Proximity.

[Insidious]

After 26 games played -

B]Distance from 1st[/B] - 15 points (2 points better off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United, 2 behind Chelsea - 2 points closer to both

Distance ahead of 6th - still 6th, but closing the gap has increased our hope somewhat

After 27 games played -

Distance from 1st - 13 points (2 points better off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United, level with Chelsea

Distance ahead of 6th - still 6th, but level with Chelsea now

Quick note ahead of 28th game - Villa lost to Wolves, which means the door is open to get within 3 points of third spot and really give us more hope of Champion's League qualification, if we are able to handle business against West Ham.

[Insidious]

Arsenal have played an extra (29th) game, but still -

After 28 games played -

Distance from 1st - 16 points (we were 13 off, but Arsenal have played an extra game)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United (in 3rd!!!) and also 3 points behind Villa in 4th - we ourselves are now 5th

Distance ahead of 6th - 3 points ahead of Chelsea now

Villa's loss has put us closer to them and Chelsea's loss has helped us get a little cushion if (IF!) 5th spot is going to be enough.

Villa play Chelsea in their next League game, so an enormous opportunity to create a bigger cushion, or to get closer to Villa - or indeed both if there's a draw. In terms of our remaining "don't you DARE drop points" matches, the next League fixture for us is pretty massive.

Brilliant to be just 3 points off 3rd spot now, especially as we still have Man United left to play this season - hopefully we can reel them in.

[Insidious]

Arsenal have played an extra (30th) game, but still -

After 29 games played -

Distance from 1st - 19 points (we were 16 off, with Arsenal having played an extra game, so 3 points worse off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Villa in 4th and level with Chelsea in 5th - just 3 points separate 3rd from 6th.

Distance ahead of 6th - we are 6th, level with 5th-place Chelsea

This was a week that will be remembered for a dire performance against Wolves and an evening of many Reds finding themselves convinced that we will miss out on next season's Champion's League, which remains a very real possibility.

Crucially, if you are going to drop points, you need some luck elsewhere - Chelsea's comprehensive victory over Villa means that Man United, Aston Villa and ourselves aren't actually all that far apart from each other in terms of goal difference, with Villa's the worst at +5 just now, +9 for us and +11 for Man United - amounts that could swing quickly over the course of a fixture or two.

Man United and Villa play each other next, heaping the pressure on our upcoming fixture against Tottenham.

Villa look the worst (in terms of form) of the sides going for Champion's League football, having managed just 5-from-15 points in their last five fixtures, while we managed 4 more with 9-from-15.

It would be a great time to be a neutral (is there such a thing in this League?) as this Champion's League qualification race looks set to go to the wire, with potentially very large ramifications for the side that misses out.

Gutting as the Wolves result was, seeing us within 3 points of 3rd (thanks Newcastle!) is a breath of fresh air in what was a very smokey week.

Not long until Galatasaray, which could be a good Barometer to see if we don't even remotely deserve to feature in Europe's top Tournament, or if we still have plenty of life in us if we could just make a few key tweaks.

A fascinating month of football awaits.

[Nineteenx]

We could be third

[Steveo]

We definitely play like a 'third' at times. Or is that a number two?

[miller0863]

We haven’t seen football this lacking in any sort of cohesion or energy since the Owl

[Insidious]

We could be third

I think back to how late the goals were in the (possible mistakes incoming) Fulham and Leeds games - think those were 96th and 97th minute concessions, with both matches turning from wins into draws.

Those 4 extra points we could have would be really bloody useful just now.

C'est la vie.

[Nineteenx]

I think back to how late the goals were in the (possible mistakes incoming) Fulham and Leeds games - think those were 96th and 97th minute concessions, with both matches turning from wins into draws.

Those 4 extra points we could have would be really bloody useful just now.

C'est la vie.

Yeah it stings we dropped a few having Marma in goal in place of Alisson too despite ppl knocking the best keeper we’ve ever had

[Insidious]

After 30 games played -

Distance from 1st - 21 points (we were 19 off, with Arsenal having played an extra game, so 2 points worse off) - a pretty disconcerting gap. For context, Houllier was replaced by Benitez for finishing 30 points behind the eventual League winners.

Distance from 4th and 5th - 2 points behind Villa in 4th (we're a point better off, though no celebrating it) and we ourselves are 5th - 6 points separate 3rd from 6th, up from a 3-point gap between the cluster.

Distance ahead of 6th - we are somehow a point above Chelsea - it's hard to believe they're worse than us. A win for Brentford v Wolves would take them within 2 points of us, so they may have a late chance of a Champion's League spot if the likes of ourselves, Chelsea and Villa continue to splutter.

