Latest news
News FREE to Sign Up!! Do it now and play Victor Predictor for FREE this Season!!
Victor’s Blog
Liverpool & Everton - Run-in Predictions
Written by Patrick | 13th March 2008 | 0 Comment(s)
For the first time in a few seasons the English Premier League has had to struggle for the excitement of major issues to be decided during the closing matches, but this term there won't be many mundane fixtures for fans to have to endure at the top end which has generally centred on the race for 4th rather than the title itself.
The fight for points and places at either end of the table will take much of the attention and once again we also have the added issue of Merseyside supremacy for the 4th Champions League spot, which could prove just as intriguing as the other battles.
It's strange how local pride has been at stake on two other occasions recently with Everton piping Liverpool in 2005 (although it didn't matter for qualification in the end) and Arsenal edging out their fierce North London rivals Tottenham a season later on the final day.
Many will surmise that Liverpool's quality is far superior, but if that was the case then they would be only ahead of Everton on goal difference with just nine games to play.
The Toffees' exit from Europe may well have been hard to take on the night against Fiorentina, but with Liverpool soldiering on in the Champions League there remains the probability that Rafa Benitez will rest some of his stars surrounding those matches, and of course David Moyes will have the confidence from that successful campaign a few years ago.
At this time of the season it can be fun to go through those remaining fixtures and try to gain a few clues on which club will gain that 4th place, which could prove so vital assuming Liverpool don't actually go on to win the Champions League for a sixth occasion.
Liverpool Fixtures (Liverpool score shown first):-
Reading H 3-0
Man Utd A 0-2
Everton H 1-1
Arsenal A 1-2
Blackburn H 3-1
Fulham A 2-1
Birm'ham A 1-1
Man City H 3-0
Tottenham A 1-1
Total Pts - 71
Everton Fixtures (Everton score shown first):-
Fulham A 2-0
West Ham H 2-0
Liverpool A 1-1
Derby H 4-0
Birm'ham A 1-1
Chelsea H 1-1
Aston V H 1-1
Arsenal A 0-1
Newcastle H 2-1
Total Pts - 72
Basically, I've taken the opportunity to sit on the fence regarding the derby match in a few weeks, but handily for Everton it does arrive immediately before the 1st Leg of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final.
Everton would appear to have their easier matches at a time when Liverpool must visit both Manchester United and Arsenal, and I have a feeling that if they aren't in front after Liverpool play their match at The Emirates then David Moyes' team will probably fail.
Of course all fans will come up with completely different sets of scores as football is all about opinion and that is one of the things that makes it so much fun, but it would appear that Everton certainly has a pretty good chance.
The gap that has appeared over the last few weeks behind Everton should at least suggest that European football of some description will be played at Goodison Park next season.
It is generally accepted that 70 points is usually more than enough to qualify so it may well be that one half of Merseyside will be disappointed this term, and as previously stated a Liverpool success in the Champions League, a competition in which Benitez has proven a master tactician, could ultimately be the decisive factor.
However, that is something David Moyes' team can not affect and they must concentrate on the nine games that could prove so rewarding for their own ambitions.
Sign up to play Victor Predictor now!
Comments
Nobody’s left a comment about this article yet, but don’t let that stop you! Let us know what you think:
