SixtiesFox

On the cusp of Champions League football - again, new state of the art training facility about to open and a planned stadium expansion to upwards of 40k. Far cry from League 1 football just over a decade ago. We have the best owners in professional sports and they're going nowhere! How lucky we are!

1. Liverpool - 107 points 2. Manchester City - 87 points 3. Wolverhampton Wanderers - 70 points 4. Tottenham Hotspur - 70 points 5. Leicester City - 69 points 6. Manchester United - 69 points 7. Chelsea - 65 points ........... just my opinion https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-premier-league/ Even the most optimistic Spurs and Wolves fans would not be predicting this. Wolves and Spurs still have to play each other. Wolves also have Chelsea and Sheff U away and the mighty LCFC in a couple of weeks plus 10 other games, many against teams battling against relegation. Likewise Spurs also have to go to Chelsea and have games against Man U, Arsenal, Sheff U and the mighty LCFC. I also can't see the mighty Foxes not winning 7 of their remaining 13 to get to 70 points. In fact, 67 (5 wins and and 3 draws) would be a tough target for any of our chasers to overhaul. Would you want to put any money on the above scenario?

Norwich and West Ham to go down with the Villa.

Perspective. Only 7 points separates 5th - 14th. Each will all be jostling hard for position and all are well capable of beating each other on any given day. Also, lots of potential for draws. We are 12 points clear of Spurs with a far superior goal difference and we are an excellent team. It is hard to imagine that we won't win 6 or 7 games from our remaining fixtures. That would require 11 wins from 13 for one of Spurs, Man U, Wolves etc. None have shown the slightest indication that they are capable of that level of consistency. We also have a substantial lead on Chelsea who are equally inconsistent. Rodgers will make sure that the players focus on maximizing performance levels and taking each game as it comes, rather than getting distracted by the results of those around us. As fans, we must try to do the same as we don't want to communicate our nervousness to the players from the terraces.

Haven't had time to read the reactions but watched the game. Clearly a game we should have won, but the result is key. Avoiding defeat against our closest rival is much better for us than for them. Make no mistake, they are in a 4-way battle for fourth. More opportunity for those teams to beat each other up. We shouldn't be looking over our shoulders. 5 or 6 more wins should be enough. Inexperience is our key flaw at the moment and this is being most obviously manifested in our missing guilt edged chances; often the difference between winning and losing. It is no surprise that Vardy's lack of sharpness since Christmas, mainly due to injury, has been crucial. His goals to chance ratio was ridiculously high prior to this barren run and we were on a tear. Unfortunately, that was unsustainable so the burden has passed to others like Barnes (no implied criticism here he is a young and exciting talent but he snatches at his chances and leans back - something that he will correct and then he'll be frighteningly good) and that is where we've been found wanting. Missing these opportunities also puts more pressure on our defence, hence we are now conceding more goals. Despite all this our current league position hasn't worsened over the last 6 games even though we've been on, by our standards, a shocking run. Although relegation form should see us home from here, once we get a couple of good wins behind us we'll finish third in a canter.

Underwhelming for some but a shrewd acquisition. He'll bring experience, toughness, and leadership all much needed qualities that will enhance our squad as we attempt to clinch a Champions League spot. Expect marquee signings in the summer when money goes further and we can attract the higher quality players by offering them guaranteed CL football. We are building something here not trying to look good.

Absolutely gutted. But sometimes an inferior team can gut it out, ride their luck and benefit from a goalkeeper who literally stands on his head. Villa managed it over two legs! Add in a stonewall penalty not given and it simply wasn't meant to be. We also have to acknowledge that we made a big contribution to our own demise by not taking our numerous chances. We've all seen it happen to good teams numerous times in cup competitions over the years. A bigger concern is that we are also developing a worrying habit of freezing / not turning up on the big occasions. The lack of energy and urgency in a big semi final is also hard to fathom. This we must sort out if the progress made under Rodgers is to bear fruit as we battle on in the FA Cup and in the Champions League next season. One other bright spot is that we can sit back and watch Villa getting ripped to pieces by Man City as Watford were in the FA Cup final last year!

At the semi-final stage you go for it. Fabulous occasion at Wembley for everyone involved with the club to enjoy. But as for which is more important, then it's a top 4 finish; no contest. In the longer term finishing in the top 4 will better help the club to reach the next level. With Champions League football we'll have a better chance of holding on to our best players and attracting higher calibre players in the future.

Absolutely right but with Leicester nothing's certain 'til it's certain. Wolves were comfortably the better team tonight and, along with Sevilla, a real threat to win the Europa League.

Hate the Liverpool love fest but ultimately a good result for us. A fourteen point cushion plus a superior goal difference, with 14 games to go - 8 wins and avoid defeat at Wolves - job done! Also, with only 4 points separating 5th to 14th plenty of scope for that lot to do each other in. Even 6 wins from our remaining games would set a tough target for any of the teams trying to overhaul us.

