The Run In

[Dimples]

Sorry Dimples but I think you underestimate City.
We have a battle hardened, never know when we're beaten squad. We've bin knocked down and stood up again a number of times and a mentality that the team always comes 1st, everyone pulling in the same direction.
Time and time again, we have seen City get out of jail by sheer "refusal to lose".

No games are easy, not for us and not for the dippers but time and time again we have shown we are quite capable of handling the stress and pressure.

I for one am going to enjoy every moment of this battle over the next few weeks.

Yep, our trophy haul (with zero help) shows how good and strong we are. My concern is a new one, for me, the depth of our squad. We will need all of them. In some of the CL games we had a lot of inexperience on the bench which is not good for big important games and can we rely on our experienced squad players to deliver, Jesus, Sterling, Fern, Zinch, .... Time will tell.

[john68]

Sorry Dimples but I think you underestimate City.
We have a battle hardened, never know when we're beaten squad. We've bin knocked down and stood up again a number of times and a mentality that the team always comes 1st, everyone pulling in the same direction.
Time and time again, we have seen City get out of jail by sheer "refusal to lose".

No games are easy, not for us and not for the dippers but time and time again we have shown we are quite capable of handling the stress and pressure.

I for one am going to enjoy every moment of this battle over the next few weeks.

Yep, our trophy haul (with zero help) shows how good and strong we are. My concern is a new one, for me, the depth of our squad. We will need all of them. In some of the CL games we had a lot of inexperience on the bench which is not good for big important games and can we rely on our experienced squad players to deliver, Jesus, Sterling, Fern, Zinch, .... Time will tell.

I had worries prior to the semi that City would attempt to put out a full strength team of available players and may have been tempted to gamble with KDB's injury.
A risk I felt could be suicide for our chances in the Prem and CL over the next few weeks.

By doing what he did for the semi, Pep would have taken instruction from the medicos and in doing so ensured players in need of rest and healing got it.
Walker apart (not sure of that situation), we now have a fully rested, full strength sqaud ready to face the final weeks.
That is great news.

I alo don't think that our 'squad players' have really let us down. I think when needed they have filled the gaps quite well.
Have we really missed Dias?....Stones, Laporte and Ake have done an admirable job.
We have massive strength in our midfield and our false 9 strategy, without the likes of a Kun figure as a dedicated striker, has still left us at the top of the Prem and semis of the CL.
Even the kids have done their bit when called upon for their minutes on the field.

As long as don't suffer any major injuries, I think we are adequately to see off the Dipper's challenge.

[Dimples]

Sorry Dimples but I think you underestimate City.
We have a battle hardened, never know when we're beaten squad. We've bin knocked down and stood up again a number of times and a mentality that the team always comes 1st, everyone pulling in the same direction.
Time and time again, we have seen City get out of jail by sheer "refusal to lose".

No games are easy, not for us and not for the dippers but time and time again we have shown we are quite capable of handling the stress and pressure.

I for one am going to enjoy every moment of this battle over the next few weeks.

Yep, our trophy haul (with zero help) shows how good and strong we are. My concern is a new one, for me, the depth of our squad. We will need all of them. In some of the CL games we had a lot of inexperience on the bench which is not good for big important games and can we rely on our experienced squad players to deliver, Jesus, Sterling, Fern, Zinch, .... Time will tell.

I had worries prior to the semi that City would attempt to put out a full strength team of available players and may have been tempted to gamble with KDB's injury.
A risk I felt could be suicide for our chances in the Prem and CL over the next few weeks.

By doing what he did for the semi, Pep would have taken instruction from the medicos and in doing so ensured players in need of rest and healing got it.
Walker apart (not sure of that situation), we now have a fully rested, full strength sqaud ready to face the final weeks.
That is great news.

I alo don't think that our 'squad players' have really let us down. I think when needed they have filled the gaps quite well.
Have we really missed Dias?....Stones, Laporte and Ake have done an admirable job.
We have massive strength in our midfield and our false 9 strategy, without the likes of a Kun figure as a dedicated striker, has still left us at the top of the Prem and semis of the CL.
Even the kids have done their bit when called upon for their minutes on the field.

As long as don't suffer any major injuries, I think we are adequately to see off the Dipper's challenge.

