Hoping a New Thread may fix the posting issues.
Agree, Chelsea I think will be the best of the 4 on the run in, and although I'm sure they'll draw or lose a few games, I expect they will get top 5 with a bit of room to spare. It is certainly notable that their goal difference is significantly better. Note also Villas is the worst.
I think United with a better manager would probably consolidate their top 4 position earlier, but with Carrick he's just not at the level imo, and the team is going to get back into a bit of a funk.
Villa are stuttering, and this is fairly typical of a non-top 6 side at the latter stages of the season. Emery is a good manager though so that may lift them a bit again.
We of course should expect to continue to have alternating mediocre and then half-decent games, with perhaps just enough results to get us over the line.
If I was a betting man I would put the odds to Chelsea at 90%, us and united at maybe 80% and villa 50/50.
Yes. This could break our season. If we get dumped out of the FA cup and lose badly to Gala. Could be curtains. We're already struggling to finish in the top five in the league. My personal preference would be get rid of Slot even if he gets us CL qualification. If we were to get to the final of the CL which is unlikely, it might get Slot another season but otherwise I would get rid. Can't bear the thought of more drab football next season.
I don't think the FA Cup will make the slightest difference to Slot's season.
If he can qualify for the CL next season and maybe get to the semis this season he may survive anything less and he's gone regardless of the FA Cup.
The only team in the bottom 6 we haven't dropped points too this season is the Hammers .
Would be more in line with our season so far to draw that game
Agree, the FA Cup is a nice to be in for him.
It's all about the money so CL qualification or bust I reckon with the owners and that's either by getting in the top 5 or winning it.
Villa will also have Europa League to contend with from next week with Thursday and Sunday games that could take even more out of them.
United showed against Newcastle that they were enjoying the period of 1 game a week but when the had to play 2 the players struggled.
Of their last five games they also got to play against 10 men for 45 to 60 minutes. They lost the last 1 but it was to their advantage the other 2 games.
The FA Cup means something to the fans but I don't think registers with the owners. It's Champions League football or nothing. We're in such a fragile state, if we can't beat Wolves, it's very hard to see us beating decent teams to go far in the Champions League or FA Cup.
The only thing I wonder is if the recruitment dept. take responsibility for the squad they left Slot and figure they can rectify that part in the summer and Slot is still their guy, otherwise it's hard to see him staying next season at present.
Depending how the end of the season goes, I would think if he finishes outside the top 5, the only thing that would save him would be a Champions league win. I wouldn't really have much of an issue with that.
FA cup however would be a great swan song for him and the fans, and I think for the most part there would be no bad blood if he exits at the end of the season for someone like Alonso.
If we qualify for the champions league I think they will give him at least to the start of next season, however he will feel like there is a noose around his neck, with no new contract, and probably not a very strong backing in the summer transfers.
If the team somehow manages to really kick into gear, and start winning league games with conviction, and doing well in both cups (final/semi) then he might get a stronger backing, but it's hard to see that happening.
True.
The problem is next season he is going to be under big pressure at the start of it.
Chelsea have a horrible run of games coming up in the league; Newcastle between their 2 matches v PSG, Everton away, City & Utd & Brighton away - it could be over for them at that point.
You'd imagine that the powers that be have looked at the situation since the crisis back in the autumn where we couldn't win a game. Comparing it to the Rodgers/Klopp change-over, you'd hope that they would recognise that it's not working, despite the title win last season. If we drift into next season with Slot, it's hard to see how it's not going to be more of the same. There's also the danger that anyone we might want to bring in will no longer be available in the autumn. Summer would be ideal time to act I think.
The players aren't really playing for him or in another way the enthusiasm for whatever the plan is has long since disappeared.
Imagine your close friend dies horrifically, way before his time. You mourn him, will never forget him, but you have to put it to the very back of your mind to be able to get on with your job to the best of your ability.
But then you, naturally, get the reminders, pretty much every game. And you are expected to play with the very same enthusiasm you did last year when you stormed to the title. That’s tough. Slot’s fault? Jaysis
I still walk around with a champions glow. I support Liverpool in the hope of one day having the absolute glory of winning a league or champions league. Slot and the lads gave that to me last season, and i will not forget it. I don’t need it every year, and especially i dont need it this year. I get very frustrated when we dont win a game, but within 5 minutes the champions glow returns….
My fear also is that players start to protect themselves for the World Cup.
Reported this post for having too much perspective and generally being well balanced, emotionally intelligent and realistic.
Does Slot get much backing/say in the transfers?
I remember an article around January saying that one of the reasons he didn't play the kids was because he wanted the squad to be expanded so that would seem to suggest that there were some games being played behind the scenes. That article (which I can't find) said that he was being instructed to play Rio more and treat him as a senior option.
That would suggest to me that the summer transfers would happen regardless of any Slot impact.
I do think your scenario is the most likely - if he gets CL let him start next season but with no new contract it would hardly be a ringing endorsement.
People might recall as well the message that was being pushed during last season/summer that Year 2 Slot would be a step change from Year 1 and we would be blown away by the tactics. Hasn't turned out that way.
The best way to increase your chances of an injury is to try and protect yourself, I realise it sounds odd but going naturally into a tackle is safer than holding off/dangling a leg.
I just read that Trent Kone Doherty has signed permanently for Molde! WTF?!
Yeah, last week. Buy back and sell on clauses, apparently
His contract was due to expire in June and he had repeatedly refused to sign an extension.
We had a fire sale of all Trents.
Yay..…..another night with this mob, trying their best to ruin your Friday night ?
Or will they turn up for revenge ?
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Gravenberch, Ngumoha.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ekitike, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison.
Rio starts!
Szobo right back? Or Jones there maybe? Or Gomez right back, with Grav stepping back into CB? Thought we might have seen at least one of the young CBs on the bench too (Lucky or Nallo).
Will be interesting to see how he does from the start; much easier to come on with 15 to go, hopefully he is motm
I genuinely don't know how that lineup works, but hopefully it works, did you know Joe Gomez has never scored for Liverpool? Tonight's the night.
So? There are alot of players in our squad that won't be here in another few windows also. That's how squads work. In fact there are alot of players not at Liverpool right now who were at Liverpool a few windows ago.
In terms of backing, I was more meaning about him having a larger say/getting more of what he wants. There is a transfer committee for sure, but when a manager is completely cut out, in particular when players come in that they don't want, it's a really bad sign.
If Slot wins the champions league this season, after winning the Premier League last season, I would probably prefer if he got a new contract if I'm honest 😂. If he didn't he would almost certainly walk and would have a lot of suitors anyway.
Like I know people care a lot about the games and performances, and maybe I'm in the minority here, but if we're winning a champions league or premier league every season I couldn't give a hoot how we play lol
Would it be bad and unloyal if I watched the rugby
Not even a fan of the sport
Too early in the weekend to have it ruined 😒
Frustrating but not surprising. It has happened so many times against city over the last decade or so now. It's the most predictable thing in the sport now if you ask me.
