The Dream is still alive...... isn't it? :/

2 weeks ago I was suggesting 4th was still possible. At the time we were heavily reliant on Spurs losing to Arsenal and Chelsea whilst we had to pick up maximum points from our remaining games.  

Ok, quick progress report...

Spurs ignored the script and managed to pull out a couple of amazing victories over their London rivals - who'd have thought it?

Man City, meanwhile, were sticking 5 past Birmingham to take 4th at the time but later succumbed to yet another injury time winner against their bitter rivals, which, whilst the timing of the goal was particularly annoying, the result was actually in our favour.

These results followed our 'bore-draw' with Fulham and whilst last nights confidence boosting 3 - 0 victory over a lacklustre West Ham side kept the dream alive, it has left our chances of finishing 4th almost impossible....

....but still mathematically achievable.


The Dream

So, the Fat Lady is gargling and I'm clutching at straws with one hand...

...blindfolded...

...in a strong breeze...

Nevertheless, I thought I'd revisit the run-in again, not just to see how much of an epic task we're now facing to claim 4th but what our chances are of finishing 5th or 6th - and lets not kid ourselves, we could well struggle for one of the Europa spots let alone that final Champions League spot!

So, whilst I have absolutely no intention of sparking a debate about the pro's and con's of Liverpool perhaps not even participating in a European competition next season it is with tongue firmly in cheek that I wondered if I could conjure up a way to get us to 4th - at least on paper!

The ratio of madness to seriousness is probably 60/40…

Ok 70/30…

Hmm maybe 80/20…

Ok 90/10 but I can’t be the only one trying to work out how LFC can claims 4^th spot.... can I?

Yeah ok, I probably am but so what!!

Anyway, it's very unlikely, but how cool would this situation be?

·         Spurs lose to ManUre and Citeh, beat Bolton but draw away at Burnley on the last day of the season
·         Citeh lose to the Arse, lose to Villa then beat Spurs and West Ham
·         Villa beat Hull, draw against Birmingham then beat Citeh and Blackburn
·         Liverpool, of course, win their remaining 3 games ;o)

This would then mean all 4 teams finish on 68 points with the final positions being decided on Goal Difference!

Here's a very optimistic prediction for this scenario:

	Points	Goal Diff.							Points	Goal Diff.
Spurs	64	28			LFC				59	24
Man Utd (A)	0	-2			Burnley (A)				3	+2
Bolton (H)	3	+3			Chelsea (H)				3	+1
Man City (A)	0	-1			Hull (A)				3	+2
Burnley (A)	1	+0							68	29
	68	28
Man City	62	27			Villa				58	13
Arsenal (A)	0	-2			Hull (A)				3	+2
Villa (H)	0	-1			Birmingham (H)				1	+0
Spurs (H)	3	+1			Man City (A)				3	+1
West Ham (A)	3	+2			Blackburn (H)				3	+2
	68	27							68	18
	Current Pts	Current GD	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Final Pts	Final GD
LFC	59	24	3	3	0	0	5	0	5	9	68	29
Spurs	64	28	4	1	1	2	3	3	0	4	68	28
Man City	62	27	4	2	0	2	3	3	0	6	68	27
Villa	58	13	4	3	1	0	5	0	5	10	68	18

YES! Champions League here we come!!

What are the odds on that? 

Gotta be worth a cheeky fiver?

No?

Or maybe it's time for the medication and a little lie down!!

Yeah ok, it's nice to dream eh? :D


The Reality

Whilst that chink of light is still existent I don't think we should give up, in fact some players have also been quoted as not giving up hope just yet.  I think the fact that few people believed Spurs would actually overcome Arsenal and Chelsea back to back serves as proof that you just never know what can happen.

However, the fact remains, we need to salvage whatever we can from the season.

5th or 6th is very achievable and presents the opportunity for another season in a European competition, so lets take it, even if some would suggest that the Europa League compared to the Champions League is like comparing a Capri to a Ferrari.

We must not forget that we are 180 minutes away from another European Final.

Once again we face an uphill struggle thanks to Volcano Eyjafjallajokull attempting to derail our chances by forcing the team on a 1,200 mile journey via road and rail, as a result of the, now infamous, ash cloud preventing flights. Although, fingers crossed the team may be able to fly the rest of the way tomorrow.

If away legs of a European competition weren't tough enough, ESPN and the FA thought it reasonable for us to play West Ham on Monday night before undertaking the tiring journey whilst Atletico had the pleasure of a Saturday game and therefore a full 4 days relaxation and preparation for the 1st leg on their own turf.

Nevertheless, the boys will be up for it, and to quote Yossi Benayoun "we need to try and win the game for him (Torres) and for the whole club. I think it's important to finish this disappointing season with a trophy"

As with the 1st leg against Benfica, a defeat is not the end of it, but an away goal and only a narrow margin to bring back home will inevitably set up another amazing European tie under the lights at Anfield.  We may be without our star striker but we have goals from elsewhere in our team and it is at times like these where we call upon the likes of David N'Gog and Ryan Babel to step up and prove that they deserve their place in the starting line up and they deserve to pull on that shirt.

We saw last night a glimpse of our Captain playing the pivotal role we know he can. We saw a good work rate and free flowing football.  We saw a solid defensive performance by Jamie Carragher and Sotirios Kyrgiakos with excellent marauding runs from Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger.  We saw another clean sheet from Pepe Reina, who some would argue is the best 'keeper in the Premier League (and with an unequalled 15 shut outs this season that's a fair shout). More importantly we saw goals, 3 of them, without Fernando Torres on the pitch - proof that it can be done.

True that this game was against a team fighting for their survival in the Premier League, but let that not detract from the professional way that our team went about their task. We have to take every positive we can find now and carry it into the game on Thursday night in the Vicente Calderon.