Interesting that you think protecting players was more important than putting out our strongest 11 against Liverpool in the FA cup ( i.e. if they needed rest, etc...).
I also thought that was the correct approach and posted same a couple of days before the FA cup game.
I think Pep played a blinder with that team selection, focusing on our priorities not the medias.
Some people think he messed up on selection. All about opinions, one of the things that makes football so interesting.

[City64]

Dippers PL run in is not difficult.
Rags and Scouse1 are both rubbish.
Villa is a gimme from Stevie G.
They have one potential tough game - Spurs because Son and Kane could punish that high line.
Maybe Newcastle as well because they detest them and it is at St. James Park.

Dippers have everyone fit and five scoring forwards to rotate. They have a better goal difference so even if they draw a game we still cannot afford to lose even one.

Viallareal is an easier tie than RM.

We are tired, have a thinner squad and cannot rely on some experienced squad members like Jesus, Sterling, Zinch, etc... and have no clinical goal scorer.

As it stands right now, the Dippers are better positioned than us. The plus for us is that we are still in total control of our own destiny and we have the best manager in the world to see us over the line.

The dippers have a more intense run in than us and they have a weaker bench than us . Some of there top players will be running on empty in a fortnight or so Klopp simply cannot start with the same starting eleven every game he has to rotate at some stage and when he does dippers results and performances drop off . Klopp has gambled here make no mistake .

[City64]

Win our next 2 home league games v Brighton and Watford and the pressure builds on Klopp and the dippers . Klopp doesn’t do intense pressure he compusts .
Gonna be a right old ride this one CTID

[Outcast]

Dippers PL run in is not difficult.
Rags and Scouse1 are both rubbish.
Villa is a gimme from Stevie G.
They have one potential tough game - Spurs because Son and Kane could punish that high line.
Maybe Newcastle as well because they detest them and it is at St. James Park.

Dippers have everyone fit and five scoring forwards to rotate. They have a better goal difference so even if they draw a game we still cannot afford to lose even one.

Viallareal is an easier tie than RM.

We are tired, have a thinner squad and cannot rely on some experienced squad members like Jesus, Sterling, Zinch, etc... and have no clinical goal scorer.

As it stands right now, the Dippers are better positioned than us. The plus for us is that we are still in total control of our own destiny and we have the best manager in the world to see us over the line.

The dippers have a more intense run in than us and they have a weaker bench than us . Some of there top players will be running on empty in a fortnight or so Klopp simply cannot start with the same starting eleven every game he has to rotate at some stage and when he does dippers results and performances drop off . Klopp has gambled here make no mistake .

You need stop dismissing dippers, they won a pot and in one semi final, one point behind us and one final. Some say rather be in their position than ours and we should be concerned. Pep did the right thing with his selection on Saturday, he had to rest players, how many times he gambled before and fell short? I can't blame him for the keeper's fuckup.

[City64]

Dippers PL run in is not difficult.
Rags and Scouse1 are both rubbish.
Villa is a gimme from Stevie G.
They have one potential tough game - Spurs because Son and Kane could punish that high line.
Maybe Newcastle as well because they detest them and it is at St. James Park.

Dippers have everyone fit and five scoring forwards to rotate. They have a better goal difference so even if they draw a game we still cannot afford to lose even one.

Viallareal is an easier tie than RM.

We are tired, have a thinner squad and cannot rely on some experienced squad members like Jesus, Sterling, Zinch, etc... and have no clinical goal scorer.

As it stands right now, the Dippers are better positioned than us. The plus for us is that we are still in total control of our own destiny and we have the best manager in the world to see us over the line.

The dippers have a more intense run in than us and they have a weaker bench than us . Some of there top players will be running on empty in a fortnight or so Klopp simply cannot start with the same starting eleven every game he has to rotate at some stage and when he does dippers results and performances drop off . Klopp has gambled here make no mistake .

You need stop dismissing dippers, they won a pot and in one semi final, one point behind us and one final. Some say rather be in their position than ours and we should be concerned. Pep did the right thing with his selection on Saturday, he had to rest players, how many times he gambled before and fell short? I can't blame him for the keeper's fuckup.

I no way am I dismissing the murderers just stating a possible scenario that could occur in the next fortnight or so with Klopp gambling on playing full strength every game . Our less intense schedule will allow pep to rotate a few players especially our midfield. Ruben Dias back is going to be huge for us .

