Our next 6 away games are without doubt the most difficult periods imaginable. Arsenal, United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea, City. For me this spells out that our home games are crucial to ensure we don't fall away from the pack. Realistically, if we're serious about getting back into the top 4, we must look to win the majority of our games at Anfield during that 12 game run and hope for a few slip ups from opposition on our travels.
Arsenal (A) 0 points
West Ham (H) 3 points
United (A) 0 points
Norwich (H) 3 points
Villa (H) 3 points
Everton (A) 3 points
Tottenham (A) 1 point
Southampton (H) 1 point
Chelsea (A) 0 points
Palace (H) 3 points
City (A) 0 points
Swansea (H) 3 points
Now, 20 points out of 36 does sound like a lot of points dropped, but considering that would be our hardest spell of the season done and dusted, with all our rivals having to come to Anfield during the run-in, I think 18-22 points would be a solid foundation to build on through the winter and into the spring.
By that time, Sturridge should be back if he can avoid further injury, and the new signings will have been able to grow an understanding with the likes of Coutinho, Henderson etc. I've been a bit harsh with those away results, but hopefully they can pull a surprise or 2. Hopefully.
YNWA
Next 12 games
posted on 24/8/15
20 out of 36 on that run would be a very good return..
but its impossible to predict, it only takes us losing to Arsenal, west ham parking the bus for a draw and anything less than a win at united would mean we were having a "run of poor form" and it would be very difficult to get out of that mentality / media pressure untill the end of the season.
however a win/draw tonight and a win against west ham and its completley the opposite, and would potentially get better results against opponents worried about facing us in good form.
Its easy to sit here and predict results on a "neutral" run of form, but a few bad results and thats a catastrophic run of games,
another win or two to start the season however and its a fantastic time to have this run of games.
we will know more after the arsenal game tonight i guess.
posted on 24/8/15
"untill the end of the season" was meant to be "untill the end of this run of away games"
however, if we get anything like 15 points from this run we will struggle to recover it, and will already be written off as having had a poor season.
posted on 24/8/15
From Arsenal, United, Chelsea and City, we need 6points at least.Our record away to these teams in recent years has been poor.
posted on 24/8/15
Insert is right. Predictions like this are tricky, well all predictions are tricky affairs. Surely we can't lose ALL those away games. We are bound to pick up at least a point somewhere??
posted on 24/8/15
I know predicting results over the course of the next two months isn't taken to seriously but it's fairly pointless.
Most people will just put wins against bottom half teams, draws against 5-10th teams and loses against the top 4.
Home advantage will sway some predictions.
In reality, anything can happen especially with the window still open.
Across those games I would happily take 20 points considering we'd be going into basically every game after January as favourites.
posted on 24/8/15
20 points from that lot would have us just short of 2 points per game (26 points from 14 games) which is the usual requirement for top 4.
With a theoretically easier run of fixtures after that we'd be in very good shape for the rest of the season.
posted on 24/8/15
comment by Dean Sturridge's Nephew (Formerly LGT) (U13718)
posted 12 minutes ago
20 points from that lot would have us just short of 2 points per game (26 points from 14 games) which is the usual requirement for top 4.
With a theoretically easier run of fixtures after that we'd be in very good shape for the rest of the season.
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It's 1.67 so closer to 1.5 points a game than 2. Realistically we want to be picking up more than half in that period.
posted on 24/8/15
Yeah I understand the comments regarding the unpredictability of predictions. The main point being is that we need to come out of this period without too many wounds to lick. However, looking at United and Arsenal's mixed results as well as Chelsea unexpected struggle to pick up early results, we may well still be in it without a 20+ haul from these games.
posted on 24/8/15
There are going to be a lot of surprises this season. Teams are setting up to make it difficult for the top teams to break them down now. I think the penny has dropped that these teams can't stand toe to toe with the big clubs.
posted on 24/8/15
comment by Peggy (U20614)
posted 42 seconds ago
There are going to be a lot of surprises this season. Teams are setting up to make it difficult for the top teams to break them down now. I think the penny has dropped that these teams can't stand toe to toe with the big clubs.
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i actually think this is just the unpredictability of the start of a league season.
the lesser clubs are certainly able to afford some bigger names these days which will help, but i predict normal service will resume soon