Sunday, May 06, 2018

Liverpool Never Misses an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

Final at Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0.

Tottenham lost yesterday at West Brom. Liverpool were in the driver's seat for automatic qualification for next season's Champions League. Tough venue, Stamford Bridge, absolutely; last year's champions too; good team, fifth in the table. But what an opportunity. If Liverpool had won they would have been five points ahead of Spurs and nine ahead of Chelsea. Chelsea would have been eliminated from Champions League automatic qualification. Spurs would have been hurtin' for certain.

But no. Liverpool lost. Didn't even get the point with a draw. Lost. Now: Liverpool are one peepy point ahead of Spurs and Spurs have an extra match to make up the difference. Now, Chelsea are three points behind Liverpool, two behind Spurs in fourth and they have an extra match.

Remaining matches: Spurs are home to Newcastle on May 9 as is Chelsea to Town. Those are their games in hand. Now, I know! "Lads, it's Tottenham." Spurs may spit the bit again. Liverpool are going to have to count on that now. Both Spurs and Chelsea will be huge favorites to win their games in hand, which would leap Spurs over Liverpool into third, bumping 'Pool down to fourth even on points with Chelsea but possessing a superior goal difference.

It is likely therefore to come to the final day of the season, May 13. All three competing clubs will be at home, Liverpool to 14th Brighton, Chelsea to 10th Newcastle, Spurs to 9th Leicester. All three will be dead-on favorites. If the chalk holds May 9 Liverpool will just have to match Chelsea:win for win, draw for draw, L for L, to get the fourth spot. For about a month now Liverpool has fucked up every other game. They fucked up today which, following the pattern, predicts they will win against Brighton and then all of Liverpool can have a circle jerk at Pier Head.