Top 4 Race 19/20 | duffer: "We [Chelsea] are getting 3rd. Despite what the lunatics in here think, Man United are not all that."

[dwd]

How did Chelsea get on at the weekend?

He probably read the score in the media and didn't believe it.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Would be incredible if we missed out on something due to GD again.

For some reason, I just can't see us making top 4 after today's result. I really hope I'm wrong, but today was just a gut wrenching blow.

 

[Pow]

The real Liverpool would stuff you and your defense.

You're basically hoping that Liverpool are in party mode which looks likely.

Weve played the real liverpool 3 times this season and theyve not stuffed us once

 

[Dancfc]

The real Liverpool would stuff you and your defense.

You're basically hoping that Liverpool are in party mode which looks likely.

The 'real' Liverpool haven't stuffed us once, infact we've put more past them than what we've let in.

 

[TMDaines]

If we beat Crystal Palace & West Ham (Very likely) and Leicester draw against Sheffield United & Tottenham (Very possible) we will have CL before even facing Leicester.

No need to panic. Roll up the sleeves and get back to business. Southampton are a strong team on a great run.

Those things aren’t as polarised as you think. 538 have United at 44.9% to win both and Leicester 26% to fail to win both.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

It's the matter in which we played. We had no answer to their press despite having better players. So questions would be raised on what exactly are we doing in training.

I wouldn't go along with that. We did answer their press by scoring 2 goals and ending the 1st half stronger. Even in the 2nd half when Southampton were the better side they only tested De Gea in the last 10 minutes and then needed us to be down to 10 men to score. We seemed knackered in the 2nd half and our lack of depth got exposed, that and I suspect there is a mental issue with us as well to get over.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Weve played the real liverpool 3 times this season and theyve not stuffed us once

The 'real' Liverpool haven't stuffed us once, infact we've put more past them than what we've let in.

I reckon you can get a result from them but a win is what you need and I can’t see Liverpool not wanting to get 100+ points.

Think it’ll be tougher than some are making out.

 

[thegregster]

Weve played the real liverpool 3 times this season and theyve not stuffed us once

They beat you easily enough at the Bridge. The cup game was half their team.

Liverpool at Anfield are unbeaten in the PL in around 80 games.

 

[Dancfc]

I reckon you can get a result from them but a win is what you need and I can’t see Liverpool not wanting to get 100+ points.

Think it’ll be tougher than some are making out.

Ofcourse it will be tough and I'll be surprised if we win on the night (think a draw is achievable) but these predictions of them slapping us don't match up with previous evidence, even this fixture last season when we were on a woeful run they needed a world class Alisson save from Hazard (not long after he missed a sitter) to see the game out.

Also Liverpool stylistically suit us which is why we give them tough games despite them being a vastly superior team.

 

[cyberman]

My worry is we look mentally weak. When the pressure is on we rarely put in a top performance, so I don't fancy us going to Leicester on the final day and winning if we need to. Thursday is a massive game, we have to find a way to beat Palace, they will be right up for it and it looks like West Ham will have something to play for.

Those banking on Liverpool and Wolves Vs Chelsea. Yes, the chavs are trash but Liverpool are on the beach and so will wolves be by the final day.

Why would Palace be up for it if Liverpool and Wolves are on the beach?
Theyve lost their last 5!

 

[Pow]

They beat you easily enough at the Bridge. The cup game was half their team.

Liverpool at Anfield are unbeaten in the PL in around 80 games.

They didnt win easily at all. We had a goal ruled off because var decided to go back countless passes prior. And we had enough chances to equalise.
The super cup was their full team too and ended 2 2 before pens.
So the run has to end eventually.

 

[TMDaines]

You'll thrash them and Wolves will have nothing much to play for by the final day.

Chelsea will be fine. It is one of Leicester or United and it will be decided at the King Power.

Wolves winning all three probably sees them fourth, or maybe fifth or sixth behind the others on GD. Chelsea would have to beat Liverpool or Leicester win both to give Wolves nothing to play for on the final day.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Ofcourse it will be tough and I'll be surprised if we win on the night (think a draw is achievable) but these predictions of them slapping us don't match up with previous evidence, even this fixture last season when we were on a woeful run they needed a world class Alisson save from Hazard (not long after he missed a sitter) to see the game out.

Also Liverpool stylistically suit us which is why we give them tough games despite them being a vastly superior team.

Absolutely don’t think they’ll just slap you. People are just posturing on here as we’re all feeling this draw.

I don’t see you getting max points though from remaining fixtures too many good sides with the ability to hurt an inconsistent side.

 

[Dancfc]

They beat you easily enough at the Bridge.

No they didn't, we were all over them for the entire second half and Mount missed a sitter in injury time.

The cup game was half their team.

Likewise.

