my best friend took a job over in South Korea to teach English. When he got there he realized his only two legitimate options for watching live sports was either A) Rugby/Aussie Football or B) Futbol. He chose the latter.

He and I would talk over the phone and email about what's going on in each other lives, what we've been up to etc. A few months later, my friend tells me he's been hanging with some British guy who is absolutely obsessed with Liverpool's Soccer Club, and that he's been watching the matches since there wasn't much else to watch on the television in South Korea. Once I heard about Liverpool I started reading about them and watching the matches whenever they were on at a decent hour here in the Central Time Zone. At that point I was pretty into the squad, but then I learned that there is an LFC Supporters Club here in little old Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA that is run by an Englishman and has attracted many other transplants from the UK to the LFC Club. I then started watching matches with the club at the British-themed local pub where all EPL matches are aired regardless of how early in the day they kickoff. I don't know what it is, but I just found a great appreciation for futbol in the passion of the LFC supporters I have been around. Eventually all that passion rubbed off on me and I have been a fan ever since.

The game is such a breath of fresh air for someone who follows American Football with a passion. Our football games take 3 hours, which include ungodly amounts of starting and stopping, not to mention the constant commercial breaks. With Futbol, the matches are 90 minutes without fail and I don't have to deal with commercials...ever!

All in all, I love sports, especially sports that are played at an elite level like the EPL. I don't bother watching MLS soccer here in America until the very last round or two of playoffs because quite frankly the level of play pales in comparison to EPL.

Another thing is the low level of scoring in footy. Sometimes you watch a whole match and walk away 0-0 draw and your head hangs low. Other times you watch almost an entire match with a 0-0 score and BOOM at the last minute Torres puts the ball on net and it just makes you go crazy. That right there is what I really love. It’s those passionate moments that make it all worth while. Other things like the fight songs and pageantry of the matches also make me love the game even more. As much as it pains a Man U fan to hear, I never get sick of this:

The band it said he was a red Torres, Torres You'll never walk alone it said Torres Torres We bought the lad from sunny spain, he gets the ball and scores again Fernando Torres Liverpool's Number 9

And now my gay little story has turned into a novel. I’ll wrap up by saying I’ve only been a fan for 3-4 years now and I have no direct reason or connection to the squad, but for whatever reason I am hooked on it now and I will go to my grave as a very strong supported of LFC all the way from the Midwest USA!

Going forward if I happen to be incorrect about something or if I post something that is completely off base I would greatly appreciate it if you guys would be so kind as to let me know. Just like anything else on [ms], I am here to learn, discuss, argue, be entertained and make some friends along the way. Sorry for the meandering and long-winded story of why I am a fan of LFC, but it is what is :D

On a sidenote, LFC's match on Saturday is airing at 6:45 am EST here on ESPN HD. All I gotta say is god bless my DVR! :p

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

That's a perfect answer. Pretty cool seeing you go to an LFC supporters pub! And no one is going to flame you for liking the EPL mate, as I said I appreciate the thread and being able to have a little banter going back and forth.

I can't stomach the MLS, though I am looking forward to the NASL starting back up and the Rowdies playing again here in Tampa.. I don't know if you've ever watched the USL but the I think the play and competition are much more fun to watch than MLS.

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

That sucks that American Soccer has their talent pool diluted by having 2 different leagues. If it was all one league the level of play would be so much better overall. I'm surprised the best of US talent, such as Landon Donovan, even bother with remaining in the MLS. Guys like Donovan should be full-timers in EPL as opposed to going out on loan every year to Bayern Munich, Everton, etc.

Btw, why are the players and coaches always jerking each other in the press? This week Rafa won't shut up about Ryan Babel. Ryan this, Babel that...jeez christ Rafa shut it man. Not to mention Gerrard this week, just blowing Aquilani in press conferences. I understand pumping up your teammates but c'mon :roll:

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Donovan to win it for us Blues tomorrow!

You heard it here first ;)

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Not happening Adzey! :D

The worst thing possible for LFC would be for Donovan to have a huge day on the pitch. I am hopeful that they can stop him, but damn Landon's pace has been stellar lately. We also need to keep Cahill out of the action if at all possible. Should be a great match.

Here is ESPN's preview:

[url]http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=736373&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901[/url]

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Tough match today. I couldn't believe Kyrgiakos was sent off so early and overall I think the refereeing was pretty poor. Kuyt's header was spectacular. Also, what a strange turn of events in the last two or three minutes with that final tussle, bookings, etc. Definitely was a chippy match!

3 points for the Reds! Welcome to the top 4. Now can LFC stay there?

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Man City goes down to Hull. :D

Man U crushes Portsmouth as expected.

Still a big match on the docket for Sunday - Chelsea v Arsenal!

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

5 goals! I like that, even though 3 are being recorded as own goals nice to see we've turned the GD around in the table.. Rooney has to be in the convo for FIFA player of the year!

oh, and can the talk of Man City being the biggest club in the EPL stop now? thx

0-0 today would be a perfect result

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

[QUOTE=Steve Graham;826974]Gunners are definitely SHIT! lol, fixed[/QUOTE]

wow, they're a completely different squad, I'm liking this

Re: Liverpool - English Premier League - 17 games to go...

Big match today at Emirates Stadium...

Liverpool vs. Arsenal in 3 hours 15 minutes :p