Agreed. The next 4 games will go a long way towards defining our season. But which is the most important? I think I'd take a win tonight as it would, at the very least, maintain the all important gap to fourth. The CL must continue to be our top priority as it is the best way for us to get to the next level as a club. Glory in the FA Cup or a League Cup win would be massive moments to enjoy, but would do little to get us to that 'next level'. Remember Wigan? Come on you Foxes, let's win this one and calm everyone's nerves!

Huge game. We need to up our work rate and intensity. Bring in Albrighton for Perez, Choudhury for Mendy and Tielemans for Praet. Our loss of form means that we must now out work the opposition, something we failed to do against Southampton and, even more crucially, against a very poor Burnley side who were there for the taking. Time to stand up and be counted. Get stuck in and we beat West Ham, a team with a lot of talent but a team that doesn't like to get it's hands dirty. Against Brentford play a strong second string; given the chance to impress they should give everything they've got. Then, against Villa, play our strongest 11 aided by the return of Wilf and we should be firmly back on track; looking forward to a Wembley final, still at least 11 points clear of 5th in the League and hopefully still in the FA cup.

After Saturday's hapless display this is perhaps the most significant piece of news in a while.

Chilwell and Hamza - "Missed an important tactical session"- disciplinary action. Trouble.

What a chance missed. Against a very poor Burnley team we lost a game we could, and probably should, have won. A win today and we would have had a 14 point cushion to 5th. 7 points from 7 games is relegation form but with a 14 point lead we could have staggered to the finish line. West Ham now becomes a must win as we then have a tough run in the league and that gap could disappear very quickly. This team lacks fight. Lack of hunger today cost us and this is what has to change if we are to stay in the top 4.

Made it through to halftime with our noses in front. We look very imbalanced. Continuing to play Perez out of position on the wing doesn't help. I'd bring on Albrighton or Gray to address this. Ricardo is our best player going forward but his forays upfield leave us exposed at the back. With the lead we now need to establish our possession game, draw them out and catch them on the break for a killer second. Win ugly if we have to as a win here is huge going forward as it would be a hammer blow to our would be chasers.

Pivotal game today. Win it and the pressure is relieved, particularly with West Ham to come in midweek. It will be a struggle but we must tough it out.

We have the best owners in world football and one of the best coaches in the Premier League. They know the stakes are high as we sit on the cusp of Champions League qualification. In this window, priority number one will be to hold onto our most talented young players. If we can bring in a player or two to strengthen our European bid we will, but we won't be held to ransom nor will we panic buy. Our transfer kitty will stretch much further in the summer and, if we have secured a Champions League spot, we'll be able to attract the higher calibre of player essential to our bid to become perennial top four challengers.

Media in particular and some elements of social media love to kick a man when he's down. Did they say in commentary during the Villa game that he'd made three appearances in two years, all against Man City?! The guy needs to be cut a bit of slack. He'll always be a Leicester legend and I hope he gets the chance to recapture a bit of form at Villa.

Although we still have the luxury of the comfortable cushion we earned in the first half of the season, if we are to qualify for the CL we will need to scrap. A drop in form can hit any team at any time but insufficient effort and desire cannot be tolerated. Any player not giving their all needs to be dropped regardless of how talented they are. It will be interesting to see who is prepared to stand up and be counted now the going is getting tough. Mark Albrighton is just the kind of player who could have a galvanizing effect against a team like Burnley.

Rodger's must now earn his corn. Our young, inexperienced squad is being exposed. Unlike the more experienced pros whose performance levels are not greatly affected when the team's form drops (Vardy, Evans, Schmeichel) because they've experienced the highs and lows many times before, our younger players' confidence levels are more fragile (Barnes, Chilwell, Choudhury). The danger is that if their confidence is further undermined by poor team performances and results the pressure will build and our season could begin to fall apart. Our next league game against Burnley is massive, therefore. If we win it and arrest the slide, confidence will begin to return and we can begin to reaffirm our top 4 credentials and slam the door on the chasing pack who are beginning to see a chink of light as they strive to close the gap. In addition, how to compensate for the loss of Ndidi, whose absence was massively emphasized today, will also be a challenge that Rodgers will need to urgently address.

We've looked so much better since Tielemans came on, but to be fair we don't deserve to get anything from this game. A massive reality check. Hopefully it will jolt us into life as we try to maintain our place in the top 4

Quite simply payed off the park. Should be a couple of goals down but crucially we are on level terms. We will be better second half once Rodgers freshens things up They may pay the price for profligate finishing and some bad luck. Top teams find a way and we are not second in the league for no reason.

Like many others on here I'm worried about Tielemans. Fabulous vision, great ball control but he lacks pace. His gait seems awkward. Also, without Ndidi beside him in the first half his limitations were further exposed. A little reminiscent of how important Kante was to Drinkwater. Hamza must play while Ndidi is out injured. We looked so much better in the second half and he played a huge part in turning things around. His energy and enthusiasm breaking up the play was superb. His distribution is also improving considerably. And a shout out to Nacho; his clinical finish still leaves us in the box seat for the return at Villa Park.

Battered them and all to play for. Hamza and Nacho great substitutions. Will they come out on their own patch? If they do we'll murder them. Still can't understand what Chilwell offers going forward. Hardly put a cross in. He just plays it backwards or square. Pointless!