Catch 22? Not For Me

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When the fixture list was released last summer, we all knew this weekend’s match against Chelsea would have a massive say in where the Premier League trophy was going to reside for the next 12 months. None of us, in our worst nightmares, would have anticipated the current scenario:

1. Win: We remain in the hunt for 4th and Champions’ League Football but virtually hand United their record breaking 19th title, gift-wrapped with a note saying “From Anfield, with Love”
2. Draw: No good to either really. Puts paid to our challenge for 4th and probably stops Chelsea’s title challenge
3. Lose: Definitely means Liverpool cannot qualify for the Champions’ League but has the upside of Chelsea remaining ahead of United going into the last round of fixtures.

This is quite a quandary but I have no reservations in saying that I support Liverpool and, above everything else, I want Liverpool to win. If this means that the title arrives in Old Trafford on the 9th May then so be it! Chelsea should have done the job against the other 18 teams in the league, most notably Man City who did the double over them but capitulated completely on both occasions against their neighbours.

Ultimately, we find ourselves in as much of a ‘No Win’ situation as it a ‘No Lose’ one. A positive result for us comes with the real prospect a very negative outcome. But should we lose can take some consolation in knowing we have played no part handing United the title and they will have to win it on their own. Most of you will remember a similar situation arising when Blackburn, then managed by Liverpool legend King Kenny Dalglish, arrived for the final fixture of the 1995 season. Many expected Liverpool to roll over making Rovers the champions at the expense of United. That did not happen. We beat them, and thankfully West Ham held out for a draw in the match of note making Blackburn the champions. With any luck, something we have been lacking all season, something similar will happen this weekend.

On Sunday, every red should forget what their head tells them about what the consequences of winning will have on the destination of the title and go with what their hearts tell them: Liverpool above all else, A Liverbird on our Chests!

YNWA

Julian
julian@empireofthekop.com

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16 Comments

  1. United are more likely to grab the 19th title before us anyway, whether it be this year or soon after. We have to look after our interests and not worry about what others teams are doing. Our history is amazing, but then so to an extent is Nottingham Forests. Is the present and the future what matters most.

  2. Thank you! Someone who speaks sense! I’m sick of hearing all this ‘throw the game’ nonsense, just to stop United getting their 19th league title.

    What is more important to our club right at this moment in time? Getting as high up the table as possible, therefore getting more money and possibly keeping hold of Torres, Gerrard, Pepe etc, or stopping United getting the title, which they could do anyway, even if we lose to Chelski? I’d much rather keep our tiny slim hopes of 4th alive, and maybe get it, than stop United.

    United getting their 19th title could actually be good for our club anyway. It might just give the board, the players and the backroom staff a kick up the ass which has been severely lacking this season. For too many games we’ve looked like we couldn’t be arsed about the win, with defensive tactics and defensive play from the lads on the pitch. We have to win every game between now and the Europa League final, no questions.

  3. Man u have to win BOTH games to win the title.They will only be 2 points clear of Chelsea if they win at the weekend. We will not be handing the title to them at all.I want LFC to win gainst any team.If there is a chance we can finish 4th then we should go for it.

  4. We absolutely should go out to give 100% in every game.

    If we manage to overturn our first leg defeat against Atletico Madrid, however, and if results on the Saturday go against us (Man City beat Villa and Spurs beat Bolton) i would consider resting some key players for the Europa League final. We’re already without Torres and would be wise to protect Reina, Mascherano, Gerrard and Kuyt as a consequence, or else risk having to trust our fringe players were one or more of them to get injured.

    I’d rather see Aquilani get a start in a big league game to prepare him for next season, than risk Mascherano, and the game could be a big opportunity for Pacheco too – a match against tough opposition, but where his mistakes will not have much consequence. Assuming results do go against us, that is. If Man City and Spurs win we really have no chance of 4th.

    Ultimately we have to do what’s best for us, whatever that may be.

  5. Well it’s a dead cert that Steve Bruce will help out his old club. We need to remember the amount of extra money we get for finishing in specific places in the league: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/5361321/Premier-League-The-money-table.html

    Judging from last year we are looking at million pounds per place. That can only help us in our current situation. Not to moment the momentum to carry into the Europa Final if we get there…

  6. I’m suprised to see this written from the usual shite you spout about united! But I’m well and truely baffled why this is even a question or a thought, it took soooo long for united to catch up with us, if they take so be it, Rafas implemented some decen long term plans so hopefully we’ll be back on track in no time!

  7. @Steve – I assume the “usual shite” to which you refer is based on my “World, Why Webb?” post. I do not make a habit of posting about Utd. In fact, with exception to this post, I have only ever mentioned them when we are either about to or have just played them. They are, afterall, just another football team.

    I am glad, however, to see that we do agree on Rafa. A lot of his good work has gone unnoticed, being on the academy side of things and we will get back on track, hopefully in time for next season.

  8. As someone above said, Man Ure will get #19 anyways, be it this season or in the future. As a Liverpool supporter, I only have eyes for us and how well we do this season. Be it we finish 4th or 7th, all that matters is that we wind up the season with the best performances we can muster. That means winning Thursday night against Atletico, beating Chelsea on 1st May, beating Hull City on 9th May, and going to Hamburg to participate in the Europa final on 12th May.

    And if we don’t? Then we don’t. Shite happens.

    People can complain about the players, the management, the owners, whatever. But what it all comes down to is our love and support for the club. No matter the end result, we need to stand behind our might Red men and show them that they will never walk alone.

  9. That shouldn’t have said ‘you’ as in the usual garbage that people keep banging on about. Does my head in, heading people who ‘hate’ mancs etc without much cause apart from jelously. I have a few manc mates from Manchester and we have some of the best banter between fans so it does annoy me, but yes, this shouldn’t even be mentioned about what happens at the weekend. I truely don’t care what the outcome of the league is as long as we go out as if we were playing to win the league ourselves on Sunday. Anyone who doesn’t agree should not even bother turning their computers and streaming the match.

    And yes Rafa has put in a hell of a lot into this club, and looking to heavily invest in the future, who knows 5 years may pass and Rafa may leave but what he’s building here looks great for me. The academy is finally out and about scouting a bit of local talent (why not it’s free) instead of wasting money poaching 13 year olds from spain and france only to become duds!

    But like you said, forget about the league, forget the conciquences and lets just look forward to some decent football on Sunday.

  10. a) Man City and Spurs play the day before us. Another win for both will make 4th mathematically impossible.
    b) If we do make the Europa League final we have a chance for silverware.
    c) I hope we make the final and that Rafa fields a ‘weakened’ side against Chelsea.
    d) Man Utd must NOT win the PL.

  11. Throw it, no proper scoser would want utd to win the title just as a proper manc would hate for us to win it.

  12. Nobody concerned of not even making Europa next year!!!!!????Who the hell says to throw it???? Win every game!!!!

  13. Just wanted to say I enjoyed the blog. You have really put a lot of energy into your content and it is just great!

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