[zuricity]

Dippers PL run in is not difficult.
Rags and Scouse1 are both rubbish.
Villa is a gimme from Stevie G.
They have one potential tough game - Spurs because Son and Kane could punish that high line.
Maybe Newcastle as well because they detest them and it is at St. James Park.

Dippers have everyone fit and five scoring forwards to rotate. They have a better goal difference so even if they draw a game we still cannot afford to lose even one.

Viallareal is an easier tie than RM.

We are tired, have a thinner squad and cannot rely on some experienced squad members like Jesus, Sterling, Zinch, etc... and have no clinical goal scorer.

As it stands right now, the Dippers are better positioned than us. The plus for us is that we are still in total control of our own destiny and we have the best manager in the world to see us over the line.

The dippers have a more intense run in than us and they have a weaker bench than us . Some of there top players will be running on empty in a fortnight or so Klopp simply cannot start with the same starting eleven every game he has to rotate at some stage and when he does dippers results and performances drop off . Klopp has gambled here make no mistake .

You need stop dismissing dippers, they won a pot and in one semi final, one point behind us and one final. Some say rather be in their position than ours and we should be concerned. Pep did the right thing with his selection on Saturday, he had to rest players, how many times he gambled before and fell short? I can't blame him for the keeper's fuckup.

Scouse2 have the rags and Scouse1, then Villareal.

Villareal have seven days rest before their CL game.

[PeterParker]

Depends a lot on how teams will turn up before their games with us and them.
Will they be up for it to stop bad old Manchester City?

[stupot]

Depends a lot on how teams will turn up before their games with us and them.
Will they be up for it to stop bad old Manchester City?

Pretty sure the rags and Scouse 1 will far rather stop bad old dippers

[Hazy2]

Madrid are hitting form so all building. Brighton in form. Enjoy it.

[john68]

Madrid are hitting form so all building. Brighton in form. Enjoy it.

And that my mate is why Pep was right to select the team he did or the semi.

It's quite simple; before the semi we were chasing three trophies with a set of players, who had just had a set of very hard games, and one particularly that caused injuries to 2 important players. It was also an emotionally draining game.and the squad had had no time to fully recover and properly prepare.

With the challenge of a hard and very tight Prem run in with no wriggle room and the prospect of facing an inform European icon over 2 legs, possibly followed by yet another game of high pressure v our nearest rivals in a European final, something had to give. Certainly not a phase of the season to go into battle with an overplayed, overtired and injured key players.

If something had to be risked it had to be the least prioritised trophy. And to be fair, the selected players almost did it. A gift of a goal from a suicidal keeper was beyond the control of any coach and the now understood fact that the cross from the corner was out of play before the dippers 1st goal. nowt any coach could do about that either.

Now we have lost a trophy challenge, relieved some of stress whilst allowing a narrower focus on the major comps that remain with a rested and healed squad.

Sadly, fuck the FA Cup for this year...there's always next season for that.....as for the other 2 main challenges....BRING IT ON.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Everyone saying he will have to rotate should think about that. He never fucking rotates and they never get injuries. I’m fully prepared for that to continue all season.

We need to be at our best every game from now on. Then hope somebody beats them. It’s a knife edge right here and I’d be lying if I said I had half the confidence you all do.

[Indianablue]

Golf today so hopefully it'll take my mind of tonight's game. Dont think Liverpool will be overly tired from the weekend, hoping that Utd have their match of the season. Understandly Ronaldo likely to miss the game so it doesn't look likely

[s1ty m]

It's another tense season for sure. My worry is that we are not playing as well as we have in the years we win the title in similar circumstances. I look at those away games at Leeds, Wolves and West Ham and I can't see 3 wins. Liverpool are going to need to drop something somewhere to give us room, I think.

[salford city]

It's another tense season for sure. My worry is that we are not playing as well as we have in the years we win the title in similar circumstances. I look at those away games at Leeds, Wolves and West Ham and I can't see 3 wins. Liverpool are going to need to drop something somewhere to give us room, I think.

34 or so years since we went down at west ham. Just ordered my tkts for this season. Would be nice to go there and win the league then party all the way back and all the next week
Good that we have to win all the games as that should keep the focus and momentum going. It should also keep everyone sharp. Not going to be easy. Lets see what happens in the paddy power derby tonight

[Bluemoon4610]

Everyone saying he will have to rotate should think about that. He never fucking rotates and they never get injuries. I’m fully prepared for that to continue all season.

