The worrying thing about last night was just how predictable it all was. I had zero confidence we'd get anything other than beaten leading into the game. Beating them to the cup on Sunday, poor record at Anfield, the fact that Liverpool only seem to actually turn up when they play City, it all pointed towards a defeat, and a defeat in which we played poorly.
Last night was just the latest in a long line of awful performances this season, Spurs away, Liverpool at home, Leicester at home, West Ham at home, Stoke away, Arsenal away, Villa away, we've dropped points on a regular basis, and in an appalling manner. Still no back to back league wins since Bournemouth in mid October.
Our record against those sides around us is fucking embarrassing. In 10 games against Liverpool, United, West Ham, Arsenal, Leicester and Spurs we've picked up 3 points, 3 FUCKING POINTS!! We've conceded 22 goals into the bargain over those 10 games, we only conceded 29 goals in the entire season when we won the league under Mancini!
We're in real danger of slipping out of the top 4, which is completely unacceptable given the players we've got. We simply can't afford to be playing Europa League football next season. People have been slagging off Van Gaal, and United, all season, saying how shit they've been. Well, they're behind us on goal difference now (albeit with City having a game in hand) so what does that say about Pellegrini and City? We've no hope in hell of winning the Champion's League so a top 4 finish is a must.
I predict what result I believe City will get in each league game before the season starts, to project what points we'll finish on, and then to measure progress against that. Currently we are 11 points worse off than where I felt we would be. In our remaining games I predicted we'd win 8 and draw 3, dropping points away to Chelsea and Southampton, and at home to Arsenal. When you look at some of the teams we play between now and the end of the season you can see why, back in August, I was fairly confident. Villa, Norwich, Bournemouth, West Brom, Swansea, Newcastle, they all look winnable. If we achieve that points return, 27 points, we'd finish on 74 and be pretty certain of a top 4 finish, and not too far off top spot. However given what we've seen this season you'd be mad to expect that level of return. If I were to predict the results now I'd probably go for 5 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats, 17 points, finishing on 64 and being in a real scrap to finish in the top 4. The season, regardless of the Capital One Cup, has been an appalling mess.
