Will Manchester United finish above Liverpool in the Premier League this year ?

[SALTIRE]

Hopefully not the other 15 years also.

 

[Spear]

 

[Spear]

Manchester United 62pts
Liverpool 54pts

LOL

 

[smat]

Liverpool need quality, proven players, otherwise their promising young squad is going to end like Arsenal's did. With the best players getting itchy feet and leaving before the team was able to fulfil its potential. It may be already happening with Sterling.

The problem is that quality, proven players are expensive and might not want to join a team outside of the Champions League. So they're sort of stuck, really. Rodgers has a lot of qualities but he's been shown up for his inexperience several times this season, and I doubt he can lift them into the top four without significant investment (even Van Gaal has needed that).

United and ourselves look likely to improve next season and have the spending power to bolster our squads, Chelsea aren't realistically going to regress enough for Liverpool to catch them. Could City be the team most likely to drop a level?

 

[Jarv]

Liverpool need quality, proven players, otherwise their promising young squad is going to end like Arsenal's did. With the best players getting itchy feet and leaving before the team was able to fulfil its potential. It may be already happening with Sterling.

The problem is that quality, proven players are expensive and might not want to join a team outside of the Champions League. So they're sort of stuck, really. Rodgers has a lot of qualities but he's been shown up for his inexperience several times this season, and I doubt he can lift them into the top four without significant investment (even Van Gaal has needed that).

United and ourselves look likely to improve next season and have the spending power to bolster our squads, Chelsea aren't realistically going to regress enough for Liverpool to catch them. Could City be the team most likely to drop a level?

This season maybe If Liverpool hadn't messed it up City could have found themselves out of the top 4 but realistically they'll spend in the summer and have a new manager the existing players will want to impress and the top 4 will be locked down for the forseeable future.

Where do City and Liverpool stand in terms of hitting FFP?

 

[thespus]

United and ourselves look likely to improve next season and have the spending power to bolster our squads, Chelsea aren't realistically going to regress enough for Liverpool to catch them. Could City be the team most likely to drop a level?

I think City are in the worst position moving forward of the current top four. Silva is aging and has made noise about returning to Spain. Toure is past his prime and without him their midfield is sub-standard next to all the other top teams. Nasri is a good player, but they need some real quality on the wings. Navas and Milner aren't starting XI quality for any of the top 4 sides. Kompany looks lost and has regressed, but a new manager could help him rediscover his obvious talent. Mangala seems a bit of a bust. Zabaleta is getting up there, and neither of Kolarov or Clichy are particularly impressive. Given their inorganic riches, they will need to be savvy in the market to re-tool this side around Aguero, Bony, and Kompany. Jovetic and Dzeko could both warrant decent transfer fees. I imagine Liverpool will be looking at one of the two.

 

[Christian Slater]

I think City are in the worst position moving forward of the current top four. Silva is aging and has made noise about returning to Spain. Toure is past his prime and without him their midfield is sub-standard next to all the other top teams. Nasri is a good player, but they need some real quality on the wings. Navas and Milner aren't starting XI quality for any of the top 4 sides. Kompany looks lost and has regressed, but a new manager could help him rediscover his obvious talent. Mangala seems a bit of a bust. Zabaleta is getting up there, and neither of Kolarov or Clichy are particularly impressive. Given their inorganic riches, they will need to be savvy in the market to re-tool this side around Aguero, Bony, and Kompany. Jovetic and Dzeko could both warrant decent transfer fees. I imagine Liverpool will be looking at one of the two.

Spot on. Their next influx of players is imperative they get right. It'll be interesting to see what would happen if they slipped out of the top 4 in the coming years.

 

[JimJams]

It's quite amazing how people are talking about City as though they are a spent force given that a win tonight puts them back in 2nd place.

 

[Christian Slater]

It's quite amazing how people are talking about City as though they are a spent force given that a win tonight puts them back in 2nd place.

It's more that they're not miles ahead of the competition and have a lot of rebuilding to do due to their ageing and ailing squad.

 

[thespus]

It's quite amazing how people are talking about City as though they are a spent force given that a win tonight puts them back in 2nd place.

Thought I did a decent job detailing why I thought they're declining. I don't think they are a spent force. It is just my view that United and Arsenal are in a little better shape moving forward, not that City can't make a few changes and be genuine title challengers next season.

If anything, I think it's amazing that they're spoken of as being in a tier with Chelsea rather the aforementioned clubs.

 

[JimJams]

Its not just you guys. and you put your points across fair enough, but outside the forum I see a fair few people talk about City as the team to drop out of the top four next season (if they're not careful) and some on here have also said that. Now they may not be as good as Chelsea, but out of all the other teams in the league this season how often has it looked like City won't achieve CL football next year by comparison to the rest? Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool have all looked to be flirting with that 5th spot at some point, and only now when games in hand have been played over City, and the top 4 looks all but mathematically done anyway thanks to Liverpool dropping off, do people start to question their ability to do it next year.
City could have a disastrous season next year, but equally they could add some quality and win the league.
What's more likely? City to win the league or drop out the top 4?

 

[thespus]

I don't think either are particularly likely, to be fair. I tend to think this year's top four will likely find themselves there again next season. Liverpool or Tottenham would have to considerably strengthen. I think City's biggest test will be cumulative over the next 2-3 seasons where Toure, Silva, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Dzeko, Kolarov/Clichy, etc. will all need to be phased out. They have money to burn, but they also must adhere to both FFP and homegrown regulations - something they are going to struggle with. They'll be trying to throw huge sums at Sterling, Henderson, Ramsey,Walcott, Wilshere, Kane, etc. over the next few summers which inhibits their abilities to sign a Reus, or Pogba, or Hummels.

 

[JimJams]

I'm pretty sure I put a hex on the fuckers when I made my earlier posts.

 

[JimJams]

Confirmed.

 

[Spear]

wtg jj

 

[Spear]

Liverpool scored 10 less, and conceded 8 more. Golden glove is within reach

This is also the first time in 499 days that Manchester united have been above Manchester Citeh, same games played

 

[Spear]

My goodness

 

[Spear]

Manchester United 65pts
Liverpool 54pts

LOL

 

[CFC91]

My pre season bet with a Liverpool fan at work regards United is looking like cruising in.

 

[Stevencc]

Get ready to pay up Shane.

 

[Spear]

Manchester United 65pts
Liverpool 58pts ( and game in hand )

LOL

 

[Spear]

Manchester United 65ps
Liverpool 58pts ( no game in hand pmsl )

LOL

"There is nobody better than me"

 

[silkyman]

Closing in...

 

[Stevencc]

Lucky for us it's Liverpool that are doing the chasing.

 

[Red]

Lucky for us it's Liverpool that are doing the chasing.

Can't see Liverpool doing it. If they'd not fucked up at Hull maybe, but not now.

 

[silkyman]

FFS Rodgers... You had ONE job.

Where do I chip in for the next banner?

 

[Stevencc]

Can't see Liverpool doing it. If they'd not fucked up at Hull maybe, but not now.

Yeah I agree mate, had Liverpool picked up the win there it would be very close.

 

[Spear]

Manchester United 65pts
Liverpool 61pts (gulp)

LOL

 

[Whitechapel]

 

[Humongous Fungus]

Didn't United come out and say that 3rd place was the bare minimum that they needed for financial reasons? Will LVG get the sack if he finished 4th?