 

[TMDaines]

I don't think we'll do it but i suppose we would have taken this position a couple of weeks ago.

We would have been delighted on Friday to be gaining points on Chelsea and Leicester this weekend.

 

[Spiersey]

Would be incredible if we missed out on something due to GD again.

For some reason, I just can't see us making top 4 after today's result. I really hope I'm wrong, but today was just a gut wrenching blow.

Can’t see you missing out due to GD. Possible that Chelsea do though. Chance of a scenario where United Leicester can just play out a draw and both finish top 4.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Ofcourse it will be tough and I'll be surprised if we win on the night (think a draw is achievable) but these predictions of them slapping us don't match up with previous evidence, even this fixture last season when we were on a woeful run they needed a world class Alisson save from Hazard (not long after he missed a sitter) to see the game out.

Also Liverpool stylistically suit us which is why we give them tough games despite them being a vastly superior team.

To be fair, given that Sheffield United just slapped you I can't understand why someone might make the same statement about the Champions even if you have a good head to head this season.

I don't think Chelsea's result against Liverpool will matter personally though. Think Chelsea will just about do enough to qualify regardless.

 

[lolok]

Worst case, get 4 points over the next 2 and then beat Leicester. Best case, win the next 2, Leicester get a draw/loss and United is guaranteed top 4 before the finale.

Overall, not concerned-- backup plan is Europa. First things first, beat Palace and don't worry about anything else until that job is done.

 

[filibuster]

I do think we’re just about favourites for third still given Leicester’s fixtures (although the news today may deflate Spurs and Sheffield) and Chelsea playing Liverpool, but I could also see us splutter to a finish. Recent seasons have had a common pattern of us playing our final league games poorly.

The chances of Leicester and United playing out a dull draw to screw Chelsea is still there too.

The chance of Liverpool not playing to their best to screw MU is also there, I guess.

 

[OneUnited24]

We've just given Chelsea and Leicester confidence, while we've likely lost our own in the process.

Granted but Chelsea face a Liverpool side at anfield that are chasing the record points tally. Leicester have 3 tough games without their starting CB.

Bitterly disappointed right now but im looking at this as a point gained. We’re level on points with a team we have to play and only 1 behind Chelsea. The Math is simple all we have to do is better one result than our rivals in the run in and we’re in that top 4

 

[Lennon7]

The chance of Liverpool not playing to their best to screw MU is also there, I guess.

Historically, that’s rarely happened. Leeds have won us the league before ffs!

Plus, they’re professional teams. Klopp more than anyone would want to prove a point to.

 

[bosnian_red]

It's the matter in which we played. We had no answer to their press despite having better players. So questions would be raised on what exactly are we doing in training.

It's not always a case of questions being asked when we drop points. Nobody can keep up a high performance level week after week. Sometimes it doesn't click, Southampton has been a tough team for opponents all season (apart from the one Leicester game...) and have a great away record for a reason. We won 4 games in a row by 3 goals, but dropped points today in the dying seconds from a corner after being down to 10 men due to a head injury. One of those where you say "shit happens" and you move on. That's about it.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Worst case, get 4 points over the next 2 and then beat Leicester. Best case, win the next 2, Leicester get a draw/loss and United is guaranteed top 4 before the finale.

Overall, not concerned-- backup plan is Europa. First things first, beat Palace and don't worry about anything else until that job is done.

Don’t see how us winning 2 guarantees too 4? Leicester could beat us last day.

 

[Pow]

Historically, that’s rarely happened. Leeds have won us the league before ffs!

Plus, they’re professional teams. Klopp more than anyone would want to prove a point to.

You forgot Gerrards "accidental" pass to drogba at anfield...

 

[The Real Treble 99]

It’s far from over. Obviously the next 2 games are massive for us & it will probably determine if we get the champions league place going into the last game.

 

[bosnian_red]

Don’t see how us winning 2 guarantees too 4? Leicester could beat us last day.

If Leicester don't beat either Spurs or Sheffield (very possible), then 2 wins from us would seal it (as Leicester would be on max 61 points, with us on 65). Leicester need at least 1 win for it to go to the last day. 1 win and 1 loss for them with 2 wins for United would have it go down to goal difference if they beat us.

 

[Crustanoid]

Dicks
Royally fvcked it all up

 

[Dancfc]

To be fair, given that Sheffield United just slapped you I can't understand why someone might make the same statement about the Champions even if you have a good head to head this season.

I don't think Chelsea's result against Liverpool will matter personally though. Think Chelsea will just about do enough to qualify regardless.

If I was told we'd get slapped at one of Bramal Lane or Anfield and get a fighting draw at the other, i would say we got thrashed at the former and for the draw at the latter.

