If there are no other injuries, we can still put out a strong midfield line-up with Carsley, Pienaar, Osman, Arteta, Neville and Graveson to choose from....

Am confident that we can still cope and get a result at Anfield without Cahill. But do hope AJ is fit tho...... Got a feeling that he will score if he plays!!!!

COYB!!!!!!!!

I still think Everton will snatch 4th spot.

no you dont.

What the hell ben. So know your a mind reader.

in this instance yes, he is just saying it to get a reaction. Even though he will not get what he hopes, he will just end up looking foolish when they might end up in 6th position.

I think he is aswell. I could of understood it if Everton had gotten a draw at Liverpool but they are quite a way off now and have some tough games coming i think 4th spot is Liverpools now.

I know, he's as bad as the Ben91. He still thinks Liverpool can win the league.

6 games = 18 points. That is a lot of points to gain or throw away. It is not over yet. Next he'll be saying Newcatle can't catch Spurs.

League Fixtures Liverpool
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 05 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal v Liverpool, 12:45

2 v 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Blackburn, 13:30

1v1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00

0v2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham v Liverpool, 15:00
1v1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Man City, 15:00

1 v 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham v Liverpool, 15:00

1 v 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixtures Everton

Sunday, 06 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Everton v Derby, 15:00
2v0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham v Everton, 15:00
1v2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Everton v Chelsea, 20:00
1v0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Everton v Aston Villa, 16:00
1v0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal v Everton, 15:00
0v1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Everton v Newcastle, 15:00
1v2

I've been as unbiased as I can. Can someone work out the positions I've got a bit lost.

I think 4th spot is Pool's to lose. We are still in it but its looking very very tough. The next 3 games will define whether we are still in with a shout for 4th or settling for 5th.

We must get at least 7 points from the next 3 games to have any chance at all:

Derby (h) - MUST win
Birm (a) - Must win
Chelsea (h) - Must not lose

Its not worth thinking of the remaining games if we can't get the points from the above indicated ones.

That can't be very much then Monty. You've got us drawing to Blackburn, Birmingham and Spurs with Everton beating each of Arsenal, Chelsea and Villa, despite ourselves being in much better form and Everton's form dipping considerably in recent weeks. You've been a bit kind to them i think...

With those predictions the table would look like this though:

4. Everton / 72 pts / + 26
5. Liverpool / 71 pts / + 34

Which pretty much sums up the task Everton have. We need to produce a few very poor results with them getting some excellent ones, to then only narrowly clinch it anyway. I'm confident fourth place is ours.

Very true, 4th spot is Liverpool's to lose........ There is still a slim possiblity of Everton clinching it. But don't think its gonna happen. Well...... but what do I know, stranger things have happened in football.

The next 3 games will be the decider as I have said.

I think you needed us to lose to Arsenal really. If we get points there then i can't see us fluffing up too much from now until May. In fact, i'd say if we go through against Arsenal on Tuesday (it remains a BIG "if", still) then fourth will be secured simultaneously... Our confidence will be such that i couldn't see any way of you catching us. If we go out then there's hope, as we'll be demoralised and disheartened at losing our one chance for glory.

Still a long shot either way you look at it. And perhaps another run in the UEFA Cup would serve you better anyway. Your squad is quite thin and gradual progress should be the route to go down - people have this idea that once you get into the Champions League you'll get loads of money and be able to attract much better players, but it takes a sustained period of qualification for it to actual take much effect. You're better building a squad capable of managing the Champions League and Europe, and then enter, rather than risk being "one-season wonders". Not that i think Everton are too far off from being capable.

Yes I agree very much with you. Surprised to hear such balanced and insightful comments about Everton coming from a pool fan!!!

I personally would prefer us to have another 1 or 2 seasons more of UEFA Cup experience before actually having to qualify for the CL. Look at Sevilla as an example. They had two successful runs in it and did very well in this season's CL making it to the knockout rounds!

I am sure Liverpool will get it because the team is in much better form (since that upset to Barnsley 8 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss) and are scoring goals. Recently in the league Everton have been struggling to register one let alone multiple goals

Maybe injuries hit Everton but cannot see Everton going to the Emirates and winning, beating Birmingham away let alone scoring 2 goals followed up by a win against a Chelsea team in very good form (can see a draw but the form Chelsea have had since Drogba's return plus the more to play for suggests a Chelsea win)

We were the team on form prior to pool's good run. Form can change very quickly and a reverse might happen with pool going back into a slump again while Everton starts another winning streak.

To have the slightest outside chance, we need to discover our form very quickly and hope pool fumble.

The only other way I see us getting 4th is to have bluenose predicting that Everton will ultimately finish in 4th spot!!!!

Bluey m8, get to work!!!!

Everton need some cash if they are to break into the big time in the long run. Either that or maybe a Uefa Cup win or final as a reputation boost.

They definitely need one or two players of real top four quality.

Roma and Villarreal have shown that with one or two top quality players a team is more than capable of finishing highly. Villarreal got to the Champions League semi final based almost entirely on Riquelme. Roma have enjoyed prolonged success using Totti. Arguably Liverpool did the same with Gerrard. Porto won the Champions League using Deco as the centre for everything in an otherwise average CL wise squad.

Everton right now don't have that one creative lynchpin on which to build there team, which in the absence of a squad of great players (which Everton have no chance of acquiring on their budget) is the best way to break into the top four or even three. Arteta is the best candidate but he just isn't that good as the big four all have plenty better players.

It's either that or to be ruthlessly efficient defensively and organised like Porto did in the Champions League and Valencia used to do in La Liga.

I would rather have Arteta in preference to Gerrard in our team, he's far more skillful and would fit in better with our world class players

I would too, but only cause Gerrard can't keep the ball or pass and our play centres around keeping the ball. Plus you need to build around Gerrard and we wouldn't want that.

Well, if thats what you are saying then he IS a top player! Aside from Man Utd or Chelsea, I believe he can step into any other premiership team's first 11.

To compete with the likes of Ars and Pool or even have a decent run in the CL, we definately need to add more quality which is what Moyes is doing all the while. Adding another quality striker, a left sided midfielder and a solid right fullback should bring us up another level!

He's more of a flair player than the kind of player you can build a team round. He's more Luis Garcia than Riquelme. Plus he would be a squad player in a top team and back up in some. Deco, Riquelme, Juninho, Totti etc.. would be stars in anyones team.