LIVERPOOL, 9.2 TO BE CHAMPIONS...

Price might get shorter still

Liverpool still have a world-class striker in Suarez to come back yet. Their record over the past 19 league games is actually superior to Manchester United's. So it's not as though they've simply made a good start to the season, it's more a continuation of the good form showed in the final few months of last season.

It might only be a few games in, but no side has really showed anything to suggest that they'll run away with the title this year. I wouldn't be surprised if it's won with a points total in the low 80's. It's looking like it could be a 6 horse race rather than the 3 that everyone expected.

6 Donkey Derby Race imo

that's not far off the mark really. there isn't a decent team in the league. miles below the quality of the late 2000s when the old sky 4 used dominate the champions league

as for liverpool obviously it never takes much for people to get overexcited about their chances but you're still talking gaining something like 20 points on last season to have a chance. that's just enormous and doesn't happen in the real world. the higher you move up the league the more difficult it is to make small steps let alone a gigantic leap like that

would suggest Liverpool a must and cracking lay for a top 4 finish. 2.24 wants to be matched. help yourself. even santa does not give you presents as good as that.

The media like to talk about the league being wide open (when it really isn't) because it helps hype the 'best league in the world'.  But this year I sense there may actually be some truth in it.  Liverpool probably won't win the league but I think they'll be right in the thick of the top 4 race and at this stage I don't think there are any of the 6 teams that you could write off for the title, or equally guarantee that they will be top 4.  Chelsea and especially Man C have been disappointing given the amount of money spent.

I agree with you knight rider. my worry for Liverpool is how they react when they lose a match.i feel Liverpool are as good as they can get. suarez will return but can he be trusted. they have got results without him. man city Chelsea and man utd can only improve. three new managers at those clubs and it takes time for players to adjust to new gaffers. I am still against Liverpool for a top 4 finish at the prices. good luck to you anyway.

chelsea need a holding player or two.
they are not going to get away with playing lampard and ramirez deep all season...mikel isnt good enough.

they are the ones at risk...and their price was falsly shortened by mourinhio re joining.

every side has major question marks against them at this stage....even us Liverpool.

i think we have corrected one issue to a point....the backline.
agger and skrtel cant play an expansive game....we now have 3 new centre backs to hopefully resove that issue.
also the fullbacks issue...shame cissokho wont be back for a month but imo he will be a massive improvement on enrique and the left in general.

the other thing different from last season is this.

Lucas Leiva....we are always gonna get more points per game with him in than any other player.

btw we wont win it unless we get a midfield partner for lucas and a right back in january.

if we are on the scene around then and we do get those players...lump on

chelsea have really very underwhelming so far. a hugely fortunate win against an average villa side, a dire draw at trafford where mourinho really showed his true colours and then yesterday.

just because mourinho gives good copy to the press doesn't make them a great side. 2005 was a long time ago

eye

i think watching real last season and now chelsea this...there is something up with him imo

think he only has one or two things in his locker tactically.

maybe a seriosuly overated manager.

I love it when the liverpool lot get excited, there's no fun watching every year when they're hopeless but with no expectation from their fans, much better when they end up as per.... after they've all started to believe they could win it.

well thats betetr than seriously thinking you will win it like city utd chelsea.

if we are in the mix come january and we get partner for lucas and a right back then i think we have a really good chance.

because we would have corrected the weaknesses

If mourinho is so good at the arm around the shoulder and getting the most out of his players then who better to prove it with than Torres!

it couldnt have worked with cassilas lol

you're still talking gaining something like 20 points on last season to have a chance. that's just enormous and doesn't happen in the real world.

Ah, but it does though. I think it was 2008 or 2009 when Spurs finished on 51 points. The following season they totalled 70 points. We started last season really poorly - 2 points out of the first 5 games - so looking at how many points we finished on doesn't really tell the true story. Once Rodgers got Couthino & Sturridge up & running in the 2nd part of the season, along with going some way to sorting out the defence, we started to look like a pretty good side.

No reason at all why we can't get up to the late 70's/early 80's as far as points are concerned.

how many of us can really see Brendan Rodgers and stevie g parading the league trophy in front of the kop on the last day of the season against Newcastle. not for me.

think it's very short odds but Liverpool's trump card is that they will be playing 1 game while other challengers play 2 (cos in CL)...that's why Liverpool ended last season so strongly, had 10 days between games

I agree that it's highly unlikely that we'll see Liverpool crowned champions come May. We just don't have enough strength in depth. But I think many people are seriously under-estimating us based purely on our mediocre league placings over the past few seasons. Rodgers has done an excellent job in turning us around after just one season in charge.

shrewd judges have been saying for a while that the standard of the premier league is in decline. it would be terminal if a Liverpool team improved so much to lift the title. serious questions would have to be answered.

2013 Calendar Year Table:

Team    Pld    GD    Pt
Arsenal    23    20    49
Manchester United    22    25    47
Tottenham Hotspur    22    13    45
Chelsea    23    17    44
Manchester City    22    18    43
Liverpool    21    26    42
Everton    22    8    36
Southampton    22    0    28
Newcastle United    22    -14    28
West Ham United    22    -6    27
Aston Villa    22    1    26
Fulham    22    -6    26
Norwich City    22    -10    23
Swansea City    21    -11    21
Stoke City    22    -14    20
West Bromwich Albion    22    -10    18
Sunderland    22    -13    18

redrebel, like i said going from 50 to 70 is a lot easier than going from 60 to 80. the higher you go the more difficult it is to make even small gains

Extrapolated to a 38 game season this would be as follows:

Team    Pt
Manchester United    81.18
Arsenal    80.96
Tottenham Hotspur    77.73
Liverpool    76.00
Manchester City    74.27
Chelsea    72.70
Everton    62.18
Southampton    48.36
Newcastle United    48.36
West Ham United    46.64
Aston Villa    44.91
Fulham    44.91
Norwich City    39.73
Swansea City    38.00
Stoke City    34.55
West Bromwich Albion    31.09
Sunderland    31.09

we can take 20 points off Man United now that gollum is in charge

It is short but in what many see as a tight transitional season it may not be as short as some might think

Monday's game is massive because a win keeps the illusion going and followed by home games that would offer a fair chance of victory then those odds would look about average given possible position for the amount of games played

Interesting table that KR

Could easily see it won with about 78pts

The assumption that Chelsea/United & City are miles ahead is proving hard to shake for a lot of people , no matter what they see

tobermory, in actual playing ability they may not be that far ahead but as for psychologically and that winning mentality that often makes a big difference you'd have the top 3 way in front

But two of those have made changes at the very top which could have a negative impact

arsenal finished last season as well as liverpool, and have started of quite impressively too, the more teams in the mix the more spicier the premier will be. theres going to be a lot of top teams beating each other, as everton proved yesterday

It is a traders market, the price reflects the current standings. When Suarez comes back they will get shorter, especially as their only seems to be Arsenal who are going to rival them this term

In these present days of constant change it is comforting to have a few consistencies to bank on each football season.

1. Liverpool fans get all excited and think they have a chance at the title, and that at last a top 4 finish is in their grasp.
2. It all evaporates and they are lucky to finish 6th. (but there was enough to suggest that next season they will improve and be amongst the challengers)

Cant think of many Liverpool fans who think they will win the title.

Apart from me

we need a few things to go our way.....like ive mentioned before.

fullbacks and partner for lucas and i reckon we have a good chance.

1 week is a long time in football