A 'lesser' side who fight for everything are the worse type of opponents for our set of players, they can't seem to get motivated atall, as soon as games become a scrap our heads are gone and that's before we mention stylistically SHU system is a perfect counter for ours.

 

[Offside]

If we win our next 2 there’s still the possibility that we will be out of Leicester’s reach by the time we play them. They could easily fail to beat Sheffield United and Spurs the way they’re playing at the moment. Palace game is just massive for us.

 

[Hawks2008]

Top 4 is made of lava

 

[FlawlessThaw]

If I was told we'd get slapped at one of Bramal Lane or Anfield and get a fighting draw at the other, i would say we got thrashed at the former and for the draw at the latter.

A 'lesser' side who fight for everything are the worse type of opponents for our set of players, they can't seem to get motivated atall, as soon as games become a scrap our heads are gone and that's before we mention stylistically SHU system is a perfect counter for ours.

Yeah yeah I know there are tactical ramifications at play though I don't think you can blame the players motivations though. Liverpool are also a fairly scrappy side as well and not above making it a fight.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

If Leicester don't beat either Spurs or Sheffield (very possible), then 2 wins from us would seal it (as Leicester would be on max 61 points, with us on 65). Leicester need at least 1 win for it to go to the last day. 1 win and 1 loss for them with 2 wins for United would have it go down to goal difference if they beat us.

The previous poster was making out that if Leicester draw or lose we get top 4. I was calling BS.

 

[bosnian_red]

The previous poster was making out that if Leicester draw or lose we get top 4. I was calling BS.

I think he meant they drop points in both games with us winning both

 

[bondsname]

I believe in the Ole project, and I believe we are building something special, but I don't believe in the team we have at the moment. I don't think they have it in them to win the last 3 games. Maybe you think i'm overreacting after a disappointing result, but I felt that way before the game today.

We need to stop overrating and underrating our team and be so reactive all the time. United is at the moment a decent team, there are no easy fixtures for us. We haven't earned the right to call anything an "easy" fixture, not since 2013 at least.

I do want us to get top 4, I would be overjoyed if that where to happen, but I think our rivals have to screw it up really bad for us to get there. I can easily see us struggling at Palace, losing to West Ham, and losing to Leicester.

 

[bond19821982]

It's not always a case of questions being asked when we drop points. Nobody can keep up a high performance level week after week. Sometimes it doesn't click, Southampton has been a tough team for opponents all season (apart from the one Leicester game...) and have a great away record for a reason. We won 4 games in a row by 3 goals, but dropped points today in the dying seconds from a corner after being down to 10 men due to a head injury. One of those where you say "shit happens" and you move on. That's about it.

Hopefully we bounce back against Palace.

 

[The Purley King]

I believe in the Ole project, and I believe we are building something special, but I don't believe in the team we have at the moment. I don't think they have it in them to win the last 3 games. Maybe you think i'm overreacting after a disappointing result, but I felt that way before the game today.

We need to stop overrating and underrating our team and be so reactive all the time. United is at the moment a decent team, there are no easy fixtures for us. We haven't earned the right to call anything an "easy" fixture, not since 2013 at least.

I do want us to get top 4, I would be overjoyed if that where to happen, but I think our rivals have to screw it up really bad for us to get there. I can easily see us struggling at Palace, losing to West Ham, and losing to Leicester.

Shall I draw you a nice warm bath and safety or non safety for the razor blades sir?

 

[Name Changed]

Leicester have got to play Spurs, Chelsea have got to play Wolves and Liverpool. At this point, I'd be absolutely shocked if you don't get in the top 4

If we play like that again we will struggle for wins! Hopefully it's just tiredness but a tough FA Cup match isn't going to do us any favours.

 

[slyadams]

Chelsea: Norwich (H), Liverpool (A), Wolves (H)
Leicester: Sheffield United (H), Spurs (A), United (H)
United: Palace (A), West Ham (H), Leicester (A)

If you look at those fixtures United are still strong favourites to get a top 4 place, even 3rd imo.

 

[Dominos]

Completly wrong.
111 points is certain to secure

There can be 2 teams on 111 points no? In which case it comes down to GD so you need 112 to guarantee.

 

[CM]

My worry is we look mentally weak. When the pressure is on we rarely put in a top performance, so I don't fancy us going to Leicester on the final day and winning if we need to. Thursday is a massive game, we have to find a way to beat Palace, they will be right up for it and it looks like West Ham will have something to play for.

Those banking on Liverpool and Wolves Vs Chelsea. Yes, the chavs are trash but Liverpool are on the beach and so will wolves be by the final day.

I don't think today was a mentality problem, it was a fatigue problem. We reacted to conceding an early goal and scored two in quick succession.

The midfield looked knackered and the injuries to Shaw and Williams were just incredible bad luck. Southampton looked threatening throughout but we actually managed the game pretty well until we went a man down.