Liverpool FC Forum

[Owzat]

Sorry I don't have time to do this different or indeed fully, I will have to copy it from where I posted it originally and let you all see it while I clear off.

Liverpool got off to the start they would have wanted, even if there were a few somewhat controversial moments supplied by the ref. But after the next home game against Chelsea Liverpool have a nice little run of winnable games which could get the team off to a good start for a change. A lot may rest on the next fixture, sod's law it would come quite so early in the season

19/08 Chelsea (h)
25/08 Sunderland (a)
01/09 Derby (h)
15/09 Portsmouth (a)
22/09 Birmingham (h)
29/09 Wigan (a)

If Liverpool can show title form and get through that lot unbeaten then the real tests come along from October onwards

07/10 Tottenham (h)
20/10 Everton (a)
28/10 Arsenal (h)
03/11 Blackburn (a)
10/11 Fulham (h)
24/11 Newcastle (a)

The three tough away ties that came along early last season now come early next year, but bizarrely this season and last in consecutive months in an 8 week period and in the same order spaced relatively even weeks apart! (spooky considering they could have been evenly spaced throughout the season)

2007/8

09/02 Chelsea (a)
----------------------- 6 weeks
22/03 Man Utd (a)
----------------------- 2 weeks
05/04 Arsenal (a)

2006/7

17/09 Chelsea (a)
----------------------- 5 weeks
22/10 Man Utd (a)
----------------------- 3 weeks
12/11 Arsenal (a)

I reckon if Liverpool can pick up seventeen or more points from the first seven games then they will be right up there. Astoundingly Rafa has picked up exactly ten points from seven games in each of his first three starts

Rafa's Premiership Starts

2004/5 DWLWLWL = 10 points from a possible 21.
Tottenham, Bolton, Man Utd and Chelsea away from home in that lot - no prizes for guessing the three 'L's belong to the latter three teams/ties mentioned

2005/6 DWDDDLW = 10 points from a possible 21
Chelsea and Man Utd at home being the loss and one of the draws, the others were three away draws

2006/7 DWLLWWL = 10 points fom a possible 21
An opening day away draw to Sheff Utd and three away defeats to Everton, Chelsea and Bolton in there.


Of those seven defeats only one was at home (Chelsea) and the others were away to Bolton twice, Chelsea twice, Everton and Man Utd

Rafa has started his campaign AWAY in each season in charge so far - he remains unbeaten! It is absolutely annoying that Liverpool have had to face Chelsea in the first seven games FOUR years in a row while they've had all that money with some other tough ties to boot. And of course not to mention drawing them in the Champions League every season so far.

By the way Liverpool haven't been "randomly" drawn to play their opening fixture at home since 2003/4 - FOUR consecutive seasons!

2007/08 Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
2006/07 Sheff Utd 1-1 Liverpool
2005/06 Middlesboro 0-0 Liverpool
2004/05 Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool
2003/04 Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
2002/03 Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
2001/02 Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

2000/01 Liverpool 1-0 Bradford
1999/00 Sheff Wed 1-2 Liverpool
1998/99 Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
1997/98 Wimbledon 1-1 Liverpool
1996/97 Middlesboro 3-3 Liverpool
1995/96 Liverpool 1-0 Sheff Wed
1994/95 C Palace 1-6 Liverpool
1993/94 Liverpool 2-0 Sheff Wed
1992/93 Notts Forest 1-0 Liverpool

SIXTEEN Premiership seasons and Liverpool have played their opening fixture at home just FIVE times

[burjennio]

you might wanna check your stats again, we lost at home 2003 - 2004 to Chelsea opening day, Veron scored the winner at Anfield

[Owzat]

You're right, no idea how I missed that one. I thought it was unlikely we'd not lost for that long. I was kinda hoping someone would check although that they wouldn't find it wrong.