Indeed, unless things are rescheduled, our last 4 League games are European make-or-break games, with us due to play Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford back-to-back in something we may end up calling "Monstrous May" depending on how it goes.....

This was a week that will be remembered for a dire performance against Tottenham and a failure to find ourselves level with Villa and 3 points off third. A huge opportunity wasted and boos at Anfield, heaping further pressure onto the Galatasaray fixture, the away game against Brighton and the away trip to the Etihad for an FA Cup quarter-final against Pep Guardiola's Death Stars.

[Nineteenx]

Slot has to go 433 now and make minimal changes and get the press and counter press and shake and patterns back and get in some form

[Insidious]

After 30 games played -

Distance from 1st - 21 points (we were 19 off, with Arsenal having played an extra game, so 2 points worse off) - a pretty disconcerting gap. For context, Houllier was replaced by Benitez for finishing 30 points behind the eventual League winners.

Distance from 4th and 5th - 2 points behind Villa in 4th (we're a point better off, though no celebrating it) and we ourselves are 5th - 6 points separate 3rd from 6th, up from a 3-point gap between the cluster.

Distance ahead of 6th - we are somehow a point above Chelsea - it's hard to believe they're worse than us. A win for Brentford v Wolves would take them within 2 points of us, so they may have a late chance of a Champion's League spot if the likes of ourselves, Chelsea and Villa continue to splutter.

Indeed, unless things are rescheduled, our last 4 League games are European make-or-break games, with us due to play Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford back-to-back in something we may end up calling "Monstrous May" depending on how it goes.....

This was a week that will be remembered for a dire performance against Tottenham and a failure to find ourselves level with Villa and 3 points off third. A huge opportunity wasted and boos at Anfield, heaping further pressure onto the Galatasaray fixture, the away game against Brighton and the away trip to the Etihad for an FA Cup quarter-final against Pep Guardiola's Death Stars.

Well, we're where we're at, with just 7 left to play.

After 31 games played -

Distance from 1st - 21 points still. No improvement.

Distance from 4th and 5th - 5 points behind Villa in 4th (we're 3 points worse off) and ourselves are 5th. We find ourselves 6 points behind Man United, who are 3rd which is.....well, less said the better.

Distance ahead of 6th - we remain a solitary point above Chelsea - no change - though I expect they'll find something in these last 7 games.

Those last 4 League games against Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford remain a concern.

I think it's probably fair to say that whilst we mathematically are in the hunt, we probably aren't going to overtake Man United or Aston Villa. This is looking like a straight shoot-out with Chelsea (unless, Heaven forbid, a side like Brentford catches us, which is plausible) for that 5th spot to scrape through at the death.

Do we fancy ourselves in what is essentially a 7-game League with a 1-point head-start over Chelsea?

[jozza800]

Yeah it stings we dropped a few having Marma in goal in place of Alisson too despite ppl knocking the best keeper we’ve ever had

Don't think anyone has been knocking Ali.

You can have positive sentiment about a player without bashing another.

[jozza800]

Well, we're where we're at, with just 7 left to play.

After 31 games played -

Distance from 1st - 21 points still. No improvement.

Distance from 4th and 5th - 5 points behind Villa in 4th (we're 3 points worse off) and ourselves are 5th. We find ourselves 6 points behind Man United, who are 3rd which is.....well, less said the better.

Distance ahead of 6th - we remain a solitary point above Chelsea - no change - though I expect they'll find something in these last 7 games.

Those last 4 League games against Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford remain a concern.

I think it's probably fair to say that whilst we mathematically are in the hunt, we probably aren't going to overtake Man United or Aston Villa. This is looking like a straight shoot-out with Chelsea (unless, Heaven forbid, a side like Brentford catches us, which is plausible) for that 5th spot to scrape through at the death.

Do we fancy ourselves in what is essentially a 7-game League with a 1-point head-start over Chelsea?

Think we have to at least win all of our home games, and probably at least one away game.

Tall order.

[jozza800]

Think I read somewhere that if Villa win the UEFA Cup and finish 5th then 6th place will get a CL position.

However, if they win it and finish in the top 4 then there isn't an extra place.

[Insidious]

Think we have to at least win all of our home games, and probably at least one away game.

Tall order.

Champion's League qualification scraps are ridiculously messy affairs - I think if we got the 5 wins you suggest then we'll walk it - I don't think it will take that many points.

My bigger concern is actually getting enough even if it's less than that. It feels a minor miracle that we are 5th at the moment. Quite how Chelsea aren't ahead of us and a side like Brentford or even Everton haven't caught us to this point is pretty wild.

Hopefully the international break doesn't lead to any lads returning injured and hopefully there's a key goal or two from Isak before the season is out.