Right gentlemen here’s our task: Drop (at most) 4 points less than our ‘friends’ at Man U, and keep up our Goal Difference, so as to take advantage if theres advantage to be had. Whilst simultaneously keeping our eyes on sneaky little Chelsea creeping up on us (forgetting they have been seemingly written off by everybody for a reason I cant think).
As you may have noticed I’m getting slightly excited. Why? Well it’s obvious, it’s time to analyse the remaning-fixtures-that-will-ultimatley-decide-who-gets-to-keep-the-shinny-thing-with-the-crown-on-top, also known as the title run in. I will try to help us all understand what could go on before the end of this very important season. I’ll try to keep far away from actually prediciting the results of matches. I am biased, hopefully you are too, so the only thing i can comfortably predict is Liverpool would always be top of any league I predict, out of pure bias. I regularly view Mark Lawrenson’s predictions on the BBC website, they always seem to be a lesson in damage limitation, lots of 1-0, 2-1 wins so good old Lawro keeps his job, and a certain amount of respect. Becasuse of this I will also try to not mention goals scored in matches, I will not be anyway near right with such predictions, so why try to be? So instead I will be pointing out where possible slip-ups could occur for our glorious reds, and their satanic ones, and try to give us some insight into what might happen in the matches that remain.
LIVERPOOL
I’ll start with the obvious, to truly test myself with bias.
Tuesday 21st April Liverpool Vs Arsenal – This match could show that my thoughts on the title are completely wrong quite quickly, but here it goes. Arsenal lost to fellow top 4 side Chelsea at the weekend, but have a good record against top 4 sides this year in the league. Our hardest test left on paper but one we should win, we have no excuse, besides an injury to Gerrard, to not play our best XI after having 7 days since our last match.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: Arsenal Win
Saturday 25th April Hull vs Liverpool – Despite their early ascent up the league, Hull have now well and truly fell down, languishing in 16th place. Their form this calander year is relagation form. They play better at home though, and as this is possibly a game for ‘rotation’, could very well end up ‘one of those games’.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: Draw
Sunday 3rd May: Liverpool vs Newcastle – Depending on whether the supposed ‘Shearer affect’ has kicked in before this match or not, this could either be a hard game to call, or embarrisingly easy.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: Newcastle Win, but only if they win a match before we play them, otherwise should be a stonewall 3 points.
Saturday 9th May: Liverpool vs West Ham – Improved well under Zola this season, even currently in the 3rd Europa League place. We should win this, but theres always a chance of a slip up with West Ham still having something to play for.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: West Ham Win
Sunday 17th May: West Brom vs Liverpool – Bottom of the league for a reason, but similarly to Hull, squad rotation or just being unfocused could cause a slip up.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: Draw
Sunday 24th May Liverpool vs Tottenham – Spurs have not been the most forgiving of sides for us recently, and if we still have the title to fight for on the last day then I wouldve definatley preffered someone else. But at Anfield, on a day when we could see that trophy pass through the Shankly Gates, I cant imagine the crowd allowing Liverpool not to push for the win.
Likely Result: Liverpool win
Best we can hope for: Liverpool win
Worst Nightmare: Tottenham Win – Man U winning the title on the last day.
Man Utd
Wednesday 22nd April Man Utd vs Portsmouth – Hopefully their defeat in the cup wouldve dented their confidance once more. Man U have been playing badly of late, but still winning, and sadly cant seen anything different happening here. There is a chance though, Crouch could nick something or their attack could go limp and their more than slightly over hyped 17 year old (who has a had way too much attention too quickly, especially by the media) might not pop up and give them an undeserved win.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Portsmouth fighting their way to a draw
Worst Nightmare: A good performance by United, improving confidance.
Saturday 25th April Man Utd vs Tottenham – Just 3 days after their last match, and 4 days until their Champions League Semi-Final against Arsenal so hopefully players will be rested. However, I can’t see Tottenham getting a win here if Vidic doesnt have a howler like he did against us, despite Harry Redknapps good record versus United.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Draw
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd putting out the 1st team and winning.
Saturday 2nd May Middlesborough vs Man Utd – Middlesborough have a place in the Premier League next year to fight for so will not just lay down to Man U, they also have an alright record against them. Despite this, unless they lose form or need to rest players after the match in Europe vs Arsenal I see this as an easy win.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Draw
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd win
Sunday 10th May Man Utd vs Man City – This could end up anywhere, any Man City match this year could. If Robinho has kept up his newly found (as in yesterday) goalscoring form then Man City have a real chance. Man Utd should win on paper, but City have won this tie before. The match also comes after the second semi-final against Arsenal so that result could possibly (hopefully) have an effect here.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Man City Win
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd win one of their hardest matches of the season
Wednesday 13th May Wigan Vs Man Utd – Depending on whether or not things have gone our way this must surely be a Man Utd win. Wigan have nothing to play for but pride. But this match could add to fatigue as Man Utd have been steadily playing two games a week at this stage.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Draw if fatigue or possible bad form catch up with Utd
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd win
Saturday 16th May Man Utd vs Arsenal – Our best hope of Man U dropping points, at least on paper, is here at this tie. But much depends on who has pride to fight for after their semi-final matches. If Arsenal lost there I can see them winning here, but its hard to tell with these games.
Likely Result: Draw – After two games recently both teams should know each other enough for a draw to be likely.
Best we can hope for: Arsenal win
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd win giving them confidance for the push to the title.
Sunday 24th May Hull vs Man Utd – There is a small, small, chance that if United were in the final (which is 3 days later) they would put out a weakend side in this match, but not likely. Hull, despite being hard to beat at home, are not likely to get something here, hopefully it wont matter. I wouldnt want to rely on Hull when the season’s decided.
Likely Result: Man Utd win
Best we can hope for: Draw
Worst Nightmare: Man Utd picking up the title again… bastards…
I hope that helped you a little bit, it could only be a little bit, when it comes to what might happen with the title. Its certainly not won yet, and Man Utd have the trickier road in my opinion, so lets cross everything, including eyes, and hope…
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