We need to be at our best every game from now on. Then hope somebody beats them. It’s a knife edge right here and I’d be lying if I said I had half the confidence you all do.

All this talk about Klopp not rotating - what side did he put out in the CL last week? He was able to rotate because of the lead they had and the quality of the opposition. That meant his main players were rested for the weekend, which showed especially in the first half. That was something we didn't have the luxury of doing. And even against our "squad players" and with a goalkeeping fuck up, there was only 1 goal between us. Hopefully, the rest our main players got will have allowed them to recover ready for the run in. The PL is more important than the FA cup, and in my opinion the owners have focused on the CL and PL this season at the expense of the domestic cups.

[City64]

Everyone saying he will have to rotate should think about that. He never fucking rotates and they never get injuries. I’m fully prepared for that to continue all season.

We need to be at our best every game from now on. Then hope somebody beats them. It’s a knife edge right here and I’d be lying if I said I had half the confidence you all do.

All this talk about Klopp not rotating - what side did he put out in the CL last week? He was able to rotate because of the lead they had and the quality of the opposition. That meant his main players were rested for the weekend, which showed especially in the first half. That was something we didn't have the luxury of doing. And even against our "squad players" and with a goalkeeping fuck up, there was only 1 goal between us. Hopefully, the rest our main players got will have allowed them to recover ready for the run in. The PL is more important than the FA cup, and in my opinion the owners have focused on the CL and PL this season at the expense of the domestic cups.

Klopp now has no “wriggle room” to rotate his players in the hectic PL run in . He is chasing us dippers form and results suffer when he doesn’t go full strength. We win our games and the pile the pressure on .

[Bluemoon4610]

Everyone saying he will have to rotate should think about that. He never fucking rotates and they never get injuries. I’m fully prepared for that to continue all season.

We need to be at our best every game from now on. Then hope somebody beats them. It’s a knife edge right here and I’d be lying if I said I had half the confidence you all do.

All this talk about Klopp not rotating - what side did he put out in the CL last week? He was able to rotate because of the lead they had and the quality of the opposition. That meant his main players were rested for the weekend, which showed especially in the first half. That was something we didn't have the luxury of doing. And even against our "squad players" and with a goalkeeping fuck up, there was only 1 goal between us. Hopefully, the rest our main players got will have allowed them to recover ready for the run in. The PL is more important than the FA cup, and in my opinion the owners have focused on the CL and PL this season at the expense of the domestic cups.

Klopp now has no “wriggle room” to rotate his players in the hectic PL run in . He is chasing us dippers form and results suffer when he doesn’t go full strength. We win our games and the pile the pressure on .

I'm probably hoping for too much in expecting the rags to give them a game tonight, given that they'll probably be without ladyboy (and they had a titanic struggle on Saturday against Norwich ). But the murderers have some big games coming up with no room to rotate. Do our thing and we'll be ok. Let them worry about us, not the other way round.

[stupot]

Everyone saying he will have to rotate should think about that. He never fucking rotates and they never get injuries. I’m fully prepared for that to continue all season.

We need to be at our best every game from now on. Then hope somebody beats them. It’s a knife edge right here and I’d be lying if I said I had half the confidence you all do.

All this talk about Klopp not rotating - what side did he put out in the CL last week? He was able to rotate because of the lead they had and the quality of the opposition. That meant his main players were rested for the weekend, which showed especially in the first half. That was something we didn't have the luxury of doing. And even against our "squad players" and with a goalkeeping fuck up, there was only 1 goal between us. Hopefully, the rest our main players got will have allowed them to recover ready for the run in. The PL is more important than the FA cup, and in my opinion the owners have focused on the CL and PL this season at the expense of the domestic cups.

Spot on, he also changed the front 3 in the 2 games against us as well as centre midfield. Some people talk like it's the same 11 every week.
Our record in the domestic cups has been unbelievable the last few years but we won the domestic treble in 2019 and it's hardly mentioned so i think we're right to prioritise the Prem and CL. I always want the Prem 1st but the CL is the only stick we have left to be beaten with so we need to win it. A PL, CL double will do me fine.